₦airaland Forum

This guy's surely knows how to remain news worthy...

Wetin concern me...

Too many agencies for a recessing country.

A mare imitation of nutritional Biochemistry.

see major scam, na so MMM wan take come back...

Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i has announced the appointment of Mrs Bariatu Mohammed as the Kaduna State Head of Service.
A statement issued on Friday in Kaduna by Samuel Aruwan, media aide to the governor said Mohammed succeeded Mrs Alisabatu Dada-Onazi who retired from service on December 31, 2016.

The News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] reports that until her elavation, Mohammed was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport.

“Mrs Mohammed, from Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area, joined the Kaduna State Civil Service on 7th August, 1984 and rose to the rank of Permanent Secretary on April 1, 2012,” the statement added

She was at various times Permanent Secretary Public Service Office; Bureau of Establishments, Management Services and Training, as well as in the office of the Head of Service.

The governor commended the retired Head of Service for her hard work and foresight, and in driving on-going reforms in the state civil service.

He also said that the government was indebted to her for her resilience towards the success of the staff verification exercise, which laid the foundation for the reforms of the service. (NAN)

http://dailypost.ng/2017/01/06/el-rufai-appoints-new-head-service/

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has said it is too risky and dangerous to divert local and international flights from Abuja to Kaduna as planned by the Federal Government.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose gave knocks to the FG over what he said was its knee-jerk approach to problems.

“They act before they think and they take decisions before consulting critical stakeholders. That way, they always end up putting the cart before the horse. That is how they have messed up the economy and now have brought unprecedented grief, misery, poverty and suffering on Nigerians”, he said.

The Federal Government has said it would close down the Abuja airport for six weeks to repair the runway, during which period Abuja flights will be diverted to Kaduna from where the Federal Government said passengers would now be transported to Abuja.

The Airlines Operators of Nigeria has rejected the government’s plan, insisting there were better ways of repairing the Abuja runway without closing the airport.

International airline operators and their domestic counterparts are also opposed to the close-down option.

Fayose described the security situation of Kaduna and its environment as worrisome, saying this alone disqualified Kaduna.

He also complained about the dilapidated state of the Kaduna-Abuja road, which he described as a “death-trap”.

“This same Kaduna is where Shiites waylaid a whole Chief of Army Staff; the crisis created is yet to abate as the Shiites continue to defy the authorities to mount public protests.

“This is the same Kaduna where over a thousand citizens have been slaughtered like rams and the FG has not brought a single of the murderers to book. The situation in southern Kaduna and in other parts remains as tense as ever.

“This is the same Kaduna-Abuja death-trap of a road where a sitting Minister of the Federal Republic, his wife and son lost their lives in a road mishap. This is the same Kaduna-Abuja road where a Minister and her husband were kidnapped in broad daylight.

“It is also on this same road that an Army officer was butchered; where herdsmen parade their herds in broad daylight causing avoidable accidents and other inconveniences to travellers. This is the same road where Boko Haram and other criminally-minded hoodlums operate at will”, he said.

He chided the government for taking a decision before assembling the critical stakeholders, whose advice now runs against the grains of government’s thinking.

“Why are they always leaping before they look”, he asked, saying that the decision to close down the Abuja airport will further worsen the country’s economic recession.

“We will lose business to neighbouring countries; a government that is parroting diversification of the economy will lose non-oil revenue.

“An aviation sector that is in crisis before will have its situation worsened. Expect more jobs to be lost in that sector, further worsening the alarming unemployment problem in the country”, he said.

Aligning with the position of the airlines operators who are resisting the Federal Government’s relocation order, Fayose said all the necessary logistics, such as rehabilitation of the Kaduna-Abuja road, provision of adequate security, and adequate consultation ought to have been undertaken before the FG decided to go ahead with the plan.

He advised the government to immediately constitute a high-powered team composed of Nigerians with the requisite expertise to handle this very critical national assignment, stressing that our image as a country is at stake because foreign nationals are involved.

“In Nigeria under the APC\Buhari administration, we seem to value cows more than human lives but this is not the case with foreign governments which place premium on the lives of their citizens. They are not likely to allow our government gamble with the lives of their citizens”, he added.

Assuring Nigerians and the international community that he would continue to speak out whenever the occasion demands; the governor advised the APC\Buhari administration to be courageous enough to admit its mistakes and retrace its steps because so much is at stake.

“But by their nature, they are usually nonchalant. They believe everything starts and ends with political power, which is very sad. They must change this attitude because it is responsible for the untold suffering that our people are going through today”, he added.

http://dailypost.ng/2017/01/06/fayose-knocks-fg-diversion-flights/

Lagos State government may soon join the growing number of states, such as Edo, Ogun and Anambra, that have imposed the death sentence on kidnappers.

