₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is targeting up to a $3.5-$5 billion cash-for-crude prepayments from some of the world’s top commodity traders to fund oil and gas upstream projects as well as related infrastructure.

This is coming as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia look set this week to prolong oil supply cuts until the end of 2018 on the condition that they may review the deal when they meet again in June 2018 if the market overheats.


Nigeria was hit hard by the sharp drop in global oil prices in 2014 and 2015 that pushed it into its first recession in 25 years.

Though the country returned to growth-mode in the second quarter, the cash-strapped NNPC, which has been weighed down by billions of dollars in old debts, has also been looking to bring in outside cash.

Reuters quoted NNPC sources as saying that Standard Chartered Bank was hired to advise on the oil prepayments and a request-for-proposal was issued a few weeks ago for a $3.5 billion to $5 billion loan to be repaid with crude over five to seven years.

But both spokespersons for Standard Chartered and the NNPC declined to comment on Reuter’s request.

However, the sources added that a decision was expected before the end of this year.

Around seven trading firms were still in the running, one added, with top trading houses including Glencore, Vitol and Trafigura being among the active contenders.

The corporation is said to be seeking three off-takers, one of the sources said, against 70,000 barrels per day of crude.

Vitol already has a major presence in Nigeria after buying petrol stations via a joint venture with Oando Plc and private equity fund Helios.

Vitol is also among a list of majors traders, including Trafigura, that participate in a swap scheme to deliver refined products in exchange for crude.

Profit margins for trading firms have been slowly eroding over the last few years as transparency in oil markets has increased, reducing arbitrage opportunities, once based on privileged information.

Increasing traded volumes is one way to raise profits and competition is fierce for prepayment deals with state oil firms.

NNPC has had cash-flow problems for years and has been chronically behind payments for its stakes in upstream joint ventures with Shell, Chevron, Total, Eni and ExxonMobil.

After project development began to stall following the collapse in oil prices, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu reached a deal last year with its major foreign oil producers to repay $5.1 billion over five years, interest-free.

NNPC has already leveraged over 300,000 barrels per day of crude to cover current fuel imports via a crude-for-product swap scheme as well as debts to traders dating back nearly a decade.

In a related development, OPEC and Russia this week, look set to prolong oil supply cuts until the end of 2018 while signalling that they may review the deal when they meet again in June if the market overheats.

But with oil prices rallying above $60 per barrel, Russia has questioned the wisdom of extending existing cuts of 1.8 million barrels per day until the end of next year as such a move could prompt a spike in U.S. production.

Russia needs much lower oil prices to balance its budget than OPEC’s leader Saudi Arabia, which is preparing a stock market listing for national energy giant Aramco next year and would hence benefit from pricier crude.

Six ministers from OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers including Saudi Arabia and Russia gathered in Vienna yesterday – one day ahead of today’s full OPEC meeting – to review recommendations by their delegates.

On Tuesday, a joint OPEC/non-OPEC committee recommended extending cuts until the end of 2018 with an option of reviewing the arrangement at the next OPEC meeting in June, three sources from the OPEC said.

Benchmark Brent and US crude prices declined yesterday for a third consecutive day although Brent remained above $63 per barrel.

United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail bin Mohammed al-Mazroui said on Tuesday that cutting output through all of 2018 was still the main, but not the only scenario.

“There is a meeting today in the afternoon. And depending on all of those parameters, we will come up with what is best for the market and for the organisation,” he said yesterday.

The production cuts have been in place since the start of 2017 and helped halve an excess of global oil stocks although those remain at 140 million barrels above the five-year average, according to OPEC.

Russia has signalled it wants to understand better how producers will exit from the cuts as it needs to provide guidance to its private and state energy companies.

Some producers including Rosneft, run by an ally of President Vladimir Putin, Igor Sechin, have questioned the rationale of prolonging the cuts, saying it will lead to a loss of market share to U.S. firms, which are not reducing output.

OPEC, which comprises 14 countries, has traditionally been much less worried about exit strategies, as its members have been known for reducing compliance and cheating on their quotas towards the expiration of such deals.

At today’s meeting, OPEC will also debate whether to cap oil output from Nigeria and Libya, which have so far been excluded from supply curbs due to falling production amid unrest, two sources with knowledge of the matter said yesterday.

The sources said the idea was to cap Nigerian output at 1.8 million barrels per day and Libyan at one million bpd.

Reacting to the output cap, Kachikwu said yesterday that Nigeria was taking the pressure from OPEC member countries and their allies led by the Russian to join the crude oil production cut agreement they reached in 2016 with good posture and would be fine notwithstanding the outcome of today’s meeting of the group.

Kachikwu who spoke in Vienna ahead of today’s meeting, said so far, there was nothing extraordinary to be worried about by the group’s push.

He said even if Nigeria was compelled to cap output, the country had still not been able to reach the production level that was expected to cap her output.

According to him, the country was producing an unstable 1.7 million barrels per day of oil.

He stated that while the production numbers were not good enough for Nigeria, its current earnings from crude oil were positive and had allowed the federal government to fund the national budget.

Kachikwu, however, emphasised that it was necessary for Nigeria to maximise the current window granted her by OPEC and its allies by driving her production efficiency.

“There’s a lot of attention on Nigeria and Libya obviously but the reality is that these countries have to produce. Market behaviour has been positive and we need to build on that.

“If you look at the numbers in terms of earnings, we’re doing excellently well. What’s the essence of overproducing and selling at a giveaway price?

“In terms of our immediate concerns, we are getting more money for our budget and development, we are far positively away from where we were, but we need to refocus our attention from production volumes to efficiency,” Kachikwu said.

The minister noted that while other producers were calling for Nigeria to get off the exemption window, they must appreciate that the country had made great sacrifices to help rebalance the market either by her production challenges or the voluntary decisions it made to support the market rebalancing efforts.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) for the OPEC and non-OPEC production cuts agreement and Kuwait’s oil minister, Issam Almarzooq, disclosed at the meeting of the JMMC that the co-operation has in the last one year recorded great achievements.

Almarzooq stated that since the agreement was made, producers have made sacrifices that resulted in up to 200 million barrels of crude oil decline in the first 10 months while floating storage had come down by an estimated 50 million barrels.

He said: “This positive outlook has clearly been supported by the unprecedented conformity levels to the production adjustments in the declaration of co-operation.

“These consistently high levels, at or above 100 per cent, have quietened the voices of naysayers in the industry who initially expressed doubts regarding the commitment of the 24 participating OPEC and non-OPEC producing countries to bring stability back to the oil market.”

He, however, warned that while the group could be said to be on the right path, it must remain alert to developments in the market until it achieves its final objective.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/nnpc-targets-5bn-cash-for-crude.html

more photos at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/photos-president-buhari-arrives-in-cote.html

Two significant things distinguished the 28th editions of the Kingdom Life World Conference 2017 from the previously conferences organised by The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).

Apart from the fact that it has become a norm that the 15, 000-capacity auditorium and other available spaces within and without the vicinity of the church, are always jam-packed with thousands of worshippers and those that come for business purposes, this year’s edition witnessed more visitors testifying about personal encounter with Christ.

Another interesting aspect was that majority of the faithful that attended the one-week event from Sunday November 19 to Sunday, November 26, took Nigeria’s challenges personally and compassionately during prayer sessions.


Thirdly, the conference served as a unifying factor for majority of the ethnic nationalities across the country.
A participant told The Guardian: “You could see we are all unified by the power of the Holy Spirit and leadership of Rev. Mike Okonkwo and other anointed ministers of God.

“In the last one week, all Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ibibio and other tribes have gathered here to pray and share everything in common.”

In his sermon, the Presiding Bishop and convener of the conference, Bishop Okonkwo said the challenges facing Nigeria are not bigger and out of what the Almighty God could fix.

The cleric assured Nigerians that the country would soon take a positive turn around, as God is able to turn Nigeria’s difficulties to prosperity.

He also charged the youths to acquaint themselves with God, saying the future of the country depends on them.

“Faith in Christ never let down,” said Okonkwo

The 2017 edition attracted several other clerics from across Nigeria and the world among who were Pastors Paul Adefarasin, Taiwo Odukoya, Bishop Ransom Bello and others from Ghana, United State and the United Kingdom.

