₦airaland Forum

Senator Dino Melaye has challenged the Nigeria Police to produce those who accused him of supplying arms to them dead or alive.

He also threatened to sue the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), if they were not produced.

The suspects; Kabiru Seudu (aka Osama) and Nuhu Salish (aka Small) were said to have escaped the ‘A’ division cell in Lokoja, around 3.21 am on Wednesday and forcibly went through the back door.

This is even as the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris immediately ordered the removal of Kogi State Police Commissioner, Ali Janga, over the escape of the suspects.

Janga had, at a briefing in Lokoja on Wednesday, declared six suspects, including Melaye and Mohammed Audu, son of the late governor of the state, Abubakar Audu, wanted.

Melaye who is alledged to be in hidding, is now threatening court actions.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/arms-saga-dino-melaye-tells-police-to-produce-his-accusers-dead-or-alive.html

Despite the belated apology, PDP will need to come clean, confess to its sins and fully atone for them before restitution is considered, the National Publicity Secretary of the ruling APC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, has advised.

Abdullahi gave the advice yesterday, a day after the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, apologised for the party’s past mistakes at a public discourse in Abuja on contemporary politics and governance in Nigeria.

The APC spokesman, in a release signed and issued yesterday, said Nigerians could still not forget PDP’s sins in a hurry despite the apology.

“The APC acknowledges the apologies by the PDP for the damage the party has brought on the country’s democratic fabric during its 16-year rule.

“As they say, to err is human but forgiveness is divine. We join PDP in praying to God to forgive them, but Nigerians are human and are still suffering from the years of PDP’s misrule. Therefore, even if Nigerians are gracious enough to forgive, they will not forget in a hurry,” the release added.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-to-pdp-confess-your-sins-after-apology.html

A House of Representatives panel yesterday queried the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over N7.6 billion the apex bank took from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and refunded to some agencies of government without approval.

The panel headed by Abubakar Nuhu Danburam (APC, Kano) said the CBN unilaterally refunded the amount to the agencies through another platform known as T24, instead of using the Remita platform, even when the money was still a subject of an investigation.

At a meeting with the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, officials of the CBN as well as other stakeholders, the panel asked if the accountant general was aware of the transaction.

But Idris, who also represented Adeosun, said he was not aware. He however called on the director of TSA in his office, Sylva Okolebo to explain what transpired.

Okolebo said the amount was taken from SystemSpecs, the firm that provided the Remita platform, based on a directive by a probe panel which said the firm must refund all it got as fees from charges made on TSA.

Thus, the panel demanded the CBN to provide the list of all MDAs that got the refund, the amount they got and how the apex bank arrived at the decision within 48 hours.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/reps-query-cbn-over-n7-6bn-tsa-fund.html

Protesters who were angry over the demolition of Gosa market on Airport road yesterday attacked officials of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council and the Department of Development Control of the FCTA.

The protesters hurled stones at the officials who were on another visit to the Gosa Friday market that was demolished last Saturday, sparking protests that resulted in the blocking of the expressway.

The protesters were also seen throwing stones at policemen who fired teargas.

Our reporter gathered that a policeman and a staff of the FCTA were injured in the melee. However, four people said to have led the riot were arrested.

The coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Umar Shuaibu, said the Airport road was the gateway to the federal capital and must be kept clean, adding that they didn’t totally evacuate the market but moved the traders selling on the road into the market.

He said: “We cannot allow illegality and that is why these people will have to move at least 500 metres away from the main road to the market so that the traffic holdup caused by this illegal market on the main road will stop.

“If Abuja is clean, it is for the benefit of all of us in the country so people should learn to follow due process. We are going to make sure that Abuja is clean.”

City News gathered that the protesters poured out on the expressway again blocking the road and causing traffic gridlock that lasted for hours.

A motorist said he had to turn back take Zuba road to get to the city centre around 2pm yesterday.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/protesters-attack-fcta-officials-at-gosa-market.html

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie- Oyegun, yesterday, met with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and all APC senators over alleged plot to override President Muhammadu Buhari on amendment to the Electoral Act.

Buhari had in a letter read on March 13, this year at both chambers rejected the amendment made to the 2010 ElectoralAct by the National Assembly, citing three constitutional matters.

The rejection polarised the APC caucus at the Senate into two. While a camp led by a former governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu was mobilising for the president, the second camp purportedly being supported by the leadership of the Senate was said to be plotting the override.

It was gathered that Oyegun convened the meeting to halt the planned move. The meeting which had key members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC in attendance was held at the Senate wing of the National Assembly.

Our correspondent reports that the meeting which started by 3.02pm lasted till 5.30pm. Newsmen were excused after the opening ceremony of the meeting.

Earlier during the opening ceremony, Oyegun said the meeting was convened to discuss issues affecting the party and its members.

