₦airaland Forum

SAN FRANCISCO, November 25, (THEWILL) – A national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has stated that Nigeria needs people like a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, to make life more meaningful for Nigerians, adding that “we must continue to explore common grounds towards promoting the common good”.

In a letter he signed to felicitated with Atiku on attaining the age of 70, the former Lagos governor described the Turaki Adamawa as a man of faith, adding that faith has kept him going and waxing strong. Tinubu called on him to accept that “there is a tide in the affairs of men”.

The letter, which described Atiku as dear brother, reads; “I write to felicitate with you on the attainment of the proverbial age of three scores and ten, 70.

“Your life has been a life of service to your people, your country and the causes you believe in. Nigeria has been well-served by your stewardship and leadership.

“Your steadfastness in walking the democratic path sets you apart as a leader with substance.

“Your passion for education has seen you invest your time and resources in education, knowing full well that when you educate people, you educate a nation.

“You are a man of faith. Your faith has kept you going and kept you strong. I urge you to accept that there is a tide in the affairs of men. You must continue to serve Nigeria well even as a private citizen and a notable leader.

“Do not relent because Nigeria needs you and others like you to continue to make life more meaningful.

“We must continue to explore common grounds towards promoting the common good.

"I pray for a long life and continued good health for Turaki Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar”.

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/tinubu-expresses-readiness-to-explore-common-grounds-with-atiku/

SAN FRANCISCO, November 24, (THEWILL) – Former Aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has descended heavily on PDP governorship aspirant in Ondo state, Jimoh Ibrahim, accusing the businessman of indulging in sodomy which has allegedly made his anus overstretched.

Ibrahim had while responding to an earlier tweet by Fani-Kayode written on his handle, @JimohIbrahimOFR, written that: “If you know someone that know Femi Fani-Kayode help me pass this message to him; I AM A BILLIOI would be demystifying myself to be trading words with Femi Fani-Kayode.

“Someone who will sing & dance makoosa for you if you give him foodNAIRE. I DON’T HAVE A CASE WITH EFCC.

“Some1 tell Fani-Kayode that before 2019 i would have gotten world-best scientists to come up with a cure for his undiagnosed bipolar disorder

“Tell Femi Fani-Kayode that my father was never called a traitor. I never married more than ONCE and i dont have a room in Kuje Prison.”

Responding on Thursday, the former minister, who is facing multiple charges in court, called the governorship hopeful a pig, posting the following tweets on his handle: @FFK

“Pl tell Jimoh Ibrahim that his over stretched anus from his sodomy activities needs to be stiched up and his schizophenia must be trreated.

“Pl tell Jimoh Ibrahim that his room in Kirikiri is under construction. It will be ready for him by 2019 when his friends have left power.

“Pl tell Jimoh Ibrahim that I have plenty of jollof rice in my house and I don’t dance for food. Also ask him how many men he sodomised and

“Pl tell Jimoh that my father was not a bricklayer,my mother was not a fish seller,I do not owe banks and salaries and I never marrird a dog.

“Pl tell Jimoh Ibrahim that unlike him I am not a fraudster,I am not a political spoiler,I am not an agent of destruction and I am not a spy

“Tell Jimoh Ibrahim that I do not owe banks money,I do not buy companies and destroy them,I do not owe my workers salary and I do not brag.

“and how many dead bodies he slept with before he made some change and left the pigsty.

“I have given Jimoh the pig enough of my time. I will tell him the rest face to face whenever and wherever I see him. I look forward to that.”

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/jimoh-ibrahims-overstretched-anus-from-sodomy-needs-to-be-stitched-fani-kayode/

BEVERLY HILLS, November 21, (THEWILL) – The camp of a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu failed in their quest to have their preferred candidate emerge as winner of the September 3 governorship primaries in Ondo state because they hedged their bet at the fiercely-contested election, ThisDay reports.

Recall that a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, had won the APC governorship primary in Ondo state, defeating Segun Abraham, widely believed to be the favoured candidate of Tinubu.

Shortly after the election, Tinubu accused the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun of sabotaging the will of democracy in Ondo State by overriding the decision of the appeal panel which asked for a fresh governorship primary following investigations that showed that the delegates’ list used for the exercise was tampered with, adding that “There exists a regressive element in the party that cares nothing for the progressive ideas upon which this party was founded”.

But a presidency source told the newspaper that the former Lagos governor had no reason to hold a grudge against the party or Buhari over the primary because Oyegun, at the outset, gave Tinubu his due as the national leader of the APC and its leader in the South-west geopolitical zone by consulting with him and sharing with him the delegates’ list.

Stressing that what came the way of Tinubu’s camp from the primary was self-inflicted, the presidency source said, “Tinubu’s camp tried to hedge its bet by backing three candidates for the primary. Rauf Aregbesola was backing Olusola Oke, Tinubu’s wife, Remi, was pushing for Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice, while Tinubu was supporting Dr. Olusegun Abraham.

“So Akeredolu who was not given much of a chance came and decimated the field of Tinubu’s contestants in a very close race to win the primary. If you recall, he only beat Abraham who was second by 31 votes while Abraham beat Oke who came third in the primary by 97 votes.

“The reason it was so close was because Tinubu’s camp was hedging its bet and did not want to put all of its eggs in one basket, so it could not make up its mind by backing one candidate against Akeredolu.

“As such, the votes that could have gone to Abraham was split among other candidates that they were backing,” the presidency source said, adding that once Akeredolu emerged the party’s candidate, APC stakeholders and the presidency were in no mood to change the outcome of the primary despite the recommendation of the review panel that it should hold another primary, going by instances such as the Katsina and Adamawa primaries in 2014.

“If Buhari could accept the outcome of the Katsina primary in which his preferred candidate, Hadi Sirika lost to Aminu Masari, and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar accepted his candidate’s loss to Jibrilla Bindow, we would have expected Tinubu to do likewise by embracing Akeredolu as the APC candidate in Ondo.

“However, he has refused to do so, forgetting that the loss of his candidate to Akeredolu was self-inflicted,” the source stated.

Meanwhile, a different source in the presidency was quoted in the report to have stated that the re-election bid in 2019 of President Muhammadu Buhari would be determined by the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, which would also make a statement in terms of who is in charge of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Recall that although Buhari and a host of party bigwigs graced the APC rally in Akure on Saturday, Tinubu and Governors Akinwumi Ambode, Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbosola of Lagos, Oyo and Osun States respectively were noticeably absent at the event.

The source was quoted as saying that the president’s camp is out to test its popularity as well as capacity for political strategy ahead of the 2019 elections with the decision to edge out certain players in the APC over the Ondo governorship poll, and the decimation of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The newspaper gathered that inasmuch as Buhari is very keen on a second term in office, he is taking it slowly because of the state of the country, but would not mind taking his chances if the atmosphere is right, adding that if despite all that has been at play in the Ondo theatrics, APC wins, then Buhari would be seeking re-election in 2019.

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/how-tinubus-camp-caused-failure-of-preferred-candidate-to-win-apc-primary-in-ondo/

SAN FRANCISCO, November 19, (THEWILL) – Despite one of APC national leaders, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s open condemnation of the All Progressives Congress’ governorship primary in Ondo State, President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday declared that he is pleased with the September 3, 2016 primary.

Recall that Tinubu had called for the resignation of the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, for allegedly working with anti-democratic forces within the party to scuttle the will of party members in Ondo State.

Disclosing that “In early September, the state primary was held. A purported winner was named,” Tinubu accused Oyegun of unilaterally overriding the majority vote of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, which voted to uphold the cancellation of the party’s governorship primary in Ondo State by the appeal committee.

But speaking at the Democracy Park, Akure, during the APC grand campaign rally, Buhari said, “I am pleased with the September 3 APC primary election that presented Rotimi Akeredolu as our party’s candidate.

“We are here to show our support for Akeredolu and I am proud of APC and Akeredolu and God willing, he is going to be the winner of the forthcoming election.

“Talk to your colleagues, friends and family that there is no turning back,” he said.

Also speaking, the National Chairman of APC, Odigie-Oyegun said that the presence of the entire family of APC was highly significant.

The state chairman of APC, Isaac Kekemeke expressed optimism that APC would take over the state and join the the mainstream politics of the centre.

