₦airaland Forum

KATSINA—Katsina State Government, in collaboration
with the Department of Livestock and Pest Control
Services of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has
commenced aerial spray to check the menace of
quelea birds in the state. Alhaji Musa Adamu, the state’s Commissioner for
Agriculture, while receiving the spray team from the
federal ministry of agriculture in Katsina, said the
exercise would last for one week. He said that already, the pest control jet had landed in
Katsina for the exercise, which would cover Zobe,
Jibia, Daberan, Sabke and Ajiwa dam areas, where
presence of quela birds was noticed.The
Ccommissioner explained that the essence of the
aerial spray, was to protect farm produce in the affected areas. Adamu, who expressed the state government’s
commitment to the improvement of agriculture,
commended the Federal Government for accepting to
collaborate in the fight against the destructive birds. In his remarks, Mr Femi Olayinka, leader of the
spraying team, said that they were prepared to
conduct the exercise successfully.

Senator Mahmud Kanti Bello represented Katsina
North Senatorial District between 2003 and 2011 and
was Senate Majority Whip.
In this interview with
Vanguard, he spoke on the newly formed APC and its
acceptability in the North. He also flayed President
Goodluck Jonathan for failing to keep to the alleged one term agreement and insists that APC is the party
for all Nigerians.
Excerpts: Many believe that APC will be torn apart when the
party decides to choose candidates for election… Even councillorship positions must be decided
honestly because that is what will show Nigerians
whether we are honest or not. Are you saying that zoning will not decide how things
will move in the party? Not a question of zoning, there will be congresses
after registration and if the registration is hijacked by
some people, then there will be problem. Every
Nigerian that intends to register with the party should
be allowed and should be given equal right. I can tell
you that when we merged and came together as APC, we were not all saints, there are some bad guys
within the party, and we cannot run away from that
because we couldn’t have sent people away when
we were registering the party because this is a
Nigerian party. Some of us are in this party with our
life and in the interest of this country and we will do everything possible for it to succeed and we are not
going to leave any stone unturned from any quarter
that wants to cheat ordinary people or party
members.
So, how prepared is the new party to fight the PDP in
the coming elections given that elections will take
place six months to the end of the life of the present
administration? We do not have any problems with time once we are
willing. All that people want is that it must be different
from the PDP, people want distinct party, crises-free
and you can only get that if you are honest. Putting the cards on table now, there is no way zoning
will not play out… (Cuts in) Which zoning? Zoning is not even part of the
constitution of the APC. There is nothing like zoning but
there is something we call fairness but most
importantly, there must be capability, credibility and
somebody who can do the job. So, don’t bring the
question of zoning because it is not part of our constitution. It is part of PDP’s previous constitution
because President Jonathan kicked against it and he is
the leader of the party and that is one of the reasons
why I disagreed with him.
Not because the North is having an agenda but
because I sat down with you and we made an
agreement that this is the way we want to live
together, you cannot come and change it because you
have an advantage. It is not because Jonathan is from
the South-South and I am a Northerner, it is because there is a rule and the rules have been disobeyed and
that is why the PDP is having a lot of troubles now and
they will continue to have problems because some
people want to cut corners and that is what I am
saying to my new party not to allow this to happen; be
honest with your people and be sincere.
How does the North’s clamour for power shift play
out in APC?
We need a large hearted President; we need
somebody who is honest and ready to take criticism.
What we have been suffering in this country is a
President without experience and without focus and
because of that, we don’t even know where we are
going and that is why there is no respect for the party. And you can see what is happening within the PDP,
the five governors are going stronger and fighting the
chairman, Bamanga Tukur. All these show lack of discipline for the party, I cannot
say that to Chief Akande because I respect him, not
because I cannot mobilize the same people Chief
Akande can mobilize in my own state in my own right,
but because he is my leader and I recognize him as a
leader. We need a disciplined society and that is why we need General Buhari because he has the power to
bring discipline and wage war against corruption.
If you are still talking about Buhari as a Presidential
candidate, how does that come to play when people
are already calling for generational change?
I hope that the party will accept him. I am not saying
he has to be. Where were you when there were
problems in South Africa and Mandela became
President? We just need somebody to clear this
corruption menace. Do you agree with me that Buhari
is not corrupt? And do you agree with me also that the problems of this country are corruption? All these
subsidy and pension problems boil down to corruption
and something needs to be done urgently.
Will you then say APC leaders are ready to drop their
ambition to salvage this country?
That is what we are saying that everybody having
ambition, please drop it and it should not be shown
now. It is something to put something on paper,
another is the implementation. For me, the only way
to implement all these things is through honesty of
purpose.
What is your comment on the call for the adoption of
part time National Assembly?
We are so selfish in this country but every right
thinking Nigerian will agree that we cannot afford the
system we are operating now. It is the system that
we are operating that is wrong, and in the whole
world, go and check, it is only Nigeria and United
States that are operating this system. Nigeria is a nation but the revenue and the economy
of California is many times bigger than that of Nigeria
even that of Texas is bigger than that of Nigeria. Our
local governments are what they call counties in the
United States, but yet we decided to have 109
Senators and at the same-time we wanted to function as Senators of the United States of America. We have legislative aides, constituency offices,
vehicles and others, but are we as rich as the United
States? I am not saying the National Assembly
members are being over-paid, I am saying the system
is wrong, reduce the numbers and have one single
house with maybe 180 members. You cannot reduce their remuneration, you have reduced their function. It
is just like arithmetic, if you reduce it, you get less
result. There are several things some of those monies go
into, like housing which is expensive in Abuja, you
have constituency officers who want you to do things
for them because they elected you, you need to buy
vehicles and motorcycles for them most times,
whether you have quality contribution on the floor or not, they are less concerned. That is our culture, so
reduce the number that will also reduce the cost.

