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Politics / Buhari’s Photographer Now Guinness World Record Title Holder For Largest Photobo by chidima2019: 5:26am On Oct 01, 2021
Buhari’s photographer now Guinness world record title holder for largest photobook

The Records Management Team of Guinness has approved Bayo Omoboriowo’s photobook, Discover Nigeria, as Guinness World Record largest photobook.

Omoboroiwo, official photographer to President Muhammadu Buhari, was notified of the ground breaking feat by Guinness, yesterday.

The news of the epoch-making verification came few hours before the unveiling of the photobook by President Buhari at the closing edition of Nigeria at 60 activities at State House Conference Centre on the eve of Nigeria’s 61st independence anniversary.

In an email to the 34-year old photographer, the Records Management Team of Guinness wrote: ‘‘Dear Adebayo Omoboriowo

‘‘We are thrilled to inform you that your application for largest photo book has been successful and you are now the Guinness World Records Title Holder!

‘‘You are now eligible for one complimentary Guinness World Records certificate.

‘‘Congratulations, you are Officially Amazing!

‘‘Kind regards

‘‘Records Management Team.’’

The record largest photobook, ‘‘Discover Nigeria’’, measures 7.8meters by 7.8meters (totalling 60.84 square meter or 654 ft² 87 in²) when closed and when opened it is 15.65metres on its horizontal breadth and 7.8meters on its vertical length.

The photobook of 60 square meters of 60 images on 60 pages showcases Nigeria rich traditional institutions, ingenuity of its people, the beauty of its landscape, the richness of its farmlands, stunning waterfalls and seas, among others.

https://www.akelicious.net/buharis-photographer-now-guinness-world-record-title-holder-for-largest-photobook/

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Politics / Anambra PDP Seeks Accountability On N75b Allegedly Bequeathed To Obiano by chidima2019: 5:56am On Sep 30, 2021
Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resuscitated the controversial N75 billion former Governor Peter Obi left for his successor, Willie Obiano and called for its accountability.

Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state, Nnamdi Nwangwu, claimed that Obi left no debt for the incumbent governor, adding that he handed over N75 billion savings in local banks and savings in dollars for future generations in different banks.

“All these have been wasted without any commensurate development on the ground or savings anywhere,” he said.

He, therefore, asked Obiano to prepare a detailed handover note and challenged the All Progressives Congress (APGA)-led government to make public its handover notes detailing all completed and ongoing projects by Peter Obi at the inception of his (Obiano’s) government.

Nwangwu, who is also the Director of Publicity, Valentine Chineto Ozigbo Campaign Organisation, declared that Anambra State could not afford to continue with the said mistake, stressing that someone like Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who was not aware of such a problem could not be trusted to solve it.

He urged Obiano not to waste his time leading Soludo’s campaign as the governorship candidate of APGA, insisting that he (Soludo) was not oblivious of the alleged fraud and corruption in the state.

He noted that Soludo had commended the Obiano administration in 2017, when he observed: “If it is not broken, why mend it?

“Since Soludo was not aware that Anambra State is broken, no thanks to the clueless administration of APGA government, then he cannot do anything to redeem the state.

“The APGA-led government is amassing debts in banks and financial institutions, yet no commensurate development is going on in any part of the state. Certainly, the time has come for the people to reject bad governance,” he stated.

While commending Anambra people for their support for the PDP, he reassured them that the party and its candidate, Valentine Ozigbo, were out to give the state the best governance and expressed the party’s preparedness to emerge victorious in the November 6, 2021 governorship poll.

He noted that the APGA-led government had failed in all ramifications and as such, should start preparing its handover note that would be given to PDP, which he said, was ready to give Anambra State quality, responsible and responsive government.

“APGA government has touched everything good handed over to it with leprous hands and relegated Anambra State from being the best to a laughing stock among states in the country,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/anambra-pdp-seeks-accountability-on-n75b-allegedly-bequeathed-to-obiano/

Politics / Kano Assembly Asks Ganduje To Fire Internal Revenue Services' Chairman by chidima2019: 4:42pm On Sep 14, 2021
The Kano State House of Assembly has recommended the sack of AbduRazak Salihi, Chairman of the State Internal Revenue Services.

At a plenary session on Tuesday, the lawmakers asked Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to remove Salihi within 48 hours.

The house summoned Salihi on the heels of moves by Rivers and Lagos states to retain collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) and the criticism that has been levelled against Kano for falling down the pecking order of states with high IGR despite its position as the country’s center of commerce.

From its enviable position of second after Lagos, Kano had fallen to the 10th position on the list of states generating revenue.

Defending the recommendation of the house, the Speaker, Hamisu Chidari, said the attitude of the Chairman frustrated them to take such decision.

He accused Sahili of failing to disclose the State Revenue Collections despite series of requests by the legislature.

The chairman had written and submitted the reports to the Government through Permanent Secretary Bureau of Lands.

Similarly, the House also accused the KIRS Boss of conniving with the government without its knowledge to reduce tenement rates of the IPMAN from N250 to N100, which the house described as a total violation of the constitution.

In separate remarks, the lawmakers agreed on the “non-performance of the Chairman in terms of revenue collection as well as lack of knowledge of what revenue is”.

The Speaker said the house has set up an eight-man Committee to probe the agency under Salihi.

He listed the decline in revenue generation among the issues that will be probed.

The Revenue Chairman, who was visibly disturbed, could not provide enough reasons on why he bypassed the House on issues of revenue collections in the state and on the reduction of Ground Tenement Rates.

The eight-man committee, to be headed by the House Finance Chairman, Magaji Dahiru Zarewa, is due to submit its report within a month.

https://www.akelicious.net/kano-assembly-asks-ganduje-to-fire-internal-revenue-services-chairman/

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Health / China Testing HIV Drugs For Coronavirus by chidima2019: 3:54am On Jan 27, 2020
China is testing an HIV drug as a treatment for symptoms of the new coronavirus that is rapidly spreading, said drugmaker AbbVie Inc on Sunday.

China health authorities requested the drug to help with the government’s efforts to address the crisis, according to Adelle Infante, a spokeswoman for North Chicago, Illinois-based AbbVie.

Aluvia, which is also known as Kaletra, is a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir.

In guidance published on Thursday, the government said there is no effective anti-virus medicine but suggested taking two lopinavir/ritonavir pills and inhaling a dose of nebulized alpha-interferon twice a day.

Health authorities around the world are racing to prevent a pandemic after more than 2,000 people were infected in China and 56 have died after contracting the virus.

https://www.akelicious.net/china-testing-hiv-drugs-for-coronavirus/

Phones / How Data Price War Hurts Telecoms Service Quality by chidima2019: 6:27am On Jan 06, 2020
Data price ‘war’ among telecoms operators is one of the major causes of poor service quality faced by Nigerian subscribers, especially in the download and upload of content. But while consumers have enjoyed the conflict and its attendant slash in prices, they have had to endure drop in quality and speed.

Speed is the performance of a connection based on the number of bytes per second that data travels to and from a user’s device. Depending on the type of connection, the speed differs dramatically; the download rate is higher than the upload because a short request to the website (upload) results in a much larger download of Web pages, images and videos.

As at October, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) statistics showed that the country had 123 million Internet subscribers, largely via the GSM platform (narrowband), while broadband users were 72 million. It should, however, be noted that there were dual users.

The claim of 4G service offerings by operators has equally not assuaged the pains of subscribers when it comes to quality, as speed remains unsatisfactory. According to OpenSignal, in 2018, Nigeria ranked 75th out of 77 countries in the quality of 4GLTE network offerings.

A November speed test survey carried out by Ookla put global average download speed at 30.93Mbps, while upload speed is 11.38Mbps. In the survey, Nigeria ranked 107 out of 139 countries at 16.74Mbps. According to Ookla, a Seattle, USA-based firm, South Korea and Qatar ranked first and second respectively with 117.79 Mbps and 77.07 Mbps download speeds.

Checks by The Guardian showed that while operators have cut down prices amid offerings of several bonuses, subscribers are unable to enjoy the packages either because they get exhausted too quickly or are fluctuation-prone, leaving users frustrated.

While this ‘snail speed’ offering persists, Nigeria also ranked 10th among countries with the most affordable data prices in Africa. According to Research ICT Africa, data price is relatively cheaper in Nigeria.

Research ICT Africa noted that data pricing remains a contentious issue on the continent where average incomes are low and where a significant portion of paycheques are often spent on mobile communication costs, including data.

In the survey, West Africa’s prices were varied, with low prices in Guinea ($2.20), Nigeria ($2.78) and Burundi ($3.02). In Benin, Niger and Senegal, it is also quite affordable at $3.39 for 1 Gbyte. But the price for 1 Gbyte of data is higher in countries such as Sierra Leone ($6.56) and Togo ($8.48). Some of the most expensive prices across the continent were in this region. For example, in Guinea-Bissau, it’s $16.95, Chad ($11.87) and Mauritania ($9.78).

Nigeria’s $2.78 (over N1,000) is in tandem with checks carried out by The Guardian when comparing the prices. The checks revealed that most of the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have slashed their prices by half. For instance, 1.5GB, which was sold for as much as N3000 some six months ago now goes for between N1,200 and N1,500 depending on the network. In fact, on the MTN network, subscribers can get 4.5GB for N2,500 and 8GB for N3000, depending on the plan.

Globacom has a number of data plans suited to different groups of individuals on Android, iPhone, Blackberry and other smartphones. They include N100 for 100MB, which lasts for two days, especially for students. It also has the same plan for daily users.

Apparently, because of its submarine cable system and huge bandwidth capacity, Glo also offers 2GB/N1000 for 30 days. On the network, subscribers who are willing to pay N2,500 can get 7.2GB data valid for 30 days.

Airtel has various plans, from daily 50MB for N100 to 16GB for N8000 with a validity of 30 days, among others. 9Mobile customers can enjoy 10MB, 40MB for as much as N50 and N100 respectively. The telecommunications firm, which used to be the toast of subscribers of data services before it faced some challenges about two years back, also offers 11.5GB for N8000 and 15GB for N10,000.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are not left out. For instance, Spectranet sells 8GB for N3,000; 10GB for N3,500; 14GB for N5,000 and 30GB for N7,000. Smile Communications offers 1GB for N1,000; 2GB for N2,000; 10GB for N9,000 and 15GB for N10,000.

While the prices continue to vary and steeply fall, customer satisfaction is also nose-diving. To buttress this, ‘Trend Analysis on Complaints Received from January 2018 to October 2019’ by the NCC showed that complaints about poor quality of service both on voice and data topped the platform.