Some of the faithful, while recounting their testimonies to The Guardian testified to the goodness of the Lord at the event, saying that the one-week programme transformed their lives.

Meanwhile, despite the high volume of traffic that was witnessed during the closing ceremonies, the intervention of the various traffic management agencies, which include officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Agencies (LASTMA), the police and other government agencies eased traffic movement along the Oshodi-Gbagada Expressway.

One of the notable Nigerians that attended the occasion was the immediate past Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro. He said it is time Nigerians acquaint themselves with the Lord and seek His face for the transformation of self and their country.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/okonkwo-adefarasin-others-pray-for.html

A female Lawyer, Yewande Oyediran, accused stabbing her husband Lowo in Ibadan, Oyo State, was on Monday sentenced to seven years in prison by Justice Muntar Abimbola for manslaughter.

Oyediran was a staff of the Department of Public Prosecution in the Oyo State of Ministry of Justice.

She was accused of killing her husband with a knife after a disagreement on February 2, 2016, at their residence in Akobo area of Ibadan.

Oyelowo Oyediran, a France-based businessman hailed from Gbongan, in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State.
Akelicious recalls that Lowo, as he was fondly called, was stabbed to death by his wife on February 2, at about 6.10 a.m. at their home on 30, Abidi Odan Street, Akobo, Ibadan, after a heated argument ensued between them.
The couple had no child before the unfortunate incident.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/breakingfemale-lawyer-yewande-sentenced.html

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa has dumped FC Ifeanyi Uba of Nnewi for another Nigerian club side.


He has yet to disclose the new club.

Ezenwa made this known in Abuja on Monday that he took the decision “after making some consultations and putting considerations in place.’’

He said that his new club would be made known soon in grand style.


“The new club will be unveiled very soon in an occasion that I will sign a new jersey.

“Although my contract with FC Ifeanyi Uba is over but I have considered leaving them after contract expiration,’’ Ezenwa said.

The Super Eagles goalkeeper said he was expecting to do better with the new club.

“I am always focused and determined to excel at goal posts which is the secret of my success.

Ezenwa has been with FC Ifeanyi Uba as number one goalkeeper.


more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/super-eagles-goalkeeper-ikechukwu.html

@www.Akelicious.com

The 12th edition of the Nigeria Entertainment Awards was held on Saturday, November 25th, 2017 at the Symphony Space Peter Sharp Theater in New York. Singer Emma Nyra anchored the successful 12th edition of the awards.

Olamide and Davido were big winners for the night with both taking home multiple awards each. Olamide won Best Album for “Glory” and Best Rap Act; and Davido won Best Afropop Male Artist of the Year and Hottest Single of the Year for “If”.

The event was attended by many familiar faces from the Nigerian and African entertainment industry including Davido, Olamide, Seyi Shay, DJ Self, Young Paris, Barbee, Gbenro Ajibade, Dremo, Korto Davies, Sheyman, ID Cabasa, DJ Enimoney, Danagog, Dotman, D12, Kobazzie, DJ Fluker, Jaycube, Owo, B-Red, Hameed, Yinka Rythmz, Ms Ayodelay, Felix “Zeusi” Omozusi, DJ Stramborella, Dr Frabz, DJ Prince, DJ Phemstar, Innocent Onwubiko and Sudan amongst others. Also in attendance was Abimbola Fernandez, daughter of the late Nigerian billionaire businessman, Antonio Deinde Fernandez.

The fans were entertained by great performances highlighted by Olamide aka Baddosneh, who closed out the show. The show also featured singing sensation Mayorkun who took home the “Best New Act of the year”.

Other highlight of the show includes the humanitarian award that was presented to Dr. (Ms.) Bimbo Adighije, the founder of “CFF Africa” foundation. Mr. Bankole Omishore also received Pioneer Award for his work in government and media. Sheyman and Yinka Rythmz both took home Trailblazer Awards.

The 2016 NEA awards was supported by Raging Bull Entertainment, UDR Media, DJ Zimo, Red TV, EEC, Colors of Africa, Sheikh Entertainment, Phemstar Productions, 803 Lounge, Solara Group, NiPRO, SA Café Lounge, Kedu TV, Playbak Magazine, Splash Entertainment, Tropical Grill and Fidelity NRN Account.

For all press and media related inquires please contact:
NEA AWARDS PR
Tel: 917 541 8394
Email: producers@neaawards.org
Social Media Handles: FB: NEA Awards | Twitter/Instagram: @neaawards | #NEA

About NEA
The NEA AWARDS is an annual entertainment award show held in the United States, with the sole purpose of celebrating and recognizing the numerous contributions of entertainers to the African entertainment industry, while at the same time promoting the image and rich culture of Nigeria.
# # #



MUSIC CATEGORIES

· Album of the Year: Glory (Olamide)

· Hottest Single of the Year: If (Davido)

· AfroPop Male Artist of the Year: Davido

· AfroPop Female Artist of the Year: Seyi Shay

· Rap Act of the Year: Olamide

· Dancehall Artist: Patoranking

· Best Collabo of the Year: Iskaba – Wande Coal & DJ Tunez

· Best Music Video of the Year (Director): Yolo- Seyi Shay (Dir: Meji Alabi)

· Best New Act: Mayorkun

· Indigenous Artist of the Year: Phyno

· Diaspora Artist of the Year: Jidenna

· Inspirational Artist of the Year: Sinach

· Most Promising Act to Watch: Deshinor

· Music Producer of the Year: Krisbeatz

· African Male Artist of the Year (Non-Nigerian): Toofan

· African Female Artist of the Year (Non-Nigerian): Becca

· AfroSoca: Machel Montano



FILM/TV CATEGORIES

· Best Actor: Ransey Noauh (76)

· Best Actress: Funke Akindele (A Trip to Jamaica)

· Supporting Actor: AY (A Trip to Jamaica)

· Supporting Actress: Kehinde Bankole (The Dinner)

· Film Director: Steve Gukas (93 Days)

· Best Picture: The Wedding Party

· Best Lead Role in TV: Oreka Godis (Our Best Friend’s Wedding)

· Best Lead Role in Film (Non-Nigerian / Africa): Korto Davies

· Best TV Show: Big Brother Naija




OTHER CATEGORIES:

· Best Disc Jockey: DJ Prince

· Diaspora Disc Jockey of the Year: DJ Phemstar (U.S.)

· Africa Disc Jockey of the Year: DJ Slick Stuat & Roja (UG)

· Entertainment Executive of the Year: Tobi Sanni Daniel

· OAP of the Year: Big Tak (Urban FM)

· TV Presenter: Seyitan (The Sauce)

· Best Comedy Act: Woli Arole & Asiri

· Photographer: Kelechi Amadi
More details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/full-listwinners-of-nea-awards-2017.html?m=1

As shared on facebook
This is a brave boy that killed a python with a cutlass,. It happened in MGBAKWU, Awka North

More photos at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/photossmall-boy-killed-python-with.html?m=1

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has one more hurdle to cross in his secret deal with some stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Akelicious learnt yesterday that Jonathan said Atiku must beg or apologize to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to get the 2019 presidential ticket of the PDP on a platter of gold.

Although Obasanjo has quit partisan politics, Jonathan was of the opinion that “he is still a strong factor in shaping the future of the nation in 2019 because he is a force among the revered kingmakers.”


Former President Jonathan had in early November told the publisher of Ovation magazine in an interview that “If Atiku gets our party ticket, he would compete well. But he would have to reach out to our boss, Baba OBJ, the boss of all bosses. We’ve all learnt at different times that you ignore OBJ at your peril. OBJ has the magic wand. He is respected at home and abroad.”

It was however unclear if Atiku has either accepted the condition or opted to go it alone in seeking the presidential mandate of the PDP.

But some presidential aspirants in PDP were said not to be ready to step down for Atiku, whom Jonathan is working to the answer for.

The aspirants said they prefer to slug it out with Atiku during the presidential primaries.

The affected aspirants are ex-Governor Sule Lamido, ex-Minister Ibrahim Shekarau, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and a former governor (now a Senator), who is expected to defect from APC to PDP.

The fate of the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of PDP, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi on the party’s 2019 ticket was hanging in the balance as at press time.


