₦airaland Forum

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One naija.

Despite the ongoing agitations by some Nigerians, largely in the South-East and some parts of South-South for the independent state of Biafra, the federal government has insisted that the country remains indivisible.
The ongoing agitation has witnessed large protesters recently.
However, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said the basic cause of it was “economic” which would have gotten worse but for the efforts of the current administration.
Speaking at a News Agency of Nigeria Forum in Abuja at the weekend, Mohammed called on leaders in the country not to exploit the economic situation to further destabilise Nigerians.
According to him, the current agitations by citizens were “completely legitimate,” assured of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the economy.
“There are many political frontlines in Nigeria, religious, ethnic and the like but these things do not come to the fore until when there are serious economic problems like we are having today. I have listened to the complaints of many of these agitators and right down it is economic.
“They must understand too that but for this furtiveness of this administration, this country would have been by far much worse.
“There is need for Nigerians to understand also that these are not ordinary times and that the government is not just making excuses.
“I appeal to our leaders not to exploit this situation to further destabilise Nigerians; our leaders should be courageous enough to come out and defend our unity.
“There will be no alternative to one united Nigeria.”http://dailypost.ng/2015/12/07/biafran-protests-cannot-tear-us-apart-lai-mohammed/
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BRASS LGA
10 Wards
Total no of registered voters 55, 923
Total no of accredited voters 30, 397
Total valid Votes 28,616
Rejected Votes 592
Total Votes cast 29,208
ACPN 3
ADC 7
APA 46
APC 21, 755
APGA 23
CPP 9
DPC 5
DPP 11
ID 1
KOWA 0
LP 7
MPPP 0
MMPP 0
PDC 5
PDM 222
PDP 6,516
PPA 5
PPN 1
SDP 0
UPP 0
SAGBAMA LGA
14 wards
Total no of registered voters 84, 550
Total no of accredited voters 36, 892
Total valid Votes 34, 921
Rejected Votes 726
Total Votes cast 35,647
ACPN 10
ADC 16
APA 34
APC 5,382
APGA 12
CPP 1
DPC 11
DPP 23
ID 0
KOWA 1
LP 23
MPPP 2
MMPP 9
PDC 13
PDM 406
PDP 28,934
PPA 33
PPN 0
SDP 11
UPP 0
Yenagoa LGA
15 Wards
Total registered voters 135, 025
Accredited voters 44,751
Total valid Votes 40, 041
Rejected Votes 1,710
Total Votes Cast 41, 751
16 Units Polling Units Cancelled as result of snatching of electoral materials, violence and intimidation of electoral personnel. 5,390 votes cancelled in Yenagoa, said returning officers.
APC: 14,563
PDP: 24,258
19.13
Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA
No of Registered Voters 39,748
No of Accredited Votes 15,755
Total Valid Vote 14, 926
Rejected Votes 601
Total Votes Cast 15,527
APC: 6,896
PDP: 7,619http://www.thebreakingtimes.com/bayelsadecides-results-updated/