According to a private member bill sponsored by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, “any person, who kidnaps, abducts, details or captures or takes another person by any means or tricks him or her with intent to demand ransom or do anything against his/her will commits an offence and liable on conviction to death sentence.”

The bill, which is titled ‘A bill for a law to provide for the prohibition of the act of kidnapping and for other connected purposes,’ went through a public hearing on Friday at the Lateef Jakande Hall within the Assembly premises with some stakeholders in attendance.

Attempt to kidnap was also criminalised under the bill and it was suggested that such a person would be committed to life imprisonment.

Also, the bill is against false representation to release a kidnapped or abducted person under Section 4 and this attracts seven years imprisonment.

Furthermore, the bill provides that any person, who knowingly or wilfully allows his house to be used for kidnapping is guilty of an offence under the law and liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of 14 years without an option of fine.

A legal practitioner, Mr Richard Komolafe from the United Action for Change (UAC), who spoke at the stakeholders’ meeting, commended the bill but said that death sentence, was no longer fashionable all over the world.

In his keynote address, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable Obasa, condemned the trend of kidnapping in the state, stressing that the act should be punished by the death penalty.

Obasa, who was represented by the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, said that those who engaged in the crime were not fit to live.

In another development, a total of nine kidnapping suspects who were alleged to be responsible for most kidnappings in Port Harcourt have been arrested at different locations in Rivers State.

The suspects were arrested with various weapons, face masks and an operational vehicle.

Also, five suspects were arrested following the kidnap of some residents of an estate in Isheri area of Lagos State in September.

Gang member of the suspects, one Temmi Enormi, confessed to be a member of the gang that kidnapped the Isheri landlords and was confirmed by other gang members earlier arrested.

Following the arrests, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police was ever ready and more determined to ensure that all those who engage in vicious crimes such as kidnappings, armed robbery and other criminal activities, did not escape justice.

Similarly, officers from Oyo State Police Command, Gbagi Station, on Friday, killed one of several notorious armed robbers who had been terrorising Tipper Garage area, Ogungbade, in Egbeda Local Government Area of Ibadan.

The image-maker of the Oyo State Police Command, Superintendent Adekunle Ajisebutu, while addressing journalists at the Gbagi Police station, said the police got wind of the attack through a distress call from the public that armed robbers were operating at the area.

He restated the commitment of the force in ensuring that all forms of crimes,  particularly kidnap for ransom and other violent crimes were brought to a bearable and tolerable state throughout the country.

Idris urged Nigerians to always be law-abiding and stakeholders in the fight against crime and criminality.

Saturday Tribune gathered that residents in the area had been living under fear, following series of armed robbers incessant attack. However, fate smiled on the the residents on Friday, when one of the unwanted visitors was tamed through the bullet of police officers.

He said the officers reacted swiftly and caught the robbers while in the act. One of them was shot and killed at the spot, while others fled with various degree of injuries.


http://tribuneonlineng.com/lagos-set-impose-death-sentence-kidnappers/

Mr. Jude Ndukwe, media aide to former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has alleged that his principal’s life is in danger.

A statement he issued Friday said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was being used by the current administration for the sinister purposes of silencing the opposition under the guise of fighting corruption.

It reads; “As expected and as earlier stated in his press statement, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode had already raised the alarm that he was going to be rearrested by the EFCC as the organisation whose operations have become easily predictable have graduated from being an investigative body meant to serve the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians to a vindictive institution willing to do the biddings of some vengeful cabal whose existence even the wife of the president confirmed recently.


“Let it be on record that Chief Femi Fani-Kayode was held for 67 days in EFCC custody, who used questionable orders from magistrates to perpetuate their illegality. While in their custody, he suffered all forms of abuses, trauma and even physical attacks from some of the agents of the Commission.

“Their thinking was that all these torture and torments would be enough to silence him. But rather than being silenced, Fani-Kayode, to the consternation of his traducers, has remained faithful to his position right from the pre-election periods that this is a regime of evil men whose only purpose for wanting power was to waste their perceived enemies, their family members and all those associated with them.

“Is that not why despite the urgent need to tackle the economic recession, they have plunged the country into, they have concentrated all their efforts on dealing with all members of the opposition and perceived enemies even including Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court.
“The re-arrest of Fani-Kayode is needless as much as it is reckless.

“Immediately after he was granted bail by the courts, obviously to the disappointment of state agents, he had been on a recovery therapy as recommended by his doctors having suffered untold hardship in the hands of the EFCC.

But realizing that their plans to torture him into silence did not work, the Commission immediately swung into action again by sending him another round of letters of invitation for some other imagined charges to which his lawyers responded promptly by informing the EFCC of his health conditions.

“Despite this, the Commission filed their fresh case against him at the Federal High Court Abuja in the Charge No. FHC/ABJ140/2016 earlier this month but despite the presence of Fani-Kayode’s legal team, the EFCC were neither there nor did they send any representative nor was their legal team in court. The case was consequently adjourned to November 10, 2016.