A report from the UK-based price comparison website, Cable, revealed that Nigeria’s Internet download speed is one of the slowest in the world. According to the report, Nigeria’s Internet download speed is ranked 176th of 207 countries measured globally.

The report further showed that it takes an average of over seven hours (7:18) to download a High Definition (HD) movie of 5GB in Nigeria. This means that Nigeria’s Internet download speed has nosedived in the past two years from 95th in 2017 to 176th in 2019.

A telecoms expert, Kehinde Aluko, while describing the report as apt, said lack of access and slow Internet connectivity, apart from hampering economic growth and job creation, also inhibit Nigeria’s move to keep up with global trends on innovations and creativity.

On the price war, which supposedly is a contributing factor to the quality of service, the chief executive officer of Spectranet, Ajay Awasthi, in an interview with The Guardian, said war of any kind is destructive by nature, and a price war is no exception.

Awashti, who called for a review of the suspended Data Price Floor policy, described price war as a shortsighted ploy to gain market share. “It may be touted as a ‘customer friendly’ move. But over a period of time, a price war results in a significant destruction of value for the industry, forcing the players to degrade quality of services. A price war is not sustainable in the longer term and is a lose-lose proposition for both the operators and the customers,” he said.

The Spectranet CEO explained further: “The hapless customers finally end up at the receiving end and are made to suffer through poor quality of service. For our firm, we stay committed to providing high quality, high speed broadband to our customers. We believe in delivering a superior customer experience through better understanding of their needs and through differentiated tariff plans backed by excellent customer service.”

Explaining how Internet speed affects the economy, a telecoms expert, David Venn, said: “If a subscriber is located in an area with access to faster technologies such as fibre or 4G, he will have a fast Internet access at home and business. For instance, let’s say the average Internet speed in Nigeria is 3.9Mbps. But if you are in Lagos, you could choose to buy a 4G connection and experience 10 to 20Mbps. If faster speeds are available, you do not need to worry about the average speed, hence it should not be a cause for slowing down economic activity.”

Venn continued: “However, if you live or work in an area without fast access, then, for certain types of business, this would be an impediment to growth. Note also that if you do not have a fast access, your average speed is likely to be considerably worse than the nation’s average, because that’s the way averages work. This is the ‘Digital Divide’.”

The president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Olusola Teniola, in one of his interviews with The Guardian, believed that with increases in Internet speed, there is a corresponding increase in efficiency and productivity in the workplace where ICT is embedded. He argued that with interconnected systems and collaborative working relationships in place, it is important that ideas, innovation and development are harnessed in a speedy manner, not only to secure the intellectual patent rights, but to also fully leverage the multiplier effect that digitalisation brings to the value chain that might already be in place.

Meanwhile, the executive vice chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said that experience of early depletion and rise in data consumption by telecoms consumers may not necessarily be the results of illegal deductions or sharp practices by mobile network operators.

Danbatta, at a recent telecoms gathering in Abuja, spoke on what the NCC had been doing in key areas of its regulatory mandate which include reduction of cost of data, stemming the tide of ‘illegal deduction’ of data, improving service quality, as well as efforts to ensure a continuous compliance with the maximum two per cent Call Drop Rate (CDR) directive to telecoms operators on quality of service.

https://m.guardian.ng/technology/how-data-price-war-hurts-telecoms-service-quality/

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Politics / How Nigeria Police Labelled Young Man A Fraduster Without Evidence by chidima2019: 5:18am On Jan 05, 2020
As shared on Facebook

This morning 4th January 2020 around 10am, as I was headed to Kenyatta in Enugu here.
I alighted from the bus, I saw a police officer chasing after a young man who was walking down the pedestrian lane.
The policeman intercepted this boy, searched him and reached to his phone( iPhone) he was asking why are you collecting my phone.
The officer was landing punches on his face like a criminal.
Before 30seconds the 3 officers rushed to this boy hitting him black and blue.. The GOC as I head a man dressed in orange traditional called him (the officer leading the team), the GOC was virile hitting the boy with his gun saying the boy was dragging their guns!
This was happening around 10:15am .
The reason is that he refused to be searched and also to unlock his phone
They labelled the guy a fraduster(yahoo boy) without any evidence.
The man dressed in orange traditional said he is a police officer and wanted to settle this issue. They threaten to handcuff him and take him to EFCC.
When asked what transpired between them.
The officers said he refused them going through his phone and was fighting them.. To the record of this video you can see that the boy never raised an arm against any of the 3 policemen.
The name of this young man is Justice Obasi, an interior designer (0903 007 5911)
Please share until it gets to the right authority

#JusticeforJUSTICEOBASI
#HUMANRIGHT
#ENUGUPOLICE
#ENDSARS

https://www.akelicious.net/how-nigeria-police-labelled-young-man-a-fraduster-without-evidence/



https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1302565086582842&id=100004880885144

Politics / Lanre Razak: Tinubu Qualified To Succeed Buhari In 2023 by chidima2019: 6:21am On Oct 07, 2019
Lanre Razak, a chiefain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and close ally of the party’s national leader, Bola Tinubu, has said that he(Tinubu) is ‘eminently’ qualified to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Speaking on speculations that Tinubu is interested in contesting for the presidency in 2023, Razak said the national leader of the APC played a pivotal role in ensuring the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and has helped stabilise democracy.

He then appealed to the national body of the party to maintain zoning by ensuring that the presidency is zoned to the South in 2023.

“Nigerians do not need to look far to know that the APC national leader, Bola Tinubu, is the man that the presidential cap fits for the next election. He is eminently qualified to succeed President, Muhammadu Buhari and build on the foundation the latter is currently building.



“ Tinubu is an achiever and his democratic credentials, vis a vis his leading role in forming a coalition that shoved aside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) misrule has made it crystal clear that, with him in the saddle in 2023, Nigeria would be better for it,” Razak said.

On speculations that Buhari may seek a third term, Razak said the president is “too principled to fall for such booby traps from professional sycophants,” exuding confidence that, “he will vacate the seat in conformity with the constitutional provision.”

On the performance of Governor Sanwo-olu of Lagos, Razaq, said: “With the way the governor has started, it is crystal clear that peoples’ support is required to partake in this all inclusive government for the good of all of us. He is on the right path and is performing well."

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sunnewsonline.com/2023-tinubu-qualified-to-succeed-buhari-razak/amp/

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Politics / Presidential Appeal Panel: CUPP Alleges Plot By APC, CJN To Jettison Seniority by chidima2019: 3:28am On Sep 21, 2019
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to influence the selection of Supreme Court justices who would sit on the appeal panel filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Also, a coalition of Civil Society organisations, the Nigeria Centre for Justice and Rule of Law (NCJRL), accused the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, of shopping for willing justices who would hear the appeal. At a press conference yesterday, CUPP spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the coalition has intercepted a secret list of a seven-man panel of the Justices of Supreme Court about to be announced by the CJN who would sit on the appeal. According to him, the plan was to jettison the agelong tradition of selecting the members of the panel in the order of seniority.

“Since the 1979 presidential election, the first presidential election in Nigeria, the tradition in the Supreme Court has been that the seven most senior justices of the Supreme Court are empanelled for the purpose of determining the presidential election appeal,” Ugochinyere noted. He listed the seven most senior justices and their year of appointment to include the CJN, Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed (2006), Bode Rhodes-Vivour (2010), Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta (2011), Mary Odili (2011), Olukayode Ariwoola (2011), Musa Datijo Mohammad (2012) and Kumayi Bayang Akaahs (2012). He alleged that the CJN wants to deviate from the tradition and replace some of the justices with their juniors. According to him, the list CUPP intercepted showed that the panel that would hear Atiku’s appeal is made up of the CJN, Rhodes-Vivour, Datijo Mohammed, John Inyang Okoro who was appointed in 2013, China Centus Nweze (2016), Aminu Adamu Augie (2016), and Uwani Dauda Bags (2018).

https://punchng.com/atikus-appeal-cupp-alleges-manipulation-in-supreme-court-panel-composition/amp/

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Politics / Atiku Vs Buhari: Judgement Day As Tribunal Rules by chidima2019: 6:45am On Sep 11, 2019
The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja will today deliver judgement in the petition filed by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his party against the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 23, 2019 election.

The secretariat of the tribunal located at the premises of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division had yesterday indicated that the judgement will be delivered today by 9.00a.m.

The notice reads: “Presidential Election Tribunal: Please be informed, notice has been given for judgement to be delivered tomorrow (today) September 11, 2019, 9.00am.”

The Electoral Law had provided for the Tribunal to hear and determine the petition within 180 days. The time frame elapses on Sunday, September 15.

Justice Mohammed Garba, Chairman of the five-man panel of justices had stated that the judgement date would be communicated to parties.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on February 27, declared Buhari and his party, the APC, as the winner of the presidential election, having polled a total of 15,191,847 votes to defeat his closest rival, Atiku, who it said polled a total of 11,262,978 votes.

Atiku, PDP’s petition

Not satisfied with the result, Atiku and his party had in a joint petition approached the Tribunal through their team of lawyers led by Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) to challenge the election on the ground that the result released by INEC was not the true position of the election.

It was the contention of the petitioners that they won the election, based on the results transmitted electronically to INEC’s server.

They also contended that Buhari did not possess the relevant academic qualification to contest the election. Joined as 1st to 3rd Respondents are: INEC, Buhari and the APC.

Atiku and his party in their petition marked CA/PEPC/002/2019 and filed on March 18 submitted that the APC candidate, Buhari, was not validly elected by the majority of votes cast across the country in the February 23 presidential election.

The petitioners also contended that the election was marred by corruption. In addition, the petitioners alleged that the election of Buhari is invalid, having not complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Also the petitioners submitted that Buhari was not at the time of the election qualified to contest, having submitted a fake academic qualification to the electoral body.

Reliefs sought

The petitioners in their reliefs prayed the tribunal to declare that Buhari was not duly elected and ought not to have been returned and that the election is null and void.

They also prayed that Atiku be declared as the validly elected winner of the election having polled the highest number of votes as provided by the Electoral Act.

They also prayed for an order of the tribunal to direct INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to Atiku, having been validly elected by the majority of votes cast on February 23.

In the alternative, the petitioners prayed the tribunal to nullify the February 23 election and order a fresh presidential election.

Buhari, APC’s defence

Opposing the petition, Buhari and APC challenged its competence. Their main contention was that Atiku did not have locus standi to even participate in the presidential poll.

Buhari had described Atiku as a serial loser, boasting that he had always defeated him in every electoral contest that they took part in.

The President insisted that the electorate always chose him ahead of Atiku in inter-party or intra-party contests, citing the 2014 presidential primary election of the APC as an example.

