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The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released guidelines for the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as well as fixing dates for registration of candidates and the examination.

This is coming as JAMB disclosed the reduction of production cost to the tune of N2 billion per annum.


Addressing critical stakeholders on the plans and programmes for 2018 UTME and Direct Entry (DE) examinations at a meeting in Abuja wednesday, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, said the board has fixed a two-month registration duration from November 22, 2017, to January 22, 2018, as against the one month duration for the 2017 examination.

Giving this wide duration, he said the board does not have the intention of extending the registration period.
He however, expressed concern at the ongoing delay experienced at the hands of publishers of the reading texts, which he promised would be handled.

Oloyede said the examination proper has been fixed between March 9 and 17, 2018 for the UTME, while the Mock examination which is optional will take place between 21 and 23 January, 2018.

He said: “It is proposed that the sale of application documents would commence on November 22 and end on January 22, 2018, spanning a period of two months as against one month of the 2017 exercise. The only concern is the publisher of the reading text that appears to have taken the board’s gentle approach as helplessness.

“Having examined that all logistics put in places for a smooth exercise, the management would strictly adhere to the sale period. Therefore, all critical stakeholders are advised to cooperate, collaborate, support and assist the board in this direction.

“It is proposed that the Mock examination would take place on January 22 to 24, 2018. The number of days for the examination varies from one to three and this would depend on the number of candidates who show interest in the Mock examination and the number of Computer Based Test centres in the examination towns/state of candidates who express interest..

“It is proposed that the 2018 UTME will take place between March 9 and 17, 2018,” he added.
To prevent extortion of candidates, Oloyode said the application fee remains N5,000 which include N300 bank charges while candidates are to pay N700 for registration at the Computer Based Centres (CBT) accredited by the board.

According to him, “The application fees remains N5,000 just as the Reading Test is still N500. The application fee is inclusive of the commission of N300 paid on each application to the selling point.”
The JAMB, however, noted that foreign candidates have their fees slashed from between $120 and $100 paid last year to just $20.

He said that “in order to streamline the application fee in tandem with application fee for other public examinations in other countries, management has approved $20 per candidate as application fee for all foreign based candidates in any country. The Nigerian embassies in each of the countries shall assist the board in collating and forwarding the application forms to the board”.

To ensure the successful conduct of the examination, the registrar said the board has put in place measure to checkmate malpractices and fraud, to further give credibility to the examination.
Such measures, he said, included introduction of Electronic Jammers at all CBT centres to ensure that the integrity of the test is maintained.

Other measure is the prohibition of items such as cell telephones and other materials prohibited in examination sessions like wrist watches, any electronic gadgets or device, any form of pen, while eye glasses are to be scrutinized.
He advised parents “to ensure that their children and wards do not go to the examination venue with the prohibited items. Both metal and lens’ detectors will be deployed.”

In preparation for the examination, Oloyede disclosed that the board has at various times met with several stakeholders and service providers necessary for the success of the examination. Such bodies include the Mobile Money operators, banks and other financial service providers, communication service providers (MTN, Airtel, Glo) and technical advisors.

In a related development, Oloyode disclosed that JAMB was able to cut cost on annual bases to the tune of N2 billion in recent renegotiation of service agreements.

According to him, the board renegotiated the then existing service agreements with the aim of having the best deals for the nation and doing what is right.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/jamb-guidelines-dates-for-2018-utme.html

IPOB No election campaign hits streets and villages in Anambra . We need to flood Anambra with No Election campaign, We have the resources and we shall do everything humanly possible to make sure we compel Ndi Anambra not to vote. The work starts with you and I. What have you done to make this a successful one? Go and spread the news, come Nov 18th 2017 Everybody must sit at home. Go and tell your friends .

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/photosipob-no-election-campaign-hits.html

The photograph was taken aboard an aircraft headed to Cyprus Saturday. Mayorkun and LAX will be performing later on. Professor Wole Soyinka is also spotted in the background.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/photo-mayorkun-lax-and-professor-wole.html

IT was a horrifying scene yesterday afternoon in Port Harcourt, as policemen attached to Governor Nyesom Wike and that of the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, clashed.

Amaechi’s escort details were, however, unlucky during the 3p.m. attack, as one of them, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu, was battered, with blood on his face, while the AK-47 rifle of Sgt. Princewill Ubaji was snatched, while being forcibly disarmed, with the rifle taken away by the Rivers governor’s convoy.


Wike, through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, in his reaction, however, claimed that personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and soldiers attached to the minister of transportation attacked his convoy, while allegedly attempting to assassinate him.

But Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi Media Office in a statement yesterday said, “In a blatant show of naked raw power, Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi this (yesterday) afternoon narrowly escaped being shot by security men attached to the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike. His car wasn’t that lucky though. The car was vandalized with a broken side mirror.”

Report of the sad incident was immediately lodged at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Rivers Police Command, headed by Zaki Ahmed, while Ubaji’s rifle had not been recovered, with Ewelu and other injured policemen still receiving treatment in undisclosed hospitals in Port Harcourt, as at press time.

It was exclusively gathered yesterday evening in Port Harcourt through a top security source, who would not want to be named, that the unfortunate incident heightened tension in the area, with passersby, motorists, other road users and persons in the neighbourhood scampering to safety, to avoid being hit by stray bullets in the confusion.

The security source said: “Today, November 11, 2017 (yesterday) at 3 p.m., the Transportation Minister, who was driving from the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, in company with police escorts, got his convoy intercepted by the Rivers governor (Wike) at Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout by Nkpogu in Port Harcourt. The security details managed to ferry Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to safety, after which the Rivers governor led his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Promise Wosu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), and about ten mobile policemen, to attack his predecessor/benefactor’s convoy.

“The Rivers governor and his troops physically assaulted by slapping and bruising the policemen, especially Inspector Johnson Imonikhe, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu and Sgt. Princewill Ubaji, attached to the transportation minister and the governor made away with the AK-47 rifle of Sgt. Princewill Ubaji, one of the policemen attached to the transportation minister.


“The AK-47 rifle was forcibly taken away personally by Governor Wike, who was accompanied by his CSO. The policeman with blood on his face, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu, was hit with an iron by Wosu (Wike’s CSO), in the presence of the Rivers State governor.

“The snatched AK-47 rifle is still in the custody of the Rivers governor’s team and the incident has been referred to State CID (SCID) for investigation.”

When contacted for his reaction through the telephone yesterday evening, the Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), stated that he would find out the details, asking our reporter to call back in ten minutes, but when contacted twice, after thirty minutes, he did not picked the calls, and he had not returned the call, as at press time.

Nwakaudu in a statement said: “Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Saturday escaped assassination, as Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the motorcade of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, attacked his convoy.

“The governor, who was on project inspection, was attacked at Nwanja Junction on Trans-Amadi Road. The SARs personnel and soldiers in the minister’s convoy hit down the governor’s escort rider and attacked the policemen in the pilot car. Mr Debewari, Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the minister of transportation, supervised the attack, which included damage of cameras held by journalists.

“Also part of the attack was the Commander of F-SARS in Rivers State, Mr. Akin Fakorede (a Chief Superintendent of Police), who received the minister of transportation at the Port Harcourt International Airport and accompanied him on his trip.”

He added that after the attack the governor continued with his inspection of projects, adding that Wike was not harmed.