Kekemeke, who described the APC and President Buhari as responsible, said that the APC was united, strong and set to deliver, come November 26.

The APC South West National Vice Chairman, Dr Oluwole Akinyelure said that the state had yet to benefit from the present administration of PDP in the state despite oil producing benefits.

He then called on the people to vote for Akeredolu for a real change.

On his part, Governor Simeon Lalong of Plateau state said that the president was taking people from captivity to prosperity, saying that Akeredolu was a known man of integrity.

For the chairman of APC Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha, the President’s visit was a sign of change, adding that a vote for the APC would be a liberation of the people from political bondage.

While appreciating his supporters, Akeredolu noted that the state could be in no other party than the APC, adding that the state must join the mainstream politics to derive its benefits from the government at the centre.

He, however, called on the party supporters to mobilise and organise for vigorous campaign for the party in ensuring its victory in the coming election. “After leaving this ground, go to your units, wards and do the needful,” he said.

Dignitaries at the rally include: Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Edo governor, Adams Oshiomhole; Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. Others are the Minister of Solid Minerals and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi and eight sitting governors

.

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/buhari-counters-tinubu-expresses-satisfaction-with-apc-primary-in-ondo/

SAN FRANCISCO, November 14, (THEWILL) – Mr. Dele Ologun, who sponsored the 400 loaves of bread customised for the campaign of the APC candidate in the Ondo governorship election, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, has condemned criticisms in the social media to what he described as his “kind gesture” towards the Akeredolu Campaign.

Few days ago, Ologun distributed the customized bread to All Progressives Congress, APC, members in Akure ward 1 in Akure North Local Government Area of the state and had donated two buses to Akeredolu to aide his campaigns.

Responding to those using the social media to condemn the bread he donated for Akeredolu’s campaign, Ologun said, “The most important thing that we can do is do whatever it takes for our candidate to win.

“My interest is about our candidate. Immediately I saw the bread online I was mad. Like what nonsense is this? Why, people?” he uttered frustratingly.

“Some people have branded water, which is vital, what is the big deal in putting the name and face your candidate everywhere?” Ologun queried.

He went on to tell newsmen that a total of 400 loaves were made specifically for Ward 1 in Akure North LGA which have since been distributed for consumption.

Before now, Ologun had placed about five billboards along the Ogbese-Owo road in support of Akeredolu.

Some APC supporters see the taunting of Aketi Bread Images on social media as a desperate attempt by the opposition to destroy Akeredolu, while those in the opposition are capitalizing on same to get back at the APC for condemning Ayo Fayose who embarked on “stomach infrastructure” during his campaign for Ekiti governorship in June 2014.

A member of the APC, Ayo Olasoji, maintained that such a gesture is allowed in politics and therefore shouldn’t be politicized, saying, “What’s the big deal in trying to ameliorate the suffering of the people? Aren’t you aware that civil servants in Ondo State are being owed 7 months salaries?

“Aren’t you aware of the recession in the country? Why condemning someone that ought to be praised? This is an attempt to paint Akeredolu as a desperate man and we won’t allow that,” Olasoji added.

But for a PDP supporter, Richajrd Akinpelumi, it is hypocritical for the APC to indulge in what it had earlier condemned.

In a Facebook post, Akinpelumi lampooned supporters of APC for engaging in stomach infrastructure, a policy they had berated Governor Fayose for.

“They distributed Akara (beans cake) in Edo. Now, it is bread in Ondo. This hypocrisy is legendary and I urge Ondo electorates to beware,” Akinpelumi wrote.

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/sponsor-decries-criticisms-trailing-aketi-bread-customised-for-akeredolu/

Those who came for the mega hydroponics training organised in Abuja by BIC Farms got more than they bargained for as the session afforded them a first-hand knowledge of the practicability of soil-less farming and were shown how to propagate the biggest discovery of modern agriculture. They were given male and female spurs of the Azolla plant which can make them millionaires within months.

The venue for the seminar was packed full with people from Jos, Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi, and almost all northern states, who were among other things given the freshwater fern, Azolla, with which they can produce livestock feed, food, control mosquitoes. They were also taught how to propagate the plant to rake in millions within a short time.

Speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the training session, the Chief Executive Officer of BIC Farms, Pastor Debo Onafowora explained that BIC Farms intend to even get closer to those in need of its technology by carrying out trainings the states. He however pointed out that the knowledge impacted at the session has been documented in a video for people to access.

He however called on those living in Lagos and Abuja not to allow the scarcity of land as well as its exorbitant cost deter them from big-time farming as they can take advantage of the Hydroponics technology offered by BIC Farms to grow economically-viable plants in their balcony or a small garden in their compound.  

The blogger of www.wealthyfarmers.com, who spoke on the training his company is organizing at Rams House, Okajaguon, along Dr. Peter Odili Rd. next to Marina guest house in Port Harcourt on November 19 by 10am, said; “we want to show the people of the Niger Delta that their soil might have been degraded, their water might have been polluted but farming is still a possibility and they can farm big time with soil-less farming”.

He went on to warn Nigerians to be wary of imported food particularly vegetables, stressing that cabbages are now by printed out in China, Europe using 3D printer. He added that Nigeria and Africa is the destination for these plastic vegetables as those printing them  know there is no time and space and opportunity to locally grow the produce.

Onafowora (deboonafowora@bicfarmsconcepts.com) however asserted that BIC Farms have the technology to grow these exotic vegetables which were hitherto imported into Nigeria, saying “with Hydroponics technology; soil-less farming, the exotic vegetables grow faster at a cheaper cost and are safer for consumption unlike the plastics, the rubber that they are turning to food for people to eat in the country”.

Some of the vegetables produced by the company include: celery, pumpkin (ugu), tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, strawberries, melons, aromatic, and medicinal plants, even as the CEO explained that he is setting up hydroponics systems for vegetables farmers who don't have large space of farmland and also helping those who want to do farming and does not have access to agricultural land.

Warning that most imported vegetables are not ideal for consumption, he stated that BIC Farms have already set up the technology for growing exotic vegetables for a number of people and we are still setting it up, adding that corps members can come and be taught how to do this and they don’t need large expanse of land to go about it.

His words, “A single person can manage an 8 by 24 green house. And in that green house, you can turn out over 3tons of tomatoes every 90 day; you can turn out 1000kg (1ton) of exotic vegetables in that same green house within 50 days on the maximum because from 30 days these vegetables are ready.

“So at BIC Farms, we create jobs along these lines. We have what we call smoothies; when you turn vegetables to juice. A lot of value chains are in there and these are some of the things BIC farms are doing. So you don’t need complex technologies to go about these things, we have them available. Normal seeds can be grown but we advise people to go for hybrid seeds, which are those from two good parents. Companies can start producing seeds because we have the technology to grow them.”

Onafowora, who identified his company as the pioneer of Hydroponics in Nigeria, explained that he is organising the training to get more people involved so the country can have a vibrant Hydroponics industry. Aside being involved in farming livestock, fisheries, exotic vegetables, construction of green houses technology, BIC Farms are into the processing of processing and packaging of local products like Ofada rice and Garri.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/bic-farms-unveils-azolla-hydroponics-farming/

BEVERLY HILLS, November 3, (THEWILL) – Reuben Abati, detained spokesman to Former President Goodluck Jonathan has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he does not have the money to refund to the government

EFCC is accusing Abati of receiving N50 million from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki (Dasukigate scandal) which was part of $2.1 billion allocated for purchase of arms for the fight against Boko Haram.

Abati, who has been in EFCC detention since turning himself in last week Monday, had previously promised to refund N5 million and was granted bail which he was yet to perfect and meet the conditions.

However, in what seems like a u-turn, Abati has told the anti-graft body that he has no immediate means of sourcing the amount for which he is being detained.

Apart from being unable to refund the money, THEWILL gathered that he also allegedly told investigators that he could not provide documentary evidence showing how he spent the N50 million saying he disbursed the money as cash and material gifts to journalists during the 2015 campaign and did not keep such records.

THEWILL gathered that Abati had met his bail conditions since Friday, but the EFCC had refused to release him because of the uncertainty in his commitment to the refund.