In addition, Buhari queried the powers of the tribunal to nullify his victory at the poll, contending that the joint petition Atiku and the PDP filed was incompetent as it was based on conjectures.

He insisted that the reliefs the petitioners are seeking from the tribunal were “vague, nebulous and lacking in specificity.”

The President equally argued that most of the issues and grounds of the petition were not only “mutually exclusive,” but also outside the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

He further contended that by virtue of section 31(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, only the Federal High Court or High Court of a State has jurisdiction to adjudicate on some of the issues, among which include the allegation that he was bereft of the requisite educational qualification.

The APC, in its own objection, alleged that Atiku is an alien, insisting that he is not a Nigerian by birth and therefore was not qualified to contest the February 23 presidential poll.

The party submitted that Atiku is a Cameroonian and that he was born on November 25, 1946 in Jada, Adamawa, in Northern Cameroon and is therefore a citizen of Cameroon and not a Nigerian by birth.

Witnesses

At the end of the hearing, the petitioners called 62 witnesses, the APC and INEC did not call any witness, while Buhari called on seven witnesses.

Part of the evidence of the petitioners’ witnesses were that INEC used electronic server to transmit results, that Buhari did not possess any academic qualification and that the election was marred by irregularities.

Petitioners’ written address



In their final written address, the petitioners strongly alleged that Buhari used fundamental falsehood to secure clearance from INEC to participate in the election.

They also insisted that Buhari, as candidate of the APC, lied on oath in his Form CF001 presented to INEC before standing for the presidential election.

The petitioners drew the attention of the Tribunal to a portion of Buhari’s INEC form, where he claimed to have three different certificates; comprising Primary School Leaving Certificate, WAEC certificate and Officers Cadet certificate.

The also said it was shocking and surprising that “no provisional certificate, no certified true copy of the certificates, no photocopy of certificates, and in fact, no electronic version of any of the certificates was presented by Buhari throughout the hearing of the petition to dispute the claim of the petitioners.

They added: “More worrisome is the fact that Buhari’s own witness, Major General Paul Tafa (rtd), who joined the Nigerian Army with him in 1962, told the tribunal that they were never asked to submit their certificates to the Nigerian Army Board as claimed by Buhari in his Form CF001.

“At any rate the Secretary of the Nigerian Army Board, Olatunde Olaleye, had in a statement, clarified that Buhari had no single certificate in his personal file with the Nigerian Army.”

Atiku therefore urged the tribunal to nullify the participation of Buhari in the election on the grounds that he lied on oath to deceive Nigerians and to secure unlawful qualification for the election.

The former Vice President informed the tribunal that Buhari’s claim that he can read and write in English language as enough qualification is not tenable because ordinary artisans on the streets of Nigeria can also do so, adding that a grave allegation bordering on certificate was not addressed by Buhari as required by law.

The PDP presidential candidate also faulted INEC’s claim that it has no central server, adding that server is a storage facility, including computer, where database of registered voters, number of Permanent Voters’ Cards and election results amongst others are stored for references.

He said the claim by INEC that it has no device like server to store information, “is laughable, tragic and a story for the dogs.” Atiku also debunked the claim of INEC that collation and transmission of results electronically was prohibited by law in Nigeria.

He asserted that by the Electoral Amendment Act of March 26, 2015, the use of electronics became law and was officially gazetted for the country, adding that section 9 of the Act, which made provision for electronic collation of results replaced section 52, which hitherto prohibited the use of electronics and which INEC erroneously held that electronic results transmission is prohibited.

He therefore urged the tribunal to uphold the petition and nullify the participation of Buhari in the election on the grounds that he was not qualified to have stood for the election in addition to malpractices that prompted his declaration as winner of the election.

INEC’s submission

Counsel to INEC, Yunus Usman (SAN), in his submission, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition with substantial cost because the electoral body conducted the election in total compliance with the Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Act 2010.

Usman insisted that INEC did not transmit election results electronically because doing so is prohibited by law and that the commission did not call any witness because there was no need to do so.

Buhari, APC’s submission

In his defence, Buhari through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), argued that Atiku’s petition was liable to be dismissed because it is lacking in evidence, merit and substance and that the petition is ill advised and signified nothing.

Olanipekun cited section 131 of the Constitution, which stipulated a minimum of secondary school attendance to qualify for election in Nigeria, adding that Buhari cannot go beyond that and that he does not need to tender or attach his certificate before he can get qualification for any election.

He submitted that there was nothing in law to persuade the tribunal to nullify the February 23 presidential election as pleaded by Atiku and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition with substantial cost.

The APC represented by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), in its own submission, said the petition lacked quality evidence that could warrant the nullification of the election as pleaded by the petitioners and urged the tribunal to throw out the petition as long as its hand can do with huge cost.

The judiciary ‘trial’

New Telegraph recalls that the tribunal had earlier refused the petitioners’ application seeking to inspect the INEC server. The tribunal premised its reason for refusal on the ground that granting such will be pre-judicial. The Supreme Court had also on appeal refused the application.

However some stakeholders have opined that whatever the verdict of the tribunal is, it will go a long way to shape and determine the nation’s electoral jurisprudence, one way or the other.

According to them, the judgement will either renew or dampen the hope of the citizenry in the judiciary.

Pleading with the tribunal to live up to its expectation of delivering a judgement based on objectivity and fairness and which will make all parties in the suit not to have a bias mind against the judiciary, the stakeholders said: “Justice is for three parties namely – the petitioners, respondent and the public.”

No doubt, the country’s judiciary has been in the eye of the storm, however, its ability to deliver a just and fair verdict will restore the hope of the common man.

Nigerians have earlier commended the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, who was the former chairman of the tribunal for recusing herself from the panel.

Justice Bulkachuwa’s action was premised on an application filed by the petitioners at the pre-hearing stage, wherein they (petitioners) alleged bias on the ground that Bulkachuwa’s husband and son are card carrying members of the APC.

They also alleged that Justice Bulkachuwa at the inaugural sitting of the panel stated that “no matter how free and fair an election is in Nigeria, there will always be a petition.”

Though the panel held that the petitioners could not prove the ingredients of bias against its chairman, Justice Bulkachuwa, however held that she would recuse herself on personal ground.

This act, to a greater extent, earned the panel a great deal of credibility and stakeholders saw it as a step towards objectivity and fairness. This optimism was further strengthened, when the incumbent chairman of the tribunal, Justice Mohammed Garba, assured all parties that they will be treated equally.

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/09/atiku-vs-buhari-judgement-day-as-tribunal-rules/

Politics / Shehu Sani: The North Will Produce Another President In 2023 If… by chidima2019: 5:22am On Sep 07, 2019
Senator Shehu Sani represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District during the 8th National Assembly. The renowned civil rights activists and public affairs analyst recently spoke on the state of the nation, among several other issues. PHILIP NYAM brings excerpts:

It is 20 years since the return to democratic rule. What do you make of the happenings in our country today?

Can we still say our democracy is a nascent one? Yes, it is 20 years since the restoration of democracy in our nation. We fought hard to disengage the military from governance; and when I say we, I’m referring to those who sacrificed their lives and liberty in the struggle for the return of democracy to the country. Who are those? Civil rights activists, the intelligentsia, labour unionists, the media, students, youths and the progressive arm of the political class. We fought the military to a standstill to restore democracy in Nigeria. In the first two to three years, we refer to our democracy as nascent but 20 years after now, we cannot call this democracy nascent again. If there is any single achievement that could not be disputed in the current dispensation, it is that, for the first time in the history of our country, democracy has been able to last for 20 years.

But what is the content of the period between 1999 to date?

We cannot say with our right senses that this democracy we are seeing today was the wishes and aspirations and the dreams of Nigerians, when you consider the fact that some people laid their lives and sacrificed their liberty, went to jail and exile to restore democracy. It is repugnant and unfortunate that two decades since the restoration of democracy, the people in the position of power are still intolerant to criticisms and dissent. We have always nagged at the 16 years rule of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP), but it is enough time now to probe and interrogate the democratic credentials of the ruling political establishment of today. Lest we forget, that this democracy was a product of protest and sometimes open rebellion and dissent against the military dictatorship. So, we can properly say that this democracy is a product of that conscientious objection and denunciation of the system that held us to ransom as a nation for decades under a military junta. Fast forward to 2015, the people in the position of political power today were vanguards in the protest for justice, freedom, good governance and for respect for fundamental rights and rule of law.

Could we then say that the present regime is an offspring of mass protests?

We can rightly, appropriately and adequately say that the ruling political establishment were beneficiaries of the culture of protests and objections in Nigeria. On several occasions, we saw the leaders of the ruling party; people occupying positions as senators, ministers and President today, leading the people on the streets to protest and challenge an order that was strangulating us as a nation. But this is a betrayal of the history that led to where we are today. Nigerians were promised freedom of speech and right to fundamental human rights, but we have seen a growing objection, refusal and allergy on the side of the people in the position of power to opinions that are contrary to theirs. We can say that there is a growing climate of fear that people would be arrested, intimidated and dealt with, if they express their opinions, which is at variance with the people in power. Now, I must say that inasmuch as the ruling political establishment, particularly the President is desirous of leaving a legacy for posterity and for his personal history, the most important legacy he should leave is to uphold the rule of law and fundamental human rights and preserve the democratic values that he benefitted from and inherited. If those in the position of power desire only to force people to do their biddings, then we will be dealing with a bigger problem.

What do you make of the attack on former Senate President Ike Ekweremade in Germany?

I condemn the attack outrightly and the lynching of my brother and friend, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in Germany. But it should also be a wakeup call to each and every one of us, that if the state makes it impossible for people to express themselves peacefully, legitimately and legally, it is pushing people to be hunters rather than protesters; to be monsters rather than people criticising. In order to protect our constitution and democracy, there is that very important need for the government to protect our constitution and democracy. There is that need for the government to respect the rule of law. State apparatus must not engage in indiscriminate arrest of people for expressing their opinions; and using force to crush peaceful dissenters without inspiring people to take the vigilante option in terms of defending their rights and getting at people in the position of authority. Those who took to thuggery outside the country were inspired by the way protesters and dissenters were treated by the state. There is no difference between the way my brother Ekweremadu was treated in Germany, with the way protesters were treated in Lagos and Abuja each and every day by the government. So, the state is the main culprit in inspiring people to take the road other than the one that is legitimate, legal and lawful.

Some have argued that the government is trying to protect an indivisible nation. Don’t you agree?