Findings by our correspondent revealed that the secret deal, which made Atiku to resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC), was comprehensive and targeted at the ex-VP securing the PDP presidential slot.

It was gathered that the package also borders on hijacking the party structure at the National Convention on December 9 to make Atiku’s choice as the PDP presidential candidate a reality.

Following lobbying by Jonathan, some founding fathers of PDP (including a few retired military officers), have been part of the latest course in PDP.

Investigation revealed that most governors of the PDP were said to have bought into the Atiku project in deference to Jonathan.

A top source, who was privy to the deal, said: “The unfolding script on Atiku’s return to PDP has the blessing of some founding fathers of PDP who are out to salvage the party. A major component is a likely waiver for the ex-VP to contest the party’s presidential primaries.

“So far, Atiku is complying with the secret accord for his return to PDP. A formal declaration in Yola is being expected either on Wednesday or December 6 as indicated in a tentative timetable.

“But in one of the negotiation shuttles with Atiku, ex-President Jonathan added a caveat that the former Vice President can comfortably secure PDP ticket and win the 2019 poll if he begs ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“We were all shocked by this condition because Obasanjo is no longer in partisan politics. But Jonathan said Obasanjo is an institution whose action or inaction could make or mar the electoral fortunes of Atiku.

“The former President also believes that Obasanjo may persuade any of the presidential aspirants to withdraw for Atiku after weighing all the indices. He said if Obasanjo could reconcile with him, he can also forgive Atiku.

“As a matter of fact, Jonathan cited cases of chairmanship aspirants in PDP travelling to Abeokuta to seek his blessing.

“We are expecting Atiku to comply with this proviso because we want to begin the media war (based on facts and figures) in earnest.

“Jonathan’s position on Obasanjo has been endorsed by some founding fathers of PDP, especially the military class which contrived the existence of the party.”

Meanwhile, there were indications yesterday that some presidential aspirants in the PDP may not step down for Atiku.

These include Lamido, Shekarau, Dankwambo and a former governor (now a Senator), who is expected to defect from APC to PDP.

It was not clear if the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of PDP, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi will seek the party’s 2019 ticket.

A governor, who played a significant role in the pact with Atiku, said: “As part of the deal, we have been trying to prevail on some of these aspirants to step down but they have chosen to contest the primaries with the ex-Vice President.

“Some of them queried why a politician will cross from the opposition party and just be given PDP presidential ticket.

“One of the aspirants said since 1999, he has never defected to any party. He said loyalty to the party and competence should be compensated by PDP.

“Well, we have looked into PDP Constitution, it is immaterial when you join, you can enjoy the rights and privileges which a Methuselah member enjoys. Go and look at sections 8 and 18 of our constitution.”

While Section 8(a) and (b) of the PDP Constitution deals with the procedure for rejoining PDP, Section 18 is on the Status of Returnee Members.

Section 8 reads: “A person who desires to rejoin the party after leaving it shall: (a) apply to his Ward Secretary for readmission; and (b) unless given waiver by the National Working Committee(NWC), be placed on probation for a period of not less than one year.

“Subject to the provision of Section 8(b), a member on probation shall have the right to attend all meetings of the party but shall not be entitled to vote at such meetings, nor shall he be eligible to contest for elective office on the platform of the party.

Section 18 says: “A person who has earlier decamped from the party but later decides to return to the party shall lose the seniority and privileges conferred on him by his previous status.”

But the PDP top shot said: “As the opposition party, we are looking at the larger picture of the return of Atiku, we will give him all waivers required to ensure his readmission.

“Some of our leaders, who were initially opposed to the return of the ex-VP, had shown enough understanding in the past few months.”

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan yesterday said the exit of Atiku would not have any significant effect on the fortunes of the party in the 2019 general elections.

He said no serving governor, no presiding officer of the National Assembly or key national executive officer of the party was in sync with Atiku’s defection.

Olaosebikan who spoke with journalists in Abuja yesterday said in spite of the defection, President Muhammadu Buhari would win hands down and that the party would perform better in 2019.

He added: “Going through the resignation letter, I found out that the Turaki did not exercise enough fortitude. He allowed politics and ambition to take control of him. He should have stayed with his avowed position in 2013 that the All Progressives Congress was his last bus stop politically, and leave the rest in the hands of Allah.”

“What the President needs from us, particularly the big political players is love, understanding, support and prayers as already being exhibited by the National Executive of the party and our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who at different fora recently gave us hope and assurances of a better tomorrow.”

When asked of the declaration of Asiwaju Tinubu that the party would not give automatic ticket to President Buhari for a second term, Olaosebikan told journalists that the position of Tinubu was in the best interest of the President, APC and the country as a whole.

“Asiwaju, with the declaration of no automatic ticket was merely portraying the President as a genuine democrat who believes in due process. What Asiwaju Tinubu said was in support of strengthening our democracy and our political institution which we need to do with all seriousness.

“You would recall too, that he stated that all the organs of the party would support him through the processes. In a nutshell, he is in full support of his second term and you know with him, all the APC governors and the presiding officers in the National Assembly, the ticket is already in the pocket of the President.

“And when it comes to the general election, it is a platitude that you cannot compare the popularity and acceptability of President Muhammadu Buhari with that of any person in the country today. He will win in the North and in the South convincingly. Buhari is not loved for money or any material thing; he is passionately loved for his strong character and piousness.”

more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/beg-obasanjo-and-get-pdp-ticket.html

For the second time in three weeks, presentation of the Cross River State’s 2018 budget by Governor Ben Ayade to the state House of Assembly has failed.

The governor was to present the budget three weeks ago. But when the 25-member House sat, he failed to show up. It was alleged that members were not ready to receive him, as they were allegedly protesting non-payment of allowances by the state government amounting to over N600m.

Within the week, several radio announcements were made, saying the governor was going to present the budget last Thursday. But for the second time, he did not appear. The House was reportedly not ready for him, due to alleged financial wrangling.


Members, said to be in a face-off with the governor, sat on Thursday but did not list the budget on their proceedings.

Though all arrangements were put in place for the presentation estimated to be about a trillion naira, it was gathered that there was no formal communication between the governor and the House on the matter.

Sources at the Assembly alleged members were insisting that at least N10m be paid to each of them as allowances; otherwise they would not sit to receive the budget.

The House leadership however dismissed this as “complete falsehood”, saying there was no such demand and that the House was not holding the governor to ransom.

In a reaction, the Deputy Speaker, Joseph Bassey, said: “The budget was not in our vote and proceedings and we were not aware. This was why it was not received last Thursday.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/again-cross-river-assembly-fails-to.html

President of the Senate, Abubakar Bukola, on Friday emphasized that the nation’s unity remains a prerequisite for Nigeria’s development, stability and greatness.

Speaking in Calabar, at the retreat held by the Southern Senators’ Forum, Saraki insisted: “We must always put Nigeria first” in the ongoing debate about restructuring of the country and other similar agitations.


“As a nation, unity is a prerequisite for development, stability and greatness. Unity is the first focus. Without unity, we can achieve nothing. And yet we know that, since the end of the Nigerian Civil War, our unity has never been more challenged than at the present time.

“There are agitations across the length and breadth of this country that threaten our unity. And this time around, the threats are multi-faceted, and the vagaries of modern times have made the issues even more challenging than in the early post-independence era.”

He further stated that the founders of Nigeria’s Constitution had envisioned the current agitations, and had put in place guidelines to ensure that the entire country must be on the same page in order to take drastic decisions.

“In seeking to carry out any reform or restructuring, it is worth bearing in mind that the founders of our country, in their wisdom, had laid down some guidelines, making clear that it cannot be done by a simple majority, but rather by a two-thirds majority.

“To this end, we must all be on the same page. We cannot bully or browbeat others into accepting our point of view or positioning. Whatever we do must be by consensus, with the buy-in of all critical stakeholders in the debate,” Saraki said.

He also emphasized that Nigeria was not alone in its current predicament, stating that in Africa and the rest of the world, similar agitations were making governments and those they rule over to question their continued co-existence, amid new and persistent threats to their unity.

Saraki said: “The ripples of Catalonia’s failed referendum bid are still being felt in Spain. In other parts of the Western hemisphere, the rise of right wing populism – amid concerns about immigration and illegal migration – is fueling suspicion and injecting an element of the unpredictable into once stable societies.