“We are therefore aghast but not surprised that this latest action of the EFCC is in sync with the script writers of this whole episode to silence Fani-Kayode by hook or by crook. Words have filtered to us from credible sources within the presidency and the security agencies that the ultimate aim of those who are behind the former minister’s travails is to apply “extreme measures” on him.

“We have also been told that in security circles, that means to have him killed through the use of some poisonous substances that would break his health down irreversibly and eventually kill him even months after he might have been released so that the suspicion would not be at the doorsteps of state agents.

“If not, why allow Nenadi Usman (former minister of State of Finance) and Director of Finance in the PDP Campaign Organisation, Danjuma and others charged alongside Fani-Kayode to go and only him was re-arrested in the court premises?

“Our fears now are that nothing is beyond this government of sadists and fascists. We call on the good people of Nigeria, democrats and lovers of this great nation to rise and demand that no Nigerian should be persecuted or assassinated based on his beliefs and or opinions on critical national matters.

“We are watching very closely, and should anything untoward happen to FFK, Nigerians of course know who to hold responsible even as we demand for his immediate and unconditional release now!”

http://dailypost.ng/2016/10/22/presidency-ordered-extreme-measures-fani-kayode-aide/

The coronation of the new Oba of Benin is something worth while, this has got me thinking if there is any monarch in Africa close to the status of the Oba of Benin?

I never knew things could go worse, I don't think this current administration has the populace at heart, all this policies are been implemented without proper consideration of how it will affect life's of Nigerians, rather all this govt want is to revive d economy with theoretical policies, APC is doin more harm than good...pls make Nigerians priority b4 implementing hash economic policies...

Am amaze that notable Nigerians don't see anything wrong with breaking into judges home because of allege case of corruption, what am still wondering is why no one is breaking into homes of accused members of the National Assembly.

Buhari is just mistake in repetition, he has no clue of how to run the affairs of this nation, am so worried that the so called technocrat around him has gone silent and clueless...

The presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party, NCP, in last year’s election, Mr. Martin Onovo has claimed that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is “the greatest danger to confront Nigeria” since Independence, even as he accused the government of being divisive.
The opposition politician, who made this assertion last night when he featured on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, accused Buhari of violating the constitution in several areas, highlighting the making of appointments that runs fowl of the federal character principle.

He said the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government had reneged on several of its campaign promises, saying instead of creating the million jobs in line with its vow, there has been “millions of job loss”.

Let’s remove official issues and deal with fundamentals; this government is the greatest danger that has confronted Nigeria since independence. This government is very, very divisive. Right now, this country is divided along religious and ethnic lines. We don’t need that. This government is very deceitful,” he said.

When asked by the presenter to prove his allegation, Onovo said: “If you don’t believe it, I have a document titled APC manifesto 2015. The document was signed by John Oyegun, national chairman of the ruling party.

“One of the things written there is three million jobs every year, but what have we seen? Instead of three million new jobs, it’s millions of job loss. In the document was immediate recruitment of 100,000 police officers, what have we seen? Announcement to recruit 10,000. The document also promised to increase the salaries of five security agencies, but what are we seeing, debt, owing salaries and allowances, even that of soldiers in the north-east. So if that is not deceitful, what is?

“This government is very dictatorial, abusing the laws and the constitution of the country. The constitution is very clear about so many issues, one is appointment. The other time a national newspaper published how out of 37 appointments, 30 were given from a section of the country. Now, what is that supposed to be? Look at the security appointment, six major appointments were made, and anybody who is a nationalist would have given one position to each of the geopolitical zones.

I don’t want to go further, because if I give further information that I have, which I can confirm, it can be incisive, so I don’t want to give that level of information. Six major security positions were announced and the same sections of the country that were complaining of exclusion and marginalisation were left out, contrary to the constitution of Nigeria. Federal Character is very clear; it’s a constitutional requirement, not a political requirement.”

Onovo, who dismissed the 2016 budget as having nothing good about it, opposed the idea of borrowing to fund the budget. He alleged that the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who is also of the APC, also has some reservations about the budget.

According to him, “These things are simple; it’s not because I belong to the opposition. We have heard a lot of things, we have heard of stolen budget, we have heard of padding, we have heard of missing budget, we heard of re-presentation of the budget. Which scandal have we not heard of?” he asked.

“If you must borrow, borrow for either development or project that can be paid off the budget. That is the first universal macroeconomic principle on the economy. Now, you will vote it in a very perverse manner. You borrow about 40 percent and you allocate only 30 percent to capital project.