No matter how we try to portray ourselves as a united and indivisible nation, the government of the day and the political establishment must demonstrate that they are for all. If we treat one part of the country with so much, and then treat another part of the country with so little, then, certainly the pillars on which the brim of the nation stand will continue to shatter. So, I have said it repeatedly that if people are desirous of protecting and defending their human rights through peaceful protests, the state has the constitutional responsibility to respect their rights and protect them to express their rights. If you crush dissent and jail dissenters, you are forcing people to take the road of violence. And other than that, I will say that it is always important for us to realise that Nigeria is a fragile state and our history tells much about that. Over a century after amalgamation, and close to six decades since the independence that was granted to us by the British, we all accept that we are still struggling to be one, struggling to be united and to be seen as a nation. The nation’s flag cannot unite the nation, when you don’t have justice; the national anthem and the creed cannot unite the nation if we don’t have justice. The coat of arms cannot unite the nation if we are divided psychologically and mentally. The president and the present government should not think that uniting the nation is just about building the second Niger Bridge.

After leaving the senate, you established a non-governmental organisation; what is it all about?

The African Centre for Peace and Development is my Centre. I set it up to fight for the fundamental rights and defend people who do not have access to justice. Our activities will take off in the next few weeks.

While you were in the Senate, you disclosed publicly what was your remuneration and most of your colleagues including those in the lower house felt very uncomfortable. Why did you do that?

It was part of my campaign promise before I became a senator that I will demystify the culture of secrecy and unveil the senate for the electorate to see. But it was not something, which I wanted to do alone. I tried as much as possible to consult some of my colleagues discreetly that we need to open up the parliament to bring an end to almost 20 years of secrecy about the earnings of our legislators. But I consulted some of my colleagues who agreed with me but later recant that it was dangerous. However, I took the risk of disclosing it; and when I disclosed it, there was a serious uproar against me and there were attempts to penalise me for making that disclosure. But the then Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in his wisdom sensed the possible public outcry and anger that may result if anything was done to me based on the fact that I revealed to Nigerians how much we were being paid. And when some of my colleagues confronted me, I said I did not tell anybody how much they were earning but I disclosed how much I was earning. So, is there anything wrong in disclosing what I earn to the public? Therefore, tell them how much you are being paid because I have opened up my own. My position was that there had been a lot of speculations and insinuations about the actual money senators were given; some exaggerated and some underquoted. So, I simply stated the reality and I have not seen anybody who has called me. Secondly, I don’t think in the near future you may have someone like me who will take the risk. It is not going to be easy for that person. About leading the protest, I have laid the foundation, let others build on it. If the 8th Senate was able to have a senator that revealed our earnings, then the 9th Senate should produce someone that can takeover from where I stopped.

There is a raging debate concerning where power would shift to in 2023. While some say it should return to the South East, others say it should be South West; yet some are of the opinion that the North should retain the Presidency. What is your position on this?


My position is that in a nation like ours that has come through a civil war, coup, ethnic violence and religious crisis, we should be careful about what we do. We have always accepted that we are not all the same, but we are members of a union and not a nation. And we differ from each other from our ethnic identities, religious and cultural affiliations. So rotation of power is what I prescribed and I stand for. Whether that power should shift to the East or West, it is dependent on the people of Southern Nigeria and what I will say is that there is a possibility of the North producing another President in 2023 if the South remains divided.

Do you mean that the North will continue to rule beyond 2015?

It may sound alarmist but it is true, because the direction of the power is not dependent on an individual like me. The North had been in power from 2015 and would be there till 2023 and it would be unfair for it to hold onto power after 2023 based on the fact that other sections of the country also have to be taken into cognisance. Now, the reason is this, if the All Progressives Congress (APC) shifts power to the South West, then it has compensated the zone for supporting the North. And if power moves to the South East, it would be another defeat of the secessionists and a formal end to the Nigerian Civil War. So, it is something which Nigerians will look at from their own perspective; but my own is advocacy for the return to the principle of rotation of power. But we must understand that my own advocacy will come to nothing if we have a divided South and also if one major political party supports the rotation of power and another refuse to support the rotation of power, there will still be a problem. So, realising the respect for the rotation of power will be dependent on three factors. First, is the common resolve from the people of the South that power should move to their zone; secondly, it is the common resolve of the people of the East and West that this is where it should move to when it comes to the South and the third is, the major political parties must accept this as a reality. These three things are inevitable; if any one of them that is not considered, we will still end up with the northern person as the President.

How do you see the detention of Omoyele Sowore?

I contributed a lot in the emergence of the present government and I want to confirm that many people in positions of power in this government went to New York and met Sowore to help them to fight the PDP some years ago. Now, how do you turn and say the same person who spoke about justice and freedom with you five to six years ago is now the enemy. The enemies of the president are today pretending to be his friends. I have always reminded those in the position of authority even before I became a senator that power is ephemeral; it is a phase in the life of a man. The life after power is longer than when you are in power. I want to be quoted on a marble that when President Muhammadu Buhari finishes his tenure, those he considers friends today, will be those that will be abusing and rubbishing him; destroying and assassinating his character and even calling for his prosecution. And those that he thinks that are his enemies today, will be the one he would rely on. President Buhari is not a product of 2015; he contested for president in 2003. The media, the civil society stood for him; they stood for him in 2007, in 2011 and 2015. Most of those calling themselves Buharists today are simply Buharist because he is the president. They were not calling themselves Buharists before he became the president and will not call themselves Buharists after he leaves office. This, I believe, will happen. Where are those who say they could die for former President Olusegun Obasanjo when he was in power? Where are those who were ready to kill for Obasanjo? Today, they cannot raise a voice when Obasanjo is attacked or criticised. If you are in a position or office, you should be able to differentiate between friends of the king and friends of the throne. The friends of the throne will continue to be with whoever is on the throne. So, I always want to bring our attention to the fact that this country is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation and we must always balance our differences to reflect in politics, governance and economy.

Some people see the actions of this government as marginalisation…

Marginalising or penalising a people because they did not vote for you is not good for the peace, stability and growth of this nation. Nigeria’s political leaders, when they take oath of office always swear to be fair to all Nigerians; not Nigerians who voted for them or Nigerians from their political party. Not Nigerians from their own ethnic group. If we want to preserve this union and this country, we must say what we say to our people in our languages as we say it in English; because Nigerian political leaders, when they speak in their mother tongues and dialect, they are chauvinists and tribalists, but when they speak in English, they are nationalists and patriots. I am using this opportunity to call on all of us that in the interest of peace and stability of the nation, a democratic government must subject itself to the constitution of the country and must respect fundamental rights. Those protesters you maim and kill are the ones to defend you when you are out of power. The press you intimidate and gag is the one to stand for you when all the politicians would have left you. When President Buhari was going to court in 2003, 2007 and 2011, where were the people calling themselves Buharists today? When he was detained after the 1985 coup, how many spoke for him? None!

Is it true that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has appointed you as his coordinator in the North for the 2023 presidential election?

I am not aware of Tinubu’s presidential ambition and I have also never spoken about that with him. So, I believe that was couched by mischief makers who wants to get at Asiwaju himself, but I can tell you that that is a false, fake. It can never happen.

Insecurity is ravaging the nation today; kidnapping, insurgency and killings everywhere. What do you think is going on?

On the issue of insecurity, I have said it repeatedly that this government has failed in securing the lives of Nigerians; and for every blood that had been shed; it is an indication of the failure of government. The insurgency in the North East and other parts of the country should be tackled not only from the security point of view but by first addressing some of the fundamental problems facing the nation. For the North East, the first step is to fund the North East Development Commission very well. It should be well funded to address the issues of poverty, neglect that have ravaged the region for decades. Secondly, the government should listen more and explore the possibility of a dialogue to end this insurgency. But dialogue would have been easier seven or eight years ago, when our local terrorists were yet to be affiliated to international terrorists organisations. On the issue of kidnapping and killings in the North-West part of the country, we should commend the governor of Zamfara State for the efforts he has put in to end the killings. But Niger State and parts of Kaduna are still under siege; and we cannot achieve peace without the use of technology. It is commendable that the President has deployed troops in most of the states, but first of all, he must boost morale of the soldiers and pay them adequately and equip them with sophisticated fire power to take on the bandits and insurgents without retreat. Thirdly, the use of technology is indispensable. Again, traditional rulers and governors in the North need to come together and address the issues of poverty and insecurity in the region. For the President, he should target three key areas and leave a mark and legacy for the North; the first is education by bringing an end to street children moving about, two is investment in agriculture so that the north will also be able to contribute to the national treasury rather than going to Abuja every month to share from the oil money. Again, I also support the South-East Development Commission to address issues of marginalisation in the region.

With your experience in the Senate, what would you say are the factors militating against the passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB)?

The present Minister of state for Labour was the chairman of the senate committee that worked tirelessly for the passage of the PIGB. But it appears there are entrenched interests who have relentlessly worked to undermine the Bill. Another thing that has worked against the Bill was the frosty relationship that existed between the leadership of the 8th National Assembly led by Senator Bukola Saraki and the presidency or executive.

Don’t you think the president’s decision to appoint only people he knows as ministers would affect the performance of his administration?

In view of the fact that the buck stops at the table of the president, he is right to say he is appointing only the people he knows. If he succeeds, the credit goes to him and if he fails, the criticisms and condemnations also are his. But my position is that if we are going to have or do things differently from what has been the norm in the past, the new set of appointees should have a template of what to work with. If you are a minister of work, you should be handed over a document from the ruling party; detailing for example, we want you to complete a million low cost houses in four years, may be 250,000 each year. If you are the minister for agriculture, you are giving a template of what they want you to achieve in terms of food production, export of cash crops and so on. So, let him appoint the people he knows, but they should deliver good governance to Nigerians.

Source: https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/09/the-north-will-produce-another-president-in-2023-if-shehu-sani/

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Politics / Invasion Of Umahi’s Abuja Residence By Security Operatives Felonious – PDP by chidima2019: 3:28pm On Sep 06, 2019
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the invasion of the Abuja residence of Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, reportedly by security operatives said to have been detailed by top authorities.

The party, in a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary, described the invasion as felonious, a direct attack on democratic order and vicious violation of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which could not be justified under any guise.

“The PDP holds that the development is a provocative assault on the sensibility, integrity and constitutional freedom of not only the people of Ebonyi state, but also the Forum of Governors and millions of PDP members and supporters across the country.

“Our party notes that this invasion, which has the same paw prints of an earlier attack on the residence of Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba state, leaves no one in doubt of a deliberate assault targeted at outspoken opposition leaders, including PDP governors.



“The PDP is particularly vexed by the stance of our security agencies, particularly their failure to wade into the matter with the seriousness it deserves and bring the culprits and masterminds to book. This situation has heightened public suspicions of high-level conspiracy as well as swelled apprehensions over the safety of the lives of the governor and members of his family,” the party said.