The minister’s media office said the incident which occurred along Trans-Amadi Road, Nwaja axis involved cars of many of Amaechi’s supporters while the Minister’s black jeep was intercepted and blocked at the junction by the security motorcycle outrider attached to Wike after two cars had passed through.

The statement added, “One of the two cars had security men assigned to protect the minister in Port Harcourt. Suddenly, gun-toting security men attached to Wike’s convoy surrounded the Minister’s car, threatening to shoot him. They hit the car, tried to smash the windscreens, back and side windows and broke a side mirror. All through this attack, Amaechi remained calm, inside the fortified Jeep. While the attack occurred, Wike remained inside his vehicle.”

It added that the minister eventually passed through after the intervention of the security team on ground to protect him in Port Harcourt. It continued, “However, when Governor Wike got to the point where the incident occurred after Amaechi’s vehicle had gone by, his security men blocked the road again, dragged out from a vehicle and thoroughly beat up a police man attached to protect Amaechi in Port Harcourt. The Policeman’s riffle was also taken from him.”

The Amaechi media office added that Wike came out of his car, and with his security team went from one vehicle to another of Amaechi’s supporters charging at them, harassing and abusing them. It alleged that Wike’s security men were heard loudly insulting Amaechi and calling him derogative names.

In the meantime, Ikwerre youths have condemned what they called the attack on Amaechi and the policemen in his convoy.

The Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) International from the four Rivers Local Government Areas of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Emohua, described the attack as very unfortunate and least expected.

Amaechi and Wike are both Ikwerre. The transportation minister hails from Ubima in Ikwerre LGA, while the Rivers governor is an indigene of Rumueprikom in Obio/Akpor council.

IYM, through its President-General, Azubuike Nwanjoku, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, representing Ikwerre constituency, in an online statement by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dike Bekwele, declared that Wike’s action was suicidal and detrimental to the already-charged environment being witnessed in the state and insecurity in Rivers in recent times.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/governors-security-pulled-guns-on-me.html

A bloody clash was on Saturday recorded in Port Harcourt, Rivers State between the security convoys of Governor Nyesom Wike and that of the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi.

Security officials of Governor Wike allegedly attacked the convoy of the Transportation Minister.

Amaechi’s escort details were, however, unlucky during the 3 p.m. attack, as one of them, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu, was battered, with blood on his face, while the AK-47 rifle of Sgt. Princewill Ubaji was snatched, while being forcibly disarmed.

Wike, through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, in his reaction, however, claimed that personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and soldiers attached to the minister of transportation attacked his convoy, while allegedly attempting to assassinate him.


Report of the sad incident was immediately lodged at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Rivers Police Command, headed by Zaki Ahmed, while Ubaji’s rifle had not been recovered, with Ewelu and other injured policemen still receiving treatment in undisclosed hospitals in Port Harcourt, as at press time.

When contacted for his reaction through the telephone yesterday evening, the Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), stated that he would find out the details.

He asked our reporter to call back in ten minutes, but when contacted twice, after thirty minutes, he did not take the calls, and he had not called back, as at press time.

Nwakaudu said: “Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Saturday escaped assassination, as Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the motorcade of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, attacked his convoy.

“The governor, who was on project inspection, was attacked at Nwanja Junction on Trans-Amadi Road. The SARs personnel and soldiers in the minister’s convoy hit down the governor’s escort rider and attacked the policemen in the pilot car. Mr Debewari, Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the minister of transportation, supervised the attack, which included damage of cameras held by journalists.

“Also part of the attack was the Commander of F-SARS in Rivers State, Mr. Akin Fakorede (a Chief Superintendent of Police), who received the minister of transportation at the Port Harcourt International Airport and accompanied on his trip.


“After the attack, the Rivers State governor continued with his inspection of projects. Governor Wike was not harmed, despite the attack. The minister of transportation had over 50 personnel of F-SARS, soldiers and mobile policemen in his motorcade.”

The reaction of Amaechi’s Spokesman, David Iyofor, was still being expected as at press time.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/photoamaechi-wike-convoys-in-bloody.html

Governor Willie Obiano has inaugurated and switched on the newly upgraded 36 kva line drawn from the Obosi power injection substation.

Government House correspondent Kenechukwu Ofomah was at Nnewi North Council Headquarters where the project was inaugurated and reports that the 36 kva line replaced the initial 18 kva line conveying power to over 37 communities in Idemili North and South, Nnewi North and South and Ihiala Council areas.

It will ensure constant power supply for the benefitting communities at least 16 hours a day.

Inaugurating the Project which cost the state government 1.8 billion naira, Governor Obiano said it fits perfectly into his administration's blueprint to make Nnewi, the industrial hub of Africa in line with his industrialization agenda.

He revealed that the idea was conceived after a very unpleasant experience of poor power supply he had during one of his visits to the industrial cluster in Nnewi, noting that with its completion, some industries which had gone moribud will spring back to life.
The Governor who observed that when they start running at full capacity, the industries will create ample jobs for the youths, urged the people to vote him for a second term to sustain the tempo of development in the state.
The Commissioner for Power and Domestic Water Development, Mr Obi Nwankwo who revealed that the state government has taken delivery of the first batch of 150 transformers it purchased, said it is presently working out modalities for the distribution of the transformers for greater efficiency.
He also harped on the need for the people to protect the power facilities installed in their localities by government.
The Regional Director of EEDC, Engineer Obiorah Ekwerekwu said the project is a shining example of the kind of support the Company requires from the government and commended Governor Obiano for his doggedness in seeing that the project is completed within the specified period.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Transition Committee Chairman of Nnewi North Council Area, Prince Chukwudi Orizu thanked the Governor for all his people oriented programmes and assured him that Ndi Anambra are aware of all he has done for them and are resolute in their support for his second term bid.
The project was later switched on by the traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu on the courtesy of the Governo

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/obiano-inaugurates-n18bn-36kva-line.html

Some members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) are currently marching across major roads in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State ahead of the November 18, gubernatorial election in the state.

Details later

Over Three Thousand Indigenous People Of Biafra, are marching in the streets of Anambra State, sensitising people over the "November 18th Sit At Home" declaration by IPOB.

They thought Biafra ideology can be quenched, by fallaciously tagging IPOB a Terrorist organisation, but we have proven our resolve by peacefully protesting in Anambra today being the 10th of November 2017.

We are The Indigenous People Of Biafra..
We are Formidable..
We are LionHearted
We remain Fearless before our enemies..
This Generation Must Get Biafra..

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/just-in-ipob-members-rally-in-onitsha.html

A Nigerian judge on Thursday ordered the seizure of a flat linked to the former head of the country’s National Intelligence Agency, after more than $43 million in cash was found during an anti-corruption raid.

Judge Saliu Seidu, sitting at the Federal High Court in Lagos, said the apartment in the upmarket Ikoyi area of the city should be temporarily forfeited to the government, pending any challenge within 14 days.

Acting on a tip-off, agents from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission raided the property on April 12 this year and discovered just under $43.5 million (37.4 million euros, £33.1 million).