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The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of deceiving Nigerians, especially workers in the state, to corruptly enrich himself.
The party said the governor’s attempt to demonise fellow governors contemplating pay cuts for their workers over failing health of the economy was “the height of hypocrisy by the governor and fraud on Nigerian workers.”
Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said in a statement that Fayose was mischievous in his pro-workers stances, noting that the governor was the most guilty of what he was advising his fellow governors to shun to enable them pay their workers.
He said, “Fayose is mischievous in his pro-workers posturing. This is a man that travels every month end to South Africa and Dubai after collecting federal allocations even when records show that Ekiti has no bilateral pact with these countries.
“This is the governor that sacked many permanent secretaries and other categories of workers. He is the first and only governor that cut the salaries and allowances of the few political office holders he appointed in breach of the law and also cut allowances to civil servants but increased his personal security vote from N150m to N250m but refuses to fund security agencies, thus leading to unprecedented crimes in Ekiti State. Under his watch, Ekiti became the kidnapping capital of the South West.
“The governor asking fellow governors to shun opulence is the only governor in Nigeria going about with outriders on BMW superbikes, each costing millions of naira while exotic cars are the choice for his long convoys.
“He recently by fiat, sold his old 1965 model Mercedes-Benz with current market value of about two hundred and fifty thousand naira (N250,000) to the State Government at a whopping N15m.
“Recently, his sons abroad were captured in pictures celebrating the purchase of their road machines, N48m 2015 Range Rover jeeps, yet back home he armed productive youths as thugs and sent packing thousands of youths engaged in empowerment schemes by former Governor Kayode Fayemi.”
The APC spokesman also accused the governor of weekly importation of female guests from South Africa and Ghana to all-night parties in the Government House, saying that an anti-opulent governor would not indulge in such excesses while refusing to pay workers their entitlements.
“He buys up full pages of advert in newspapers daily costing millions of taxpayers’ money, to abuse the President, yet he cannot pay workers’ salary.http://www.punchng.com/?p=13492
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Former Senate President, David Mark has assured that Benue South Senatorial zone will remain impenetrable for the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in the forthcoming re-run election.
He based his optimism on the overwhelming solidarity and support “by my people who are solidly behind me . I can tell you without any fear of contradiction that there is no opposition to my party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in my zone.”
Speaking when the Senate caucus of the PDP paid him a solidarity visit following the annulment of his March 28, 2015 Senatorial election, Mark assured that the Appeal tribunal verdict has strengthened him and his constituents the more.
A statement issued on Sunday by Paul Mumeh, the Media Assistant to the Senator, quoted Mark as saying: “The Appellate tribunal judgement came as a surprise to me. But I am happy there is opportunity for a rerun election. I can assure you that any day, any time, my people will vote for me.
“Benue South Senatorial zone is totally a PDP arear. One Senator, the four House of Representative members, 10 out of 11 state House of Assembly members are all members of the PDP . So, clearly, there is no room for APC or any other party in my area.
“Be rest assured that under a free and fair contest , I have no challenger. My people would not be cowed or intimidated to do otherwise.
“I respect the ruling of the Appeal Tribunal , but let no one be deceived by any gimmick that the result of the election was declared while collation was still on. The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) returning officer Professor Latif Tiamiyu who announced the result three days after the election, a university Professor is alive.
“The election was conducted on March 28, 2015 , the result was declared on March 30, 2015, how could the result have been declared before the final collation?.
“For me, it is one of those ironies of life. I take it in good faith. I know as a matter of fact that my people will rise up to the challenge to vote for me and defend their votes”.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu who led the 49 PDP Senators on the solidarity visit, said the appeal tribunal verdict was only a temporary setback, but expressed confidence that Senator Mark will triumph at the rerun polls.
According to him, “We are here to assure you our leader that we will stand by you. We know your worth; Nobody can diminish the fact that you remain a great asset to this country. We know your people value you. They will not let you down.
“We will be with you in this struggle. You are not new to this kind of battle. Like in the previous challenges, you will come out Victorious because you mean well for your people and this country.”http://dailypost.ng/2015/12/06/apc-cant-penetrate-into-my-constituency-david-mark/

Indications emerged Wednesday that the campaign organisation of the late Kogi State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Abubakar Audu, is currently mounting pressure on the leadership of the party to replace the deceased with his son, Mohammed.
Audu passed away on Sunday, a few hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the November 21 governorship poll in the state inconclusive.
Prior to his demise, Audu was leading his co-contender, Idris Wada with over 41,353.
An insider hinted Punch that the campaign organisation was of the opinion that Mohammed should join the race.
It was gathered that a few members of the group had also suggested that Audu’s running mate in last Saturday’s election, Mr. James Faleke, should contest the primary.
The report says members of the group, which are mostly chieftains of the APC, met on Tuesday night following the party’s declaration that another primary would be held to produce a replacement for the late governorship candidate.
The source said, “Abubakar Audu’s supporters, including his campaign structure, are rooting for either Audu’s son, Mohammed, or James Faleke for them not to lose out entirely. They are narrowing it to either Faleke or Mohammed because the APC machinery believes that the election has been won. But the party elders and leaders, who worked for him, will be more comfortable with Mohammed.”
However, spokesperson for the APC in Kogi State, Abdulmalik Suleiman while reacting, said “We are mourning. This is the time for sober reflection and we are praying for our late leader and icon. At the appropriate time, the public will know because APC has a way of solving its issues and problems.”
At the moment, there is suspense and anxiety in the state over who may emerge as Audu’s replacement.
Politicians such as Yahaya Bello, Jubrin Echocho, Salihu Atawodi and others have been listed as possible replacement.

The long-running trial of some marketers in the oil subsidy scandal witnessed another setback on Wednesday morning as a minor electrical spark in the courtroom was met by a curious over-reaction by the judge and lawyers, leading to an abrupt end of hearing.The spark occurred in the ceiling of a courtroom where Justice Lateefat Okunu was presiding at the trial of Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer and Ontario Oil & Gas Limited, causing the lawyers and the judge to jump off their seats.
At the time of the incident, which was followed by smoke, prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs was cross-examining Ugo-Ngadi.
The judge immediately instructed the court staff to turn off all electrical appliances. She subsequently rose and walked away into her chamber, bringing the court session to an abrupt end.
The subsidy trial had commenced since 2012, after the law firm of Femi Falana petitioned the Federal Government, asking for prosecution of fraudulent oil marketers who had taken subsidy funds without supplying products. Some of the marketers, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had merely collected the subsidy claims without importing even one liter of the product.
Defendants Wagbatsoma, Ugo-Ngadi, Ebenezer and Ontario Oil & Gas Limited, are accused by the EFCC of defrauding the Nigerian government of up to N1.9 billion, but pleaded not guilty. They are accused of altering, forging, conspiracy and obtaining property by false pretences.
On Tuesday, a witness had sought a long adjournment, claiming ill-health, but the judge decided that they make a colleague available for testimony rather than make such a request