According to PDP “Our party therefore charges the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to immediately apprehend those behind the invasion as well as beef up security around the governor and his family members.

“The PDP however charges Governor Umahi and other leaders elected on the platform of the party to remain undeterred in their commitment to development, justice and the wellbeing of the people, despite the unwarranted assaults.”

https://www.akelicious.net/invasion-of-umahis-abuja-residence-by-security-operatives-felonious-pdp/

Politics / FG Beats Vandals, Redesigns Manhole Covers by chidima2019: 3:30pm On Sep 01, 2019
To beat vandals of manhole covers and improve road safety, the Federal Ministry of Works, Power, and Housing has introduced heavier manhole covers that will be difficult to remove.

The Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr Adedamola Kuti, made the disclosure in Lagos.

Kuti regretted that vandals frustrated various government efforts by stealing manhole covers each time they were replaced.

The controller said that the theft usually occurred at night.

He said that the ministry had begun replacing stolen manhole covers with new ones reinforced with concrete such that they could be removed only with the aid of a machine.

“We are redesigning our manhole covers such that if you want to lift it, you will need equipment. We are now making it heavier just to make vandalism unattractive.

“We are also trying to use materials that are less attractive and of no value to vandals,” he said.

Kuti said that the new manhole covers had been installed at some locations including Costian and Iponri axis on Lagos mainland.

He appealed to residents of Lagos State to be patient at construction zones and protect manholes and other road infrastructure against vandalism.

“We should watch over government property; if you are driving at night and you see vandals, stop at the nearest police station and report,” he urged.

https://www.akelicious.net/fg-beats-vandals-redesigns-manhole-covers/

Politics / FG To Resume Third Mainland Bridge Repair As Other Lagos Bridges Get Facelift by chidima2019: 2:35pm On Sep 01, 2019
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti, has said that traffic arrangements were ongoing to begin another phase of major repair on the Third Mainland Bridge.

Kuti told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that results of investigative tests on the bridge were ready and that contractors would move to site at the completion of the traffic management architecture.

“Any moment from now, once I get our traffic plans approved, we may be announcing to the world again that we are now ready to fix Third Mainland Bridge based on investigative tests we had last year.

“Meanwhile, we have already completed the resurfacing, the markings, such that you can now drive on Third Mainland bridge smoothly.

“We are also going to repair some of the piles or pillars carrying the bridge; that is the next phase that we are doing; so work will soon begin on Third Mainland Bridge,’’ he said.

Kuti said that the Muhammadu Buhari administration was committed to fixing bridges in Lagos.

He said that this was evident in the number of bridges that had been repaired innrhe state, with many more receiving attention.

“This government has very good plans for bridges. Since I came on board, about a year ago, we have completed maintenance and repair works on Leventis Bridge damaged by fire in 2016 where a whole deck collapsed.

“We have also completely repaired the Ijora-7Up Bridge; Coconut Bridge repair has been completed, the burnt Marine Beach Bridge repair has been completed and, as I speak, maintenance work is ongoing on the Independence Bridge on the Island.

“Work is ongoing on the Dorman Long Bridge, you can drive smoothly on it now and all the guard rails and expansion joints are being replaced.

“Work is ongoing on the Ojuelegba Bridge as well as Alaka Bridge,’’ he told NAN.

According to him, although procurement issues affected project delivery, there are enough materials from Alaka Bridge expansion joint works to repair adjoining bridges on the Apapa-Ijora axis.

The controller said he had given instruction to a contractor to move to site to rehabilitate a portion of the Apapa Bridge.

“ I have a project on the Alaka Bridge. Work is going on there.

“That Alaka Bridge goes into Iganmu, the contractor has done a lot of work there. They have done the resurfacing, they have milled the old ashphalt and are replacing the expansion joints.

“There is another expansion joint beside it. If you are coming in from Surulere and going to Alaka, the intersection is between Iganmu and Eko Bridge, I gave instruction to fix it.

“Also, at the intersection outwards Apapa and inwards Apapa from Costain area, there is a very bad expansion joint, I just gave instruction to fix it,’’ Kuti said.

He added that expansion joints on the popular Long Bridge on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway would also be replaced soon.

He condemned illegal trading and other activities under bridges, noting that some of such activities had caused fire and damaged bridges in the past.

Kuti also condemned indiscriminate parking on bridges, saying that bridges were designed for movement of vehicles and not as parks.

https://www.akelicious.net/fg-to-resume-third-mainland-bridge-repair-as-other-lagos-bridges-get-facelift/

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Politics / N5.5b For Luxury Cars: 6721 Nigerians, 3 Groups Sue National Assembly by chidima2019: 2:09pm On Sep 01, 2019
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT, Enough is Enough (EiE) and 6,721 concerned Nigerians have sued the National Assembly to stop it from spending N5.5billion to buy luxury cars for principal officials.



The case which has been filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos seeks to “restrain, prevent and stop the National Assembly Service Commission from paying or releasing the sum of N5.550 billion budgeted for purchase of luxury cars for principal members of the ninth Senate, and to restrain and stop the Senate from collecting the money until the downward review of the amount proposed by the Senate.”

In suit number FHC/L/CS/1511/2019 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi Lagos, the plaintiffs argued: “Spending a huge sum of N5.550 billion to buy luxury cars for principal members of the ninth Senate is unjust and unfair. It negates the constitutional oath of office made by members to perform their functions in the interest of the well-being and prosperity of Nigeria and its citizens, as contained in the Seventh Schedule of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).”

The plaintiffs also argued: “The proposed spending by the ninth Senate raises pertinent questions: What is the economic value and contribution of the vehicles sought to be purchased to the grand scheme of Nigeria’s economy? What are the parameters used to arrive at cost efficiency and value for money in the decision to purchase the vehicles? Where are the vehicles purchased by the eighth Senate?”

The 6,721 concerned Nigerians who joined the suit as co-plaintiffs with SERAP, BudgIT and EiE include: Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) co-conveners, Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yesufu; Jibrin Ibrahim; Edetaen Ojo; Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, and Deji Adeyanju.



The plaintiffs argued: “The failure or refusal by the Senate to comply with legal and constitutional provisions is nothing but an act of arbitrariness. The money could be better allocated to more important sectors of the National Assembly expenditure – like constituency projects and National Assembly-endowed educational scholarships.”

The suit, filed by Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP deputy director and supported by an affidavit of urgency, read in part: “A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his official duties. But the plan to spend N5.550 billion to buy vehicles for principal members of the Senate is a textbook case of a conflict of their personal interests with national interest of fiscal efficiency – a conflict eventually resolved in favour of personal and self-interest.”

“Members of the National Assembly as public officials form a very tiny percentage of about 200 million Nigerians. It is public knowledge and judicially noticed that members of the Senate are still eligible to collect huge sums of money as monthly allowances and severance pay on conclusion of their respective terms at the National Assembly.”

“It is thus rational that this matter is presently generating a lot of public concern and many Nigerians are now calling for a review of the sum proposed and budgeted for vehicles for members. In the face of glaring facts about Nigeria’s dire economic position vis-a-vis the scant allocations to critical sectors of the nation, we can only pray the Court to do substantive justice by granting our reliefs sought.”

“There is real urgent need to assign, hear and determine this matter expeditiously. The well-being and prosperity of Nigeria requires commitment and sacrifice by all and sundry. However, the plan to spend N5.550 Billion [amounting to 6.4% of Nasarawa State budget] is anything but a commitment to pursue the interest, well-being and prosperity of Nigeria and its citizens.”



“We urge the court to grant the plaintiffs’ reliefs by stopping the spending of N5.550 billion on luxury cars by the Senate and compelling the Senate to undertake a downward review of the sum proposed and budgeted, consistent with the provisions of section 57[4] of the Public Procurement Act 2007. Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the Senate will continue to benefit from the breach of the law, and at the expense of millions of Nigerians living in poverty.”

The plaintiffs want the court to determine: “Whether the plan to spend N5.550 billion to buy vehicles for principal members of the ninth Senate is not in breach of Section 57[4] of the Public Procurement Act 2007, Paragraph 1 of Code of Conduct for Public Officers [Fifth Schedule Part 1] of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 [as amended] and Oath of office [Seventh Schedule] of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999”

https://www.akelicious.net/n5-5b-for-luxury-cars-6721-nigerians-3-groups-sue-national-assembly/

Politics / Gov-ihedioha Lists Accomplishments In First 100 Days by chidima2019: 5:36am On Aug 31, 2019
Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha list listed his achievements in his first 100 days in Douglas House.

His special assistant on Research, Ogubundu Nwadike, stated yesterday that the state government recorded over 20 accomplishments in its first 100 days.

Nwadike was reacting to the ‘First 100 Days’ assessment standard used in measuring the ability of new political leaderships, which made popular some 87 years ago by the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt.

Ihedioha, and many of the new governors would be marking their first 100 days in office on September 5.


Nwadike argued that the first step in recording quality achievements was in the ability of a leader to have the right human capital in place.

“Right from the beginning, Governor Ihedioha set up a Transition Technical Committee (TTC), which worked and provided the guiding template for the rebuilding of Imo.

The TTC comprised some of the best intellectuals, technocrats and professionals. It was very thorough in providing the compass by which the new administration will be navigated. I am privileged to know that the governor and his administration have decided to religiously abide by the step-by-step guide of the recommendation by the TTC,” he said.

The government, he added, believes in following due process in awarding contracts “That is why on September 4, the government will flag off the rehabilitation of 16 major roads in the three senatorial zones of the state after diligent procedure had been completed in their award.”

According to him, in the first 100 days, every segment of the state has been touched, including floods and erosion control, water scheme, education, health and security.

He said the civil servants now receive full salaries while the verification of pensioners, who were last paid in 2015, would soon be completed for them to begin receiving their pay.

https://www.akelicious.net/gov-ihedioha-lists-accomplishments-in-first-100-days/

Politics / Enugu Govt Appoints Former IGP, Onovo, As Security Consultant by chidima2019: 8:44pm On Aug 30, 2019
…To commence fixing of potholes

Enugu State Government has appointed the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, as Security Consultant.

The appointment was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya.

Chief Onovo who hails from Enugu State, recently served as the Chairman of the Sectoral Ad-hoc Committee on Security, constituted by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, alongside 11 other committees that reviewed various sectors of the state government and recommended roadmaps for optimized service delivery and advancement of good governance in the state.

Former IGP Onovo’s appointment, according to the statement, is part of the proactive measures being put in place by the state government to enhance the security of the state.

In another development, the state government disclosed its plan, based on professional advice, to commence fixing of sensitive potholes created by persistent rainfall.