“Britain’s shock Brexit vote not only brought about a seismic shift in the political dynamics of that country, it also prefigured the dawning of Trumpian America. Sections of U.S. society are now locked in a fractious debate about what it means to be American. From anthem protests by African American football stars to the debate over Confederate statues to inflamed confrontations in Charlottesville, the United States is roiling with its own agitations. In the Middle East, a location of historical disagreement over borders, religion and statehood, the solutions seem far off.

“In all of this – the ability to dialogue, to listen to one another, to seek to understand the other person and to accept each other’s differences – is important in this issue of unity. Indeed, unity must exist before you can even talk about restructuring or reform. And so, Distinguished Colleagues, one of my messages to you today is this poser: How Do We Stay Together?”

Saraki also stated that it is the responsibility of legislators to find the necessary clarity that will allow substance to override parochial considerations and crude sentiments. He also stated that Nigeria’s democracy is built around compromise, and Senators have a responsibility to reassure their constituents and inculcate in them a sense of belonging that will also make them to always put Nigeria first.

He further challenged the senators from the Southern part of the country to play their own role in boosting the profitability of commercial enterprises in their states, thereby creating an economic boom that will enhance the unity of the nation and provide more opportunities for people.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/nigerias-unity-must-be-our-first-focus.html

Aku and Ikolo communities in Igboetiti local government council in Enugu State are now under heavy police occupation following a clash
that erupted on Thursday between the two communities that left several injuries and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

The Guardian gathered that the incident, which could have resulted into a full-scale war and killings but for police intervention, left
at least 20 persons severely injured with houses and poultry farm razed.

It was gathered that the two neighboring communities had been at loggerheads for some time now over boundary, a development that had defied intervention of leaders of the areas.


Trouble was said to have started Thursday afternoon, when youths from Ikolo allegedly blocked the major road leading to Aku and resorted to extorting passers-by and other road users, including motorcyclists.

Another source said, however, that it was as a result of disagreement that erupted among youths over an encroachment in the contentious area by natives of Aku.

A source stated that the situation went out of control when the few youths resorted to a free for all that attracted other members from both communities, adding that several dangerous objects were deployed in the attack.

A poultry farm belonging to a former local council chairman worth several millions of naira and other property were destroyed, while
several persons from both communities sustained serious injuries and are being treated in various hospitals.

President General of Aku General Assembly, Fidelis Ezeoyili told The Guardian, that at least, six members of his community were currently hospitalised, adding that their injuries arose from machete cuts, gunshots and use of other dangerous weapons.He said the community has a history of boundary dispute with Ikolo and that efforts to resolve the problem had not yielded dividends.

“In September last year, we wrote the state governor and copied relevant agencies on the need to put permanent solution on the problem
by demarcating the contentious portion so that we can have peace; but as I speak to you, nothing has been heard from government. We decided to put up that letter because of frequent attacks on our people around the boundary areas. They will mould blocks and they are destroyed, they will farm and somebody will cut down their crops among several others.

“Now, look at the level of destruction that our people have incurred. We restricted our youths from engaging in reprisal attack; otherwise the destruction will be massive. But we cannot continue this way and that is why I am appealing to the state government to please do something about this boundary issue. Many houses have been burnt and injuries sustained; nobody is sure what will happen next,” he said

James Akadu, an Architect, who hails from Ikolo, described the destruction as “massive”, stressing that the leaders of the town and
security operatives have taken inventory of destruction. He stated that something should be done to avert further hostilities.


Meanwhile, the Police have said it deployed its men to the warring communities to avert further clashes, stressing that its intervention
prevented “full blown war and killings”.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ebere Amaraizu, which confirmed destruction of property and injuries on both communities, urged the warring communities to maintain peace and not to take laws into their hands.

Amaraizu said that normalcy had been restored to the area as security had been already beefed up in the communities, adding however that, “leaders of the communities, including the youth leaders, are being engaged for a lasting peace and resolution of the misunderstanding between the two communities.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/police-take-over-communities-in-enugu.html

With the rapid fire approach his support groups are adopting in garnering support for his second term bid, it is becoming clearer by the day that President Muhammadu Buhari would run for the presidency in 2019. In this report, JONATHAN NDA- ISAIAH attempts a political arithmetic on the permutations and calculations ahead of the forthcoming presidential poll.

In political climes, it is the norm for governors and presidents to seek a second term in office. They have the right of first refusal even, in advanced democracies. American president, Donald Trump was sworn into office on January 24 this year but there are already talks of him contesting for a second term in 2021.

In Nigeria, talks about Buhari’s second term are done in hushed voices since the president has not indicated interest in contesting the 2019 election. Some political observers have likened him to former South African president, Nelson Mandela who served just one term, laid a solid foundation and anointed a successor to carry on his legacies.