Story by Oputah David

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/i-dont-have-the-money-to-refund-to-efcc-abati/

A Nigerian, Tom Ilube, has been selected by Powerlist as the most powerful black man in the United Kingdom, UK. Ilube, who is also a British citizen, was unveiled by the publication which selects 100 of the most powerful people of African and African Caribbean heritage.

An independent panel of judges led by a former High Court judge, Dame Linda Dobbs, and a publisher, Michael Eboda, recommended him, after which he was announced for the position.

Powerlist explained that competitors for the honour were judged on their “ability to change lives and alter events, as demonstrated over a protracted period of time and in a positive manner.”

The 53-year-old Ilube, who was born in Isleworth, west London, to a Nigerian father, schooled at the University of Benin, Edo State, where he bagged a B.Sc Physics. He later obtained an MBA at Cass Business School in London.

Several efforts made by him to get a job after graduation all ended in frustration. He was even rejected for a graduate trainee scheme at McDonald’s “for not being good enough.”

But he didn’t give up as he sent applications to every company whose name started with the letter A and was turned down again and again, so he started working through the Bs and ended up working for British Airways as a programmer. He later worked at the London Stock Exchange in the 1980s, where he was one of few black professionals. He was able to work his way to the top.

Ilube is renowned for his outstanding work in education. He founded Hammersmith Academy, which opened in September 2011 and has gone on to become one of the UK’s most innovative technology schools. As a philanthropist, he set up African Gifted Foundation, to help transform the lives of hundreds of children on the continent.

Speaking on his latest recognition, he said: “I’m incredibly proud of all of our Powerlistees this year and over the past 10 years in which we’ve published the magazine. Tom isn’t a household name, but quietly behind the scenes, he has had an incredible effect on the lives of so many people across the world.”

Ilube was the managing director at Callcredit Limited and Consumer Markets at Callcredit Information Group Limited. He also founded Garlik Ltd and served as its chief executive officer. Ilube co-founded Lost Wax in 1996 and served as its chief executive officer, where he took an active role in the business development.

He served as chief information officer of Egg plc. He has over 25 years of commercial systems delivery experience with a range of blue chip organizations, including Goldman Sachs, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, London Stock Exchange, British Airways and Cap Gemini. He served as Overall programme manager for the initial launch of Egg financial services.

The most powerful black man in the UK is a highly regarded board level adviser and inspirational speaker on e-commerce issues and technology trends.

He currently serves as a director of Crossword Cybersecurity Plc and Callcredit Limited.

http://dailypost.ng/2016/10/27/nigerian-emerges-powerful-black-person-uk/

Nairaland na wa o. What happened to the earlier version posted.

Abia- Dr. (Mrs) Uzoma E. Emenike

Adamawa- Dr Cliford Zirra

Akwa Ibom- Major General Godwin Umo (retd)

Anambra- Christopher J .N. Okeke

Bauchi- Yusuf Tuggar

Bayelsa- Brigadier General Stanley Diriyai

Benue- Dr. Enyantu Ifeme

Cross Rivers- Dr. Etuborn N.E Asuquo

Delta- Engr Francis Efeduma

Ebonyi- Jonah Odo

Edo- Uyagwe igbe

Ekiti- Ayodele L. Ayodeji

Enugu- Major General Chris Eze

Gombe- Alhaji Suleiman Hassan

Jigawa- Amin Muhammad

Kadunna- Mohammed Yaro

Kaduna- Deborah lliya

Kano- Prof. D. Abdulkadir

Kano- Alhaji Haruna Ungogo

Katsina- Justice Isa Dodo

Katsina- Usman Bugaje

Kebbi- Prof. Tijani Bande‎

Kogi- Prof. Y.O Aliu

Kwara- Nurudeen Mohammed

Kwara- Prof. Mohamed Yisa

Lagos- Justice Gorge Oguntade

Lagos- Senator O Mamora

Lagos- Modupe Irele

Nasarawa- Musa Muhammad

Niger- Mohammed ibeto

Ogun- Ade Asekun

Ondo- Barrister Sola Iji

Osun- Adegboyega Ogunwusi

Oyo- Major General Ashimiyu Olaniyi (Rtd)

Plateau- Pauline Talin

Plateau- Haruna Abdulahi

Rivers- Orji Ngofa

Rivers- Justice Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor

Sokoto- Jamila Ahmadu-Duka

Sokoto- Kabiru Umar

Taraba- Mustapha Jaji

Yobe- Goni Modu Zanna Bura

Zamfara- Garba Gajam

Zamfara- Captain Abdullahi Una Garbasi

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/full-list-of-ambassadorial-nominees-buhari-sent-to-senate/

SAN FRANCISCO, October 17, (THEWILL) – Following claims by erstwhile insiders that the Aso Rock Presidential Villa is under the grip of evil spirits and demons, Chaplain of the Aso Villa Chapel, Pastor Seyi Malomo, has stated that there are evil spirits everywhere, calling on Nigerians to particularly pray for righteousness to take over the seat of power.

Recall that former presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, had disclosed that every principal officer who served in the Nigerian Presidency suffered one tragedy or the other, stressing that the Aso Villa should be converted into a spiritual museum, and abandoned. Corroborating Abati, then president Olusegun Obasanjo’s spokesman on Public Affairs, Femi Fani-Kayode asserted that those in power are plagued by spiritual challenge.

But while failing to state categorically on Sunday whether the claim by the duo is true or false, Malomo told Premium Times that: “Evil spirit is everywhere. Even the street you live, don’t you have witches and wizards there?”

He called on Nigerians to devote themselves to praying for God’s righteousness to take over the land, clarifying that: “I am not saying there are no evil spirits. I am also not saying there are”.

The Aso Rock Chaplin continued, “I don’t know what people believe. For me, I believe it is only righteousness that exalts a nation.

“All we need to do as Nigerians is to pray that wherever evil exists, God should make His righteousness to take over.

“As Nigerians, our responsibility is to continue to pray for the president and his cabinet, and every part of the country, particularly the Villa, for righteousness to take over,” the cleric added.

Written by Ugonnabo Ngwu

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/aso-rock-chaplin-says-evil-spirits-are-everywhere-not-only-in-presidential-villa/

SAN FRANCISCO, October 13, (THEWILL) – Twenty-one (21) of the over 200 abducted Chibok girls held by the Boko Haram sect have been released by the terrorist organization to the Nigerian government, SaharaReporters quotes a government source as saying.

The report, which could give the name of the freed girls, had it that the girls were picked up by military helicopter from Banki area of Borno state, where Boko Haram terrorists dropped them off earlier on Thursday.

The release of the 21 girls comes as President Muhammadu Buhari begins a three-day trip to Germany to discuss assistance for the rebuilding of the northeastern part of Nigeria ravaged by the Islamist sect.

Boko Haram abducted the girls from their school in Chibok, Borno State on April 14, 2014.

Story by Ugonnabo Ngwu.

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/breaking-boko-haram-releases-21-chibok-girls/

SAN FRANCISCO, October 12, (THEWILL) – The Lagos State House of Assembly has disclosed that the presidency is showing disrespect for a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, by making appointments without the latter’s knowledge and taking major decisions without adequate consideration for the view and opinion of the former Lagos governor.

Making this assertion during its plenary on Tuesday, the state assembly asserted that the contributions of Tinubu to the emergence of the APC can never be shoved aside, adding that nobody can whittle down his influence and political power.

Drumming up support for the APC leader in the wake of the recent rift between him and APC’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Tunde Braimoh, and his colleagues questioned the “silence” of the presidency over the development, especially given the “years of sacrifice and financial commitments” Tinubu gave to the emergence of APC.

Tinubu had asked Oyegun to resign as National Chairman, alleging that he worked with anti-democratic forces within the party to scuttle the will of party members in the party’s governorship primary in Ondo State. Oyegun responded by describing the content of Tinubu’s widely publicized statement as “reckless and false”.

The state lawmakers noted that an insult to the personality of Tinubu was synonymous to insulting the entire Yoruba race, particularly in view of the leadership role he (Tinubu) has played in the unification of the Yoruba nation.

According to Braimoh, “The situation does not speak well for the internal democracy of our party and efforts must be made by stakeholders to arrive at a quick resolution.

“To achieve this, we call on the party’s leadership to call the executives to order with a view to ensuring that adequate respect and honour is given to party leaders, including Asiwaju Tinubu.”