“I’m glad to be here again. I don’t think I’m here often enough. It’s a good opportunity to discuss general issues. Issues that have arisen from the polity, the reality of an election in less than a year, 11 months, 10 months if you want to be economical.

“And some interests that bind us together. We are here to talk, we are here to listen, we are here to strategize on best way as we are approaching the critical months ahead. That is the 2019 election,” he said.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan said the party would soon constitute a team comprising the executive, legislators, governors and members of the party to broker peace in the party.

Lawan who described the meeting as frank and worthwhile, said the issue of election sequence and others would be addressed by the committee when constituted.

He said on election sequence, “That is only a symptom, the discussion centred on so many things including that.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/election-sequence-oyegun-meets-saraki-others-over-plot-to-override-buhari.html

Operatives of EFCC and ONSA, have discovered $9 million cash at the residence of the sacked Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, retired Brig.-Gen. Paul Tarelah Boroh.

Boroh, who was Special Adviser on Niger Delta to President Muhammadu Buhari has also been arrested.

The discovery of the cash was made a few hours after his arrest by a combined team of EFCC and operatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujiaren, confirmed the arrest and cash recovery.

A senior security agent said Boroh was picked up from his home in Gwarinpa, Abuja, on Monday.

He was reported to have been taken back to his residence at about 3 a.m. Tuesday by the security operatives who raided his house for hours and made the cash discovery of $9 million at his home.

He remains in the custody of the EFCC.

“The former adviser was driven to his home in an unmarked car after his arrest. His home was searched for several hours and about $9 million cash was discovered in several safe boxes in several parts of the house,” the senior security agent stated.

“The combined team of EFCC and the National Security Adviser operatives were very thorough with the search. Indeed, at a point, the operatives broke all the locks in the home including his wife’s closet. The recovered cash has been deposited at the Office of the NSA.”

Buhari sacked Boroh last week and announced Prof. Charles Dokubo as his replacement.

In the statement announcing Boroh’s dismissal, it said the NSA, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), had been directed to probe the activities of the Amnesty Office from 2015, when Boroh was appointed, especially allegations of financial impropriety and other acts that were allegedly detrimental to the objectives of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

According to reports, Boroh’s sack, investigation and arrest by the EFCC may not be unconnected to a petition, among others, that was sent to the president last August.

The petition to Buhari dated August 21, 2017 was signed by one Timi Angalabiri, on behalf of the Niger Deltans for Accountability and Good Governance (NDAGG).

The group requested the president to suspend the ex-Amnesty Programme boss “for a credible investigative inquiry to commence into the non-payment of tuition fees and living expenses of recently graduated Niger Delta students in universities across the United States, the United Kingdom and Nigeria.

The petitioner further pleaded with Buhari to use his good office to prosecute Boroh and others for allegedly diverting the sum of N70 billion.

Shortly after the petition was written, rumours swirled about Boroh’s sack by the president, but they were dismissed by the former Amnesty Programme boss.

“This story about my suspension and even sack has been off and on in the media, but the truth is that I have not been sacked and no one should disrupt the relative prevailing peace in the Niger Delta region with such fake news,” he had said.

“What is happening is the handiwork of political enemies and those who do not want the region to be peaceful. The rumours they are peddling are just rubbish and unfounded. Under my watch, the programme, candidly speaking, has helped greatly to stabilise the region.”

The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers and 10 other militant groups Tuesday threatened to attack oil installations in the Niger Delta if the sacked coordinator of the Amnesty Programme was not reinstated in four weeks.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Johnmark Ezonbi, leader of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, said the federal government would “hear from them” if Boroh was not reinstated.

He said the sacked coordinator of the Amnesty Programme played a significant role in prevailing on the militants to end the attacks on oil installations, warning that it was obvious that the government was toying with the destiny of the Niger Delta.

The statement by Ezonbi read: “The federal government will hear from us at the expiration of the four weeks ultimatum as no single stone will be left unturned as the administration prefers to go back to the recession period when Boroh played a major role by visiting the creeks with other stakeholders to prevail on the boys to drop their arms and embrace peace.

“We will embark on a well coordinated destruction of all major delivery oil pipelines after the expiration of the four weeks ultimatum without looking back.

“I want to warn that any intruder into our planned action in four weeks time, if the federal government fails to reinstate General Paul Boroh, will be severely dealt with without mercy because our attacks will make the security agencies in the creeks very small.

“We are fully ready to take on anybody as we have the instruments of warfare that will make the biggest military might marvel at our coordinated attacks.

“We are ready to dirty our rivers and creeks with our oil, it is better we spill it than allow government use it to develop other parts of the country.”(NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/efcc-arrest-boroh-recover-9m-cash.html

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday released a statement saying the results of the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for 111,981 candidates were doubtful and would not be released until after an official inquiry.