But when his support groups under the umbrella body of National Committee of Buhari Support Groups (NCBSG) suddenly appeared in the details some months ago, the political equation changed. The activities of the NCBSG of recent seem to be unsettling those not comfortable with a Buhari 2019 presidency, including some big wigs in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The arrowhead of the Buhari 2019 presidency and national chairman of the NCBSG, Senator Abu Ibrahim, who activated the support groups, zone by zone, appears not to he relenting. Political analysts aver that the APC federal lawmaker representing Katsina South senatorial district is going about it as if the president’s second term bid fulfils all life’s ambition. Working assiduously behind the scene with the NCBSG, Senator Ibrahim is tacitly getting state governors and political leaders across the geopolitical zones to endorse the president for 2019.
It became even clearer that President Buhari would run for the 2019 presidency when he openly endorsed the NCBSG. A delegation of the committee of the support groups, led by Senator Abu Ibrahim had in October paid him a courtesy visit in Aso Rock last month. Buhari told the delegation of the committee of 189 support groups that worked for his election in 2015 that their work at this time require a lot more of sacrifices, both physical and material.
He commended the support groups working for the progress of his administration, saying posterity will reward their sacrifices for the peace, progress and prosperity of the nation. A statement, signed by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, quoted Buhari as saying, “I am grateful for your sacrifices. Your work requires a lot of sacrifices, both physical and material. I do not think anybody will join this organisation for material reasons. What you are doing is for the nation and not for me as an individual. Therefore, there is no way you can lose because what you are doing is for posterity”.
Apprising the president of their activities, the NCBSG said they would continue to engage in the production of detailed sector-specific documentaries, programmes, policies and achievements of the administration. In a PowerPoint presentation, the group told the president that they had a massive, diverse, grassroots base, which would strive to mobilise young Nigerians to become drivers of the programmes and achievements of the Change administration.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the closed door meeting with the president, Senator Ibrahim said members of the national committee of the Buhari support groups have had series of meetings discussing the problems of the country and that they came to the villa to intimate the president of the outcome of their meetings.
He said, “We came here as members of the national committee of the Buhari support group. This is an amalgamation of about 189 different support groups that had worked for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to win the 2015 general election.
“We have been holding meetings, discussing the problems of this country, Nigeria. So, we thought it was high time we met with the President to intimate him about the activities of the group. We discussed with him about the plans to improve the situation in Nigeria. Mr President was very pleased with our programmes”.
He further said the support groups would encourage President Buhari to contest for the 2019 election because they believe in his philosophy. “We believe in his philosophy and we believe he can solve the problems of this nation. He can ensure the progress, stability and prosperity of this nation”, Ibrahim said.
But the argument by those opposed to the Buhari 2019 presidency is that he will be 76 by 2019 and may not have the power and stamina to undergo vigorous campaign in 2018 and early 2019. The thinking is that the president has been suffering from health challenges, which have kept him away for four out of 11 months spent in this year alone. However, the president has recovered significantly in the last few weeks.
There were also reports of political meetings while the president was away in the United Kingdom since it was believed that he may not come back and even if he does, he will resign. Scheming for who will emerge the vice president to Osinbajo and fly the party’s flag in 2019 had even reached a crescendo.
But while the surreptitious meetings were in top gear in Buhari’s absence, the Senator Abu Ibrahim-led NCBSG were busy activating the support groups and holding meetings from one geopolitical zone to the other, in preparation to kick-start the campaign for the president’s second term bid. Where others saw hope dimming for the Buhari presidency, the NCBSG rekindled hope for Nigerians, assuring them that the best is yet to come in the Change Agenda of the president. And like the cat with nine lives, Buhari came back looking healthier than ever.
Like Chinua Achebe’s proverbial toad which does not run in the day time for nothing, recent activities by the president’s support groups indicates that he will be running for a second term. The endorsement of the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups by the president himself and the recent commissioning of the NCBSG office by some governors and ministers, is a pointer to the fact that a second term for Buhari is in the offing.
Besides, keen observers believe that Buhari’s promise during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the APC that he will appoint more ministers into his cabinet is another 2019 political card. LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that the president is set to appoint eight new ministers, one from each geopolitical zone and one from Lagos and Kano. The new ministers, it was learnt, will be core politicians who can mobilise voters from their states and regions in preparation for 2019.
The president also visited Ebonyi and Anambra States last week. This was the first time he would be visiting the South East since he became president in 2015. The South East has been protesting over alleged marginalisation, saying they feel ostracised by the Buhari administration. But in the last few weeks, the president, by his actions, has turned on the charm-offensive, trying to woo the region.
There are keen observers of the polity who posit that Buhari is the only person that can win the presidency in 2019 for the APC. The thinking is that no matter how bad or well the president has performed, he still has a massive following in the North, given the kind of crowd the NCBSG has been pulling in the zones that the support groups have held their zonal meetings so far. They argue that no Northern politician can match the president in the region. The jubilation across the states in the North when Buhari came back from his medical vacation also proved he still holds the ace in the North.
So far, no Northerner in the APC has indicated interest in contesting the presidency. It is an established fact that former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, will contest the presidency in 2019 but not on the platform of the APC. The calculation in the APC is that, with Osinbajo as the running mate, the South West will vote for Buhari since the South East and South South are still regarded as opposition territory. Besides, there is the possibility that the PDP will zone the vice president slot to the South East or South South.
Considering the activities of the NCBSG, even the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is praying fervently that the APC does not present Buhari as its candidate in 2019. The fear of the major opposition in the country is that at the moment, it cannot boast of an eligible Northern candidate it will present that can stand Buhari in the North. PDP believes that if APC mistakenly presents another Northerner apart from Buhari for 2019, it has a good chance of clinching the presidency.
But pundits posit that PDP’s fear tends to be a bad dream that may soon unfold into a pleasant reality. This, they said, is more so when it is considered that even state governors under the party’s platform are beginning to endorse Buhari for a second term. Recently, Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, who is an opposition governor, endorsed the president’s second term bid. He told journalists in Aso Rock that as far as he wishes a second term for himself, he also wishes same for the president.
Acknowledging this, chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, recently declared that all but two governors in the country are in support of a second term for President Buhari. Okorocha said this while addressing leaders of the Democratic Youths Congress for Buhari 2019, who visited him at Government House, Owerri on Tuesday. He urged every Nigerian to support Buhari for a second term, saying there is no “better man for the job than Buhari”.
He said, “People should not use the Anambra election result to judge the support for Buhari as it does not reflect the support. Even the government and people of Anambra support President Buhari, what happened was that an internal disagreement among the leaders in APC in Anambra cost us the election”.
Also, the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups pulled more endorsement for Buhari from state governors at its North Central meeting in Abuja on Tuesday. Governors and some political leaders from the North central geo-political zone called on President Buhari to seek re-election in the 2019 general election.
They vowed that they are not prepared to persuade or preach to him, but that they will compel him to re-contest because there is no other person who can come up for now to sustain the change and economic growth taking place in the country at present other than President Buhari
Prominent among those who called on Buhari to seek a second term in office, were Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State and Senator George Akume. The motion at the meeting for Buhari to contest for second term in office was moved by Senator George Akume and seconded by Governor Lalong of Plateau State. The audience, comprising members of the NCBSG from the zone, unanimously adopted the motion.
Citing reasons for their decision, Senator Akume listed successes in the fight against terrorism, economic recovery, sustenance of democracy, restoration of Nigeria’s reputation in the comity of nations, and Buhari’s personal integrity and patriotism as justification for their call. Lending his voice to the discussion, Governor Ortom said “for 2019, there is no credible presidential candidate for the APC other than Buhari”.
There at the meeting, President Buhari again endorsed the NCBSG. In a speech delivered on his behalf by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, he assured the NCBSG that the economy is set to be on a better pedestal following steps already taken by government in that regard.
Buhari stated: “We are convinced of the need to establish a firm foundation upon which a united, peaceful and prosperous nation can be built by, and for, this and succeeding generations of Nigerians. I remain very grateful to all Nigerians for their patience and understanding as we go through the difficult steps necessary to achieve this objective…. Toward this end, we shall continue to count on the unflinching support and understanding of every area, especially those of you who trooped out to convince fellow countrymen and women of our sincere commitment to the course of Nigeria”.
However, there appears to be discordant tunes coming from the APC camp on Buhari’s second term bid. On the day it was reported that North Central governors and the NCBSG in the zone endorsed Buhari, national leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was also in the news saying President Muhammadu Buhari cannot get an automatic ticket for the 2019 presidential election. This is also less than 24 hours after Governor Okorocha said 34 governors had endorsed Buhari for a second term.
Speaking in Akure, capital of Ondo State, Tinubu said, “Governors cannot appropriate the power of endorsement to themselves”. The APC leader maintained that leadership of the APC had not endorsed Buhari as its sole candidate for 2019. He added that the flagbearer of the ruling party in the 2019 presidential election would emerge through a democratic process.
“Buhari that I know, who says he will lose at any convention? But if the national body, the national executive committee and all of us as members endorsed him as our single candidate, we would not be violating INEC regulations; we would not be violating our party constitution. What you are hearing is just a campaign by other people who might like to do so”, the former Lagos State governor said.
Political watchers say they are trying tediously to fathom the motive behind Tinubu’s remark on the president’s second term bid. They hold strongly that if what he said is anything to the contrary, then he may just as well be one of the party leaders who is seen with the president in the day and work against him at night.
As it stands at the moment, Buhari’s second term bid is indisputable. The presidency also confirmed this during the week when it said the president is as fit as a fiddle to seek re-election for the presidency in 2019. Presidential spokesmen, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu spoke on Monday morning when they appeared on Arise News Channel.
Shehu said, “That is the perfect answer but if you ask that question: is he good enough, is he fit enough? I can tell you the president is very well and good enough to go”.
Also, in an opinion piece he wrote recently, Adesina stated that Buhari personally rejected the motion to endorse him for 2019 during the NEC meeting of the APC.
Adesina wrote: “I was there (APC NEC meeting). The atmosphere was friendly, almost convivial. At a point, someone moved a motion of confidence in the Buhari administration.
“The seconder, a former state governor, added to the motion, seeking an endorsement of the President as candidate for second term in 2019. As he raised the motion, I saw the President gesturing, with his two palms downwards.
“The gestures meant, please, cool down, not now. This is premature. And the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, weighed in, accepting the motion of confidence, and deferring the one on automatic candidacy. Everyone was satisfied”.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/between-buhari-and-2019-question.html

The Federal Government has raised a 30-man national tripartite committee to begin negotiation for a fresh national minimum wage.

It will be inaugurated on Monday, November 27, 2017 at Council Chambers, Aso Rock Presidential Villa, State House, Abuja.

The committee, led by a former Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Amal Pepple, draws membership from the public sector, (federal and state governments) and the private sector made up of the largest private employer group, the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).


Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, is deputy chairman, Richard Egbule, who is the chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, would serve as secretary.

Other members include: Udo Udo Udoma, the Minister, Budget and Planning; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita.

The Governors’ Forum is represented by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State (South West); Rochas Okorocha, Imo State (South East); Hassan Dankwambo, Gombe State (North East); Nyesom Wike, Rivers State (South South); Simon Lalong, Plateau State (North Central); Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi State (North West); and A.B. Okauru, Esq., DG, NGF (Observer).

Trade unions are represented by President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, Peters Adeyemi, Kiri Mohammed, Amechi Asugwuni, and Peter Ozo-Eson.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) is represented by Bobboi Bala Kaigama, Sunday Olusoji Salako, Alade Bashir Alade and the President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Igwe Achese.