“The difference you are plugging to recurrent that even your own Oshiomhole has advised you to cut down. Is Oshiomhole in the opposition? Why can we accept basic universal truth and principles? Why must everything be coloured with politics?”

http://dailypost.ng/2016/04/11/onovo-describes-buharis-government-as-nigerias-greatest-danger-since-independence/

What ever name this criminals use, don't fall

victim, all they do they is call and ask for

your ATM details don't let them fool you with

this message " Dear customer, due to our

system upgrade your ATM card has just been

deactivated, kindly call customer care, Mr

John Edward on 08164015283 or 07036702590 or 07036702590.

U have to take your wife for rehabilitation...

Nuells:
Government of Propaganda.....Heaven is my home

True, but we must make tinz right d little way we can here on earth...

Residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital has faulted the claim by Operation Lafiya Dole that only 26 people were killed in last Sunday attack in Maiduguri by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

The residents said they had gone to the state specialists hospital where they saw the corpses and the injured, adding that there was the need to always keep the people abreast as regards the insurgency situation in the northeast.

Mallam Kallamu Inusa, who lost a brother during the attack on Sunday told DAILY POST that he was shocked by the claims made by the Nigerian military on the number of the victims.

According to him, “it is disheartening that people are not being told the truth about the situation; why can’t they tell us the truth? Hiding the position of things, particularly this insurgency is not the right thing to do.”

Inusa added, “in our area Polo, about six houses were burnt down by the attackers. They want us to believe them? They should resort to telling us the truth. I am not talking because I lost a brother; go round and ask people in this area, they would tell you that the figure is far beyond what the military is portraying.”

Another resident Mr. Amos Peter told DAILY POST that he was at the state specialist hospital where he counted more than 50 corpses while looking for his daughter.

“I am lucky and thank God; she was not killed. Right now, she is receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching hospital. I personally counted over 50 people killed as a result of the attack. I am surprised that the military is saying that only 26 people were killed,” he said.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/12/29/boko-haram-military-not-sincere-on-casualty-figure-of-sundays-attack-borno-residents/

Why must Nigerians always complain, capacity building as been a sham, here is a man who is making Christmas worthwhile for d people of Ekiti state, am not from Ekiti but I appreciate wat he's doing to alleviate suffering. Thank you sir.

Money makes a man, but pls don't be stupid, money doesn't mean rude, u are just a kid, keep up wit d jam...

Ganiyu Galadima, the presidential candidate and National Chairman of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) in the 2015 election was on Thursday, December 3, 2015 kidnapped in Obajana area of Kogi State while heading to Illorin, the Kwara State capital to attend the burial ceremony of one of his elder brothers.

Peter Ojonugwa Ameh, the National Chairman of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) who confirmed the development enthused thus: “My colleague, the National chairman and former presidential candidate of ACPN, in 2015 general election, Alhaji Ganiyu Galadima has been kidnapped.”

“He was kidnapped today in Osaro in Kogi State on his way from Abuja to attend the burial ceremony of one of his elder brothers in Ilorin.

“Report reaching us has it that his abductors have made contact with his family and they are demanding for N40 million ransom.”

http://www.thetrentonline.com/former-presidential-candidate-kidnapped-in-kogi/

Several lawyers and human rights activists have criticized the Rivers State University of Science and Technology for expelling a student over claims of having disabilities.

The University, on January 30, 2015, handed a letter of expulsion to Jane Ottah, 28, after it claimed it had observed that she was “medically challenged and have hearing and speech difficulties.”‎

“Since the University does not have special communication facilities, the Vice-Chancellor has directed that you be de-registered on health grounds‎,” the school registrar’s letter to Ms. Ottah read.

“I am in the circumstance, directed to inform you that you have been de-registered on health grounds with immediate effect. You are therefore advised to hand over all University property(ies) in your possession to your Head of Department and thereafter leave the campus.”

Ms. Ottah, who was in her first year in the Department of Educational Foundation, has continued to insist there is nothing wrong with her.
“Crude treatment”‎ for the physically challenged‎ In separate interviews with PREMIUM TIMES, lawyers and human‎ rights activists condemned the action of the university.‎
‎
“Cold shivers were running through my spine as I was hearing this,” said Oluyinka Oyeniji, a Trustee at the Human Rights Foundation, a Lagos-based nongovernmental organization that guarantees equal access to justice.

“It is inconceivable, it is rude, it is uncouth, it is debasing to deprive anybody of the right to education because of physical challenges or disabilities.

“This calls again to question the pending bill before the National Assembly on protection of the rights of the physically challenged.”
For the past 12 years, Nigerian human rights activists have continued – though unsuccessfully – to push for the passage of the National Disability Act in the National Assembly. Only Lagos State has passed the bill into law.‎
‎‎
“Even lawyers in law school have been complaining. That the law school itself is not ‎adapted to the use of physically-challenged,” Mr. Oyeniji said.