The statement by the Head, Public Affairs, Dr Fabian Benjamin said “After viewing all CCTV footage during the conduct of the UTME and considering reports from our supervisors, monitors and other independent Nigerians, who took interest in promoting the quality of public examination in Nigeria the exam results for 1,502,978 candidates, were released. But results for 111,981 candidates were withheld for further screening.”

A total of 1,652,825 candidates had registered for the exam

Also, the exam results for 112,331candidates including 350 blind candidates would be released in next to no time, the statement added.

Foreign candidates would write the exam in April.

Sani, who chairs the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, revealed the jumbo pay of the federal lawmakers regarded as “hallowed secret”. In a recent interview, he said he and his colleagues received N13.5 million monthly as running cost and N750,000 as basic salary.

The disclosure confirmed an exclusive report by Daily Trust that showed that the running cost of senators and Reps gulped N46 billion annually.

Headlined: “ Senators, Reps share N46bn annually as running cost,” the Daily Trust report was published on October 10,2016.

Rather than being castigated, Sani was indirectly commended by the Senate through a statement tagged ‘Senators’ Salary: Shehu Sani Said Nothing New.’

Signed by the Senate spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger), the Senate said Sani did not disclose anything new as the figure he gave out about running cost of the offices of senators was contained in various line items and expenditure heads of the budget of the National Assembly which had been made public.

Daily Trust reports that the budget of the National Assembly that had been shrouded in secrecy for over a decade was made public last year. It was however raised from N115bn to N125bn for the period under review.

Contrary to the reports that filtered round that the activist-turned lawmaker was rebuked by his colleagues at an executive session of the Senate last Tuesday, it was gathered that his issue was not even on the agenda of the meeting.

The session, presided over by Senate President Bukola Saraki, started by 11.07am and ended by 11.36am. At end of the session, the senators were seen in groups discussing.

Sources at the meeting said the issue was not discussed. A senator said, “Nobody discussed Sani even though we had our reservations but what can we do? He is one of the dons in the Senate even though a first timer.”

He also said that Sani was in the good books of the powers that be in the Upper Chamber.

“He is one of the corruption fighters in the Senate. Remember the way he dealt with the issue of the sacked Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal. As the chairman of the ad hoc panel, he ensured that everything was perfectly done.

“That’s why when President Muhammadu Buhari referred the ex-SGF’s matter for further probe, nothing different came out of it,” he said.

Another senator said any attempt to punish Senator Sani will only expose the Senate to more attacks in view of the negative perception of the lawmakers’ pay package.

“For the issue to be discussed, it has to be raised on the floor of the Senate through a point of order. Who will do this? The backlash that will follow it will be deadly especially for those of us that are from the North; the person’s constituents will deal with him,” he said.

He added that Sani also escaped the hammer because, “he is not a member of those who are against the reordered election sequence. If he is in Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s camp, by now his case will be in the ethics committee. But because he is not, he is free,” he said.

It was also gathered that Sani, who was the President of the Civil Rights Congress (CRC), was left unpunished because he is neither pro-Buhari nor pro- Vila cabals.

“He is seen as fighting common enemies with the Senate’s power brokers. He has issues with the Kaduna State governor and the powers that be in the Senate do. So he is seen as being on the same page in terms of fighting enemies,” another lawmaker said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/jumbo-pay-why-senators-left-shehu-sani-unpunished.html

A consultant psychiatrist at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Dr. Abdulfatai Bakari yesterday called for decisive measures to curb rising cases of addiction particularly among married women in Sokoto and other northern states.

This is just as Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal urged the Federal Government to ban the sale of codeine syrup in the country.

They spoke at a workshop on Addiction and Prevention held at the Sultan Maccido Institute of Quran and General Studies, Sokoto.

“It is very worrisome that in Sokoto and some northern states, many married women are addicted to various substances especially codeine, tutolin, cannabis and Sheehan,” Bakari said, adding that the trend was not only with married women but with adolescent females, and that many undergraduates in some tertiary institutions in the state had dropped out of school because of addiction to drugs.

Speaking, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who was represented by the state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Balarabe Kakale, said, “The Federal Government should ban the sale of codeine in Nigeria because they are not life saving drugs.”

The Chairman, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Abdullah, decried the negative impact of drug abuse on the society.

Abdullah who was represented by the Commander of NDLEA, Sokoto Command, Mr. Misbahu Idris, urged all stakeholders to enhance efforts towards tackling the menace.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/abuse-ban-codeine-syrup-tambuwal-urges-fg.html

hmmm

It is the usual pattern of life that structure is the servant of function, not the other way around. If I go to an engineer and ask him to design a motor vehicle, he will first need to know what the vehicle is intended to do. "Do you want to carry people or cargo? Travel at high speed? Is it for large families or small families?" These are questions of function or purpose. If I want to win a Formula One race, the design will be very different from what it would be if I want the vehicle to carry a family of six. When the function or purpose is known, the structure can be designed to suit.

And we can confidently assume that God has created a structure for the local church that is in perfect harmony with the function he wishes it to perform. The function, or goals, he has set out for, us, for example, in Ephesians 4:11-16.