The government explained that the rains had made it difficult for the application of hot rolled asphaltic wearing course for the pavement and surfacing of the affected potholes, adding that it will complete the remaining ones immediately after the rainy season.

https://www.akelicious.net/enugu-govt-appoints-former-igp-onovo-as-security-consultant/

Crime / Explosion Erupts On NPDC Crude Trunk Line In Delta by chidima2019: 8:24pm On Aug 30, 2019
Explosion has erupted on the Abura Crude Trunk Line belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) in Delta.

The incident happened on Friday at Otu-Jeremi communiy in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.

A resident in the community who craved anonymity, said that the explosion which was accompanied by heavy fire, occurred at about 1.30.p.m., living the peopl to scamper for safety.

“The explosion has plunged the community into tension as residents living close to the facility scampered for safety,” he said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the area has been condoned off by soldiers while fire fighters were seen trying to put out the fire.

When contacted on phone, NPDC Head of Community Relations, Mr Chris Otobise, and the Head of Security, Col. Oyekan (red), both promised to call back for confirmation, but failed.

However a senior officer in the Nigerian Army confirmed the incident to newsmen, but said he not ascertain the cause of the incident.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in Delta, Adeyinka Adeleke, said, “NPDC are saying that it was a rupture and not fire, but my men have gone there to find out.”

https://www.akelicious.net/breaking-explosion-erupts-on-npdc-crude-trunk-line-in-delta/

Politics / Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Has Good News For You by chidima2019: 4:16pm On Aug 30, 2019
Guarantee Trust Bank, GTB, has told its numerous customers with torn or mutilated Naira notes to take such to any of its branch in exchange for clean naira notes.

The deadline for such exchange is Monday, September 2, 2019.

The move is part of efforts to improve the overall quality of the Naira notes in circulation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through the introduction of the Clean Note Policy and Banknotes Fitness Guidelines.

An e-mail message sent by the bank to its customers, with the caption, “Important CBN Notice on Naira Notes,” reads:

“As part of its efforts to improve the overall quality of the Naira notes in circulation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced the Clean Note Policy and Banknotes Fitness Guidelines.

“What does this mean for you?

“If you have in your possession, overused or mutilated Naira notes, you are required by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Clean Note Policy to deposit such notes at any branch near you on or before Monday, September 2, 2019.

“Please note that overused notes include any Naira note that is now weak to such an extent that it could easily tear at further handling or processing. Mutilated notes include any Naira note that has been partially or permanently damaged, but which clearly still has more than half of its original size together.

“As Nigerians, it is our patriotic and collective responsibility to handle the Naira with care, and as your Bank, we urge you to comply with this directive in order to improve the quality of our national currency. Thank you for banking with us.”

https://www.akelicious.net/guarantee-trust-bank-gtb-has-good-news-for-you/

Politics / Gov.matawalle In Tears After 2 Police Aides Die In Road Crash by chidima2019: 6:19am On Aug 30, 2019
Two policemen, working with Zamfara state Governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, have died in a road accident.

Yusuf Idris, the Director-General on Press Affairs to the governor, announced the tragedy in a press statement on Thursday night in Gusau, disclosing that the tragedy unsettled the governor that he burst into tears.

Idris said the accident occurred on Funtua/Gusau road around 6pm on Thursday.

He said Police Inspector, Aminu Usman and Sgt. Nura Mohammed died on the spot.

The deceased had followed the governor to Abuja on a five day official trip and were returning to Gusau, when the accident occurred.

Idris said that while they were returning with the governor, one of the vehicles in the convoy broke down in Zaria, Kaduna state.

“The two policemen were among the seven persons left behind to oversee the repairs of the broken down vehicle before coming to Gusau.

“About two hours later, however, the sad news was brought to the governor that those left behind were involved in the crash while driving in a heavy downpour and that the two policemen died.

“Amidst tears, the governor directed the evacuation of the wounded persons from Funtua General Hospital where they were receiving treatment to a referral hospital for better care under the supervision of the governor’s personal physician.

The Doctor was also directed to update the governor on the progress of the treatment,” Idris stated.

He further explained that while one of the victims escaped the accident unhurt, the remaining four sustained varying degree of injuries.

Idris said the governor had condoled with the families of the deceased and said the state government would pay all medical bills of those admitted into hospital.

https://www.akelicious.net/gov-matawalle-in-tears-after-2-police-aides-die-in-road-crash/

Politics / Minister Harps On ICT For Productivity In Public Service by chidima2019: 6:50pm On Aug 27, 2019
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, has called for leveraging of Information Communications and Technology (ICT) as a tool to enhance productivity and improve public service delivery.

Alasoadura made this call at the opening of the Nigeria Public Sector Productivity and Innovation Summit, organised by the National Productivity Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.

He noted that with ICT, there would be an efficient and effective public service delivery, which would be proactive in developing, exploring, adopting and deploying emerging technologies that meet today’s needs.

He noted that the productivity and the efficiency needs of the public sector cannot be over-emphasised, saying it was a thing of pride that the Federal Government was at the front burner for facilitating innovation for change.

“Powerful software, applications, digital tools and smart connections are now complementing what we used to have to bring greater output to the lap of users.

“While most of these developments are focused on the private sector, the public sectors should not be left behind.

“You can imagine how it will look like to regulate banks and other businesses with technology-oriented business models, if the government is lacking in technology that can deliver monitoring, regulatory and oversight responsibilities.

“It is therefore imperative for the public sector to be proactive in developing, exploring, adopting and deploying emerging technologies that meet today’s needs and anticipates the future,’’ the minister said.

While commending efforts of the Federal Ministry of Communications, and some of its parastatal agencies, he noted that with the provisions of E-Government policy in Nigeria, digital literacy would be attained.

Alasoadura expressed hope that the summit would deepen the analysis of key issues around e-government and provide more concrete policy recommendations and roadmap for actionable strategies for good governance in the country.

Earlier, the Director General, National Productivity Centre, Dr Kashim Akor, said the centre was charged with the mandate to accelerate socio-economic growth and development through productivity improvement in all sectors of the economy.

According to him, this is done by stimulating productivity consciousness, monitoring productivity trends, and research into productivity problems.

This, he added was done through building the capacities and skills of personnel, processes and systems of organisations to enhance productivity.

Akor said through several initiatives, programmes and interventions, the centre seeks to help players in the private and public sectors to achieve more that will led to sustainable output and growth.

The D-G said the centre had keyed into the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration, with an overall goal of driving efficiency and transparency in all ministries, departments and agencies.

“It is therefore fitting and right at this time that this summit would leverage on e-government as a vehicle for increasing productivity and improving public service delivery,’’ he said.

The Nigeria News Agency reports that the summit is premeditated on the need to leverage Science, Technology and Innovation to build a knowledge-based economy and to improve efficiency of service delivery in the Nigerian public service.

https://www.akelicious.net/minister-harps-on-ict-for-productivity-in-public-service/

Sports / 12th African Games: Allowances Of All Athletes Paid – FG by chidima2019: 3:36pm On Aug 27, 2019
The Federal Government has paid the allowances of all Nigerian athletes to the on-going 12th African Games in Rabat.

Mr Olusade Adesola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, shortly after arriving Rabat to support and cheer Team Nigeria to victory in the Games.

Adesola who arrived Rabat on Monday was emphatic that the ministry was not owing the athletes any outstanding allowance for the Games.

“The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports is not owing athletes of Team Nigeria at the on-going African Games in Rabat, Morocco any outstanding allowance,” he said.

NAN reports that the clarification became imperative following reports in some quarters that some athletes were being owed allowances.

The Permanent Secretary commended all athletes, coaches and officials of Team Nigeria for their discipline and hard work in ensuring Nigeria achieve podium performances in the recent haul of clean medals.

He said the ministry was committed to ensuring that that Team Nigeria shoots to the top of the Games medal table.

Adesola added that the ministry had also revived the practice of bringing former Olympians to motivate the athletes, such as Falilat Ogunkoya and Olumide Oyedeji of the Athletes Commission.

NAN reports that 462 athletes and officials are representing Nigeria at the Games.

NAN also reports that Team Nigeria as at Tuesday morning were 6th on the Games medals table, with Egypt, South Africa and host, Morocco leading the pack for now.

It is however believed that the table will soon turn as events with Nigeria’s dominance such as athletics, weightlifting and football gets to the crucial medal stages.

The games which officially started on Aug. 19, will end on Aug. 31. (NAN)

https://www.akelicious.net/12th-african-games-allowances-of-all-athletes-paid-fg/

Crime / Group, Lawyer Ask Court To Dismiss Case Against 57 Gay Suspects by chidima2019: 2:11am On Aug 27, 2019
A civil right group, The Initiative for Equal Rights has called for the dismissal of criminal case against 57 men arrested by the Lagos State Police Command at a birthday party in Egbeda area of Lagos, a year ago with lack of evidence.

The suspects were arrested for allegedly being initiated into a homosexual club at a hotel on 26th of August, 2018 but no single charge has been brought against them, and no evidence has been brought forward despite five court appearances.

The civil right group called for the dismissal of the case at a press conference held for the young men to tell their side of the story and what they have been going through after the Nigerian Police paraded them in front of the media.

The Group Executive Director, Miss Xeenarh Mohammed, while addressing journalists said for one year, the 57 men had been branded as criminals, incurring travel, and legal costs, while the police, with support from the magistrate, had given excuses why they had not been charged or acquitted.

In her words, “We got in touch with them and they don’t have legal representatives, and I think that’s also the part of the problems that happen in Nigeria. If you are from a lower class where you don’t have money, where you cannot buy justice, you are left to rot in jail without help from anyone.

“Some of the boys are here so they can talk about what they have been through since they were arrested and there are many people in Police stations, in Kirikiri who are suffering worse cases than them because they have nobody to stand up for them.”

Mohammed called for the case to be dismissed for lack of evidence, and asked the Nigerian Police to tender an apology to the boys for the brutality and maltreatment they received while in detainment.

“We hope you are here today to help us call for justice that these boys should be acquitted, they should get the apology that the constitution has guaranteed them and also their freedom,” she said.

The lawyer and lead counsel to the suspects, Oludare Falana, sid the police had failed to file any case against the suspects up till date.

According to him, the suspects were detained under Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of Lagos State pending the outcome of the police’s investigation, adding that the magistrate granted the boys bail and that they were left off the hook at least, temporary.

“It’s been one year exactly, and I can tell you that as at the last time we were in court, not a single charge has been filed against them. I was in court the last adjournment and I tried to move the magistrate to strike out the case because there is no case before the court because there is no charge but in her wisdom, she said she is going to adjourn again.”

Citing the Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, Falana said the suspects had the right to assemble and freedom of association.