In his contribution, the Deputy Majority Leader, Muyiwa Jimoh noted that the “ongoing fight is not just against Tinubu, but against vision and posterity”, stressing that “Asiwaju Tinubu is too big a personality for anybody to toy with”.

On his part, the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa stated that President Muhammadu Buhari should play the role of a father and unite everybody rather than be seen as apathetic to the development.

“The signal coming from the presidency is not good enough. Appointments have been made without Tinubu’s knowledge and major decisions have been made without adequate consideration given for his view and opinion. We believe this is not good enough and it is a sign of disrespect for a personality like Tinubu, whose contributions to the consummation of APC in Nigeria can never be brushed aside,” he said.

THEWILL had reported a former Aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, as enumerating six shots that have been fired at Tinubu by “forces within his party that are even greater than him”.

In that report, Fani-Kayode identified this “small cabal of power-brokers” carrying out offensive against the former Lagos governor to include: President Muhammadu Buhari, his powerful nephew: Mamman Daura and Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, adding that the Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El Rufai and others are the strategists and enforcers.

He bemoaned the humiliation of Tinubu by those whose objective “is to establish a new political order in the south west which is beholden to them alone, to replace Tinubu as the National Leader of the party and to utterly demystify and crush him in order to prepare the ground for the emergence of a new and more compliant Yoruba running mate for either Buhari himself or El Rufai in 2019.”

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/lagos-assembly-reveals-how-presidency-is-showing-disrespect-for-tinubu/

The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Today's Leaders Consulting, Mrs Love Oladele, has fired up the passion to quickly earn millions in about hundred residents of the Federal Capital Territory, by exposing them to various businesses which can be conveniently started with low capital yet yield millions in few months.

At a time the country is facing a biting recession with calls on Nigerians to go for multiple streams of income, those who converged on the Valencia Hotel venue of the seminar were practically trained by Mrs Oladele and her team on exploiting lucrative avenues in Online Importation, Gold investment, Crowd Rising, Helping Hands International, Silver Investment, Recharge card printing etc.

Beginning with "selling yourself" and "selling your business", she stated that there are seven billion people in the world, adding that an individual is supposed to be able to reach one percent of that number. The coach, who can be reached via love@loveoladele.net, said the world is now in the connectivity age, hence the need for people to take advantage of social media platforms to do referrals that can earn them so much money.

The participants, who were held spellbound all through the seminar that lasted over five hours, scrambled for forms to enrol into each of the various business opportunities, after whatever doubts they had were cleared in a question and answer session that ensued. Aside other materials, each of the participants were given a CD plate containing the manual.

Speaking with newsmen afterwards, the entrepreneurship development trainer said: "Since 2009, we started training people on businesses they can start because I believe that the more entrepreneurs we have in Nigeria, the more people will get employed. You see the way some of the people in that hall are so excited because they will be able to start something on their own. They don't have to go looking for jobs.

"What we do is teaching people small businesses they can start. Now we have given them business ideas they can start. Today, I tell people that we are in connectivity age. So, since June we've been teaching people some connectivity businesses; businesses you can start with less than N150,000 and in less than three months you'll be making millions. In June, some people joined us, today they have made their millions. Right now, we have about 20 people that have made their millions in this connectivity business.

"My aim is that between now and June next year, I am going to make 100 gold millionaires. I don't like to leave Abuja but people now say you must come and raise millionaires in Port Harcourt, Lagos. So in October 21st, 22nd, 23rd, we are going to be in Lagos to breed new set of millionaires. On November 17, 18 and 19, we are going to be in Port Harcourt to raise millionaires. If you are in those environs, fly to Lagos, Port Harcourt. You have no excuse not to go to where you'll be made a millionaire. For Abuja people, we are going to repeat what we have done on 15th of October and 12th of November," the business mentor added.

One of her protégés, Amaka Nwokeji said, "I was working when I invested. It wasn't up to a month, there was a downsizing of staff in the company, luckily for me I was put on standby. My siblings kept asking have they called me back; but I can tell you I don't even know if I would want to go back to the place because the money, the exposure I've gotten from Gold Investment, I don't think I would want to go back. Already, I've made about one million. I registered in June 27 and in August, I was able to make that money and there are hopes I'll make much more."

According to one of the trainees, Mr Ejeh Joshua Adejo, "I'm a first comer here and the way I look at it I'm sure it's not 419. I've even registered for the gold investment.I was moved by the presentation. I have paid. May God continue to use the woman to make rich we the poor people. I'm praying to be one of the millionaires."

Another participant named Olasoji Adewale said: "I believe all the business models taught are good but the one a person can start almost immediately is the recharge card printing because if you have a laptop, it will cost you small money to get the software. The knowledge gotten here is the base knowledge as they promised us further training."

For Esther Wakama, "the program was very very educative. I'm one person that never believed in referral stuff but coming here today, I've been so enlightened. I've really learnt so much. I've come to see that one can make so much from Helping Hand. I can't wait to sort the money out and start. My confidence in business has really been boasted by this training. There is nothing you set your mind on that you can't achieve."

On her part, Adejetu Baba said: "The programme is okay. I really enjoyed the programme. What I really came for i got it. From now, I will go for recharge card printing. I sell recharge cards before. I'm also interested in gold trading. When I get home, I'll plan how to raise the funds to start."

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/todays-leaders-consulting-sets-abuja-residents-path-earning-millions/

SAN FRANCISCO, September 19, (THEWILL) – A former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu says he bears no grudge against his estranged political godson, Senator Theodore Orji, but vowed never to have any dealing in life with his successor, adding that he has no reason at all to envy Orji.

Kalu spoke while being hosted by the traditional prime minister of Ibeku Kingdom, Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu, while responding to pleas by paramount ruler of Ibeku, Eze Samuel Onuoha, and others who spoke, that he should forgive them for the alleged maltreatment given to him by his successor and kinsman, Senator Theodore Orji.

This was as Senator Orji dismissed Kalu and those who hosted him as unserious people, mocking his predecessor as one who needs all the attention, propaganda and media coverage because of his desire to become the President of Nigeria, the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF, and FIFA.

While attributing the political woes afflicting his estranged political mentor to punishment by God as Kalu played God, Orji wondered why the former governor has not been able to make himself Senator, since he claims to have the magic wand with which to make people governors.

The newspaper publisher, had assured his host that he has nothing against Senator Orji but insisted that he would have nothing again to do with him, explained that he has nothing against the incumbent governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as he has no reason to quarrel with him.

Kalu spoke on Friday in Umuahia, the Abia capital, stressing that during his time as governor, he showed love and care to Ibeku people because he does not discriminate.

According to him, “One man cannot run government; I believe in free society. I can’t hate Okezie (Gov. Ikpeazu) because of T. A. I have nothing against Okezie. I had case with T. A. not Okezie. I cannot transfer somebody’s sin to the governor. He has not offended me and I have nothing against him.

“Since I left office, I have been on my own. I never owed anybody throughout my tenure as governor. I paid everybody, both indigenes and non-indigenes because we are all Igbo and Nigerians. Since I left as governor, I have never bothered anybody but they told lies against me that I collected all the money from the state. A liar is a liar and will remain so till end of life. But I urge Abians to hope for good. Things will be better again,” Kalu added.

But responding in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Don Norman Obinna, Senator Orji stated that “Kalu has unconsciously brought the wrath of God upon himself by his constant assumption of God”.

He told Kalu “that nobody has the power to make anybody governor if the plan was not the will of God as God is the only being that has the power and the ability to change a man’s status.

“If Kalu claimed that he made me governor, who then made him governor in 1999 or did he make himself?

“If Kalu has the magic wand to make people governors as he often claims in his laborious effort to garner sympathy, how come he has not been able to make himself Senator, one of the positions he craves for and has contested on three occasions?” the lawmaker queried.

He said that he has also “forgiven Kalu but will not forget how he acted as de-facto governor for three years and almost deprived the good people of Abia State the dividends’ of democracy through his excessive demands and family burdens.

“A liar will always be a liar no matter what. I am not taken aback by Kalu’s antics; he is the one that needs all the attention, propaganda and media coverage, having the desire to become the President of Nigeria, CAF and FIFA. My responsibility is to provide qualitative representation to the people of Abia Central and that I am committed to doing and not competing with Kalu,” Orji stated.