In that passage we see a group of people, connected to each other like parts of a body, ministering to each other until they all reach maturity, doctrinal strength and unity. They are watched over and assisted by apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

In any endeavor of life, to doggedly persist with a structure that does not achieve the desired function or goal would be regarded as a waste of time. So if, after all the expenditure of time and effort on infrastructure and meetings, we do not see the God's goals -mutual ministry, knowledge and doctrinal strength described in Ephesians 4-emerge, why is it that as local churches doggedly cling to ineffectual structures and formats?

I think it is so difficult because the structure, or format, has become the goal.

The goal we have settled for is the running of a Sunday morning meeting - one capable of gathering and maintaining the numbers and boosting the offering, irrespective of whether or not it is effective in bringing about dynamic growth and discipleship. The "effectiveness" of our meetings is usually measured by the number of people attending, the quality of the music and the ability of the preacher to hold our attention. Or perhaps whether or not we had a good time. In other words, the "effectiveness" is seen in the performance of the component parts of the meeting, not in the actual results they have in peoples' lives.

In Ephesians 4, God told us that he wants us to come to full knowledge and maturity, to the point where every part of the body is working properly. However, even if our traditional Sunday meeting contributes very little to that process, with its words and songs all but forgotten by Monday morning, in most churches that traditional structure simply cannot be changed. What has happened is that the structure has usurped the function and has almost become an idol. As a consequence, in terms of radical, world-changing outcomes, we settle for less than mediocrity.

If you doubt the appropriateness of the word "idol", make this simple test. Imagine for a moment that the majority of people in your church were discovering that they were truly growing in Christ and enabled to use their spiritual gifts far more through small home-groups than in the large Sunday morning meeting. Imagine they were realizing that to spend Sunday morning in small groups would bring far more growth and maturity because they all had opportunity to confess their weaknesses to each other, teach and encourage each other, and really pray for each other by name. In the small group, they could ask the teachers questions and have opportunity to reflect.

Now try to imagine suggesting closing down the large, traditional Sunday morning church service in favor of those more effective small groups! In other words, try to imagine allowing the God-given goals of maturity and mutual ministry to be more important than the prevailing Sunday structure. What emotions would be displayed by the church's leadership and its denominational head office? Which would have to come first: God's goals for the people or the prevailing structure?
As we are shown in Ephesians 4, the gifts of Christ to the church-the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers-are to bring the saints to dynamic, secure, ministering maturity, not to keep the services running or maintain the correctness of the Sunday morning protocol.

The goal of the teachers is not to be heard, but to bring about maturity. It is not self-perpetuation in positions of leadership or honor. It is not the gathering of a larger audience as a testimony to their ability or the carving out of a reputation for themselves. It is to see each and every individual believer come to maturity, able and free to use his or her gift(s) for the health of the body.

And structure contributes to, or detracts from, the effectiveness of the teacher to achieve those goals. The larger the audience a teacher gathers, the less and less he or she is able to know whether the members are approaching maturity. The group's size reaches a point where it becomes utterly impossible for maturity to be gauged. His audience is anonymous to him, and he to them. It is just a meeting.

It is at this point that we usually move the goal posts, and describe the purpose of our meetings as "worship". That word enables us to get bigger and bigger and more and more anonymous, while still feeling that we are doing what God asked us to do. And all along the God-given tasks and goals slide further and further from the centre.

God's word shows us that the fruit of a leader's work will be evidenced in "each part working properly"-ordinary maturing believers ministering to other ordinary believers. And those "ordinary" believers, should be able to arrive at that point within the life and context of the local church. No Bible or theological colleges, no programmes, no multi-media; just local churches doing what they were meant to do.

The success of a church will not be seen in having a concrete edifice constructed "to the glory of God". Nor in having a huge Sunday morning concert or rally attended by thousands of spectators. We may be thrilled to see thousands of people at a Sunday morning music and oratory meeting, but that sort of meeting has no connection to any known or imagined biblical description of the local church. And for all the energy it might appear to demonstrate, it does not produce what a local church is intended to produce.

So where do we go to find out how God suggests we implement his plans? Scripture. The Bible is a great deal of instruction about who we are as a local church, what we are to achieve, how we are to meet, how we are to be lead and much, much more.

And as we study, what God says may well challenge some of our long-held preferences and traditions. What he says about leaders clearly contradicts almost every common denominational practice. What he says about meeting together turns on its head our perception of auditoriums, sermons, bands and silent memorial ceremonies with bread and wine.
Where we find that what we are doing is in conflict with what he has said, we need to come back to the urgent question of Jesus:

'Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I tell you?' (Luke 6: 46).
The world is longing to see a demonstration of the loving community that emerged in the first century. And many believers are also longing to experience that reality. Sadly, too many, soul-sick and weary, are just walking out the door and fading away.