Source: www.thenationonlineng.net/new/u-17-world-cup-eaglets-land-in-tricky-group/

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets had been handed a tough
test after drawing the defending champions Mexico,
Iraq and Sweden in the draws for the FIFA cadet
youth championship which took place in the United
Arab Emirates on Monday. The draws which took place at the Hotel Fairmont Bab
Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi saw the Manu Garba team pitched
in Group F. The Mexicans would start the defence of the trophy
they won as hosts in 2011 when they confronted the
Eaglets on October 19. Nigeria has won the tournament three times
previously in 1985, 1993 and 2007.
Full draws
GROUP A: UAE, Honduras, Brazil, Slovakia
GROUP B: Uruguay, New Zealand, Cote ‘d”Ivoire,
Italy
GROUP C: Croatia, Morocco, Panama, Uzbekistan.
GROUP D: Tunisia, Venezuela, Russia, Japan
GROUP E: Canada, Austria, Iran, Argentina
GROUP F: Mexico, Nigeria, Iraq, Sweden

wheesin: [color=#000099][/color] @OP wat were you saying at the beginning of the post...it looked like you were narrating a novel...

anyways chime keep your heart clean and you no go die...lwkmd... ESE ?

The MODS work not mine

CHIEF Ishola Filani is the South West caretaker
committee chairman of the People’s Democratic
Party, PDP. In this interview with Vanguard, Chief
Filani lampooned former Deputy National Chairman,
South, of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, describing
him as the major problem of the party who has singularly impeded the party’s chances of election
victory in Lagos State. Excerpts: By DAPO AKINREFON How far has the PDP gone in settling differences
within the party in the Southwest? We actually set up a six- member committee per state
and I must confess that I am very impressed with the
outcome of their exercise. When their report was
submitted to us, we also set up a review committee
under the chairmanship of Professor Femi Okubanjo. They have come up with their report, but one thing
that is interesting is that even without the report, the
kind of appeal and discussions that members of that
committee had with stakeholders in each state, you
will discover that there has been a lot of improvement
in all the states particularly in Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ogun. I am also happy that the National Working
Committee and the new reconciliation committee
under Governor Seriake Dickson adopted our position. The matter in Ekiti has been settled and everybody is
now living in peace. In addition, the Ekiti State chapter
was made to understand that their executive has no
right to set up a reconciliation committee because it is
only the NWC that has the power to do it and at the
appropriate time. They will set that in motion if it is the best thing to do in the circumstance. In Lagos State, we had reports that their congresses
were not the best and we do not know what the
status of the delegates from Lagos State is now until
we hear a pronouncement from the NWC. But the state
chairman recently addressed a press conference
where he said the state chapter had no issues with the congress. I am not aware of that but what we are
aware of is that there are nine states and Lagos is one
of the nine states (with issues).
I am not concluding on anything but all I am saying is
that it is because of those nine states that we are now
repeating the convention to correct the anomaly. So, I
do not see where one state will be singled out. The
only problem we have in Lagos is leadership problem. What do you mean?
A situation where the leadership in Lagos State has