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/abia-former-governors-kalu-orji-fight-dirty-call-each-other-liar/

BEVERLY HILLS, SEPTEMBER 09, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Women Affairs, Senator Aishatu Alhassan, and parents of some Chibok schoolgirls that escaped from Boko Haram terrorists have accused Non Governmental Organizations, NGOs, of using the girls to solicit for donations in the United States, U.S.

Some individuals and NGOs had offered to help the girls, who escaped after the April 14, 2014 abduction in Chibok, to overcome their trauma. Consequently, about 15 of them were given offers to travel to the United States, U.S, for their education.

But the minister, who met with the parents in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital on Thursday, later told journalists that out of the 15 girls currently in the U.S, only five are in schools as promised, adding that most of the girls were used by the NGOs to get money from donors.

Disclosing this in the presence of some parents of the abducted girls, she revealed that the education of another five girls had to be taken over by the Murtala Mohammed Foundation after the intervention of the federal government.

Ahlhassan said, “We have heard reports that some of the Chibok schoolgirls that escaped abduction were taken to the U.S. by some persons under a private arrangement of which the government was not involved.

“We wanted to talk to the parents about these girls in the U.S. because every Nigerian is the business of the government. The welfare of every Nigerian is the responsibility of government whether in Nigeria or abroad.

“Therefore when we got the information that the girls were being used as tools for making money – not prostitution – but in the sense that they will be taken here and there where they go and relay their experiences during the insurgency, especially the invasion of Chibok town by Boko Haram and how they were abducted.

“After that, people used them to ask for donations; by so doing they make money out of it. So the girls became fed up; and started complaining that they were taken to U.S. on an arrangement that they were going to send them to school and that they were going to pay for their school. But unfortunately they said they were not allowed to remain in school.

“The Nigerian government of course has business in the welfare of every Nigerian at home or overseas; so officials now went in and did some investigation and found that the case was true. So through the ministry of foreign affairs, my ministry was contacted; and there was a meeting held with the parents who we invited to discuss the matter.

“Now we had gotten a letter from one of the people that took the girls now making some demands pertaining to the girls and that necessitated my coming to meet with the children’s parents so that we talk now that I am in Maiduguri. We have discussed and understood each other and charted the way forward. And I am going back to report to Mr. President who encouraged me to meet with the ministry of foreign affairs and the parents.

“I have briefed them that the government is still doing its best to make sure that the ones in captivity are brought back home safe and sound. And they all appreciated our efforts and today they also dissociated themselves with any group including bring back our girls group that tries to use their name in order to insult the government or to undermine the authority of Mr. President.

“Most importantly, I conveyed Mr. President’s regards and how he feels for them as well as the concerns he has over the plight of their girls in captivity.”

Responding, the chairman of the parents of abducted Chibok girls, Yakubu Nkeki Maiva, said: “on the issue of our daughters that managed to escape from Boko Haram during the abduction who are now schooling in the US, we want the federal government to take over from those organizations and individuals, we want them to now study under the care of the federal government.

“When they were taken abroad we were told that they were going there to study and not going on tourism. We want them to return home with certificates and not tourists’ experiences. We want government to come in and take over their education there,” he added.

Also speaking, another parent, Paul Ali Maiva, said the idea of the girls going abroad for free scholarship came through him when he was contacted by Paul Gadzama.

His words, “I am one of the parents of the girls that were taken to the USA.

“Our daughters were taken abroad through Mr. Paul Gadzama whom we thanked for his kindness. But I never knew him but I just saw a call on my phone and he introduced himself, then informed me that he wanted my daughter to be taken the US in order to get her education. He said I should discuss with my wife and get back to him. I thanked him and then had a thought over it with my wife.

“So I allowed my daughter and the orphan daughter of my younger brother to be taken away by Mr. Paul alongside other girls from different parents who had also escaped the abduction.

“We are happy that they are there studying. But from the information we are hearing of late, it seemed they are not really studying in schools as we assumed. We understand that they are being used for show business where they would be taken to places for them to narrate how they escaped Boko Haram captivity; and then afterwards they will be given money. That was not want we wanted for our children.

“It is in that respect that we are pleading with the federal government to help us retrieve our daughters and let them if possible be under the federal government while they are schooling. We don’t want our daughters to be used for trading abroad; all we wanted for them is education that will enable them have useful certificates that can be beneficial to the country, our state and Chibok community. We plead with government to help us rescue our other girls. We need your help.”

But the Women Affairs minister said the government could not take over the girls’ education directly since it was not part of the earlier arrangement.

She however promised that the government would do all it can to get some other NGOs that could be magnanimous to take over the sponsorship of the girls’ education as it did with the five currently under the care of the Murtala Foundation.

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/how-chibok-girls-in-united-states-are-used-by-ngos-for-money-minister-parents/

A composite professional service and business consulting firm, TM Hays Consulting Ltd, will from September 23 to 24, 2016 hold a Microsoft Excel advanced level training, entitled "Basic to Advance of Microsoft Excel Course", and designed to enable participants transform data into meaningful dashboards, database reports, automatic calculation, charts and visualizations.

The Microsoft Excel Course comes highly recommended for accountants, business executives, human resources personnel, project managers, financial analysts and planners, operations managers, auditors and internal control personnel, key account managers, system auditors, and staff who have gone through foundation class, graduate trainees etc. Upon completion of the course, a Professional Certificate of Attendance will be issued to participants.

The organization, which provides professional services, IT consulting and IFRS services to clients in various sectors of the economy, carefully selected topics for the training to provide an enhanced level of understanding and educate trainees on the various ways of making Excel an informative reporting tool which gives another dimension to simple spread-sheeting.

The training which holds at Canton Cancourse Training Center, 12 Landbridge Avenue, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, will enable participants learn sophisticated, advanced and professional tips to prepare professional reports and dashboards, as well as make them knowledgeable in the power of Excel. Those interested can get more information by calling: 0810 353 6389 or sending an email to: info@tmhaysconsulting.com

Meanwhile, the firm of professional accountants has launched a Financial Reporter Software In Nigeria to enable the management of companies really take control of financial reporting. The software among other things helps to reduce risk and increase confidence in the integrity of companies' data and reduces the time used in preparing financial reports.

The software also improves productivity by replacing manual tasks with automated processes and lowers compliance costs by standardizing processes and generating audit trails, as it eliminates the time wasted in the repetitive process. Aside aiding better, faster decision making based on accurate information, the software also computes complex adjustments required for financial reporting.

TM Hays Consulting Ltd, which is a foremost IT company in the country, and a SAP associate partner for the sales and implementation of the business suit application for SMEs, expressed the readiness of its employees to show the account team of prospective clients how the software works in 20 minutes for free.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/tm-hays-launches-financial-reporter-software/

Kai, stop bringing up such a senseless topic. How can you be raising such a sensitive political matter at a palm wine joint? And please, stop denigrating baba by likening him to your failed Jonathan. Jonathan failed all of us and that is why we all voted him out, including you. You were part of the change. Sai baba! Baba for life! Baba and Chelsea are the same. I love baba just as I love the blues. We will vote him again in 2019 if he agrees to run. Sai baba. Why are you laughing now? Does this sound funny? I have my dagger here to finish your life fa!
Sorry, I wasn’t laughing. But why are you this ferocious? Does viciousness run in your blood or is it because you are from… Where are you really from sef? Anyways, it doesn’t really matter. I hear most of your people are like this. You must not talk about their pinup even when they are being roasted by the same obsession.

Grammar…but who told you baba is roasting us? Are we chickens? Besides, your people are more violent than my people. I hear sound of bombs and grenades coming from there every now and then. They are claiming they own the entire country. Is it not only Boko boys that are troubling my people? Have you ever heard of kidnapping and militancy around my area? Take your time please! Sai baba!


I can’t just control this laughter but in a rancorous manner. Did I hear you say sai baba again? Well, I remember how it was activated. We all started with the stimulation of ‘sai baba,’ but at the middle of last year, some people started chorusing ‘why baba’. I have heard ‘chie’ baba from a few people and very soon, it will be ‘haba baba.’