Source: https://christianlifeministry..com.ng/

Malam Ibrahim Ahmad Katsina is a former Director in the Department of State Services (DSS), a research fellow and currently Head of Security at the Baze University in Abuja. In this interview, he says Benue State should reappraise the anti-grazing law and adopt a more gradualist approach to its implementation. Excerpts:

How do you view the crisis of herdsmen and farmers in the country?

It is quite an unfortunate development. It shouldn’t have been there in the first place, but you know in any society, there is bound to be such challenges here and there; but our ability to overcome them determines who we are. So, I think this crisis is not insurmountable, we can find solution to it, and I pray in the long run, we will come out stronger.

The security challenges that Benue, Taraba and other states are facing is something I think we have taken for granted. We shouldn’t have allowed it to reach the level it has reached. Look at the historical antecedents and the relationships; we shouldn’t waste that. What lessons and what do we want for the future generations? So, any action we take, we should bear in mind its consequences for future generations.

There are suggestions that the anti-grazing law was hastily implemented. What is your take?

Actually, before we enact any law, not only for Benue State, but all other states across the country, we have research institutes across the country, why do we have them? We should commission research into anything we want to do so that we test the hypotheses. Is it going to work? What would be the side effects? When you do that, by gauging the outcome of your research, you can determine what next. But these research centres are there wasting. For instance, I am sure had it been His Excellency, the Governor of Benue State, contacted the University of Agriculture in Benue, Benue State University, gave them the challenge to develop hypotheses on the pros and cons, what is the multiplier effect for this anti-grazing bill and if they developed this for him, he could sit with his security team because I know they will give him facts and not be sycophantic. That would have determined his action. That is what is obtainable in advanced climes and that’s why they have less conflicts.

I am sure what the governor has missed, he took things for granted; he shouldn’t have rushed it. We have a lot of resource persons who could have helped him. Look at the relationship between the Fulani and the Tiv; which had been so cordial and interesting. Now, with this development it has been punctured because of the absence of research. Now the effects are coming which were not foreseen. Of what benefit is the law to the dead? I think we should do the right thing. Let our governors, policy makers and security organisations commission research before taking any action. Go to NIPSS and others, there are enough materials.

The state actually embarked on public hearing and invited stakeholders who submitted memoranda. Are you saying those submissions were not good enough?

Among the stakeholders that were invited, they are experts in their own way, but what I am talking about are research fellows. They should invite people from these research institutions who would produce a more objective report. You know, mostly, we do public hearings to suit our own interest. But when you call a research fellow, he will tell you the exact thing without minding your feelings because he wants to save his integrity.

What would the possible outcome of the research have achieved in mitigating the tensions?

Yes, before you implement, it has to be in stages, and that is what the absence of the law has led to what we are having. Nobody told the governor the effects. How can you enact a law today and say in the next three or four months implement it? It is not possible. Give it a grace period of at least five years minimum and the research will tell you this is the best place to take these people, this is what to tell them to convince them. It has to involve a lot of advocacy and conflict resolution experts to assuage the Fulani or the other people that are affected by it. So that by the time the law is implemented, they will be among those that would ensure its implementation.

Do you support calls for state police?

In as well as we understand the dynamics of the system, there is no need to create fear out of state police; they complement each other. USA has state police, why can’t Nigeria have it? You have fear if you don’t understand something. It is only knowledge that will clear the coast for you. We should not do the policy off-hand based on emotions, we must understand the imperatives, cost, benefits and modified concept of community and state policies.

Read more at https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/-politicians-should-weigh-laws-they-make-to-avert-crises.html#0AZ3teRc6mYuhkP6.99

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has assured that with vigilance of the Nigerian youths, nobody will be able to rig the 2019 general elections.

Receiving the national, zonal and state youth leaders of the PDP in his office, he also assured them that the National Assembly caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not be intimidated from holding the government accountable, just as it would continue to speak the truth in defence of democracy.

In a statement by his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadu said, “Nobody should be deceived that they will rig elections in 2019. The international community will also be watching; and like the late Sam Mbakwe said, ‘if you are awake, the rat will never take your fish.’ So if we shine our eyes, nobody will rig us out.”

“I’m sure some of you are now conversant with the misrepresentation of my statement on the floor of the senate last week where I cautioned against brigandage, impunity and thuggery; and I said as leaders and politicians, we must do the correct thing before we endanger our democracy. That was what I said.

“Never bother about their propaganda. We will continue to speak the truth. We will continue to defend our democracy and urge our leaders to always do the right thing.

“Sometimes, we may be misunderstood, but we will remain unrelenting. It was the great Nnamdi Azikiwe who said that the best judge of human conduct is conscience. Keep saying the right thing. The person you are speaking to is hearing you; someday his conscience will prick him and he will do the right thing,” he said.