“For those who are blind, I’m aware, I’ve spoken with some of them before, there’s only one computer at the Abuja Law School for their use. Whereas every study materials for law school students now are in soft copy, with the aid of information technology.

“So it is high time that we have ‎this legislation domesticated in all states of the federation to guarantee and protect the rights of the physically challenged.”

Another activist, Betty Abah, said the “crude treatment” of Ms. Ottah by the management of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology “borders on the absurd”.

“Here are people who are paid and who naturally should be empathetic and help her academic dreams come to fruition in spite of her challenges. These are the same persons thwarting those dreams,” said Ms. Abah, Executive Director, Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE).

“I understand that when she visited the clinic, when her so-called disability was discovered, she was not with her hearing aids, and so far, against all odds, she has managed to pass her exams. Why would they be so callous, so inhuman?

“And, the way her heartbroken father was also sent out by the insensitive HOD, you would realize the set of people running that school. The university should review its decision and reinstate her, so that she can acquire tertiary education like her contemporaries.

“Not to talk of the VC that called her ‘deaf and dumb.’ Pray, is there a university for people with disabilities in Nigeria? ‎Haven’t they seen blind lawyers, deaf teachers? Or was it a crime for her refusing to sit at home and bemoan her fate? A big shame on them.”

Ms. Ottah was admitted into the Department of Educational Foundations in September 2014, although she initially applied to study Business Administration.

Before securing admission, Ms. Ottah had passed her West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination with three distinctions and five
credits; scored 205 in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam; and passed the university’s post-UME test.
At the time she got her letter of expulsion, Ms. Ottah was writing her first semester examination.
‎
After phone calls, text messages, and e-mails to the University’s Registrar failed to get a response, PREMIUM TIMES contacted Blessing Didia, the Vice-Chancellor.

“The matter happened in January as you said. I came from the University of Port Harcourt to become VC here in August,” said Mr. Didia, a professor of Medicine. “This is the first time I have heard about the case.”

When asked whether he would review the case now that he is aware, Mr. Didia said: “They don’t admit deaf and dumb here. And if what you said really happened, the vice chancellor then must have seen reasons why she could not be taught here.”

‘Seek legal action’‎
‎
Mr. Oyeniji advised the expelled student to institute legal action for discrimination against her person, against the University, the Vice-Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellor, and the visitor to the institution.‎‎
‎
“If that institution is a state-owned institution, then the governor of that state is answerable to the lady. If it’s a federal institution, the president of the federal republic through the Attorney General of the Federation is answerable to that lady,” he said‎.

“And I’m willing by all means to be able to undertake‎ to force a sacred fundamental human rights which the lady enjoys as of this time pending the passing of the National Assembly Act for the protection of rights of the physically-challenged.”

Mr. Oyeniji added that provision of special facilities is not the responsibility of physically-challenged people.‎‎

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/194437-rivers-university-under-fire-for-expelling-student-with-speech-and-hearing-challenges.html

By Benjamin Njoku

KORA All-Africa Music Awards, the African continent’s first and premier award ceremony in the musical arts has unveiled the nominees in the 26 categories for her 2016 edition with Nigerian music stars leading the pack.

They include, Reekado Banks who was nominated for Most Promising Male Artist of Africa; Yemi Alade (Most Promising Female Artist of Africa); P-Square (Legendary Award); Tiwa Savage, Flavour N’abania and Korede Bello for Best Video; Lara George for Best Female – Spiritual Music; Flavour scores a second nomination for ‘Best Male – West Africa’ alongside Davido; Tiwa Savage is also nominated for ‘Best Female – West Africa’ while Bracket are up for Best Group of Africa; The trio of BNG are nominated for Best Group – Spiritual; Mavins’ ‘Adaobi’ is nominated for Best Collaboration.

The organizers disclosed that the winners from every category would not only be going home with the coveted KORA plaques but also, cash prizes ranging from twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) to a million dollars ($1,000,000).

The award ceremony taking place at the Windhoek Country Club in Namibia, on the 20th of March, 2016, has partnered with SoundcityTV Africa as official Broadcast Media.

The Award Ceremony, according to the organizers, will form part of the host country – Namibia’s annual National Day celebrations would be televised live on SoundcityTV – Channel 327 on DSTV, GOtv Channel 75 and her digital platforms across 55 countries.

SoundcityTV delivers the very best of Culture, Music, Entertainment and Lifestyle to a worldwide audience, a fitting for the KORA All-Africa Awards.

“We are excited about the partnership to take the 2016 KORA All-Africa Award to 55 countries and to our over 40 million audience via the live broadcast and digital platforms,” said Mr. Tajuddeen Adepetu, who is Chief Executive at Consolidated Media Associates and Executive Producer at SoundcityTV Africa. “We are inspired by the incredible work of KORA team over the last 12 years and then by 2016 crop of nominees for the award. Next year’s ceremony would be nothing short of spectacular even to audience who would be tuned in from their homes via SoundcityTV.”