not been responding to the hopes and aspirations of
the members of the party. We held elections in 1999
PDP lost, we held in 2003, the PDP lost, we held in
2007, the PDP lost, we held in 2011, still the PDP lost under the same leadership. That is why we have all these problems and
everybody in Lagos is complaining. Everybody is
saying please come and assist us. We could win
elections in Lagos State because it could have been
the easiest state for us to win because of the fact that
it is a state that comprises of every ethnic group in Nigeria but we have not been able to win because of
bad leadership. That is as far as Lagos State is
concerned. How can that be corrected?
The only way you can correct that is to sensitize the
people, review their leadership strategy and
structure. Strategize it by reviewing the structure of
the leadership which can only be done by the Lagos
State PDP. We hope and pray that the scale on their eyes will be removed in the name of God so that they
can come together and get a leadership that will be
acceptable to all of them. All other states are in order. There cannot but be one problem or the other in a
party like the PDP that is democratic in nature. We are
not the kind of party that has somebody commanding
us from the top; everything you have to do in the PDP
has to be discussed and accepted before it is
implemented. You talked about the absence of leadership in Lagos
PDP, but Chief George has always been seen as the
leader, how do you reconcile that? You see it is a system that is wrong, it is system that is
autocratic and that is why we are having problems. What is responsible for the rift between you and Chief
Bode George? Bode is a drowning man and he is just looking for
anybody either to save him from getting drowned or
drown with him. That is why he is mentioning all kinds
of names, in one form or the other. Bode’s grouse
against us is he is saying that because we are
caretaker committee, we cannot contest. Let him supply to us the context of the law or rule of law or
any instrument whatsoever that says we cannot
contest. Prophet of doom
I have better cause now to sympathise with him and
what Bode requires not to drown completely is prayer
and I will continue to pray for him. Do you think the PDP stands a chance to win elections
in Osun and Ekiti states in 2014 with the coming on
board of the All Progressives Congress? The APC is not a party even though they have now
been registered as one political party. They are a
conglomeration of distinct political parties with distinct
ideologies and principles, they will continue to exist
within that party as individual parties and I am not a
prophet of doom but one thing I want you to understand is that by the time they want to start their
nominations in Ekiti and Osun states, it is then you will
see that they are all kinds of people who just want to
oppose the PDP which has 23 states. You can see that it is only 10 governors that came
together to form the APC. At the end of the day,
alignment has never worked in Nigeria. The time has
come to reveal the lies and get our people out of
oppression. All these statements will be justified
because the APC is not a threat to us.

Get to GT Bank this morning and was told a public holidday has been declared by the Governor for 'ISE DAY' for traditonal worshipper to stay at home to be with there gods to celebrate.

The public holiday was declared as today is the traditional worshippers day, so that the traditional religion worshippers in the state can enjoy the celebration with there gods at home today

@abuklaw pls my kid sis didnt recieve any email alert about the date of the exam.