The employers are represented by the Director General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Segun Oshinowo; Timothy Olawale (NECA); Chuma Nwankwo (NECA); Mrs. Olubunmi Adekoje (NECA), among others.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/fed-govt-begins-new-minimum-wage.html

The Wife of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Ahmadu Ali, Dr. Maryam Ali, has joined the All Progressives Congress.

Mrs. Ali said her decision to join the APC was borne out of the desire to continue to render service to her people.

Recall that a former Minister of State for Defence and former Ambassador of Nigeria in Ghana, Obanikoro had earlier disclosed his intention to officially defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Dr. Maryam Ali renounced her membership of the PDP and declared her allegiance to the APC at a brief ceremony at the APC National Secretariat, in Abuja, on Thursday.

more details at
http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/ahmadu-alis-wife-maryam-defects-to-apc.html

A Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court, presided over by Mr. Isaac Ajim yesterday remanded a 30-year-old herdsman, Gambo Ibrahim Mohammad in prison for committing culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms as well as causing grievous hurt on a 40-year-old man, Ortese Kwanghdoo.

When the case came up for mention, no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction.

The Prosecuting Officer, ASP Imo Edward, told the court that, on November 2, 2017 at about 7:30am, the Divisional Police Officer in Logo local government area received a distress call from the unit commander police mobile force 13 squadron, DSP Umar Samaila, on special duty, at Ayilamo, that on the same date at about 3:00am, some Fulani herdsmen stormed Azege village, shot and killed one Orese Kwaghdoo male and aged 40 years.

He said the herdsmen also shot one Akaa Hingir, in the chest and he sustained serious injuries.


The prosecution officer stated that during police investigation, one Gambo Ibrahim Mohammed was arrested and a locally made pistol was recovered from him.

According to him, the act was punishable under section 97, 248, 222 of the penal code of Benue State and contravenes section 19 (7) of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment law of Benue State 2017, punishable under section 3 (1) of the robbery and firearms (special provisions) 2000.
He, however, requested for more time to conclude investigation.

Presiding Magistrate, Isaac Ajim, ordered that the accused should be remanded at the Federal Prison and adjourned the case till February 9, 2018 for further mention.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/court-remands-first-anti-open-grazing.html

Zimbabwe’s parliament opened a session on Tuesday to begin the process of impeaching President Robert Mugabe, which could lead to him being stripped of office, an AFP correspondent saw.

Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have called on Mugabe to quit after the military took power and tens of thousands of citizens took to the streets to demand the 93-year-old’s resignation.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/breakingzimbabwe-parliament-opens.html

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige said on Monday that the death of the former Vice President. Dr. Alex Ekwueme is an exit of an unrivalled colossus at a time Nigeria is in dire need of his wisdom, knowledge, discipline, courage and patriotism.

The Minister said it will be difficult to replace the late statesman for his quality, pointing out that as Vice President, the late Ekwueme left office poorer than when he was not in the office.

In a condolence message to the Ekwueme family signed by the Minister, Senator Ngige said he “received with a great jolt, sadness and deep sense of loss, the news of the exit of my political boss, friend and teacher. I was jolted by this sad news because even as I learnt that Ide had slipped into a coma some days ago, I kept praying for him and hoping against hope that he would return to us from the land of coma,” Ngige said in a condolence personally signed by him.

“For Ide, the curtain has been drawn. He ran his race here on earth starting as a provincial boy who came to Kings College Lagos, dazzled everybody with his brilliance, soaring in his School Certificate and proceeded to acquire strings of academic degrees across disciplines, the record of which is yet to be beaten by any Nigerian. Ekwueme epitomized brain and handsomeness. He was highly industrious, a big silent philanthropist especially in education.


“With the passing on of Ide Aguata, the curtain has fallen on a glorious chapter in the history of Nigeria. With the death of Dr. Ekwueme, Nigeria has been assailed by a huge gap that will be difficult to fill. With the passing away of Ide, the sky-high iroko, where then shall the birds of great flight take to? In the contemporary, Nigeria has lost her best in all ramifications- politics, professionalism in disciplines such as Architecture, Law and Business. In the contemporary world of politics, business, Nigeria has lost one of her greatest.

“In an age of narrowness, how will Nigeria find a perfect replacement for Ekwueme, the epitome of learning? Whose deeper thought, whose insight will spring solutions to extant national problems like Ekwueme did when he proposed the six-geopolitical zones and other constitutional issues taken in the 1994 constitutional conference?

“In an age where uprightness has taken flight, who can replace Ekwueme’s conduct in public office? Which African can leave office as Vice President, poorer than when he entered office? In an age of bread and butter politics, who can replace Ekwueme’s urbane consistency? Democracy is surely in danger without statesmen and Democrats with an incorruptible conscience, such that Ekwueme represented.

“Am personally in deep grief. We have lost a father, a mentor, a leader whose briefcase some of us the contemporary leaders of the South East, Viz Prof. A.B.C Nwosu, Dr. Okey Udeh, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Dr. Okwy Nwodo, struggled to carry in 1998 during the formative years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Professor Jerry Gana’s house.

“Ide was a man whose wisdom, I, like many others depended at the outset of this 4th republic. I mourn a man whose shining examples have largely shaped my thought and belief in politics as service to the people. We shall pick the gauntlet and march on to preserve the legacy Ekwueme bequeathed to Nigeria. We can’t afford to renege.

“On behalf of my family and the entire Umu-Ngige clan of Alor in Idemili South Local Government, I wish to send our heart-felt condolences to Beatrice, his beloved wife, his children- Dr. Helen who was with him in the London Clinic, Ochiliozua, the immediate junior brothers, Profs. Larz and Obumneme Ekwueme and other family members as well as Ndi-Anambra, Ndi-Igbo home and in the diaspora and Nigerians in general


“Our leader is gone but his indelible footprint is in the political and professional firmament of Nigeria and shall suffer no erasure.”

more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/ekwueme-we-have-lost-political-colossus.html

@ Akelicious.com

Kogi State Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello has described the late former Vice President of Nigeria,Dr Alex Ekwueme as the bridge that held Nigeria together for decades.In a condolence message personally signed by the Governor and made available by Fanwo Kingsley, DG Media and Publicity, he described the late elder statesman as a “thorough administrator, decent politician and a nationalist who saw Nigeria as a project of unity”.According to the Governor, the late Alex Ekwueme was an example of “excellent leadership”. He said the late icon rendered selfless service to his fatherland, “standing on the podium of truth, sacrifice and progress all his life”.

Bello expressed confidence that the Nigerian nation will immortalize the “good name and sterling values Ekwueme lived for”, calling on the new generation politicians and Nigerians to “mirror the Ekwueme spirit of Service to humanity”.

More details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/late-ekwueme-was-nigerian-bridge-says.html?m=1

@ www.Akelicious.com

As shared on social media

Someone wrote :

I have been reading posts and comments of those celebrating Obiano’s victory and talking down on IPOB. Education is really important. The congratulations should rather go to IPOB. What happened yesterday in Anambra State was a clear test of IPOB’s political numeric strength which has proven that IPOB is fully in charge. For you to be a good politician or even a willing tool (puppet) to the politicians, you must become a good strategist/analyst first. The less informed minds thinks that a *winner must emerge” situation defeats the purpose of the IPOB’s boycott without knowing that IPOB has strengthen their popularity through a successful civil disobedience. Bring your calculator and do the mathematics. The number of registered voters is above 2million and the number of votes cast is within 300k. Are you dumb to know that those who boycotted the election are IPOBs and those who support their ideology? If any of the candidates had openly identified with IPOB and seek for their support, that candidate would’ve secured an automatic victory. As it is now, any politician across Biafra who doesn’t identify with IPOB is a sure loser. It is incumbent on IPOB to remain united, focused and strong and get ready for the juicy offers of the politicians as they will certainly swing to IPOB's direction. All Hail Biafra!
Copied

My take:IPOB is the owner of the land and only them can conclusively determine what will happen in the East as long as democracy is concerned.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/see-how-ipob-help-gov-obiano-to-win.html?m=1

@ www.Akelicious.com

Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano of APGA has been declared winner of the Governorship Election of Anambra State on a landslide victory at exactly 7:30pm Nigerian time . Chief Obiano became the first Governor in Anambra history to have emerged winner in each of the 21 Local Government Areas of the State defeating all his opponents in their respective Local Government Areas . To God be that Glory .