Shut your ‘moronic’ and odious mouth. Buhari can never end up like Jonathan. Forget about what PDP is saying. They are trying everything possible to sabotage his government. I will continue to support baba, even if…

Even if what? Baba has failed us; he has even failed the group he used in removing Jonathan. I mean…ennnnn. What’s the name of the group again? This Oby Ezekwesili’s group, I mean that Aisha Yesufu’s group.

You mean BBOG?


Exactly! Can’t you see that they are now asking baba to be cautious, if not he will end up like Jonathan? In fact, they are like cat and dog now, and baba does not want to see them. I wonder why he is doing that, even when they staked everything for him and helped him win the election.

What did they stake for him? Are you daft? Did you ask why they formed the group? It was for appointment, but since baba only considered one of them, the rest are now angry. Could he have appointed all of them as Ministers? It’s not fair. Do they think baba is too old that he can’t decipher blue from white?

But he used them? Why is he now refusing to dine with them?

Because they are making impossible demands. They are asking baba to rescue the abducted Chibok girls. Is that not suicidal, I mean cheerless? How can you ask our President to go to the Sambisa forest to liberate those girls? I pity the security forces in the forest because it’s an awkward task. No government can rescue those girls. The forest is a noxious zone. After all, your Jonathan said the abduction was a facade’ so why troubling my baba?

Gbam! You don dey speak oyibo now. But baba said he was coming to rescue those girls or has he now agreed that there were no such girls?

Baba is also a politician. Baba is not just a military man. A politician capitalizes on every little opportunity to triumph over his challenger. At least, he got our votes with the sentiments of that abduction. Whether true or false, baba has won the election and now he is our President. He used the group wellaaaa.

Tufiakwa! He is not my President. I wish Jonathan won. I regret everything today. The sleepless night, the argument at newspapers stands, the social media campaigns and everything. I think I betrayed my people who would have preferred Jonathan to continue.

Jonathan would have killed this country.

So what has your Buhari done to this country so far? Revived it? Name one thing that your baba has done positively?

Okay wait…he has decimated Boko Haram.

How?

Don’t you read papers and press releases? Do you know why SK Usman always uses ‘remnant’ when he is issuing a press statement on Boko boys?

Talk is cheap!

Be serious my friend. The era of Boko Haram is over.

How can you say that? Where then are the abducted Chibok girls? Where is Shekau? Is he now dead for the third time?

You see, you don’t read. Shekau is a title. They have killed two title holders. One was recently wounded on the arm.

That sounds very funny. So we can say Shekau, the Emir of Sambisa. How many of the dead bodies have they recovered? How did the military know he was injured in the last raid? If they could be specific about the nature of the injury he sustained in the raid, then why didn’t they capture him or are they turning Sambisa to Boko Haram forest reserve? Very soon, the military will tell us the name of the hospital Shekau was taken to, and mention even the name of the doctor handling his case. Abeg, don’t let me derail from the topic. All I know is that baba has done nothing. He is living on his past glory.

Thunder fire you! Will you stop this nonsense?

No! The nonsense makes sense.

No sense. Jonathan finished our economy before baba took over.

But baba said he was coming to change things. Was he coming to lay blames? He studied the economy and said there was need for change. Now people are already saying we need to change the change. And I’m wondering what he has changed so far?

So many things.

Like wounding Shekau in the arm? Like promising that we will soon be out of recession? Like taking pump price of fuel to N145. Like promising that price of rice will soon fall from the current N20,000. Like completing the Abuja- Kaduna rail project Jona started? Honestly, he has tried to convince us to be a little patient with him. He may end up being worse than Jonathan. If I want to juxtapose, then I will say Jonathan was the best president we didn’t give a chance.

You are mad! You call yourself a media practitioner, yet it’s only at ‘palm wine joint’ you can claim super man in politics. How many articles have you written against the government of the day or are you afraid too?

I’m not afraid of anything. What is there to be afraid of? Is this situation not even worse than prison? What’s the difference? Didn’t you see Dasuki that day? That man don chop up. At least, he has rest of mind. Ask other journalists. People have refused to give brown envelops because they are also managing to survive. Many companies are folding up. Even Dangote is wailing, so I’m no longer afraid. Even Salkida willingly handed himself over to the security forces the other day.

Nonsense! ‘Jagbajantic’ bear parlour journalism. No matter the badbelle, baba will bounce back.

I won’t take it personal with you. I will be here next week to continue the argument with you. But remember I bought a bottle for you today, so you must return same next week. This is an era of change.

Useless man! Where is the money? I’m even thinking of how to survive this weekend. I have only 500 naira left for tomorrow’s garri. You know a cup now sells for as high as 50 naira.

Call baba to epp you. After all, who him epp for this country?



Ali Adoyi is an Abuja based journalist.


http://dailypost.ng/2016/09/08/ali-adoyi-buhari-epp/

Hello Nairalanders,

I'm about buying a car from second hand user. He bought the car a little over a month ago as fairly used but is yet to register it. However, the sticker of the car dealer who sold the car to him is still on the number plate side.

People are saying I may not be able to register the car at VIO or Road Safety because they will suspect it's stolen since it must have been registered by the original user. That the car dealer should have left the number used by the original user or that the person about to sell should have registered it before selling. Please, what your advise is needed. The person about to sell for me has all the papers including the Customs clearance.

Hello Nairalanders,

I'm about buying a car from second hand user. He bought the car a little over a month ago as fairly used but is yet to register it. However, the sticker of the car dealer who sold the car to him is still on the number plate side.

People are saying I may not be able to register the car at VIO or Road Safety because they will suspect it's stolen since it must have been registered by the original user. That the car dealer should have left the number used by the original user or that the person about to sell should have registered it before selling. Please, what your advise is needed. The person about to sell for has all the papers including the Customs clearance.

BEVERLY HILLS, September 01, (THEWILL) – The Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, has described the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as an astute information manager who has re-defined the art of public communication in Nigeria.

Abubakar, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the minister’s media aide, Segun Adeyemi, stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the minister in his office in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said, “It is important and incumbent on me to pay this courtesy for the single reason that information and communication are essential and integral part of the success of any democratic government and Alhaji Lai Mohammed has blazed the trail from the time he was the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress to his present appointment as the Minister of Information.”

The Governor disclosed that his visit to the minister was very successful as he would be taking home some salient points that would help him rejig the machinery of information management in Bauchi State.

Mohammed however told his guest that the Federal Government will work with the states in Northern Nigeria to revive the Durbar Festival because of its huge potential to showcase the pristine African culture and also create jobs.

His words, “Until recently, Durbar used to be a fixed cultural item in many parts of Northern Nigeria and it’s about time we revived it. This is one culture that you can hardly find replicated anywhere in the world.

“Durbar in Northern Nigeria is unique not only for its pageantry and colour but for the potential it has to create jobs and also create wealth for our people,” he said.

The minister asserted that Bauchi State is not only the citadel of Durbar but a hub of tourism in Nigeria, and that very soon his ministry will commence the tourist sites in the state as part of deliberate efforts to promote tourism.

“One thing Bauchi is known for is tourism and culture. Many people in Nigeria will remember the Yankari Games Reserve but what many people will not know about the Yankari Games Reserve is that a few years ago, it was actually given back to the government of Bauchi State and since then they have taken tourism very seriously,” he said.

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/lai-mohammed-re-defined-public-communication-in-nigeria-governor-abubakar/

BEVERLY HILLS, AUGUST 30, (THEWILL) – Former Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has regretted that history is no longer taught in schools, warning that when people do not know the history of their country, family or locality, they can lose their memory and even find it difficult to remember what they ate the previous night.

Speaking as the special guest of honour at the launch of educational toys designed to teach Nigerian and by extension African history by Ethan & Harriet, he applauded the company for developing learning tools that will expose Nigerians across social status and background to the country’s cultural values and heritage.

While expressing disappointment that many children do not know enough about their states of origin let alone the country, the ex-president called on Nigerians to know the nation’s history, imbibe cultural values and norms so as to promote the nation’s heritage.

“I have understood that history is no longer thought in school, which is unfortunate. Not knowing the history of your country, family or locality is to lose memory and if you lose your memory, you won’t remember even what you ate last night. You can see that it is a disaster,” Obasanjo said.