Ekweremadu added that they would not allow anybody to truncate Nigeria’s democracy because “we believe that your own future is here now. Nobody will take his future in the past and come to continue your own future.”

He warned youths against any form of electoral violence, describing it as “an ill wind that blows no man any good.”

Earlier in his address, the National Youth Leader of the PDP, Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye, said Nigerian youths had suffered so much under the APC-led administration and were ready to support the PDP to return to power.


http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nobody-can-rig-2019-elections-ekweremadu.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration is trying "very hard" to provide jobs for the nation's youths.

Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving Mr. Boukekri Rmilli, the Foreign Minister of Tunisia, Buhari said his government was investing heavily in agriculture.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari ad pledging that his administration would increase its support for agriculture as a mechanism for jobs creation.

“Following the uncertainty in the oil market and the huge unemployment situation in the country, we chose to put our fate in agriculture. I am glad that our young people are accepting agriculture instead of waiting for white-collar jobs. They are out there sweating it out in the sun, making a living. Agriculture is the way to go, even when we are realising this almost belatedly,” Buhari said.

He added that the administration recognises the progress Tunisia has made in agriculture, tourism and medical health, and will shortly, from now, raise a team to visit that country to identify sectors in which the two countries can work together.

In this regard, he expressed happiness with the resuscitation of the Nigeria – Tunisia Bi-national Commission which was attended by a large delegation of businessmen and prospective investors.

Mr. Rmilli, who is also the leader of the delegation of businessmen, informed the President that his country is anxious to grow trade relationships with Nigeria.

He expressed satisfaction with the large number of local business men who turned up for the Nigeria – Tunisia Business Forum on Monday in Abuja.

The minister delivered a special message to President Buhari, in which Mr. Beji Caid Essebsi, President of Tunisia, congratulated the Nigerian leader on his achievements in security, economy and role in Africa.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-m-trying-hard-to-give-youths-jobs-buhari.html

RIP

The Niger State Police Command and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have deployed over 3,500 officers and men to beef up security during today’s visit to the state by President Muhammad Buhari.

The President is billed to commission the multi-million sugar factory constructed by Nigeria Flour Mill in Sunti, Mokwa local government area today.

According to the statistics of the deployment by the two security agencies, the police would release 2000 men for the visit while the NSCDC would commit 1500 to maintain order during the one-day visit.

Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Abubakar told newsmen yesterday that the state commands of Kebbi, Kaduna and Kwara would deploy officers and men to complement those of Niger to ensure a hitch-free visit.

Also the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant in the state, Mr Philip Ayuba, said his command had made security arrangements with the sister agencies for a hitch-free visit by the president.

The Niger State Police Command and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have deployed over 3,500 officers and men to beef up security during today’s visit to the state by President Muhammad Buhari.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/police-nscdc-deploy-3-500-operatives-for-buhari-s-visit-to-niger.html

Chai!

You do not say the reality even Apc members are suffering and unhappy

SillyMods:
The only people who are frustrated and very unhappy in Nigeria are:

1. IPOB terrorists and their sympathizers
2. Looting politicians and their sympathizers
3. PDP who are desperate to return to their wanton destruction of our economy and their supporters
4. Children of hate and anger just because the man they hate so much is their papa's and mama's president
etc.

Nigeria's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has made the list of make 100 Most Reputable Africans.

He joined other Nigerians in the inaugural list released by leading global reputation management consulting company, Reputation Poll.

The list which features individuals from diverse sectors including: Leadership, Entertainment, Advocacy, Education and Business has representation from 33 African Countries with 55 males and 45 females.

The list of 100 Africans has Nigeria leading with 21 individuals with South Africa, Kenya and Ghana following respectively.

Other Nigerians who made the list are: Tony Elumelu, Emir Sanusi Lamido, Fela Durotoye, Dr Ngozi Okonji-Iweala, Dr Paul Enenche, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and many others.

Very prominent personalities featured in the list include: Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Nigeria’s Prof Yemi Osibanjo, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, and Mauritius’s Ameenah Gurib.

In governance; the list features 3 African Presidents, 2 Vice Presidents, 2 former Presidents, a former Vice President, a First lady, Members of Parliament and Ministers.

In Business; Strive Masiyiwa, Koos Bekker, Barclays Bank’s Patience Akyianu and Wendy Lucas Bull are represented for their works acrossAfrica.

For their fight against corruption are: Ghana’s special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu and South Africa’s Public Prosecutor, Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

In Leadership; Dr. Josephine Ojiambo, H.E Graça Machel DBE, Dr Paul Enenche and Winnie Byanyima are also featured on the list.

Reputation Poll which is known globally for its annual ranking of the 100 Most Reputable People on Earth and Most Reputable CEOs in various countries, is also set to be announcing new set of research works on personalities and brands across the globe.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/vice-president-osinbajo-emir-sanusi-make-100-most-reputable-africans-list.html

...Court halts further action on process

After a presidential veto, the House of Representatives has resolved to rework the Bill on reordering of elections and re-present it to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

The president withheld assent to the amendment passed by the National Assembly last month which, among others, changed the sequence of elections in the country.