Abia 2019 Loading... Dr Alex Otti we need you again

APGA- 234,071 votes
APC- 98,752 votes
PDP- 70,293 votes
UPP- 7,903 votes

Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano of APGA with 234,071 votes has been declared winner and elected .

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/gov-obiano-set-new-record-in-nigeria.html?m=1

@ www.Akelicious.com


URGENT LETTER TO INEC

Dear INEC

We want to thank you for the way and manner you handled the just concluded Anambra gubernatorial election.

Its 3AM in the morning and we write from one of the local government headquarters to say we pray and hope you never allow yourself to be a part of plans to spit on the emphatic choice of Ndi Anambra.

Yesterday, Ndi Anambra sent out a strong worded statement which must never be spat on.

We told the world that APGA was OUR OWN and that those currently boasting that you'd aid them in announcing results different from what we all saw in the field, are not wanted.

INEC, we have come to that moment where strong leadership is needed because the APC claims they have your support .

They say their Federal might will ensure they get announced and they dare us to go to court.

Its been a long night and Anambra state is not sleeping.

We are following developments round the clock whilst hoping and praying that reason would prevail.

Yesterdays victory was not an ordinary win but a shellacking so we urge you to remain steadfast and never allow yourself to be used as agents of darkness.

The whole world is watching and the next few hours shall determine whether our optimism in your objectivity is premature or steeped in fact.

Even as we speak, the APC agents of doom are telling us they succeeded in Edo and would yet succeed in Anambra.

They say the worst that can happen is that the declared loser goes to court and have threatened to use the massive security forces currently stationed to quell all demonstrations that would naturally result from what they claim is their plan to get you to declare a hopelessly losing Tony Nwoye as winner!

They say we are a weak and docile people who can be trampled upon without as much as whimper.

We know and want to believe these are all baseless rants by a drowning party who think impunity is the best way to grab power.

We don't want to believe that you would for a second announce something different from the resounding APGA win we all saw and witnessed.

We believe and pray you'd do the right thing.

The clock ticks and we remain awake to watch what you do within the next hours.

May posterity judge you kindly as you go ahead to resist whatever pressure mounted on you to do the needful and avert the worst post election crisis ever witnessed in Nigeria.

God bless you!

Imo State government has revealed that it spends N65 million monthly to maintain security and peace in the oil communities in the state without the oil companies contributing to it. Governor Rochas Okorocha disclosed this yesterday when the stakeholders in the oil sector comprising the state government, Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibeh Kachukwu, Oil Companies, traditional rulers from the Oil Producing Areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta local government areas met at the Government House Owerri to deliberate on issues concerning the Oil Producing Communities.

Welcoming the Minister, representatives of the Oil Companies and the Stakeholders from Oil Producing Communities to the meeting, Governor Okorocha stated that the Oil Companies Operating in Imo State behave in a manner that create crisis for the State and problems among the youths and stakeholders in the Oil Producing Communities through factionalisation and cult activities which always lead to killing among the communities themselves.


He said “today the State government spends almost N65 million monthly to pay Security agencies to maintain peace in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta. Meanwhile, we don’t benefit directly. Last time we carried out an amnesty programme where we had to engage 2,833 youths. And every day, most of them are on our payroll just to stop the arms and the avengers.”

He continued “again the Federal Government promises to Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta LGAs when the Vice President came here are yet to be fulfilled. I spoke with him and he promised that something is going to be done. I hope something will be done immediately.”

On the abandoned skill acquisition Centre in Ohaji/Egbema, he said, “we agreed with the Federal Government to turn it into University of Science and Technology, but as at my last discussion with the Vice President, we agreed that it should be turned into a University of Agriculture.

That will help our people instead of abandoning huge that completed project.
“The 330Mw Egbema Gas Plant abandoned which was wrongly contracted and wrongly executed has been lying there for the past Seven years and that is a monumental waste. Over $740 has been wasted. Yet they cannot produce one light bulb. So, I have asked the Federal Government to allow the State take over the plant.”

The Minister told the stakeholders that the aim of the meeting was to find lasting solution to the problems in the Oil Producing Communities, adding that at the end of the deliberations a technical committee would be set up to harness and streamline all the discussions including the grievances for actions.

According to him “Oil will not be an asset in the next 30 years. So, the host Communities should maximise their benefits now and put it to proper use and Oil Companies must start negotiating with the host Communities and the government to know exactly what they need as part of their corporate responsibilities.”

A traditional ruler from the Oil Producing Areas, HRH Eze Emmanuel Assor said “the Oil Companies have failed in their corporate responsibilities to the Communities and that the trend must change for the sake of peace in the Oil Producing Communities.”

Prof. Maurice Iwu who spoke on behalf of the Imo Economic Development Initiative, asked the Federal Government to remove all the bottlenecks holding the State Government from taking over the Power Plant at Egbema as the State has the Capacity to attract investors to complete the plant, adding too that the Industrial Park the State Government was building did not require cash from the Federal Government, but only validation.

At the end of the deliberations which lasted for hours, a technical Committee was set up with Engineer Kingsley Uju representing the government as the head, while two people from the Federal Ministry of Petroleum and one member each from the Oil Companies and two members from the Oil Communities are members.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/imo-govt-spends-n65m-monthly-on.html

President of South East Elders Forum, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, a member of the Southern Leaders of Thought, and Secretary, Eastern Consultative Assembly, Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu Uko, and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have told President Muhammadu Buhari that Biafra remains and can never be forgotten.

President Buhari during a working visit to Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, on Tuesday, called on the Igbo to forget Biafra, and secession and work towards a united Nigeria.

But speaking with Saturday Sun, Dr. Ikedife said it was a wrong choice of word to say, “we should forget Biafra, nobody can forget Biafra”.

He said: “Somebody had told me before that we should forget Biafra, and I told the person that it was not possible to forget Biafra. It is not possible to forget that you are an Odudua son; it is not possible to forget that you are an Ijaw man; it is not possible to forget that you a Fulani; it is not possible to forget that you are Junkun, etc.

“It is a wrong choice of word to say, forget Biafra. Nobody can forget it. If you lost your father or son, mother or half of your family members during the Nigeria-Biafra war, can you forget that?

“Even the person saying it cannot forget Biafra, talk less of those that are concerned, who are called Biafrans.

“The person may say anything else, but Biafra is unforgettable.

We can never forget Biafra; nobody should ever forget Biafra.

Biafra has come to be, never mind that they removed Bight of Biafra and called it Bight of Benin, there are people who are Biafrans and there is nothing you can do about it, even if you kill them and it remains only one, that person still remains Biafra.”

In the same vein, Evangelist Uko noted that shooting and killing the youths will not stop the agitation, and pointed out that Biafra can never be forgotten.

According to him, “the people advising Buhari are misleading him. I have been in the centre of the protests by Igbo youth for over a decade, and I know that the solution is engaging them in meaningful dialogue, but some people preferred to shoot them, so I washed my hands off. “I know that they are angry, bitter and very pained about the killing by the soldiers during the invasion of Nnmadi Kanu’s home.

“Those political leaders telling Biafra that the agitation is over are just deceiving and misleading him.

“The boys are angry and the only solution is engaging them in meaningful dialogue, and secondly, embarking on a meaningful restructuring of the country. These are the two solutions.

“I have been talking with the boys for over a decade and they have absolute confidence in me. I know how they feel. Prof Ben Nwabueze and I tried to help the government by bringing them to a meeting, but some people advised the government to halt the dialogue process and embark on shooting them. Shooting and killing them will not stop the agitation. So, Biafra can never be forgotten.”


Also, Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Comrade Emma Powerful, in a statement said telling the Igbo to forget about Biafra tantamounts to telling the sky to hold the rains.

He emphasised: “It is unfortunate that Buhari would make such statement to Ndigbo because he knows that nothing can stop us from leaving Nigeria.

“We are not bothered or worried about what he said, but Biafra independence is unstoppable, unquenchable and irreversible.