“If the constitution has guaranteed their freedom of association, freedom to assemble together, that fundamentally guaranteed freedom cannot be taken away by anybody. Anybody can gather, that’s what the constitution says and from the charge that I saw, it was not signed the Police and they said they were engaged in cultism and later they said it was unlawful sexual relationship.

“If you are going to charge people to court, you must give us the proof of evidence, the proof of evidence is everything you were able to gather during the cause of your investigation which informs your decision to charge them to court.

“For now, every other thing as it stands today is in the realm of speculation. These boys have been shown to the whole world as homosexuals, as criminals and all that and at the end of the day, if a state cannot prefer a charge against them in one year, it tells a lot about what has gone wrong in their investigation.

“Secondly, how are you going to make up for these stigmatization? Are you going to take them back on air and say you are sorry, these boys are not who we thought they were and therefore we apologize? Are you going to put it in the newspapers? How do you ameliorate their pains in terms of recreating the wrong impressions you have given the whole world?

“Till date, the Police have not been able to come up with anything and that tells us the extent of injustice in our system. I am aware that this will not happen in any clime except Nigeria. And I do not know why our government is not taking things like these seriously,” he stated.

Falana lamented that the police were quick to arraign people and do media trial but that when it comes to the issue of substantiating the allegation against them, “suddenly they just go numb, and then they will be foot-dragging and eventually the case will fizzle out.”

“But what happen to these boys? They are Nigerians, this story had gone viral even international. These boys are lucky they have a voice, what about others who don’t have anyone to speak for them? They die in pain?” He asked.

https://www.akelicious.net/group-lawyer-ask-court-to-dismiss-case-against-57-gay-suspects/

Education / Edo Primary School Teachers Reject Resumption Date by chidima2019: 3:50am On Aug 26, 2019
The crisis rocking the primary school education in Edo State was further deepened on Sunday with the rejection of the new resumption date scheduled for September 2, by the State Universal Basic Education Board.

The state branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in a statement by its Assistant General Secretary, Mr Moni Itua, asked its members to disregard the call by SUBEB for resumption on September 2 for the first term of 2019/2020 school calendar.



Itua urged the board not to constitute itself into a “parallel ministry of education” as well as usurping the functions of the ministry by ordering a different resumption for primary school teachers in the state.

“In continuation of your board’s insensitivity to the human dignity and plight of our primary school teachers, the attention of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Edo State Wing, has been drawn to your circular letter — SUBEB/A/7VOL.IIT/90 — of August 20, 2019, wherein you directed teachers to resume for the 2019/2020 first term academic session on September 2, 2019 on one hand and in a twist, further directed the same teachers to also resume a week earlier than the pupils (that is, on the 2nd of September, 2019) to enable them put all arrangements in place for effective take-off of teaching/learning process.

“Arising from the above directives by your board, the state wing executive council of NUT wants to inform you that public primary school heads and their teachers are not the ones to clean up classrooms or cut grasses in their school compounds, but shall only act as supervisors to the pupils in executing such assignments on their resumption, if your board lacks the capacity to provide or employ cleaners and gardeners in the schools.

“Your board’s unending shenanigans and arm-twisting of our teachers which are now dovetailing into full scale tramping on their rights should stop henceforth,” he said.

While directing school heads and their teachers to disregard the board’s circular letter regarding the September 2, 2019 resumption date, Itua urged them to adhere strictly to the union’s directives.

It will be recalled that the teachers had last week issued a three-week strike notice to the state government if it failed to meet its demands, including the rejection of competency test for teachers, release of the approved N60m subvention to schools and the payment of EDO BEST stipends of 2018 and 2019 to teachers, among others.

A circular from the human resources department of SUBEB dated August 20, 2019 had directed teaching and non-teaching staff in public schools across the 18 local government education authorities to resume school on Monday, 2nd of September, 2019.

The circular was signed by Mrs Ehigiamusor I.Lydia, director, human resources and management on behalf of the executive chairman of the board, Mrs Joan Oviawe.

It was copied to all education secretaries and local government education authorities across the 18 local government areas.

https://punchng.com/edo-primary-school-teachers-reject-resumption-date/amp/

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Politics / IPOB Breeding Enemies For S’east –balarabe Musa by chidima2019: 4:09am On Aug 25, 2019
lder statesman and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, has berated the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) for putting spanners in the wheels of the quest for an Igbo presidency in 2023.

Reacting to the agitation for the zoning of the presidency to the South East on the heels of the attack by IPOB on Ike Ekweremadu last weekend, Musa said that he is among those canvassing for Igbo presidency in 2023, but that IPOB is making their job difficult.

Musa said: “They (IPOB) are now breeding enemies for the South East. We are campaigning for the presidency to go to the South East, even though zoning was introduced by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that we are opposed to. It is good for us as a country because it gives every person and area a sense of belonging.

“So we support the zoning and we are saying the presidency should go to the South East and we have our reason. Now, they are making our job even more difficult and they are not helping even the people in the South East .”

On the attack on Ike Ekweremadu, the former governor of old Kaduna State said: “IPOB is wrong to have attacked the former deputy president of the Senate. Even though we are opposed to them because they are a separatist organisation, because they are an organisation that wants to separate NIGERIA, but we also have sympathy for them because they have genuine grievances.

“They are now spoiling the little sympathy they have by doing what they did. It is uncalled for, the person they attacked is an individual, not an organisation. I think it’s wrong for them to have done so.

“They are also making it difficult for us. Even though we are opposed to them as a separatist group, we have sympathy for them because of their grievances. But this mindless violence is making them to lose sympathy. I expect them to be concerned with organisations, not individuals; they should engage individuals with reasons. They should stop this violence.”

Musa added: “The threat on the South East Governors is not worth it. As a separatist organisation like Afenifere, OPC, Northern Elders Forum and so on, these are separatist groups, what they are doing will further alienate them from people that have any sympathy for them.”

Also weighing in, Elder Statesman and former adviser to late former President Shehu Shagari, Mallam Tanko Yakasai said that the hostile position of the Igbo Nation to Northern Nigeria and not the attack on Ekweremadu would do damage to their ambition.

In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, Tanko Yakasai, said: “Neither the Ndigbo collaboration with the Yorubas nor the entire South would make them realize their ambition, but the support of the entire country.

“The votes of the entire South can’t produce the president in 2023, neither would the North alone. We need one another, and the Igbos who are being favored by some elites are showing some uncompromising attitudes that would completely deny them the chance of producing the president.

“Although there are strong agitations to allow Igbos to have the 2023 bid, but that is within the elites. What happens to the downtrodden electorates? Northerners are not that stupid.”



Yakasai continued: “Talking about what happened to Ekweremadu, that has proven to the world that these people have problems and they cannot be trusted. That action has completely destroyed their legacies and integrity in global politics.

“Ekweremadu is a leader with no match in the entire South East in the current dispensation. Do not forget he was Deputy Senate President thrice and he has done all he could for the Igbos, but because of the behaviour of some, look at how they disgraced themselves.”

But the apex Igbo socio cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo differs. Rather, it said the Nuremberg, Germany show of shame would enhance the Igbo 2023 presidential ambition.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Pan Igbo group, Mazi Chuks Ibegbu, drew a parallel to similar attacks on former President Goodluck Jonathan by Ijaw youths as well as rejection of former President Olusegun Obasanjo by the Yorubas in 1999 and yet both still became presidents of Nigeria.

Ibegbu also argued that despite the terrorist activities of Boko Haram and the attendant killings and destruction of the economy of the North East and other parts of the North, both current president Muhammadu Buhari and late President Umaru Yar’Adua still became the president of Nigeria.

The Ohanaeze spokesperson said that the action of IPOB, though misguided to the extent that it was violent and targeted at the wrong person, will serve as wake up call for Igbo leaders, especially the governors, to rise to their responsibilities to the people that elected them into office.

He counseled IPOB not to use illegal means to address their grievances, noting that Ekweremadu was a victim of circumstance; as he had been at the forefront of the fight against the marginalization of Ndigbo and also one of those that secured the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB when he was detained.

“The attack by Ijaw militants on Jonathan did it stop him from becoming president. They attacked him. I was in Yenagoa the day they attacked him, attacked his house, sacked him from his house. Did it stop him from becoming president?

“The refusal of the Yoruba to support Obasanjo, did it stop him from becoming president? Yoruba voted against Obasanjo, they voted for Olu Falaye.

“Boko Haram militants and their killings did it stop Buhari and Yar’Adua from becoming presidents? Why must everything about Ndigbo, even we ourselves we start doubting ourselves?

“There is no effect. It (attack on Ekweremadu) will not stop the Igbo presidency; in fact, it will enhance it. How? Because these young men are not happy with the situation of things in the country. They are not happy that they are politically, economically and socially marginalized. They are venting their anger, although misguidedly. They are venting their misguided anger because I don’t think Ekweremadu deserves that treatment.

“Ekweremadu is seen as being at the forefront of de-marginalisation of Ndigbo. He was one of those that stood for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, he was one of those that worked against Operation Python Dance. So the attack on him was misguided. I think he was a victim of circumstance.

“My advice to IPOB is that they should not use illegal means to approach their grievances. I know they have grievances, but they should not use illegal means and unlawful means; and it will also be a lesson to those who are not doing anything in Igbo land.

“I’m aware some governors owe their workers’ salaries and pensions; I’m aware that infrastructures in some states are dilapidate. I don’t want to mention names. Our cities are dilapidated and the little money that comes to South East, they pocket it. So this is a warning to them that they should live up to expectation,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/ipob-breeding-enemies-for-seast-balarabe-musa/

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Politics / NNPC Targets Gas Production Surge To 3bn Scuf Daily by chidima2019: 4:43am On Aug 23, 2019
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has heightened the hunt for investments as it declared plans to surge the country’s gas output for the global gas market to three billion standard cubic feet (scuf) daily.



Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mele Kyari, who declared this at the annual conference organised by the National Association of Energy Correspondents (NAEC) in Lagos, yesterday, maintained that gas is the needed catalyst for national development.


“All hands must be on deck to ensure that, using the realistic government policies, gas is fully utilized domestically to power industries and fast track the nation’s march towards industrialization,” he said.



Part of what should be done, according to Kyari who was represented at the event by the Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya, is “to open up the midstream, complete all critical gas development projects targeted at delivering about 3Bscfd to gas market, ensure the closeout of investment decision on NLNG Train 7 and improve domestic utilization to boost power generation and industrial growth.”



Speaking on the conference theme: ‘Harnessing Oil and Gas Potentials for National Development,’ the NNPC’s boss said: “Our concerns should be, among others, on what we need to do to harness Nigeria’s oil and gas potentials towards national development, more so, in the face of mounting challenges facing the industry.