The legislators made their own elections to come first, the governorship and state assembly second and made the presidential election to come last.

The president Tuesday vetoed the Bill for three constitutional reasons. Yesterday at plenary the House agreed he was right on two grounds but wrong on the sequence of election.

House spokesman, Abdulrazak Namdas, said during a press briefing in Abuja yesterday they agreed with the president that the National Assembly has no powers to legislate for local governments and that the deletion of two grounds upon which an election may be challenged by candidates unduly limits the rights of candidates in elections.

However, Namdas said they disagreed with the president on his reason that changing elections sequence of elections would affect the constitutional rights of Nigeria’s electoral umpire.

He said Sections 76 of the constitution and section 4 of the Legislative Privileges Act give the National Assembly powers to determine elections sequence.

He said they would expunge areas that they agreed with the president and retain the one they did not agree with him.

“The bill will be gazetted once again, presented for first, second and third readings before we’ll send it to the president for his assent.

“As a responsible Parliament, we’ve agreed with two of the three reasons given by the president. We agreed with the first one that the amendment of Section 138 of the principal Act to delete two crucial grounds upon which an election may be challenged by candidates unduly limits the rights of candidates in elections to a free and fair electoral review process.

“We have also agreed with the reason advanced that the amendment of Section 152 of the principal Act, which raises constitutional issues over the competence of the National Assembly to legislate over local government elections. We know that we don’t have the power to act on that.

“However, we’re in disagreement with the president over his first reason, which states that sequence of election in Section 25 of the principal Act may infringe on the constitutionally guaranteed discretion of INEC to organize, undertake and supervise all elections provided in Section 15 (a) to the third schedule of the constitution.

“Our reasons of disagreeing on this matter are that if you look at Section 4 of the Legislative Powers Act, item 22 states: ‘The National Assembly has powers over elections to the offices of president and vice president, or governor and deputy governor and any other office to which a person may be elected under this constitution, excluding elections into a local government council or any office in such council.’

“Again, if you go to Section 76 of the constitution, it states that: ‘Elections to each House of the National Assembly shall be held on a date to be appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.’ However, there is a clause: In accordance with the Electoral Act.”

He, however, said that the House is in the process of overriding the president on 10 bills, excluding the Electoral Act.

The 10 bills are the Peace Corps Bill; Bill for Chartered Institute of Treasury Management Bill; Nigeria Council for Social Works Bill; Currency Conversion Bill; Police Procurement Fund Bill; Environmental Health Officers Registration Bill and Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management in Nigeria.

Others are Chartered Institute of Public Management Bill; Chartered Institute of Export and Community Brokers Bill and the Federal University, Wukari Bill.

Court stops further action on Electoral Act

A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the National Assembly from acting further on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 wherein it changed the sequence of elections.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed in a ruling yesterday ordered all the parties to maintain the status quo until Tuesday when the case will be heard in court.

The judge referred to Section 6(6) of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the court to protect the cause of action.

The judge directed service of hearing notice on the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

Earlier, counsel to Accord Party, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) told the court that the processes have been served since March 12, explaining that he is ready to go on with the matter.

However, counsel to the National Assembly, Chinelo Ogbazor opposed the submission saying the case is not ripe for hearing.

But counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)Taminu Inuwa did not oppose the hearing of the suit.

Olanipekun said he will not oppose the adjournment provided the National Assembly gives an undertaken not to tamper with the cause of action.

Accord Party is asking for an interlocutory injunction restraining the president from assenting to the Electoral Act amendment bill, 2018 as passed by the National Assembly, pending the determination of the case.

It further sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the National Assembly from taking any further action to override the presidential veto until the case is heard.

The party raised eight issues for determination by the court, including thus:

“Having regards to the combined provisions of sections 79,116,118,132,153,160(1) and 178 of the 1999 constitution as amended, the constitution read together with paragraph 15(a) of the third schedule to the same constitution, whether the 3rd defendant ( Independent National Electoral Commission) is not the only institution or body constitutionally vested with the powers and vires to organized, undertake and supervised elections to the offices of the president, the vice president of the federal republic of Nigeria, the Governor and deputy governor of a state, the membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each state of the federation, including fixing the sequence and dates of the elections to the said offices.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/election-sequence-latest-reps-fault-buhari-vow-to-resubmit-bill.html

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, assured that his administration would do everything possible to rescue and reunite all Dapchi and Chibok abducted schoolgirls with their families.

The President gave the pledge in Damaturu in a meeting with stakeholders while on a day visit to Yobe.

Buhari said government was restrategising and partnering with local and international community to ensure the rescue of every missing school girl.

The President vowed to deal with whosoever found culpable in the situation that led to the abduction of the school girls.