They also found £27,800, as well as 23.2 million naira ($65,000, 51,000 euros, £49,600), the court was told.
Documents established the flat was bought in 2015 by Folashade Oke, the wife of Ayodele Oke, who at the time was director-general of the NIA.
It was alleged she bought the property using $1.66 million from government funds to which her husband had access.
President Muhammadu Buhari was elected in 2015 on a promise to cut endemic corruption in government and has vowed to recover what he said were “mind-boggling” sums of stolen public money.
Oke, who had been suspended for keeping an unauthorised stash of cash in a private home, was sacked last week with the country’s most senior civil servant, Babachir Lawal.
Lawal was accused of awarding deals for reconstruction in areas of northeast Nigeria hit by Boko Haram’s Islamist insurgency to companies in which he had a personal interest.
Buhari’s handling of the two cases has been seen as a litmus test for the extent of his anti-corruption drive, given that most of those arrested and charged so far have been high-profile members of the main opposition.
The Oke case was adjourned until November 30.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/nigerian-court-seizes-ikoyi-cash-flat.html

Biafra Nations Youth League, BNYL, has warned herdsmen to keep away from Cross River state.

This is contained in a statement on Friday by BNYL Deputy Leader and Head of Operations, Biafra Broadcasting Service, Ebuta Ogar Takon.



Biafra Nations Youth League recalled that it warned Fulani leaders in Nigeria of a possible resistance if the herdsmen continued their violent acts.
It said “As expected, the anti grazing law in Benue State have forced some Fulani herdsmen to move towards Cross River State.
“There has been series of clashes between the herdsmen and villagers, the most recent is the clashes in Yala local government area of Cross River State.”
Takon who warned that the group would not fold its arms, however, lambasted at a presidential aide, Chief Okoi Obono Obla for condemning Biafra agitators while ignoring killer herdsmen.

“If Obla can condemn our demands for Biafra Republic, I see no reason why he should pretend to be ignorant of the evil perpetrated on his people by Buhari’s kinsmen.
“The earlier he intimate the Presidency to disarm killer herdsmen, the better; because if they continue to be threat to us, we will be forced to mobilize our communities to engage them in defense”, he warned.
Meanwhile, the group has given its position on the forthcoming Anambra election

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/biafra-youth-league-blows-hot-over.html

Immediate past president of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has again counseled party faithful to allow the will of the people prevail in the forthcoming election of principal officers of the party otherwise known as the National Working Committee (NWC) at the December 9, 2017 national convention.

Senator Mark stressed that only the election of people with proven records of performance, competence and integrity would launch the party back to reckoning.

Playing host to political leaders from Kabba and Bunu local government areas of Kogi State, seeking the endorsement of his former special adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, for the position of PDP National Publicity Secretary (NPS) in Abuja yesterday, Senator Mark affirmed that “Kola is competent and eminently qualified for the position.”

“Kola is my product. I have no hesitation in recommending him for the position of National Publicity Secretary of our party. I am convinced that he would do a good job”.
He called on party faithful to consider the pedigree of all contestants in order to be able to elect the best amongst the lots.
Senator Mark was optimistic that if party faithful get it right at the forthcoming convention, it would earn the support of all Nigerians.
Leader of the delegation, Dr Stephen Olorunfemi, said they were in Abuja to seek the endorsement of the former Senate President and other leaders for Kola’s bid for the office of the PDP NPS.
He described Kola as a worthy son of Kogi State who will do the party proud if elected.
In his remarks, Kola stated that his training and practice as a Journalist, Editor and media manager to the former President of the Senate for eight uninterrupted years would put him in a better stead to manage the image of the party .
According to Kola, “ I have the experience. I have media reach and the network. I believe I will be an asset to the party . I know what service means for our party at this critical time.”
Among the delegation were Senator Tunde Ogbeha and House of Representatives member, Tijani Yusuf.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/pdp-convention-let-peoples-will-prevail.html

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has said it would deploy 11,000 personnel for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra.State commandant, Mr. John Ahwen, told journalists in Awka yesterday that seven states – Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, Edo, Delta and Imo would send officers to ensure adequate security during the poll.

Ahwen disclosed that the deputy commandant-general (operations), Mr. Hillary Madu, would be ground commander and would be assisted by two assistant commandants-generals.

He said the corps would deploy 30 dogs, four drones, ambulances and a medical team, in addition to 115 vehicles, 15 of which would be used in the riverine areas of the state.
The commandant urged voters to come out en masse and participate in the exercise without fear of molestation.“The NSCDC is ready. We are fully prepared. Our men will be on ground to make sure that there is a peaceful environment. The people of the state should feel free and secure to exercise their franchise during the election because the security agencies are out to protect them,” he said, calling for the cooperation of all stakeholders.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/nscdc-to-deploy-11000-personnel-for.html

Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has been indicted of complexity in the Sabon Gari market fire outbreak last year where valuables worth billions of naira was lost.



The electricity company had denied allegations leveled against it by the traders who insisted that the inferno was as a result of electrical spark emanating from a power source in the market.

Revealing the abridged report of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, yesterday confirmed that finding has identified electrical spark as major cause of the outbreak, the worse case recorded in recent times.

The panel, which was inaugurated by the governor late last year and charged with examining the cause of the inferno, identify extent of damage and loss by traders, had recently submitted its findings to the state government.
Ganduje, who spoke while receiving cheque of N500 million donated by Aliko Dangote, said the state had so far received N1.2 billion in the appeal fund, and reassured victims of quick disbursement to the affected traders. He applauded Dangote for bringing succour to the traders in Kano.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/panel-indicts-kedco-for-market-fire-as.html

Primary and secondary school teachers in Kaduna State, under the auspices of Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT ) have issued a two weeks ultimatum to Governor Nasir El-Rufai to rescind his government’s decision to sack 21,780 primary teachers.

NUT said, it has concluded arrangements to embark on an indefinite strike and shutdown schools if the Governor fails to shelve his sack plan by the end of the two weeks ultimatum.

The umbrella union of primary and secondary school teachers at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday said, El-Rufai shifted the goal-post in the middle of the game.


Chairman of the union, Comrade Audu Titus Amba who read their open letter to Governor El-Rufai before newsmen said, it was initially agreed by all stakeholders in the education sector that the pass mark for the competency test be pegged at 60 per cent, while those who are unable to score up to 60 per cent be retrained.

According to the open letter signed by NUT Assistant Secretary General, Comrade Adamu Ango, “That, the NUT, Kaduna State Wing as a responsible stakeholder in the educational sector even though aware of the position of the law as it relates to the body statutorily empowered to regulate the teaching profession cooperated with the Kaduna State government under the mistaken believe that the intention of the state government was altruistic, in the sense that it is aimed at enhancing state. However, with the benefit of hindsight we now know better.

“That it is agreed by all stakeholders in the educational sector that the pass mark for the competency test be pegged at 60 per cent while those who are unable to score up to 60 per cent be retrained.

“However, in a classical display of bad faith which started as a rumour, the Kaduna State government unilaterally and arbitrarily pegged the pass mark for the competency test at an unprecedented 75 per cent.

“Your Excellency, while hosting a delegation of World Bank officials, you announced to the whole world that 21,780 teachers will be disengaged in Kaduna State Public primary and secondary schools for not scoring up to 75 per cent in the competency test, while 25,000 will be recruited in their stead.

“That, the NUT, Kaduna State Wing wrote a letter to you, appealing to your conscience to rescind the decision above, but as usual, you ignored the letter and went ahead with your avowed determination to impose your will against the consensus of bonafide stakeholders in the educational sector.