He then emphasised that Nigerians must “go back to make our children know what matters about our country and ourselves so they can be inspired for tomorrow.”

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/not-knowing-history-can-make-you-forget-what-you-ate-last-night-obasanjo/

SAN FRANCISCO, August 28, (THEWILL) – Darkness took over the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Saturday night, arising from power outage that happened there at the time passengers were boarding flights to different destinations abroad.

The power outage at the airport happened between 10pm and midnight, when about four international flights were boarding. Among the aircrafts affected were those belonging to British Airways, Air France, South African Airways.

The departure lounge was pitch dark as airlines officials resorted to gas-powered lanterns and rechargeable flashlights to check-in passengers and walk them through the boarding gates. Passengers groped their ways into the aircraft through the boarding gates.

They complained about the security implications of conducting check-in and boarding processes in darkness in a country currently battling terrorism and at a time too priority should be accorded aviation security.They equally decried the heat caused by the power cut which made many of the travellers sweat profusely.

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/power-outage-in-lagos-airport-as-passengers-board-flights-in-darkness/

BEVERLY HILLS, AUGUST 24, (THEWILL) – There are fears that Nigeria’s new media may soon be in for censorship going by the wave of clamp down on bloggers. In recent times, authorities at various level have arrested and prosecuted some bloggers for expressing themselves via social media platforms.

One of those recently arrested is Abubakar Sidiq Usman, who is the publisher of Abudusiqu.com. He was reportedly abducted from his Abuja home by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over an allegation of cyber stalking.

According to the commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, the suspect contravened a section of the Cyber Crime Act. Section 3(4) which states that any person who through text messages, tweets, WhatsApp, or any other social media platforms posts any abusive statement, knowing same to be false, shall be guilty of an offence. Upon conviction, he shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of two years or a fine of two million naira.

The blogger had published that the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, was a bully to his staff. He also alleged that the chairman is corrupt and was getting jittery over the possibility of his appointment not getting Senate confirmation.

In Ogun State, another blogger, Emmanuel Ojo, was earlier arrested by the state’s police command for writing what it termed a false report against the wife of the state governor, Mrs Olufunsho Amosun. Ojo was accused of posting a message on his Facebook account, which was deemed to be false and calculated to embarrass the first family in Ogun state.

More recently, there was another case of a blogger in Bauchi state, Musa Azare, opposed to the Bauchi State government, who was arrested only last week for the same ‘Cyber Stalking’. Thankfully, the state governor, Mohammed Abubakar ordered his immediate release, explaining on his verified Twitter handle, that he ordered the immediate release of Azare after reading the reports of his alleged offences. The Governor maintained that as a lawyer, he believes in the freedom of speech enjoyed by Nigerians.

This goes to show that the Cyber Stalking Act cannot stand the test of time as it denies Nigerians their inalienable right to freedom of expression and their use of the social media platform to expose the malfeasance of government officials. Freedom of expression is a universal declaration to which Nigeria subscribes. Hence, any law that proscribes it only makes a mockery of Nigeria’s democracy.

THEWILL considers it petty for the Federal Government or its agencies to be dissipating so much energy on matters concerning bloggers, when there are more important issues that require their urgent attention. At a time when the economy is heading south and there are various high-profile corruption cases to be concluded, trivial issues such as the arrest of bloggers should be the least matter to occupy the minds of those in authority.

We want to reiterate that an attack on bloggers is a direct attack on the freedom of speech as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended.

THEWILL hails the Bauchi Governor for his uncommon display of maturity in ordering the immediate release of the blogger believed to be opposed to his government. Others should take a cue from him by not allowing themselves to be distracted by the activities of bloggers who are merely exercising their freedom of speech as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

If a blogger runs afoul of the law, there are appropriate channels to seek redress. Anyone who is offended by the activities of citizen journalists should approach the courts for redress. To resort to brute force in an atmosphere of free press is to say the least, barbaric.

Although the Act first came to light during the era of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, there should be no place for it under the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, nay any democratic dispensation.

Under the circumstance, we demand a repeal of the Act or an amendment to reflect the universal declaration of freedom of expression and of free press. The role of the media, as the Fourth Estate of the Realm cannot be railroaded into cowardice.

The media has the right to report the activities of public officials so long as such reports are factual, meet other ethical demands, and do not infringe on the subject’s rights to privacy. Bloggers, therefore, have the responsibility to ensure that their posts satisfy the rigours of best practices in journalism.

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/thewill-editorial-the-increasing-clamp-down-on-bloggers-unnecessary/

BEVERLY HILLS, August 16, (THEWILL) – The Sultan of Sokoto and Grand Patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III has stated that the destruction of farmlands by cattle reared by herdsmen is not enough reason for landowners to resort to violence.

The President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, stated this on Monday when the Miyetti Allah National President and Ardon Zuru, Muhammadu Kiruwa paid him a courtesy call.

He reasoned that rather than resorting to violence on the ground that herdsmen invaded a particular farm, the farmers with the owners of such cattle should find a way of reaching amicable resolution either by getting paid the value of the destroyed crops or otherwise.

Abubakar reminded Nigerians that not every herdsman that is Fulani, just as not all Fulani is herd cattle, adding that Nigerians should understand that the Fulani man is a lover of peace and peaceful coexistence anytime, anywhere.

He however lamented that there are bad eggs in every society, hence the need to stop seeing any set of people as troublesome.

The Sultan commended the effort of the Federal Government in setting up a committee to help sensitise the Fulanis and farmers on certain issues that concern them, particularly the grazing reserve and cattle ranch.

According to him, “We appreciate the fact that a committee of this nature is being formed to help in taking broader measures to ensure that both Fulanis and Farmers are sensitized on certain issues.

“These incessant clashes don’t only affect just the herders and farmers but the entire country. And we will never relent in sensitizing the people.

“The issue is gradually taking another dimension. Hence it is looking as if Fulanis don’t want to live in peace with people while the opposite is the case.

“Fulanis has never been known for violence rather peaceful coexistence with host communities.

“But one basic thing Nigerians should note is that there are herders who are not Fulanis just as there are Fulanis who are not herders.”

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/destruction-of-farms-by-herdsmen-not-enough-justification-for-violence-sultan/

A splinter group, the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA, has insisted that former president Goodluck Jonathan is the Grand Patron of the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, stressing that his dissociation from them was because his participation, like every other sponsor and sympathizer named, was meant to be covert.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Cynthia Whuyte, and titled: ‘How NDA was formed’, RNDA stated that the NDA was constituted to counter the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, but stated that the new militant group has failed in this mission.

It stated that during the formation of the NDA, the name “‘Avengers’ came from the lips of Goodluck Jonathan”, threatening that it would reveal “more sordid details” if the ex-president further provokes them by denying his alleged involvement.

The statement reads, “After a clandestine meeting in Otuoke, Bayelsa state in 2014 between the Grand Patron and several unidentified persons ahead of the Presidential election campaign of 2015, it was agreed that the Okah brothers should be contacted to reach out to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to endorse former President Goodluck Jonathan, and work with the group of persons to ensure victory for the PDP and President Jonathan.

“At the time, because MEND was the suggested tool, the NDA as a body was not yet formed.

“Mr Kingsley Kuku and Mr. Gordon Obuah, SA on Niger Delta and Chief Security Officer to President Jonathan, respectively were selected to visit Charles Okah in Kuje prison. Mr Daniel Alabrah was given the assignment to draft an endorsement statement for Charles Okah to go through and pass on to MEND.

“The duo reported back that they had visited Okah in Kuje prison at night with the promise of his release along with others should he cooperate to get MEND to endorse Jonathan.

“It therefore came as a shock when MEND did the opposite and endorsed Buhari. Mr. Jonathan was livid with anger and swore that the Okah's would rot in prison.

“It was also agreed that a show of force be put up in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state where ex-militants led by Government Ekpemupolo and Kingsley Kuku would threaten war should the electorate vote in Buhari's favour.

“It was around that period the idea of forming the Niger Delta Avengers was conceived. In fact the name "Avengers" came from the lips of Goodluck Jonathan.

“As election day approached, certain stakeholders were mobilized to form a force to standby and ensure total anarchy in the South-South and South-East within 24 hours if the election results were not favourable to Jonathan.