“From NNPC’s point of view, we are working tirelessly to achieve that. Today, with our partners, we are driving the aspiration to grow the national reserves to 40 billion barrels by 2025 and improve crude oil production to three million barrels/day during the period. To achieve these targets, we are not oblivious of the fact that huge investment is required across the entire value chain.”

In the downstream sub-sector, Kyari said: “Nigeria is still a net importer of petroleum products due to the current state of our refineries and the long absence of private investment in the refining sector. Thus, we require more investment to revamp and expand our domestic refineries and associated infrastructures to support the growth of the downstream sector and guaranty energy security to the nation.

“In this respect, NNPC under my purview, would leave no stone unturned to ensure our 445,000-barrel refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna work to an appreciable level or capacity.”

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/08/nnpc-targets-gas-production-surge-to-3bn-scuf-daily/

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Crime / Imo:suspected Cult Gang Raid Homes, Kill Ex-police Officer, 3 Others by chidima2019: 3:04pm On Aug 22, 2019
A suspected cult gang Thursday morning killed no fewer than five persons in Ilile community in the Ohaji/Egbema Council Area of Imo State.

Sources from the community, who craved anonymity, told our correspondent that some of the persons who were killed included a retired police officer, the immediate past President General of the community, Napoleon Amadi, a member of the local vigilante group in the community, Uwagwu Eze and two others.

One of the victims was reportedly beheaded.

Akelicious learnt that several others who were wounded by bullets were hospitalized.

The gunmen, our correspondent learnt invaded several families, shot their targets before fleeing into the dark.

One of the community sources said: “As we speak, five persons have been confirmed dead. Among the dead are a retired police officer, Mr Ukpabi, the immediate past president general of our community, Napoleon Amadi, a member of vigilante group in our community, Uwagwu Eze and two others.”

https://www.akelicious.net/imosuspected-cult-gang-raid-homes-kill-ex-police-officer-3-others/

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Politics / Baptist Clerics Task President Buhari On Security by chidima2019: 5:08am On Aug 22, 2019
President of Lagos East Baptist Conference (LEBC), Dr. Emmanuel Awotunde, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intensify efforts in stemming insecurity in the country.

He spoke yesterday in Lagos at a press briefing to herald the annual ‘Kingdom Life Assembly’ of the church starting on Saturday, August 24 at the First Baptist Church, Agbowa, Ikorodu with the theme ‘Following Jesus as a Steward’.

Awotunde, who lamented the recent kidnap of two Baptist clerics, appealed to the Federal Government to step up effort to free their members from the kidnappers.

He suggested meetings between government and traditional rulers, who understand the people in their domain and in a better position to control movement of strangers.


Asserting that the Yoruba were living in peace over the years with herders until the latter started carrying guns, he urged government to probe the rationale behind the new trend.

He said: “We want the government to engage the community leaders. In the process, they may obtain valued information. If the government had taken this measure, I assure you, they would have discovered how to overcome these bandits, kidnappers and Boko Haram. I believe that if we unite and cooperate with the government, we can secure this nation from the hands of these unpatriotic elements in our land.”

Chairman of LEBC, Dr. Julius Omomola, blamed the lingering insecurity situation in the land on government. He said government failed to identify the basis of insecurity by not applying the different suggestions from well-meaning Nigerians.

“If government will not identify the real problem, it becomes difficult for them to overcome insecurity. Have our leaders investigated why these Fulani herdsmen suddenly began to carry arms. Some have suggested community policing and some other measures, but our leaders are not willing to listen to other opinions, even when they have realised that their strategy seems not to be working.”


https://www.akelicious.net/baptist-clerics-task-president-buhari-on-security/

Politics / 55 % Of Nigerians Have No Access To Electricity – Clean Tech by chidima2019: 4:56am On Aug 22, 2019
Clean Tech Hub, a Non Governmental Organization which focuses on research, policy development and consumer awareness on climate resilience, says 55 per cent of Nigerians lacked access to electricity.‎

Speaking during a workshop on promoting citizens access to clean energy solution in Nigeria”A Gender Approach” the facilitator,Mr Mark Amaza said that 93 million Nigerians lacked access to electricity.

He said the figure represents 55 per cent of the total number of Nigerians that lacked access to electricity in the country.

Amaza said that the workshop was organised to increase awareness on the negative impacts of the use of the various sources of dirty energy, socially and mentally.



“The workshop was also organised ‎to create a transition from the use of inefficient energy sources to adoption of clean energy sources.

“‎We are here in Kano to enlight people and food vendors to make them tap the abundant energy opportunity which is clean and healthy through INNOVATIONS, solution, support and awareness while on the other hand to help them avoid the risk associated with using dirty fuel,” he said.

According to him, many people still rely on fuelwood for cooking, pushing the rate of health risk and deforestation to alarming level.‎‎

According to him, training women, particularly food vendors across the country will drastically reduce the high demand for fuelwood for cooking and other industrial use with its accompanied health risk and smoke related illnesses.‎‎

NAN reports that Some of the participants interviewed said that over half of the country’s forests have been cut down, predominantly for fuelwood used in the last 12 years, a development exacerbated by rapid population growth.‎

They said that the training was timely considering the high rate of smoke related illness from use of firewood in the country.‎

‎They also commended the NGO for championing renewable energy system.‎

According to them, ‎decentralized renewable energy (DRE) solutions have shown potential as a key solution in addressing this disparity.‎

https://www.akelicious.net/55-of-nigerians-have-no-access-to-electricity-clean-tech/

Politics / 2 Killed As Armed Youths Invade Rivers Community by chidima2019: 4:58am On Aug 21, 2019
Two persons were killed on Monday when a group of armed youths suspected to be from one of the communities in Ogoniland invaded Azubuogu in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident, which occurred around 6.30am, caused residents to run helter-skelter as the youth were said to have attacked anyone they met in the community.



Several persons were also injured by the rampaging Ogoni youths, while some temporarily left their homes to avoid being killed in the deadly onslaught.

A source close to the community, who identified himself as Onyeka, said the people of Azubuogu were taken unawares by the attackers, adding that the attack could be related to a protracted land dispute.

“We cannot particularly state the real cause of the attack, but we suspect that it could be connected with an unresolved land dispute. I heard that two persons were killed, while several others were injured,” Onyeka said.

But confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Nnamdi Omoni, said one person lost his life during the invasion of the community by youths from Ogoni.

He explained that the police had intervened in the matter and chased the aggressive youths into the bush to forestall a further breakdown of law and order.

Omoni explained that though normalcy had returned to Azubuogu community, the police were going about with their investigation with a view to arresting the attackers and finding the real cause of the invasion.

The state police spokesman said, “It happened in the Oyigbo Local Government Area. From the real time report I got from the Divisional Police Officer in Oyigbo, they said one person was killed.

“This happened around 6.30am on Monday when youths from Ogoni invaded the Azubuogu community and attacked some persons. One person was killed, while some persons were injured in the process.



“I think they are having a protracted land dispute and during the attack, we came and chase them (attackers) into the bush. But normalcy has been restored and investigation is ongoing.

“We suspect that the attack could be as a result of the land dispute, but the ongoing investigation will reveal the real cause of the attack that claimed one life.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2-killed-as-armed-youths-invade-rivers-community/

Politics / Niger SDP Gov Candidate Regains Freedom After N4m Ransom by chidima2019: 4:40am On Aug 21, 2019
The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2019 election in Niger State, Mahmood Sani, has regained his freedom after six days in the den of kidnappers.

His freedom came after his relatives paid N4m as ransom to his abductors.



Sani was kidnapped on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway while he was on his way to Zamfara State.

Recounting his ordeal to Northern City News in Minna on Tuesday, the politician said he was abducted on his way from Bida to Zamfara State.

According to him, his abductors forced his driver to stop a few kilometres to Kaduna State and the two of them were marched into the forest by the gunmen.

He said, “By the time we got to the Dikko junction, it was already getting dark, but I told my driver to drive to Kaduna so that we could spend the night there and proceed to Zamfara the next day.

“Some kilometres to Kaduna, in-between two police checkpoints, some people forced us to stop and when we did, we were dragged out of the car and into the bush.

“We spent six days in the bush before we were released after the payment of N4m. The ransom was initially set at N400m but after negotiation, it was beaten down to N4m, which was raised by my family, friends and well-wishers.

“We were beaten. I still have bruises on my body. The experience was not palatable at all; it was a very bitter experience that I do not wish anybody to have.

“Imagine seeing people brandishing AK-47 guns all the time and threatening to kill you if the ransom was not paid. The experience was very traumatic and I do not want to speak about it again.”



Sani added that he was receiving treatment for the beating he received.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muhammad Abubakar, said he was not aware of the matter, adding that the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, where the incident happened, was not under the jurisdiction of the Niger State Police Command.

https://www.akelicious.net/niger-sdp-gov-candidate-regains-freedom-after-n4m-ransom/

Politics / Lagos Assembly Confirms Alogba As State’s 17th Chief Judge by chidima2019: 7:13pm On Aug 20, 2019
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday confirmed Justice Kazeem Alogba as the substantive Chief Judge of the state.

The Nigeria News Agency reports that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State appointed Alogba as acting Chief Judge of the state with effect from June 11.

His appointment followed the retirement of Justice Opeyemi Oke.

Meanwhile, the assembly confirmed Alogba’s appointment after a voice vote conducted by the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, during plenary.

Prior to his appointment, Justice Alogba was the most senior of the 58 honourable justices in the state judiciary next to the out-going chief judge.

He chaired the Committee on Review of High Court Civil Procedure Rules, which culminated in the new High Court of Lagos (Civil Procedure).

Alogba, who was called to the bar in 1981, joined the State High Court in 1996 where he rose to become the Acting Chief Judge.

The legal luminary was born on 23rd April, 1960 in Ikorodu and he attended Holy Trinity Primary School between 1966-1970.

His secondary school education was in Ikorodu High School 1971-1975.

Alogba got his HSC from British Academy 1975-1977 and later got his LL B. at the University of Lagos in 1980.


https://www.akelicious.net/lagos-assembly-confirms-alogba-as-states-17th-chief-judge/

Politics / Lawan, Ngige, Others Storm Ekweremadu’s Residence (see Photos) by chidima2019: 4:04am On Aug 20, 2019
Senate President Dr. Ahmed Lawan along with the former governor of Anambra state, Chris Ngige and other dignitaries, Monday visited the home of the former senate president, Dr Ike Ekweremadu who was attacked by the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in Germany.

https://www.akelicious.net/lawan-ngige-others-storm-ekweremadus-residence-see-photos/

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