Decimated Nigeria U17s Eaglets have called up
Chelsea prodigy Habib Makanjuola ahead of the FIFA
U17 World Cup from October 17.
“Of course, we have seen that Makanjuola can be
useful to the team and that is why we have extended
the invitation to him, but team selection here is based only on merit,” coach Manu said.
Makanjuola impressed during an open screening last
month and pledged his allegiance to Nigeria, saying it
would be a dream come true to represent Nigeria at
the World Cup.
“I am a Nigerian boy through-and-through and the only country I want to play for is Nigeria,” said the
14-year-old, who has featured for the country’s U13
team.
“I am determined to do the best I can to be part of
the Golden Eaglets to the World Cup in the United Arab
Emirates.” Emmanuel Ikpeme, NFF's director technical, said it
was imperative that the Osun State-born youngster be
given the chance to join the camp as soon as possible
in order to blend with the squad.
"We expect Chelsea to release Makanjuola in time
since the coaches said he could be useful to the team,” noted Ikpeme.
“Makanjuola has already done the mandatory
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan at the Abuja
National Hospital, so the only thing left is for him to
come and compete against the rest of the players for
a place in the squad for the World Cup.”

september 23

Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi will lead the Eagles
attack in place of Emmanuel Emenike against South
Africa Wednesday night.
Ameobi, who missed the 2013 AFCON due to a clause
with his Newcastle United contract, has been
outstanding in pre-season for his EPL team and he will be joined in the attack by on form CSKA Moscow
hitman Ahmed Musa and Russia-based returnee
Victor Obinna Nsofor.
The Eagles defence will be marshalled by Rizespor-
bound Godfrey Oboabona alongside Warri Wolves
Azubuike Egwekwe in the heart of defence with Elderson Echiejile and Efe Ambrose holding the wing
back positions.
Stand-in captain Austin Ejide standing between the
sticks.
Academica de Coimbra midfielder John Ogu has
replaced Mikel Obi in the starting lline up and will take charge of the proceedings in the midfield alongside
Lazio's Ogenyi Onazi and AFCON hero Sunday Mba. Starting XI: Austin Ejide - Efe
Ambrose,Azubuike Egwuekwe, Godfrey
Oboabona, Elderson Echiejile - Sunday Mba,
John Ogu, Ogenyi Onazi- Shola Ameobi, Obinna
Nsofor, Ahmed Musa.

now following you all....kindly follow back @tolulopebash

@tolulopebash.
Follow me i follow you

VATICAN CITY (AFP) – Pope Francis joked with Italy
and Argentina players on the eve of a friendly football
match in Rome on Tuesday, saying he was torn over
who to support. “It’s going to be difficult for me, it’s lucky it’s a
friendly match! And let’s make sure it is one,” the
Argentine pontiff said in a private meeting, which
journalists listened to over the speakers in the
Vatican’s press room.
Newly elected Pope Francis I, formerly Cardinal Jorge
Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The players, along with Italian coach Cesare Prandelli
and Argentine coach Alejandro Sabella, met the 76-
year-old at the Vatican before Wednesday’s game
at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. The pontiff, a lifelong fan of Argentine club San
Lorenzo, called on the teams to make sure they used
their popularity to give a good example to their fans. “You, dear players, are very popular. People follow
your example, off the pitch as well as on. You have a
social responsibility,” he said. Among those present was AC Milan striker Mario
Balotelli, who is often in the headlines for his
behaviour on and off the pitch. The players presented Francis with a personalised
shirt from each team with his name on it, as well as a
silver vase from the Argentinians and an olive tree
from the Italians. “Please pray for me, so that I too, on the ‘pitch’
God has placed me on, can play an honest and
courageous game for the good of everyone,” the
pope said at the end of the meeting.
www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/pope-torn-over-who-to-support-for-italy-argentina-friendly/