The Namibian government who would be playing host for the March 20th ceremony has thrown her weight fully behind the 2016 edition of the Award. In a communication recently issued by the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism in conjunction with the Ministries of Education, Arts and Culture; and Information and Communication Technology, the Namibian government expressed the belief that the creative industries play a key role in contributing to the economy and in doing so, furthering the poverty alleviation agenda through tourism, the cultural arts and the creative industries which largely informed the partnership with the Organizers of KORA.

The statement from the Namibian government in part read: ‘These programmes are designed to ensure Namibian’s participation in this landmark event, and assure that the country’s tourism, ICT and art industries benefit directly from the events being hosted in Namibia. As such, we are pleased to endorse the KORA AII-Africa Music Awards and anticipate the positive impact it will have on Namibia’s creative economy.

It is our further belief that the KORA All-Africa Music Awards also represents a unique opportunity for public-private partnership to jointly collaborate in the delivery of a landmark event, and as such, encourage role-players in the private sector to explore partnership opportunities with the event.’ The full Media Release by the Namibian Government is available on Soundcity.tv website.

The 2016 KORA All-Africa Awards’ nomination list released via @SoundcityTV twitter account and on the koraawards.com website on the 3rd of November, 2015 saw over a 100 of the most promising and gifted artistes nominated across the four regions of the continent.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/kora-awards-2016-yemi-alade-psquare-others-make-the-nominees-list/

Icecomrade:
How many international award has oshimole recieved. Village champion

NONE

Femi Makinde and Jesusegun Alagbe

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said all projects embarked on by his administration will be completed before the end of his tenure.

Aregbesola said that he was not bothered by politicians “fabricating lies over the state of finance of Osun State.”

The governor spoke in Osogbo, Osun State capital at the opening of a new privately-owned radio station, Rave FM, by the immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Yemi Farounbi.

Farounbi is a veteran journalist turned politician.

At the event, Aregbesola said all “detractors and opposition will soon come to appreciate my administration when all projects embarked on are completed before the end of my tenure in office.”

Though he acknowledged that things were financially tough for the state, he said help was on the way for the state.

He said the Gbongan-Akoda Road project and others in the state would commence before the first quarter of 2016 and that no project would be abandoned by his administration at the end of its tenure.

He said, “I will not be disturbed by bad comments from some people about my policies because I believe in God who sent me to Osun and supports me.

“What we are doing in Osun may not be appreciated now, but it will become what people will praise later; we came here and all we have been doing has been inspired by God.”

Aregbesola described as shameful the exaggeration of the debt profile of the state by some parties.

He said, “If we borrowed N800bn, like some (people) said, how could we have been able to pay the loan interest? How could we have survived? Though we took loan, and that is the only way we could have brought development to the state; as tough as it is, God and His help is on the way and Osun shall overcome.”

Farounbi thanked the governor for his support even though they belonged to different parties.

He said, “I remember when I was nominated as an ambassador and I needed the support of two senators from my state. I went to Senator Adeyeye, who is my brother, and all the senators in my state were from the Action Congress of Nigeria.

“It was Adeyeye who told me that I needed not to be bothered as the governor (Aregbesola) had instructed all the senators from the state to support me. Without meeting you (Aregbesola), you made me proud. I am grateful for all you have done, even though, I did not see you and despite the fact that we are not from the same political background.”

Meanwhile, the governor on Friday inaugurated the reconstruction of Olaiya-Junction-Asubiaro-Ita Olokan Road in Osogbo, the state capital.

The governor said the 2.8 kilometer road project was awarded to Messrs RATCON Construction Company Limited for N985m.

Aregbesola also said the state government would pay N392m as compensation to those whose buildings would be affected by the road construction.

According to him, the project will be financed from the money saved in a special purse by his administration.

The governor stated that he had written to the House of Assembly for permission to spend the money on the project, saying he believed God would supply the remaining fund to execute the project.

Claiming that the project would be completed in six months time, Aregbesola boasted that no governor, since the creation of the state, had worked for the development of the state than his administration.

He praised The Apostolic Church whose building the governor said would be demolished, for willingly agreeing that the property should be pulled down for the road project.

He said his administration would compensate the church to enable it to build another church.

Aregbesola, however, said he had paid workers’ September salaries and retirees’ pensions.

But the Peoples Democratic Party accused Aregbesola of insincerity regarding the road project.

The spokesperson for the PDP in Osun State, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, said in a statement that the state government had been allocating money for the construction of the same road in the last three years.

The statement read, “Why reconstructing Odi Olowo Road every year? What happened to the money allocated to it every year? From 2012, Odi Olowo Road has continued to be in the budget, yet nothing was done on the road.