“Anyone found wanting by the committee investigating the circumstances that led to the abduction of the girls will not be spared,” he said.

He urged parents to remain calm and cooperate with government in the effort to rescue the girls safely.

Yobe Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, pleaded for an enhanced synergy among security operatives to improve security in the state and the North-East.

He also solicited for intelligence sharing among the security agencies to improve security coverage.

Gaidam assured the cooperation of the state government and the people with security operatives in the area.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/missing-chibok-dapchi-girls-will-be-rescued-buhari-assures.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Niger State said it has uncovered a fake registration centre in Zungeru, Wushishi Local Government Area of the state.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Professor Sam Egwu, told Daily Trust on yesterday in Minna that the police, through a tip-off, invaded the centre and arrested the alleged culprit with many temporary voters’ cards.

Prof. Egwu said most of the fraudster’s clients were workers of a construction company who requested for voters’ cards or any document to ensure that they were duly registered to vote in the forthcoming elections.

“The suspect normally worked on the temporary voters’ card he obtained to produce new ones for unsuspecting clients,” the REC stated.

He said the fraudster usually charged certain amount of money before issuing the fake cards.

He advised eligible voters to always visit designated INEC registration centres for registration, adding that the commission did not charge money for the exercise.

He said the suspect was undergoing interrogation by security agents.

The REC further disclosed that 10 new registration centres had been added to the state as a way of encouraging more eligible voters to register.

He said a total of 144, 406 eligible voters had so far registered in the ongoing continuous voters’ registration across the state.


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/inec-uncovers-fake-registration-centre-in-niger.html

The Senate on Tuesday said there was no date yet for the passage of the 2018 Budget.

Senate’s spokesperson, Sen. Sa’abi Abdullahi, said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja.

He said: “The budget process is on and I can’t tell you this is the specific date it is going to end.

“We are working very hard on it and we want to assure Nigerians that at the end of the day, we will have a budget that will serve the purpose of Nigerians.”

On the upper chamber’s resolution to lift embargo on confirmation of presidential nominees, the lawmaker said “there was an existing impasse between the Executive and the Legislature with respect to confirmation hearing of appointees of the Executive.

“We had a resolution that since the executive is claiming we don’t have the powers to make those confirmations we are not going to consider the nominees they are forwarding to us. This happened since last year”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senate, after a Point of Order by Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim (APC-Kwara), lifted the embargo.

According to Abdullahi, the Senate made the resolution “not that they have any iron to grind with anybody.

“But because we believe we must defend the sanctity of democracy and ensure the institutions of democracy, for which the Senate is the apex, must be respected and we believe in doing so, it is in the overall interest of the people”.

He further explained that the upper chamber resolved that it would consider the confirmation of members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

“We will also consider the nomination of the two deputy governors of Central Bank (CBN) who are also members of the MPC so that the Nigerian economy will receive the necessary technical input to ensure that we sustain the growth of our economy.

” And to also ensure we support the executive in walking the economy out of recession.

“We are definitely going to do the confirmation to enable those confirmed to attend the next MPC meeting,” Abdullahi said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MPC meeting is scheduled to hold on March 19 and 20.(NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/no-date-yet-for-budget-passage-senate.html

Daily Trust reporter, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, has been abducted by armed policemen at the National Assembly complex.

The whereabout of Mr. Krishi is still unknown and there are fears that he may be in danger.

Efforts to reach him have proved abortive as all his phone lines are switched off.

The Police authority, who has been on the trail of Mr. Krishi, has failed to inform Daily Trust on why the fearless journalist was abducted by armed policemen.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-police-abduct-daily-trust-s-reporter-whereabouts-unknown.html

.

Good development

hmmm

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination Board (JAMB) has hinted of plans to have the tertiary institutions entry examination written by candidates from their places of residence across the country.

The board spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, made this disclosure while featuring on a radio current affairs program, Day Break Show, yesterday in Abeokuta.

“We are thinking of open book examinations or allowing them write the examination from their houses. Once we get the required technology, we can do it,” he declared.

On challenges facing the board, particularly in the ongoing UTME, the JAMB spokesman said, “At any point if there is an issue, we find a way to solve it to ensure all candidates write the UTME with convenience.”

He said the results of the exam would be delayed as there was need to preview them before they were eventually released.

“Once a candidate clicks submit, the result is ready but we wait to preview the results before releasing so we don’t cancel results later. You can detect malpractice even after exams.”

An ICT expert, Damilola Oyeshola, who commented on the idea of tertiary institutions entry examination being taken by candidates from their homes, said the challenge of IT infrastructure in the country would make the idea difficult to implement.

“One of the challenges we have with the UTME computer-based test is how to use computers by the candidates,” Oyeshola said, stressing that there was need for more technology integration particularly in the hinterland for the board to succeed in conducting the UTME for candidates in their respective homes.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/jamb-plans-for-candidates-to-do-future-utme-at-home.html