“The NUT subsequently as a last resort and in the spirit of constitutional democracy, rule of law, due process decided to approach the National Industrial Court, Kaduna division to adjudicate on the issue of whether the Kaduna State government has the statutory power to conduct the competency test and which Court processes have been served on you and the office of the Attorney General.

“However, contrary to all standards of decency in a democratic setting and in spite of the service of Court process on the Kaduna State government, you have gone ahead to publish on your tweeter handle, a list of teachers who purportedly passed the competency test by scoring 75 per cent and above.

“All the above, leaves the Kaduna State Wing of the NUT with no option other than to serve the instant notice in compliance with the wishes of its members expressed at the meeting of the state wing executive council held on the 6th November, 2017“, the letter read.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/nut-writes-el-rufai-over-sack-of-21780.html

A political group, ‘The Voice of Cross River Central’ has called on Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River to seek re-election in 2019 in view of his laudable projects in the state.

The Director-General of the group, Mr Victor Bassey, made this call on Monday at a general meeting of the group held in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River.

Bassey said that the call became necessary, following the governor’s laudable projects such as: regular payment of salaries to civil servants and appointment of youths into various political offices.

He explained that Cross River needed a visionary leader as Ayade to continue to expand the scope of governance by reaching out to residents of the state with his laudable policies and projects.
“The Voice of Cross River Central is supporting Ayade not because of his vast experience as a former Senator, but because of his commitment and the need to complete the present administration’s ongoing projects.
“Today, the garment factory has been completed and inaugurated. This project alone has employed more than 2,000 Cross River indigenes, majority of whom are women and widows.
“The rice mill and power plant projects are nearing completion while work is ongoing in the Calabar Pharmaceutical Company and various rural road projects across the state.
“We want to use this opportunity to invite all the sons and daughters of Cross River Central Senatorial District to join us in a rally in support of the Ayade 2019 bid on Dec. 2,’’ he said.
Another member of the group, Mr Simon Obi, lauded the governor for the distribution of patrol vehicles to security agents in the state.
Obi urged PDP members from the Northern and Southern Senatorial Districts to support Ayade in 2019.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/group-urges-governor-ayade-to-seek-re.html

PHOTOS:COMMUNITY BURNT ALL APGA CLOTHS AS THEY WELCOME TONY NWOYE IN NZAM, AT ANAMBRA WEST LGA

The moment Tony Nwoye came down from the boat that crossed him to that community, all the villagers gathered together and burnt all APGA cloths that they used to deceive them.Nzam community has no road.

Tony Nwoye took the message of hope to them. The community will be developed with modern amenities.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/photoscommunity-burnt-all-apga-cloths.html

The Presidency on Saturday denied a report claiming that 81% of President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments have been going to the north.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that the article originally published by a business newspaper on Sunday, 29th October, 2017, is either an ignorant effort or a mischievous attempt by the publication to mislead the public and portray the Buhari administration in bad light.

He said that what the newspaper did essentially was roughly putting together a string of misleading statements across two pages of a newspaper.

“To push this biased reportage, which wrongly claimed that 81 of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 100 appointees are Northerners, the writer unilaterally selected 100 appointees to drive home the distraction presented as “facts”.


“To claim, suggest or attempt to insinuate that the President’s appointments are tilted in favour of a section of the country is simply untrue and certainly uncharitable.

“First of all, the publication could not even cross the t’s and dot the i’s properly. For instance, the author wrongly named the Director-General, NISER, as Haruna Yerima, whereas the DG, NISER is actually Folarin Gbadebo-Smith. Again, the author wrongly identified the CEO, NDLEA as Muhammad Abdallah. However, Mrs. Roli Bode-George is the CEO, NDLEA.

“Why will a publication of the status of Business Day embark on such shoddiness, or are we to conclude this was calculated to create a particular perception?

“The article also wrongly named Tunde Irukera as Executive Secretary of CPP,-whatever that is- instead of Consumer Protection Council (CPC). Rather conveniently, the publication ignored mentioning that Mr Emeka Nwankpa is chairman of CPC. Not only that, the writer claimed that the Director-General of the Budget Office is Aliyu Gusau, whereas Mr. Ben Akabueze is the actual DG, Budget Office.

“Besides, the publication made not just one, but several errors on names and positions, in what could be seen as a deliberate attempt to mislead the reading public, along the lines of some intended distortions of the truth.

“For example, there are several other appointments the publication failed to mention, which clearly shows the fair geopolitical spread of President Buhari’s appointees. For instance, the publication didn’t mention Sharon Ikeazor, Director-General, PTAD, who is from Anambra, South East; Folorunsho Coker, DG, NTDC; who is from Lagos, South West; Ituah Ighodalo, of the National Council of Privatisation, who is from the South South; Eze Duru Ihioma, Chairman, NPC, who is from Imo, South East, among many others.


“There are at least 50 names of the President’s appointees that the article didn’t mention that are not from the North, while there are some others that were already in place before the administration came in but reconfirmed by the Buhari administration.

“Aside from that, several names of board members/appointees from other parts of the country were deliberately left out. These include Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, NCC Chairman, Sunday Dare, NCC Executive Commissioner, Jide Zeitlin, NSIA Chairman, Anthony Ayine, Auditor General of the Federation, Anibor Kragha, COO NNPC, Chiedu Ugbo, MD NDPHC, Uche Orji, CEO NSIA, Osita Okechukwu, DG VON, Yemi Kale, DG NBS and Waziri Adio, Executive Secretary NEITI, among several others.” he said

The Presidential spokesman also said that the publication’s inconsistencies and selective reportage are questionable.

“And this is divisive with its many misleading statements that should be taken with a pinch of salt. What Nigerians need now are unity and constructive dialogue that would help the nation march forward on the right path not divisive, misleading reportage.

“It is, indeed, false for anyone to say that President Buhari’s appointments are lopsided. From all records, majority of the President’s appointees across different portfolios are not from the North, as the publication erroneously alleged. If the publication did not have ulterior motives, a simple enquiry from official sources in the Presidency would have prevented this unwarranted public disinformation.

“It must be stated clearly that, despite the distractions and biased reportage of this article, President Muhammadu Buhari remains committed to serving all Nigerians, no matter the tribe, ethnicity or region, and he is also determined to ensure that Nigeria remains strong and united. He has, and will continue to keep faith with one Nigeria and has shown this with the administration’s diverse projects in different parts of the country’s geopolitical zones,” Adesina said

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/81-of-buharis-appointments-not-from.html

On Wednesday, the Distinguished Senator Emmanuel Andy Uba and his colleagues in the Senate went on a condolence visit to the National leader of our party, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the demise of his son, Jide.

According to his official Facebook page, the senator expresses how deeply saddened he was by the tragic and untimely passing, and pray that God grant Tinubu's family the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/senator-andy-uba-pays-condolence-visit.html?m=1

Beloved this november
God will make your days useful
Your night restfull
Your home peaceful
Your effort fruitful
Your words truthful
Your ends beautiful

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has picked a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Suleiman Galadima, as the new chairman of the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO).

He is to replace Justice Ayo Salami (retired), who excused himself from the committee as the chairman, after initially accepting to serve.