SaharaReporters has learned that Abubakar Audu, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC) in yesterday's election in Kogi State, died as early as 5 a.m. Nigerian time on Sunday.
According to family sources, Mr. Audu started vomiting blood on Friday night in what family sources described as a bizarre deterioration in his health condition. One of the family sources described the late controversial politician as hypertensive.
"He started vomiting blood after he returned from Lokoja," said the family source who witnessed Mr. Audu’s deterioration.
He added that Mr. Audu woke up very tired on Saturday, the day of the governorship election. He said doctors had given the former governor blood transfusion which gave him enough energy to go to the polling booth to vote in his hometown, Ogbonicha.
According to the source, Mr. Audu returned to his home on Saturday and began vomiting again. "After a while he became unconscious and died around 5 a.m. on Sunday morning," said the source, who requested anonymity.
The family's timeline of Mr. Audu's death indicated that he passed on before officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) started collation and announcement of results.
A source at INEC told SaharaReporters that electoral officials knew of Mr. Audu’s death before they announced the results of his election inconclusive on Sunday.
Mr. Audu was a former governor of Kogi who was accused of stealing billions of naira from the state's treasury. SaharaReporters had exposed a multi-million dollar home bought by the ex-governor in Potomac, Maryland near Washington, DC.
The APC chose Mr. Audu as its governorship candidate despite the fact that he was being tried for money laundering and embezzlement of state funds by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mr. Audu will be buried tomorrow according to islamic rites in his hometown

While wishing him success, the advice is needful that the new Minister of Power should read the unwritten book- “Bola Ige and the power-that-be in the Power Ministry”. While nobody can find any book of this title on any shelf because it’s my coinage, the title is philosophical and passes the message that BRF must learn from the ate Chief James Ajibola Idowu Adegoke Ige, SAN.
I learnt that our own “Uncle Bola Ige”, as he was popularly called, personally chosed to administer the Power Ministry during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime. He had determination, vigour and passion. He believed he could turn things around within months, and “let there be light”. But there was no light. Up till now, there has never been stable light in Nigeria! So what suddenly happened that Ige’s dream got busted and evaporated so that some cabal rejoiced. What happened is in that ‘book of the past’ that BRF should master.
Like Ige, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fasola, SAN, is brilliant and has vigour too. That he unprecedentedly has to oversee three ministries is, however, attention catching. I don’t really envy this trinity minister, though I vehemently pray for his sounding success.
What?! Three-in-one minister! The Power Ministry is powerful. There are lots of work to be carried out in the Works Ministry, just as a lot of strategies must be housed for implementation of good ideas that would bring success in the Housing Ministry. No. I don’t envy the former Lagos State governor.
No doubt, all the ministries are very important. However, apart from the Ministry of Petroleum, no other ministry has ever gotten as much funding as the powerful Ministry of Power. For example, a whopping sum of N2.74 trillion has so far been spent in attempts to improve power supply in Nigeria since 1999 to date. This fact was disclosed during the Senate Committee investigation of investments in the power sector in the 16 years of the PDP rule in Nigeria.
On his assumption of office, the late Bola Ige expectedly tried to examine previous activities of the Power Ministry in order to know from where to take off in relation to the plans of the ministry and yearnings of Nigerians. To some block within the sector, it was like “katakata wan bust”, “there are troubles in the offing!”
BRF, I presume, would know that corruption is much hydraheaded in the power sector. He must take cognisance of that. Hence, it is not out of place to state that power is crucial for the revival of Nigeria.
BRF must talk less. He must not be a “noise maker” minister. While studying previous files, he would discover how almost N3 trillion had been wasted on power under PDP administration. No doubt, he would have to ask some individuals some questions, not probe, but there must be light in the homes of Nigerians. Whether this would translate to somebody sleeping behind bars is no big deal. Welders must get electricity to fabricate.
Small, medium and large industries must run on power that is not generated through diesel and petrol bought through the nose.
Whatever BRF has to do, he must develop the capacity to detect possible mines that could have been planted by some carbal in the sector, just as he must develop and maintain deep cordiality with Mustapha Baba Shehuri, the Minister of State, Power, Works and Housing. The cabal in the power sector, especially, must not come between them. BRF must ensure that another Yoruba Senior Advocate of Nigeria must not “fail” and later got redeployed to become the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday in Akure, called on the nation’s universities to function as agents of change in order to accelerate the desired economic growth and development of the country.
Buhari stressed that universities must play visible roles in the country’s economic growth and transformation.
The president, represented by Prof. Julius Okogie, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), gave the charge at the 27th Convocation Ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
The president urged universities to be at the vanguard of the fight against corruption and eroded ethics, which, according to him, constitute a major component of our social ills.
He pointed out that the universities play critical roles in shaping the lives and character of the young and active segment of the population.
“We are, therefore, committed to working assiduously with the universities to motivate our youths and prepare them for their future roles.
“We must also continue to ensure that universities are safe havens for the students and staff alike.
“Government, through its various security agencies and outfits, is working round the clock to ensure adequate security for every Nigerian”, he said.
The Emir of Bauchi, Alh. Rilwanu Adamu, who was newly installed as the Chancellor of the school, said that his new position would afford him opportunity to make significant contributions to the development of education in the country.
He described the convocation ceremony as evidence of the school’s great commitment to its mandate and the pursuit of same with focus and dedication.
“I, therefore, commend the university governing council for the quality of policy formulation and superintendence fostered on the school”, the chancellor said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 4,332 students, comprising of 2, 675 undergraduate and 1, 657 post graduates, bagged various degrees in the 2014/2015 academic session.
Twenty-eight bagged first class degrees, 807 got second class (Upper Division), while 1,324 finished in the lower division of second class.
Four hundred and nine graduated with third class; 47 finished with pass, while Obakpolor Osakpolor, of the Department of Physics, emerged the best graduating student, with a cumulative GPA of 4.84.
Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, advised the graduating students to be good ambassadors and responsible alumni of the school and to be among the “cherished nation builders of our time”.
Daramola said that the responsibility of being productive and contributing to the nation’s development lie on the students through their expertise and professionalism.
“In the same vein, being certified worthy in character, bestows on you the onus of all-time maintenance of peace, good conduct and being your neighbours’ helper and supporter all the time,” the Vice-Chancellor said. (NAN)