“In 2013 and 2014, the same road was in the budget, contractors were paid and yet no serious work was done. We believe the latest inauguration is another avenue to make noise and after that spend the money on frivolity. This has exposed Aregbesola as a clueless governor.

“The people are dying of hunger daily, workers are not paid, contractors are not paid yet, Aregbesola wants to commence doing another reconstruction that will join the list of abandoned projects in the state.”

http://punchng.com/ill-complete-all-projects-before-my-tenure-ends-aregbesola/

Fisayo Soyombo, editor of TheCable, has been shortlisted for the 2015 edition of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting. A panel

of judges chaired by veteran broadcaster, Bimbo Oloyede, selected the entries of Soyombo and 11 other journalists among the 130 collections

that were received for the competition. Other finalists are Adekunle Yusuf of The Nation, Chukwuemeka Emenike of The New Telegraph,

Sumner Sambo of Television Continental, Motunrayo Joel and Adedayo Odusanya of The Punch.

Ikechukwu Ibe of The Daily Trust, Emmanuel Ogala and Bassey Udo of Premium Times, Ayodele Ojo of The Sun, Asukwo Bassey of Business

Day and Abosede Ifekoya of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), also made the list. The award presentation ceremony where

winners will be unveiled will hold at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, on December 9. In 2014, Soyombo won the online category of the same

competition.

He was shortlisted for the Local Reporter category of the 2014 Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism, which featured “almost 300

stories entered by 93 journalists from 41 countries”. Soyombo was also one of the three finalists for the 2015 edition of the Thomson

Foundation Young Journalist from the Developing World FPA Award but the prize went to Ugandan journalist, Caroline Ariba. A 2013 recipient of

the Deutsche Welle/Orange Magazine Global Fellowship for Young Journalists, he contributes opinions to UAE-headquartered Al Jazeera and

Germany-based TAZ. His works have been translated into French, German and Arabic.


https://www.thecable.ng/thecable-editor-fisayo-soyombo-shortlisted-2015-wole-soyinka-investigative-reporting-award

The Senate yesterday commenced probe of the failure of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, on corruption allegation.

The petition alleging corrupt practices against Umar was dated November 5 and submitted to the Senate for consideration.

In the petition dated November 5 written by the Anti-Corruption Network against the office of the Attorney-General of the ‎Federation, it was alleged the OAGF failed in its sacrosanct duty to Nigeria in the case against Umar.

The letter reads in part: “We have become aware that the office of the Attorney-General has failed in this sacrosanct duty to Nigeria in one particular case and would like the office to explain why on June 24, 2014, the chairman of the Economic and Financial ‎Crimes Commission wrote an “investigation Report” to the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation (Ref No: EFCC/EC/JUS?07?117). The report was about evidence of criminal allegations against two suspects from Code of Conduct Tribunal, namely – (1) Hon. Justice Danladi Umar and Ali Gambo Abdulahi.

“The Attorney-General then instructed the chairman of EFCC by minuting on the same letter to proceed to prosecute the suspect. This was communicated in writing to the chairman EFCC with reference No. HAGF/EFCC/2014/Vol./19 dated 26 June 2014.

“However, only the second suspect, Ali Gambo was prosecuted. The very first suspect who is the main suspect, Mr. Danladi has been left un-prosecuted. This is breach of the order of the AGF. Since then, the office of the Attorney General has been silent on this failure to prosecute as directed.”

The EFCC said it could not put Umar on trial over the N10 million bribery allegation because the evidence against him was not weighty and not sufficient to sustain a possible prosecution.

EFCC, however, confirmed that Ali Gambo Abdullahi, a Personal Assistant to the CCT boss, admitted receiving N1.8 million in 2012 from one Rasheed Taiwo, who was standing trial at the tribunal.

The said Abdullahi was alleged to have used his salary account at Zenith Bank to collect the money.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/25/senate-begins-investigation-of-agfs-office-over-failure-to-prosecute-cct-chairman/

Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State has applauded the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to stay away from the campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the state, Prince Abubakar Audu, saying the move has reinforced the belief of Kogi electorate about the seriousness of the current administration’s commitment to fight corruption.

In a statement issued in Lokoja on Wednesday by Governor Wada’s Chief Communications Manager, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the governor said Buhari’s refusal to identify with a tainted politician like Prince Abubakar will go a long way to send the right message to Nigerian youths that the current administration would not want to have anything to do with those who steal or mismanage public funds.

”It is gratifying that President Muhammadu Buhari heeded our advice and refused to identify with the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Saturday’s governorship election.

His decision to stay away from campaigning for a candidate that is being tried for corruption by the EFCC has reinforced the belief of the electorate in Kogi that the current administration is beginning to show commitment to fight corruption.