According to a statement from the NJC, signed by Mr Soji Oye, acting director in charge of Information, the committee will be inaugurated on Wednesday, November 1st, 2017 by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen.

Justice Galadima, was born October 1946 in Nasarawa State.
He attended Government College Keffi where he obtained the West African School
Certificate in 1965 before he proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law in 1977 and was called to the Bar after he graduated from the Nigerian Law School in 1978.
He later received a master’s degree in Law from the University of Jos in 1985.
He joined the Anambra State Judiciary as Magistrate on July 1988 and in 1990, he was appointed as Attorney General and the Commissioner for Justice, Plateau State. On May 1991, he became the High Court Judge of Plateau State.
At the creation of Nasarawa State in 1996, he was appointed as its pioneer Chief Judge of the state.
On December 9, 1998, he was appointed to the Court of Appeal and on August 2010, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He retired on October 10, 2016, at the mandatory retirement age of 70 years. Hon. Justice Galadima is famous for his leading judgement in Shina
Oketaolegun Vs. State, SC. 334A/2012, wherein he held that the Court of Appeal correctly reviewed the evidence led by both the prosecution and the defence in which he agreed that the evidence of one credible witness can justify conviction.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/looters-trial-justice-galadima-replaces.html

A suspected case of monkey pox has been discovered in Gboko, Benue State.

Gboko, in Benue North West, is the ancestral home of the Tiv people. The town is known for trade in bush animals, such as monkey, grasscutter and antelopes, which are commonly associated with monkey pox.

It was gathered that a 40-year-old woman was seen with the symptoms around Agedam area.

Yesterday, her relations were trying to take her to hospital for proper diagnosis.


Another suspected case has been discovered in Edo State. The patient is receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

The hospital management, which said this yesterday, said samples were taken for test to the World Health Organization (WHO) accredited test centre.

The hospital’s spokesman, Mr. Uwaila Joshua, in a statement said the patient was responding to treatment and was on further evaluation.

“The good news is that the patient is recovering fast, and we presently do not have any reason to worry.

“The UBTH, relevant agencies and local government health authorities, are working together and monitoring the patient’s close contacts, and so far, no one has been hit.

“There is no need for worry; no worker or patient is exposed to danger as the patient is in an isolated complex. The hospital is ready and prepared to contain any situation if the need arises,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/monkey-pox-recorded-in-benue-edo.html

The embattled former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, has finally broken his silence on the multi-billion naira pension fraud that took place when he was in charge of the reform task force four years ago, alleging that N300 million was stolen from the Office of Head of Service of the Federation daily before the advent of the Pension Transitional Directorate (PTAD).


Given that he was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and afterwards by Interpol, after being indicted in the N2.1 billion pension fraud, he broke his silence in hiding.
Dressed in a black suit, a white shirt and red tie, Maina, in a video which went viral on the social media, said he went into hiding because assassins were allegedly after him.

Also in the video, he addressed the allegations of financial impropriety levelled against him as the former pension boss under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, for which he was indicted and sacked in 2013 after he absconded.

Four years after evading arrest, news broke two weeks ago that he had been reinstated into the civil service as a deputy director in the Ministry of Interior, which aroused a public outcry.
Following the outrage caused by his reinstatement, President Muhammadu Buhari immediately ordered for his sack, while the security agencies issued fresh warrants for his arrest.

Speaking from his hideout, Maina, who said he was being victimised, claimed he was being targeted by people who are against the anti-corruption crusade of the government, adding that he has documents implicating certain powerful people in corrupt deals.
Maina who however failed to mention who these people are, said: “Give us three months, we will bring out over N2 trillion to Nigerians.”

While dismissing the perception that he was thief, he said he was not on the run, insisting that he was in hiding because some people were allegedly trying to assassinate him.
Calling on Nigerians not to believe the rumours about him, he said he never stole N195 billion and alleged that N300 million was being stolen every day, adding: “We know where these monies are.”

Also speaking through his aide Olajide Fashikun Tuesday in Kaduna, the former pension task force boss further alleged that he was being haunted for stopping the theft of N5.32 billion monthly in the office of the Head of Service and the Police Pension office, adding that he was framed by “pension thieves to stop him from exposing them”.

He said the investigation ordered by President Buhari into the matter would expose those involved in pension fraud.
“Between the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Police Pension office, a leakage of N5.32 billion per month was stopped.
“This is what civil servants steal monthly in the two offices out of the 99 pension offices in the country.

“Forty-three persons were arrested and handed over to the EFCC to prosecute while 222 houses were seized from them,” he revealed.
According to Fashikun, as soon as Maina had absconded to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2013, before the emergence of PTAD, N35 billion was stolen in the Office of the Head of Service.
“In the current media trial where all manner of stories have been published, there has been a lot of distortion of the facts and sometimes outright blackmail, all in an attempt to paint Maina black like Lucifer.

“After the biometric exercise, there were 71,000 genuine workers in the Police Pension office who needed N826 million to pay them as opposed to the N5.3 billion appropriated for them annually. They were pocketing N4.2 billion yearly.

“They devised several ingenious ways to pull this cash out. They pulled out an average of N300 million daily, Monday to Friday. There are bank alerts to substantiate these assertions.
“There is a particular person who has 69 cloned versions of his name on the payroll. Bank officials were also in cahoots. Names of dead pensioners were exhumed from the dead and paid pensions. Accounts were created with fictitious names,” he alleged.
Speaking further, Fashikun said agents who were engaged in multiple collections of these monies from banks got 5 per cent of the volume collected.
According to him, “There has been a deliberate cover up in a well written script to give Maina a bad name.

“Emerging evidence has shown that Maina is just a victim of corruption fighting back.
“The then Senate committee in a bid to crucify Maina did the hatchet job when they told Nigerians that he stole N195 billion.
“Maina was just a victim of high power play of some powerful individuals in high places. So for three years, Maina underwent a media trial where he was found guilty several times on the pages of newspapers.”

But as Maina spoke from hiding Tuesday, the presidency kept mum on the leaked memo written by the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, to President Buhari on October 23, 2017, in which she reminded Buhari that she had verbally brought to his attention on Wednesday October 11, after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), of the implications of reinstating the former pension boss in the civil service.

The president, however, failed to heed her warning and only ordered that Maina be sacked on October 23, after the scandal had broken over his reinstatement.
When contacted Tuesday on the issue, the president’s spokesmen, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, referred Akelicious to the Head of Service, saying they knew nothing about her memo to the president.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/n300m-was-stolen-daily-from-pensioners.html

Polytechnics in Nigeria have deviated from their original concept of focusing on technical education, Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Dr. Lateef Olatunji has said.

He added that polytechnics in the country now do more of arts courses than science and technical oriented courses.
Dr Olatunji canvassed reorientation of the polytechnic education to revitalise nation’s economy development.
The rector told reporters in Offa, Offa local area of Kwara state as part of activities for ninth convocation and 25th anniversary of the institution.

The rector, who said that the development would not help production of engineers and technicians by polytechnics, added that government should attract more funds to polytechnics

“The reason for establishing universities is different from why the polytechnics were set up in the first instance. But unfortunately we’ve mixed the two together in this country. Population of non science students are now more than science students in our polytechnics when you talk about engineering, technical studies and the like. We should change our orientation towards science education.