“Telling Igbo to forget Biafra is like telling the sky to stop raining. We have stayed in Nigeria for more than 50 years without any benefits, and we are leaving.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/we-cant-forget-biafra-ikedife-uko-ipob.html

On Saturday, 37 candidates of various political parties will file out to test their strength and acceptance as the people of Anambra State go to the polls to elect their next governor.
However, analysts believe that out of the 37 political parties, only the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), United Progressives Party (UPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peoples Progressives Party (PPA), will be able to put up good efforts at the polls.

As preparations for the election get to feverish point Friday, the police were able to intercept an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) early in the morning in Onitsha which the bomb disposal unit evacuated.

Saturday Sun efforts to confirm this report from the Deputy Inspector of Police, Operations, Mr Habila Joshak proved unsuccessful as he refused to pick his calls.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Nkwachukwu Orji said that the electoral umpire was ready for the election.



According to him, INEC is deploying 23,000 adhoc staff and 700 of its regular staff while 6, 200 card readers are ready to be used today at the 5,379 booths in the state.



Orji disclosed that accreditation for the election will start by 8:00 a.m and voting taking place simultaneously, and ending by 2:00p.m if there was no other voter on the queue.



Also the police said that they would deploy 21, 000 officers to augment the 5, 000 in Anambra State.



When Saturday Sun monitored the situation across the 21 local government areas in the state, sorting and sharing of electoral materials, including ballot papers, were still going on at INEC local government offices up to 3:30p.m.



It was observed at all the local governments visited that only four political parties had their agents at the offices of INEC for the sharing of the electoral materials.



At Awka South LG at about 1:30 p.m many adhoc staff were still struggling to get into the office to look up the list of their posting while some expressed sadness over their names missing from the exercise..



At Njikoka and Dunukofia local governments, only APGA, APC, PDP and UPP agents were present, just as the agents confirmed that they were having smooth exercise.



The Electoral Officer (EO) of Njikoka local government, Obinna Onunri said that the materials arrived early and they do not have any issues yet.



Meanwhile, the INEC has warned politicians not to induce its adhoc staff, corps members and other workers during the election.



The commission also warned the corps members and its members of staff involved in the election not to collect any gratification from any politician during the exercise to avoid being compromised or stand to be blamed.



The Head of Department, Voters Education and Publicity Mr. Leo Nkedife who disclosed this yesterday to Saturday Sun said that anybody caught in any manipulation or fraud would be handed over to the security agents for prosecution, stressing that all the adhoc staff and corps members were trained on dos and don’ts of the election.




Nkedife said that the commission was ready for the election as all necessary arrangement had been made to ensure free, fair and credible election, saying that all the sensitive materials for the election have been distributed to the 21 local government areas for onward movement to the collation centers.



He noted that the commission and security agents held series of meetings where they mapped out the best way to secure the staff and corps members on election duty.



The INEC spokesman also warned the members of the public to only access information from INEC website and platforms and always disregard information and news from the social media, advising that they should contact him or the Resident Electoral Commissioner for proper information and election result.





Meanwhile, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operation and who is in charge of the election, Mr. Habitat Joshak has warned the Very Important Personalities (VIPs), politicians and government officials to keep off the road during the election.



He said that VIPs and government officials should not monitor election but should cast their votes close to their homes and go back, saying that anybody caught moving about during the exercise would be arrested, saying that only people permitted to monitor the election were accredited media, observers as well as adhoc staff and INEC staff.



DIG Joshak said that five policemen would man each polling unit to cover the 4,608 polling units in the state, adding that 303 Hilux vans with patrol team would be moving, three helicopters would be hovering the area view and 15 gunboat for waterways security would be used for the election.



He also said that the threat of IPOB members was an empty threat and a dummy sold out to the people to create unnecessary tension, saying that the state was calm and urged everybody to go out to vote without any fear of intimidation or death.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/in-anambra-37-tussle-for-one-guber-slot.html

The Kogi State government said yesterday that the recent discovery of thousands of fake certificate holders in its civil service has justified its stance on reforms in the sector.

Speaking with journalists in Lokoja, the director general on media and publicity to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, assured the people of the state that the reforms will serve the interests of the citizens.

He stated that the Governor Yahaya Bello administration discovered that the civil service needed a fundamental surgery to make it play its role of anchoring development.

He said, “The conviction informed the staff verification exercise. We have now graduated to the stage of verifying the academic records of the staff and our discoveries so far are mind-boggling. Over a thousand certificates have been confirmed to be fake by the various institutions, which were alleged to have issued the certificates.
“These are the people stifling the system and crying wolf of non-payment of salaries. This administration will remain undeterred by the corruption fighting back. What is right will be done for the greatness of our dear State”.
Fanwo said more certificates were being verified, adding that those who forged certificates will be prosecuted before the end of the year.
He continued: “It is a flagrant violation of the Public Service Rules and the Criminal Codes of the country. Governor Yahaya Bello is a hero who has placed the good of the state above his political safety. But the fact that Kogites are hailing his reforms shows that beyond politics, the people want to be served well.
“A teacher who forged his or her certificate to teach will have no impact on the academic development of his or her pupils. We must stop this trend for Kogi to develop.
“One of the key campaign issues of the APC is the fight against corruption and Governor Yahaya Bello will crush corruption anywhere it manifests”.


http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/fake-certificate-revelations-have.html

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has said Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has 221 police officers and men, including an Aide-De-Camp (ADC) and a chief security officer attached to him for office and personal protection.

The IGP’s revelation came against the backdrop opf reports that he withdrew his security aides on Tuesday.

The police boss insisted, yesterday, he never withdrew Obiano’s ADC or any other police officer attached to the governor.

The IGP, who made this known in Abuja, explained that what happened on the day his ADC was allegedly withdrawn was that both the ADC and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) were asked to attend the IGP’s lecture, alongside other police personnel deployed for tomorrow’s election in Anambra State, which took place at the Police Command Headquarters in Awka, on Tuesday.

The IGP had come under heavy criticism after Obiano raised the alarm that he woke up Tuesday morning to discover that his ADC and CSO had been withdrawn by the IGP.

Obiano said withdrawal of his security aides meant his life was in danger.

Worried by the development, President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly, on Wednesday, at separate events, ordered the immediate restoration of Obiano’s security aides.

The order has been complied with.

But Idris, in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, yesterday, noted that it was imperative for the IGP to explain “rumours surrounding alleged withdrawal of Obiano’s ADC.

“Obviously, the 221 police personnel attached to Obiano are more than the strength of some police area commands in some states of the country.

“This was done to ensure optimum safety and protection of the executive governor of Anambra state.”

He gave a breakdown of the 221 police personnel attached to the governor to include “one ADC, one CSO, Unit Commander, from 45 PMF, one Admin Officer, all of them senior police officers to administer the police personnel.

Others include “43 personnel of Police Mobile Force, from 29 PMF and 54 PMF, 62 personnel of Police Mobile Force (PMF) – from 45 PMF, 46 personnel of Special Protection Unit (SPU) and 66 personnel of Conventional Police Men.

“It is absolutely imperative to correct the wrong impression created in the media that the governor’s ADC was withdrawn.


“The true position of the matter is that the ADC or any other police officer attached to Obiano was not withdrawn…The ADC and CSO returned few hours later, after the lecture, same date, to their duty posts in Government House, Awka, Anambra sate.

Furthermore, the security arrangement currently being implemented by the police, to ensure a conducive atmosphere for a credible, free and fair governorship election scheduled for Saturday will not be compromised…”

and will cover the protection of all flag bearers of the 37 political parties participating in the election.

“The Force will also ensure adequate protection of the electorate, INEC officials, election observers/monitors, electoral materials and the general populace before, during and after the election.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/obiano-has-221-police-personnel-igp.html

@Akelicious.com

Singer Duncan Mighty, popularly known as 'Port Harcourt's First Son', and Vivien celebrate two years of marriage

See the romantic message he shared on IG

If I break your heart is like oil spillage, because i took my time to study your love pass collage, u came to me when things was rough but yet we managed through together, ever since I got married to you everyone around me including my fans now know am the most romantic and caring husband Amongst others... our marriage is just two years yet looks like I’ve been married to you all my life, still you’ve given me a boy and a girl ICON AND MICHELLE... I found peace and joy since u came into my life.. God almighty bless u, honor you and crown u with his grace amen.. ... #mymumubutton #mylifetimepartner


http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/photoduncan-mighty-and-wife-celebrate-2.html?m=1