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar , has declared that terrorism has no place in Islam, and has begged
Muslim faithful to avoid being recruited into terror groups through financial inducement.
To achieve this, the spiritual head of Muslims in Nigeria advised followers to educate their children , saying this remains the best
way to prevent them from being brainwashed by these dastardly groups
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Abubakar said this in Ado Ekiti on Saturday while presiding over the turbanning of the Grand Imam of Ekiti State, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello, as the President General of the League of Imams and Alfas in Southwest, Edo and Delta States.
He urged Kewulere to galvanize other Islamic clerics to work together to preach against terror which is giving Islam a bad name.
Dignitaries at the event include Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose represented by his wife, Feyisetan; Ondo State Governor Olusegun
Mimiko represented by his deputy, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo; Secretary general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof.
Ishaq Oloyede; Executive Secretary, Universal basic Education Commission (UBEC), Prof. Rasheed Aderinoye; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Revd. Felix Ajakaye; former Deputy Governor of old Ondo State, Alhaji Musa Ayeni; former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Sikiru Lawal, the Olukare of Ikare Akoko, Oba Akadiri Momoh, among
others

An APC gubernatorial aspirant, Senator Alex Kadiri has expressed support for the second term ambition of Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State.
Chief Kadiri who lost the APC ticket to Prince Abubakar Audu, the party’s flag bearer in today’s election, spoke to journalists at Odu Ogboyaga ward 001 in Dekina Local Government and said Wada is the best among all the gubernatorial candidates.
The non serving senator expressed his happiness over the peaceful nature of the polls so far, though he admitted that he is yet to get reports from other polling units.
In the same vein, a second class traditional ruler, Chief Salifu said from the reports he has received so far, the election is going on peacefully.
“I have been talking to my people to cast their votes and go back. This is what I have been telling them,” said Chief Salifu.

Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa has released a statement on the siege on his residence by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He termed the incident as ‘political intimidation and persecution’.
Bafarawa who released statement through his spokesman, Malam Yusuf Dingyadi, disclosed that his principal’s ordeal was on the account of his closeness to former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
“No amount of intimidation or persecution by any of the federal government security agencies can stop former governor Bafarawa from his resolve to support and sympathise with any person he wishes to align with,”
“If EFCC has anything against Bafarawa let them present it to the court of law instead of becoming a tool of victimisation in order to deter him from his constitutional role of free association and expression”