Most polytechnic institutions have derailed in their educational curriculum as they now do more of art courses rather than core science and technical oriented courses. We should change our orientation to be able to produce more engineers towards revitalising nation’s socio economic development, instead of encouraging people in arts subjects.

“Federal Government can do more to assist and encourage science and technical oriented courses by pumping more money in the area of science education. For instance, tetfund would do more by giving more financial opportunities to polytechnics rather than the universities as the case is right now. Federal government should attract more funds to technical education”, he said.

He also said that science and technical education would encourage entrepreneurship among youth in the country, adding that entrepreneurship was the key to self reliance and poverty alleviation.

Dr. Olatunji, who said that a total of 6,000 students would graduate during the ninth convocation of the institution, added that his administration had succeeded to block leakages in financial operations among workers by discouraging frivolous vouchers.

He said that necessary control was being injected by the present administration without a recourse to witch hunting.

The rector identified funding, upgrading of sport facilities and equipment, problems of transportation to and fro its main campus, and uncompleted road construction projects as part of challenges facing the institution.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/nigeria-polytechnics-now-offer-more.html

Former United States President, Barack Obama, will welcome global leaders, including Nigeria’s billionaire banker and chair of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, to Chicago today as his foundation, Obama Foundation holds its first ever global summit.

“This October, we’re bringing together hundreds of leaders from all around the world for a hands-on exchange of ideas in my hometown — the city of Chicago,” the former US president said in a video clip posted on Twitter.

“This leadership summit will be a place to gather and learn from one another and then go back to your communities to lead others in the hard work of change,” he said.
Obama is known to advocate active citizenship and has been finding ways to implement his out-of-office blueprint for global progressive politics since he left office in January.


According to the conference organisers, Elumelu who is the only African to speak at the inaugural global summit was chosen as a model – a pioneer in the space – who brings an “incredibly important perspective.”
Elumelu who is the Founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation, which recently held the largest gathering of Africa’s entrepreneurs in Lagos, will speak on the panel ‘Building Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Emerging Markets.’

The two-day inaugural summit, taking place October 31 to November 1, according to the foundation’s website, will welcome hundreds of young leaders to “exchange ideas, explore creative solutions to common problems and experience civic art, technology and music from around the world.”

The Obama Foundation listed Matteo Renzi and Prince Harry among other speakers at the summit that will take place at the Marriott Marquis McCormick Place in the city of Chicago, United States.

“The Summit will feature five main stage sessions with talks on topics ranging from motivating young people to choose a civic path to technology’s role in creating equitable and inclusive communities.

“The summit will also include breakout sessions on topics ranging from communicating across differences to art and culture’s role in creating productive cities to understanding race in relation to one’s civic identity. Breakout sessions will provide attendees with the opportunity to dive deeper into topics, engage directly in conversation, and learn new skills, ” Obama Foundation said.

Obama will be joined by his wife, Michelle, to hear and engage directly with leaders at the conference.
“And what makes me so hopeful, so optimistic, is that so many of you have shown up, dived in and embraced the kind of active citizenship that makes our democracy work,” Obama said in an earlier video.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/elumelu-joins-obama-world-leaders-in.html

The Police Command in Anambra has confirmed the arrest of a Police officer, Cpl. Bara’u Garba, who allegedly abducted and defiled a 14-year-old girl.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Garba Umar, said at a news conference in Awka on Monday that the incident occurred recently.

According to him, the suspect abducted the minor near her residence at Hausa Quarters, Asaba, and kept her in custody for two days at Okpoko in Onitsha.

He said the suspect was attached to Mobile Squadron in Sokoto, but deployed to Anambra on special duty.
“The erring police officer was arrested and detained accordingly; and is currently facing police internal disciplinary procedures.
“The suspect confessed to have seen the girl wandering about in Asaba because she had lost the money with which she was sent on an errand by her parents.
“He used the opportunity to lure and kept her in his custody, but denied having carnal knowledge of her.
“However, we will soon confirm whether he had carnal knowledge of the minor or not because investigation is ongoing, while the minor is also undergoing medical examination.
”I can assure the public that the Corporal will be arraigned as soon as the criminal investigation is concluded,” the commissioner said.
He said the arrest followed an allegation leveled against the suspect at a police station, but said the action did not reflect the core values and ethics of the Nigeria Police Force.
He assured that justice would be done in the matter.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/photonigeria-policeman-arrested-over.html

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Oye, has said Obiano will be reelected with over 85percent of the total votes that will be cast in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Oye, who spoke to Akelicious in his country home in Amawbia near Awka, said his party was sure of victory in the election as it was the only dominant party in the state.
The national chairman said every available indices pointed to a favourable election for the APGA, and it is not in doubt that it would win the election.

He said: “This election has been challenging and rewarding for us in APGA. In all the places our campaign train has visited, you need to see the joy on the faces of the people.


“The APGA government in the state has delivered on its promises, and the message of hope is everywhere, and the people are happy. We have visited 12 local government areas so far since after the flagging off of our campaign, and in all these places, we have registered huge turnout.”

Oye added that APGA was not afraid of any political party in the state, nor do they pose any challenge to the reelection of the governor on November 18.

“APC that you are talking about cannot get up to 10percent of the total votes cast in this election, and I am ready to bet on that. Our people cannot vote them because APGA remains the only party the Igbo people can boost of politically.

“You can see how the people have been decamping from their parties to APGA? Does that not tell you something? Ben Nwankwo, a member of the federal House of Representatives recently declared for our party with numerous supporters.

“People are still talking with us to join the party and that is because they have read the political atmosphere and already know where the pendulum will swing, and once Obiano wins the election, you will see a grand swell of activities, but we will keep all that in wraps,” the party leader stated.

Speaking on the allegation that APGA has a hand in the crisis rocking the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oye said his party has not contained the activities in its party, let alone meddling in that of others.

He said: “We are not instigating the crisis in PDP, people have only seen the truth and they are acting on it. That is why you see their members trooping into our party, just like the lawmaker, Nwankwo. I can tell you we are winning the election.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/obiano-will-win-anambra-election-with.html

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno on Sunday said the establishment of North-East Development Commission (NEDC) was a direct response to the large scale devastation caused to the North-East by Boko Haram insurgents.

The governor said this in a statement signed by Malam Isa Gusau, his Special Assistant on Communications and Media Strategy in Maiduguri.

According to the governor, the effect of Boko Haram insurgency is such that no geo-political zone wishes to experience.

Shetiima said, “Having a commission like the NEDC is a direct response to large scale devastation which no geo-political zone should wish to experience.’’
He said Borno would have to experience 50 years of backwardness due to destruction caused by the Boko Haram.
‘’A comprehensive assessment report by the World Bank put the damage at over $9 billion U.S dollars.”
“NEDC will set out for the recovery of this backwardness so that the state recovers earlier than it would have taken us to recover.
‘’It is not something any section of the country should wish to experience.”
Shettima noted that the development had also demonstrated Federal Government’s commitment to ensure rapid social and economic rebuilding of the region.
The governor commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the NEDC Bill into law.
He said that the people of the North-East would remain grateful to Buhari over his concern and commitment to their plight.
Shettima said the people were highly appreciative of “President Muhammadu Buhari’s open love for them’’ and the role of the 8th National Assembly in the passage of the bill.
‎“I must confess that if Buhari was not elected in 2015, only God knows what would have become of Borno and the rest of the North-East.
“Buhari has made determined efforts to reverse all the many years of neglect the North-East suffered from 1979 to 2015. ‘’Buhari is the greatest inspiration for us.
“The President’s passion for the North-East is clearly understandable, because this is a region that lost thousands of its precious sons and daughters, suffered destruction of public and private infrastructure worth $9 billion U.S dollars”.
The governor also commended the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Doagara for their leadership role in the passage of the bill.
Shettima said that the people of the region were also satisfied and grateful to members of the National Assembly for good representation of the region.