“Any attempt by Buhari to show public support for Prince Abubakar would not only be a disservice to Nigeria, but will send a clear signal that the wobbly anti-corruption war
of the current administration is finally dead”, Shaibu said.

According to him, any presidential support for a treasury looter like Prince Abubakar Audu will ridicule Nigeria in the eyes of the world.

Shaibu said for the avoidance of doubt, Prince Abubakar Audu is facing trial for stealing money to the tune of N11bn meant for the development of Kogi State and not for his political belief even though some clowns are now saying he is the best thing that has happened to Kogi State.

He advised the electorate in the state to send a clear message to the All Progressives Congress (APC), through their votes on Saturday, that today’s Nigeria will not have a place for a party that celebrates grand larceny, corruption, greed and wastage of public funds.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/19/wada-hails-buhari-for-shunning-audus-rally-urges-electorate-to-re-elect-him/

The federal High Court in Abuja, Friday ordered the Department of State Services to allow a former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, to travel out of the country for medical treatment.

The erstwhile NSA, had approached the court praying for the enforcement of its earlier order of November 3 that he could travel for three weeks to seek medical assistance for his ailment.

In his verdict, Justice A‎demola Adeniyi, insisted that Sambo must be allowed to travel without delay.

Ademola ruled: “Court order must be obeyed.

“What is wrong in the defendant travelling and coming back to face trial?

“Only a fit person can stand for trial and investigation. My own orders will not be flouted.”

http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/13/breaking-court-orders-dss-to-allow-dasuki-travel-abroad-for-treatment/

Founder of the Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare has said President Muhammadu Buhari is not clueless but helpless on the issue of insecurity in the country.

Speaking in a Channels interview, Bakare, a former running mate to President Buhari noted that the December deadline set by the President to end insurgency in the country was only an optimistic date meant to renew efforts at battling Boko Haram and support those waging the war against insurgency.

The cleric, who is also the convener of Save Nigeria group said “President Buhari’s administration is not clueless but helpless on the issue of insecurity. He met with neighbouring countries, changed service chiefs and formed ties with the leaders of the Western nations to seek their support in tackling insurgency. That is why we must all rise up to support his administration.”

http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/09/boko-haram-buhari-is-not-clueless-hes-helpless-bakare/

FROM CLEMENT ADEYI, OSOGBO

There was panic at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State on Wednes­day following the mysterious death of a lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pro­fessor Solomon Olugbemi Ogunniyi.

The late Ogunniyi, Saturday Sun gath­ered, died in his office on Wednesday.

We also gathered that the father of two was in his office on Wednesday longer than usual and did not come out until some of his colleagues decided to check him.

They knocked his office door several times, but the deceased neither respond­ed nor opened the door, they and other students forced the door open and found him sitting lifeless on his chair.

He was later confirmed dead at the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital (OAUTHC) where he was later rushed to.

The news of the mysterious de­mise of the don immediately spread through the university community as some students and lecturers were seen dis­cussing the in­cident in low tones. Oginniyi was a two-term pro­vost, College of Health Sci­ences, but his tenures ended on July 31, 2013.

A student who expressed sadness at the sudden death of the professor and preferred anonymity said he might have died of accumulated.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/confusion-as-oau-lecturer-dies-in-office/

No fewer than nine vehicles were involved in a multiple road accident a few metres away from the Military Cemetary on the Airport Road, Abuja, on Tuesday. NAN reports that the accident was caused by a tipper driver whose vehicle apparently experienced break failure.

“I think the tipper failed break and the driver could not control it again,’’ Alhaji Ahmed Rufai, who was with the driver when the accident occurred, said. Rufai said the driver of the tipper with registration number, YAB 925 YT, took to his hails on seeing the impact of the accident.

A police officer, Sgt. Musa Abdulmumini from the Kuje Division of the FCT Police Command who spoke with NAN, said no life was lost. He, however, added that Rufai would be kept in Police custody until he produces the run-away tipper driver, whom he gave his name simply as Idris.

According to the Police officer, Rufai may be the driver of the tipper but may not want to own up, for fear of being lynched. He said that though no life was lost, the level of destruction on the vehicles involved was much. “As it is, everybody has to go and fix his vehicle while we keep Rufai in our custody until the tipper driver is produced, if he is not the driver. “The driver would certainly be charged for reckless driving when he is apprehended,’’ he said.

Some eyewitnesses who spoke with NAN, said the situation would have been worse, if not for a lorry belonging to ARTC Industries which served as a wedge, and prevented the tipper from committing more havoc. The lorry driver, Mr Akaahan Nyityo, said he was coming from Idu Industrial Area to deliver goods in Asokoro, when he was hit from behind by the tipper driver.

Meanwhile, officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Police personnel were all on ground to ensure free traffic flow at the scene of the accident.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/03/nine-vehicles-involved-in-multiple-crash-on-abuja-airport-road/