“It took everyone by surprise to learn that Mr Jonathan had conceded defeat even before the final results were released. The standby force who were to attack specific targets were told to stand down. They were all compensated in US dollars cash.

“The Niger Delta Avengers was born from the failure at the polls and would now be used as an organ to make the Buhari government ungovernable, bring economic hardship and cause hatred for the administration towards failure at the 2019 general elections.

“MEND was aware of this plot through a spy that could not be identified, and the group began its campaign to counter every effort of the NDA and the Biafra agitators to this day. MEND has been a thorn in the flesh because MEND’s successful propaganda has caused the split in our ranks today.

“If former President Jonathan provokes us further with denials of this revelation, we will reveal more sordid details. The prison authorities in Kuje who witnessed the closed door meeting from the outside can attest to that night visit of November 2014.”


http://thewillnigeria.com/news/jonathan-suggested-avengers-as-name-during-the-formation-of-nda-splinter-group/

BEVERLY HILLS, AUGUST 9, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday noted that some individuals and groups now enjoy berating the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration over the poor state of the economy which was not caused by the present government.

He stated this at the special town hall meeting organized by the ministry in collaboration with the Alumni Association of the National Institute, AANI, in Abuja, calling on other organizations to join hands with the government to move our country forward.

The minister said, “At a time that some individuals and groups have made it their pastime to continually castigate government over an economic situation which is not its own making, but has been working hard to mitigate, this Association has chosen instead to engage with the government.

“In other words, by their decision to hear from the government, ask questions and also make their own input, AANI has chosen to be a part of the solution, rather than to compound the challenges.@

“Let me also appeal to other organizations across the country to emulate the Alumni Association by joining hands with the government to move our country forward. The task of nation building is for all Nigerians. Government alone cannot do it.”

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/economy-some-people-have-made-castigating-buhari-their-pastime-lai-mohammed/

BEVERLY HILLS, JULY 29, (THEWILL) – The Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Friday went spiritual over the leadership crisis rocking the party, declaring that God will not forgive anyone out to destroy the efforts made by the party to win the Edo governorship election.

Chairman of the board, Senator Walid Jibrin, who disclosed this on Friday while interacting with newsmen in Kaduna, attributed the crisis rocking the party to both internal and external forces.

Despite the court ruling that barred the party from going ahead with its National Convention billed for August 17, Jibrin stressed that the party would still proceed with the event based on the party’s constitution and guidelines.

“We are yet to see any judgement suspending the National convention, whichever way, if we decide ‎to appeal and we are given accelerated hearing, nothing will stop the convention,” he said.

The PDP Board Chairman then stated that, “We will get the judgment copy and study it and thereafter take necessary actions, but whoever is out to destroy our efforts, particularly the Edo primaries, God will not forgive such person‎ because we have all the INEC documents authenticating the Edo primaries.

“The ruling of Federal High Court, Abuja came to us as a shock but we are calling on our party members not to be discouraged as the party is taking necessary steps to resolve the problem, restore the glory and carry on with the National convention as planned,” he explained.

He called on all members of the party having any court case to withdraw such case or cases in the interest of the party, stressing that court cases was not a good omen for the party. Jibrin averred that a true party man knows that the decision of the party was supreme, appealing that a true party man should not allow selfish and personal interest override his or her sense of judgement.

http://thewillnigeria.com/news/god-wont-forgive-anybody-out-to-destroy-our-efforts-pdp-bot/

Thank you all for you advice on my delema over 407/Corolla 05. This is really a family. I will stick with the majority opinion. Cheers.

The presenter of a popular radio programme on Love FM Abuja, Ahmed Isah, who prides himself as ordinary president, has come under intense criticism over recent comments on his programme: Brekete Family, where he made caricature of an airline and its staff, adding that he prefers travelling with another airline, which he claimed is more prompt in service delivery.

Apparently advertising for a carrier, Isah said the air transport company unlike its competitor, was not known for delaying passengers hence he must be at the airport for his travel way before take-off time. Waxing in Pidgin English, he said: “I dey follow Air Peace 9’ocock. They no dey waste time. They no dey like the other one wey start with A, come get R, with I, come carry K (Arik) Those ones, they can cancel flight. They can suspend. They can- they can... and without apology ooo.”

He continued, “You go see them dey waka-nyanga tolotolo for airport after they don disappoint you finish. Anytime I send person to buy me ticket, and the person returns and say Ar… I will shout… I go say na you go fly am.  If them talk say their fight na 9’0clock, make you dey go airport around 1 to 2 o’clock in the afternoon.’’

This remark unsettled some staff of the airline who complained to select newsmen in Abuja that it was unbecoming of the on-air personality who should always detach bias and sentiments from the job to be making such comment on radio. The workers pleaded for anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for the air transport company.

The concerned staff said “it was because Ahmed Isah knew that what he was doing was wrong that was why he rather spelt our company’s name than pronounce it”. They explained that they had to speak up because it is them who would “bear the brunt if Brekete family succeeds in reducing the cash inflow to Arik by his clandestine and wicked campaign to make air travellers avoid our airline.”  When asked how this can be, they said that “when people no longer fly Arik, the company may experience cash crunch and the next thing management will likely do is to relieve workers.”

Claiming that the management of the radio station is helpless over the excesses of Brekete family and its major anchor in view of the mammoth listenership it attracts particularly among those in the lower rung of the society, they alleged that Mr. Isah often attacks those who do not patronize him, regretting that what he does is outright blackmail.

One of the concerned staff said: “We have to engage the media in this development as Ahmed Isah’s comment is capable of rendering most of us jobless. Since what he said is untrue, we suspect that he is out to take our airline out of the market to the advantage of those who pay his bills. Imagine what will happen to some of us if Arik is not able to generate enough money because of this bad publicity. We will lose our jobs! If that happens, I wonder where we would run to as there are no jobs anywhere. Government and well-meaning individuals should caution that man.”

Also speaking, another staff said, “I wonder if Isah got any form of journalism training. Ethically, it’s even wrong to promote a company by openly de-marketing its competitor. How can he place two companies in the sector side by side, glorifying one and firing verbal missiles at one? What have we done to this man? Was he talking out of his personal experience or what people told him? Has he ever experienced same and drew the attention of the airline to such? I see his comment as cheap blackmail. Maybe because he speaks in pigeon, he feels he can get away with his attacks on the corporate world.”

Another female staff who claimed to have encountered Ahmed Isah once said, “I think that programme should be probed. Many growing companies have series of complaints against the method used by Isah and co, and the man behind the mic is very arrogant. He takes advantage of his charitable services to the poor and the needy in the society to blackmail businesses and organizations. I had thought journalism preaches objectivity, so where is that in his program? He didn’t even make efforts to get the reaction of my bosses. I really felt bad hearing him say that about us and Arik. He has succeeded in painting us all in bad light even when what he is saying is unfounded.”

Reacting to the development, the President, National Association of Aircrafts and Pilot Engineers, Comrade Isaac Balami said, "it was a bad publicity for Arik. Arik can begin to look at it as if it was sponsored against it. It is highly unethical and unprofessional for a radio presenter to be promoting a particular airline and at the same time castigating another airline. You can't compare a new airline with the one that has been in business long before it.

“Just like every radio station has issues; will he (the presenter) be happy if someone comes publicly to say that other stations are better than the one airing his programme? Isah or whatever he calls himself must be guided properly and watch his utterances so as not to throw professionalism to the wind.”

Balami however confirmed that a lot of transformation is going on in the aviation industry as his union is holding talks with the minister on how to tackle existing challenges in the aviation sector.

https://m.thenigerianvoice.com/news/223312/popular-host-of-brekete-family-programme-under-fire-for-der.html

Hello Nairalanders,

Please I need your help. I've been in need of Corolla 05, but last week, I was shown a used Peugeot 407 car that has just been painted once but still clean and sharp. I was told it was bought last August and that the papers are still valid. On the dashboard monitor, I saw faulty ABS and airbag, the seller said they are working but the computer didn't capture them. He told me it's just the horn that is the problem but I noticed the shocks are not too good.

I'm new to cars, please what does this suggest about the ride and what to look out for before parting with my hard-earned money.

I also want to know how difficult it is to maintain Peugeot cars compared to Hunda and Toyota. Please your views will be greatly appreciated...