“For us, they have achieved 50 per cent of what our people elected them to do at the national assembly by the passage and Presidential assent to the bill establishing the NEDC.’’
President Buhari signed the bill: The North East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2017 in to law recently.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Sen. Ita Enang said this in a statement in Abuja on Oct.26.
The Commission is charged with the mandate to receive and manage funds allocated by the Federal Government and international donor agencies for the resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency.
It will also tackle the menace of poverty and environmental challenges in the area among

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/shettima-justifies-establishment-of.html

Malam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission ( NBC ), on Saturday in Abuja denied accusing some supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari of violating Broadcasting Code.


Kawu, in a statement expressed dismay about sensational and incorrect report circulating on the internet, describing it as embarrassing misrepresentations and claims.

“The attention of the Management of the National Broadcasting Commission ( NBC ) has been drawn to a sensational and incorrect report circulating on the internet.

“That the Director-General of the Commission, Malam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, accused some supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari of violating the Broadcasting Code, among other embarrassing misrepresentations and claims.


“To set the record straight, and for the avoidance of any doubt, the NBC organised a Stakeholders Forum on Political Broadcasts, which held on Thursday, Oct. 26 in Kano State.

“The choice of this location in Kano were both necessary and strategic, given the fact that Kano is the most populous state in Nigeria with over 20 operating broadcast establishments as well as the observed spike in hate speech within the environment.”

He, therefore, appealed to both the traditional and on-line media to uphold the guiding tenets of journalism profession through objective, factual and decent reportage.

“This has been the time-tested practice and should remain the irreducible minimum gold-standard in our media practice.”

Kawu explained that the law establishing NBC specifies that regulating the Industry was a core function of the commission in order to ensure decent, objective and factual reportage by all Operators.

According to him, this resonates with the expressed determination and policy thrust of the present administration to eliminate hate and incendiary speeches and broadcasts across all levels of society.


“It was against this background that the Director General of the Commission, in his address in Kano, alluded to the escalating spate of hate speech in political broadcasts.

“And the imperative for broadcast operators to be vigilant and be guided by the broadcasting code in their operations.”

He lamented instances where political actors often misconstrue the statutory role of NBC as an Industry regulator to be impeding and restricting their political activities, making such actors to reach out to contacts in high levels of government for undue political interference and advantage.

“In making this observation, the director-general drew several examples across political and regional boundaries to justify the assertion.

“It is therefore, grossly untrue and mischievous to misrepresent the remarks of the Director-General of the NBC at a Forum in Kano that he made an exclusive accusation targeted against Buhari’s supporters”.

Kawu restated that the position of NBC on hate speech and other incendiary broadcasts remained consistent with the overarching principles and rules of global best-practice.


http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/nbc-denies-accusing-buharis-supporters.html

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Sunday morning insisted that the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo betrayed Christians and the church in Nigeria.

Fani-Kayode said betrayed the church by pairing with President Muhammadu Buhari who he declared “hates” Southerners and Christians.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain observed that under Buhari, every military and security agency except one is headed by a northern Muslim.
In a tweet via his Twitter handle, the former Minister also maintained that every parastatal in the energy sector is headed by a Northerner.
Fani-Kayode wrote, “Truth is that @ProfOsinbajo betrayed the Church by pairing with a man who HATES southerners and Christians.
“Under Buhari the head of EVERY military and security agency except one is headed by a northern Muslim and every parastatal in the energy sector is headed by a northerner.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/osinbajo-betrayed-christians-church-by.html

Afew years back, the word ‘nascent democracy’ described the growing state of the Nigerian political system. But having stretched the current fourth republic to about 18 years, it would not be out of place to tag the system as one that is fast maturing and one of the characteristics features is the entrenchment of robust and healthy debates at all times, even as the learning curve continues.

Followers of the nation’s political history will remember what happened in 2011, when the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation tactically beat a retreat, when it claimed that Jonathan would not attend the NN24 presidential debate, because he could not abandon the Nigerian Election Debate Group (NEDG), which had been organising several debates since 1999 in favour of another platform on the eve of a crucial national election.


Besides, the organisation also said the then president had not concluded his tour of the 36 states and as such, could not accommodate new appointments at that point in the build-up to the election.

Curiously, the same scenario played out in 2015, when the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari dodged or for want of better word, politely turned down the request for a debate.

Special Adviser to Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, described Buhari’s avoidance of the presidential debate as an act of examination malpractice, stressing: “It is not good enough for a man, who wants to be president of our country”, insisting that Buhari “dodged” the debate, because he was insecure.

Buhari’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, who was then APC’s Presidential Campaign Organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, however contended that the presidential debate was not a constitutional requirement, though he agreed that it was an established convention that deepens and enriches the democratic process.

Sources close to the president also noted at that time that the APC was uncomfortable with Mr. Mike Omeri, the supposedly non-partisan director of the Nigerian Orientation Agency, who was seen as not capable of organising a credible debate and that its principal promoters were from NTA and AIT, two electronic media organisations that openly supported Jonathan.

But now, unlike what was the order of the day, the debate is gradually building up by itself ahead of the 2019 presidential election. Jonathan, who had been relatively quiet, has begun to throw up issues that the president and his team are unable to ignore.

Over the past two years, the current government have had the field churning out information on the alleged corruption of the Jonathan government and putting some of the key players in that administration on trial. The narrative his however changing gradually.

The media office of the former president some few days ago named the federal government and the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, Femi Adesina, as liars. According to Jonathan’s men, the presidency is simply peddling falsehood by claiming that Nigerians opted not to protest the hike in fuel price by the Buhari government because they trusted the government.

This would translate as an indictment on the immediate past government, because it’s on record that the Jonathan administration met with unprecedented resistance from Nigerians when the government attempted to increase the price of fuel on January 1, 2012.

So, in responding to Adesina and the federal government, over the claims, Jonathan’s media office, in a statement signed by Reno Omokri, said fear and not trust was why Nigerians did not protest against fuel price hike by the Buhari government.

According to Omokri, “When Femi Adesina says that it is because of trust that Nigerians did not rise up against the Buhari administration, when it increased the pump price of petrol from N87 to N145, he betrays a deep ignorance and arrogance.
“First of all, it was not Nigerians that rose up against the Jonathan administration, when that government increased the price of petrol on January 1, 2012. It was actually members of the All Progressives Congress, who sponsored the protests.”

Omokri pointed fingers at the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, whom he claimed led other chieftains of the opposition to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos, where they attracted crowds by inviting top musicians to perform and by giving out free food and drinks as part of efforts designed to bring the government to disrepute.

Justifying the fear factor, Jonathan’s man noted that, “On December 15, 2015, the Nigerian Army, under President Muhammadu Buhari’s command, killed 347 unarmed Shiite men, women, children and infants and buried them in a mass grave as revealed by the panel of inquiry instituted by the Kaduna State Government.

“The excuse given by the military for this massacre was that the Shiites had blocked a road during one of their procession and this allegedly affected a trip by the Chief of Army Staff. After killing his followers and destroying their place of worship, Sheikh Ibrahim Zak Zaky, the spiritual leader of the Nigerian Shiite community, was illegally and unconstitutionally detained and has not been seen or heard of in public since December 15, 2015.
“So, when the Buhari administration increased the pump price of petrol, Nigerians wisely reasoned that if the Buhari administration can kill 347 unarmed Shiite men, women, children and infants for blocking a road, it would be suicidal to give them an opportunity to do the same thing to them on a wider scale.”

They also claimed that human life is so cheap in the current situation and that the military and security services routinely kill innocent Nigerians be it Shiites, peaceful demonstrators or IDPs at the Rann IDP camp.

“To say Nigerians trust an administration that publicly boasted that it would not tell Nigerians how much of their own money the President spent in treating himself in London, when the State House Clinic cannot boast of ordinary Panadol (by his own wife’s testimony) is to speak a lie.

“Nigerians can judge the nature of the man, whose number one campaign promise was that ‘no Nigerian Public official should receive medical treatment overseas at public expense’. For him lies are cheap even if they are expensive for the Nigerian public who has to pay the price.

“Nor have Nigerians forgotten the promise to end corruption when the $25 billion Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation scam is ringing in their ears along with the denials by the vice president that he never approved any contracts. How can they trust a government that has still not released or acted on the SGF grass cutter contract probe after six months?

“In the five years that he governed Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan spent N16 trillion. The economy grew. The Naira was stable. We had the greatest expansion of infrastructure since the Gowon years and inflation was in single figures. In the two years that President Muhammadu Buhari has ruled Nigeria, he has spent N15 trillion. We have had recession. Naira collapsed.

“Inflation has gone back to double digits and the only infrastructure that he has started and completed is the Daura helipad,” Jonathan lambasted Buhari’s government.

With this, the president, his party and aides must brace up for a major challenge as 2019 draws closer and one of the persons that will be a thorn in the government’s flesh will be former President Jonathan and that is exactly what he has started – an issue-based debate.

In April, Jonathan had cried out that President Buhari was officially harassing his family members. His kinsmen under the aegis of the Ogbia Political Forum, (OPF) had alleged that the United States was particularly unhappy with Jonathan for his opposition to the legalisation of homosexuality in the country.
They alleged further that some interest groups were determined to keep the former president from talking, even in the face of the alleged injustice he suffered

Though the United States embassy has dismissed Jonathan’s claims of bias on the part of the country in the approach to the Nigerian presidential election in 2015, when the Information, Officer Russell Brooks, in a response said: “The U.S. advocated a free, fair, and transparent election in 2015. The outcome of the election was an expression of the will of the Nigerian people,” fact is the former president still has so much bottled-up in his mind.

To assume that Jonathan has been silenced ahead of 2019, is joking with a time bomb, because recently, he said he would soon make public what happened in the 2015 general election that made the PDP lose the presidency. “People maybe writing left and right, at the appropriate time, some of these things would be properly addressed because of history,” Jonathan said.

Debates, especially in mature democracies like the US, are also high stake encounters, where candidates prepare extensively, because they believe it has huge influence on the electoral outcomes. So, Nigerians are waiting for the debate to continue, without having to assassinate anyone’s character.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/let-buhari-jonathan-debate-continue.html

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) saturday sent five fighter jets to the notorious Sambisa Forest to crush Boko Haram terrorists operating in the area. The operation is coming on the heels of new reports of the regrouping of Boko Haram sect in the forest.

The regrouping of Boko Haram terrorists has also been linked to the resurgence of attacks by the sect, where they recently attacked Maiduguri, the Boko State capital, parts of Adamawa and Yobe States.


Speaking, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya said: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified its intensive day and night aerial bombardments of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) locations within the North-east.

“On the fourth day of the ongoing Operation Ruwan Wuta II, the NAF conducted air interdiction on some structures in Dure, a BHT-infested location, 12km east of Sambisa.”

Adesanya explained that “reports from NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platforms had revealed the gradual resurgence of BHT activities in the settlement, particularly at the targeted structures, which were hideouts for the terrorists.

“Five aircraft namely 3 x Alpha Jet aircraft and 2 x F-7Ni aircraft conducted the air interdiction missions. The Alpha jet aircraft and the F-Ni aircraft took turns to attack the location with bombs, destroying the targeted structures and killing the terrorists.”

He observed that “the Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) conducted after the strikes revealed that some of the structures were set ablaze by the bomb explosions.

“On the same day, the NAF conducted air interdiction missions on a BHT-infested settlement in Mangusum. The location was attacked, in succession, by 2 F-7Ni aircraft and 3 x Alpha Jet aircraft.”
Adesanya further stated that “the F-7Ni aircraft and some of the Alpha Jet aircraft attacked the targets with bombs, destroying BHT structures in the location and sending a few BHT survivors fleeing.

“Thereafter, another Alpha jet aircraft followed up with rocket and cannon attacks in the target area, strafing the fleeing terrorists in the process. Subsequent BDA of the attack indicated some burnt structures and significant casualties inflicted on the BHTs.

“Operation Ruwan Wuta II, which was initiated by the NAF leadership, as a follow-up to the hugely successful Operation Ruwan Wuta, has so far proved to be even more successful,” he added.

Meanwhile, troops intercepted a Boko Haram suicide bomb squad on Friday and neutralised five terrorists at different locations in Borno north, Nigerian Army said on Saturday.

The army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, in a statement, noted that the intercepted bomb at Ngalle village where one terrorist was neutralised “could have been intended for troops or innocent and peace loving villagers.”
Usman said a huge Improvised Explosive Device (IED) cylinder was recovered from the terrorists. “Other items recovered include an AK-47 rifle magazine, a motorcycle and some spare parts.”

He also said troops intercepted escaping Boko Haram terrorists crossing Maiduguri-Monguno highway at Torowa village during which another terrorist was shot dead, while others fled into the nearby bush.

“The gallant troops recovered an AK-47 riffle with a magazine loaded with 19 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three mobile phones, a SIM card and jewelries,” he added.

In a related development, the army spokesman said troops have flushed out terrorists, who were taking refuge in the surroundings of Dure in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.

He said the troops engaged and smoked them out of their hideouts at Jango, Nduma, Gobara, Bala Ibrahim, Fulani Rogo and Takwala villages and environs in the Gwoza Local Government Area.

“During the operations, the troops neutralised three Boko Haram terrorists and captured one other terrorist alive,” he said, adding that others escaped with gunshot wounds.

“The troops also recovered one Fabrique Nationals (FN) rifle, one G3 rifle, charged magazines and a pair of military camouflage uniform suspected to be used by the terrorists to disguise as military personnel. Unfortunately, one soldier sustained injury during the operation.

“He has since been evacuated to the unit’s Regimental Aid Post, for more medical attention. The captured terrorist has been taken into custody for further interrogation and onward passage to relevant agencies,” he said.


http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/naf-deploys-five-fighter-jets-as-boko.html