We Are Satisfied With Progress On 48KM Felegi-shafini-tungan Road - Niger Infrastructure Committee

During the last outing, the Infrastructure Committee also visited the ongoing construction of 48km Felegi-Shafini-Tungan Jika road where the Committee’s Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Kagara expressed satisfaction on the ongoing work, especially the construction of a new bridge.

The old locally made bridge which can be seen in the pictures below shows how difficult it is for the people to pass through the passage for years. Travelers were compelled to drop from their vehicles and cross the water on foot to reduce the risk of the vehicle from sinking.

Nor was the road in any proper shape. Before the intervention of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello through RAMP2, it took travelers as long as 6 hours to make a journey of 1 hour or less.

#LoloIsWorking

cc: lalasticlala, seun, mynd44

News Alert: Political Hawks Sponsoring Attacks on LAWMA MD

...How this may affect Sanwo-Olu

Indications have emerged that some forces within the Lagos State Government may be planning a vicious attack on one of the brilliant minds making waves in the Sanwo-Olu administration, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegeshin.

Reports have it that the said leader of the hawks, a senior government official has disbursed a huge sum of money today to some Bloggers to begin to promote a false story that an audit of LAWMA account has uncovered what they called "massive fraud" in the accounts of the agency. Contrary to the claim, there is no such audit report anywhere.

According to a Source who pleaded for anonymity, " Lagosians should watch out. Each of the Bloggers got a sum N100,000 to N150,000 depending on their clouts to help promote the false news. I can tell you for free, there is no audit report like that. It is just politics taken too far."

Another reliable Source close to the APC leadership said, "I do hope that those behind this campaign will be called to order by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. This is just pure indiscretion. We cannot be arming the opposition. Have we learnt anything at all in the current Edo State saga? They should just know, the internet never forgets."

He lamented that this internal mess has gone on for weeks now because the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been preoccupied with other issues such as the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis and now the death of the Senator representing Lagos East, Bayo Oshinowo popularly caller Pepper.

"This whole thing is about an attempt by these hawks to gain control of LAWMA ahead of 2023 so they can dictate some terms to Governor Sanwo-Olu when the time comes to seek reelection. They know Asiwaju will be busy with his own campaign in 2023. So these guys want to take control and checkmate Sanwo-Olu. You know LAWMA is a grassroots movement,"

the Source further said.

The battle for the soul of LAWMA has been raging for weeks now unabated.

sources: lalasticlala, seun, mynd44

Propertymart Cautions Lagos State Special Adviser on Housing on Defamatory Remarks

The Management of a leading real estate company, Propertymart Real Estate Investment Limited has addressed the defamatory statement credited to the Special Adviser on Housing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, on Thursday, June 11, 2020.

In a Release issued in Lagos on Sunday and signed by Head, Legal & Counsel, Oyelami Sogo, Propertymart said, “we shudder at how the Special Adviser became the investigator, the prosecutor and the judge in a case yet to be investigated or follow the expected due process.

Propertymart Real Estate Investment Limited is a reputable organization, and defamation of our brand is something we don’t take lightly. Despite the challenges of the industry or the fluctuations of the Nigerian economy, it took us over 12 years to attain this height, a height only a few real estate companies in the country can boast of”.

Mr Sogo further declared that Propertymart Real Estate Investment Limited is properly established with a Board and Management comprising highly accomplished Nigerians from different walks of life. “Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka should, therefore, know that we are not a flight by night briefcase company”.

We have contacted the Special Adviser to obtain further information that will aid the investigation process. We hope this will be received by Monday, June 15, 2020.

We are willing to support LASRERA in achieving its objective as we believe this will be to our advantage. This move will help improve the reputation and general outlook of the industry while unfounded cowboys will be exposed if the right steps are taken.

Propertymart has delivered over 6,000 housing units and serviced plots to customers in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) since 2008. We are one of the big operators helping the government meet the housing needs of Nigerians and creating jobs for thousands.

Mr Sogo also disclosed that within the group, the company has a direct staff strength of over 150 Nigerians and have generated employment for over 5,000 indirectly across the housing delivery value chain.

Some of Propertymart’s completed and ongoing housing projects include Citiview Estate, Arepo, Ogun; Fairmont Hilltop, Alagbado; Cranbel Court, New Makun City, OPIC; Cranbel Edge 1 & 2, Lekki Ajah; Edensville Estate, Simawa; Mitchel Mews 1 & 2, Magodo, Lagos; Micheville Estate and Bel Terraces in Abuja.

cc: lalasticlala, seun, mynd44

Shagunu Beach To Be Made One Of Nigeria's Top Tourism Sites - Niger Infrastructure Committee

As part of its project monitoring activities, the Infrastructure Committee headed by the Chief of Staff, Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Kagara yesterday also visited the Shagunu Beach in Borgu LG Niger State.

The Committee Chairman assured the people of Shagunu Community of Gov Abu Sani Bello’s total commitment to change the fortune of the community for good. He reiterated that the ongoing construction of the road and the electrification are all part of the plan of making the Beach a tourist destination which will create job opportunities for the people.

The chairman further explained that the Governor has been putting pressure on the President and will continue to do so until Shagunu beach is made one of the country’s top tourism sites.

The people of Shagunu village in a statement through their village head spokesperson expressed appreciation to the Governor Bello-led administration for the ongoing electrification and the construction of the 22km road.

According to the spokesman of the village head, before the road construction it took the people over 3 hours to drive from Lumma, a community not far away from them, to the village but with the ongoing road construction, even as it hasn’t been completed, one can drive from the same spot to the village in 30 minutes.

cc: mynd44, lalalsticlala

Niger Infrastructure Committee Inspects Agwara LG Electrification Project

The Niger State infrastructure committee today paid an inspection visit to the Agwara LG electrification project, the project covers about 120km from Borgu LG.

During the visit, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe, stated that, the energy was drawn from the TCN station in Borgu.

It is noteworthy that, the Agwara LG electrification is one of the longest stretch of electrification projects ever embarked on in Niger State.

The GM Rural Electrification Board has explained all that is needed for the project to be energised, he assured the committee that within the next 30days, Agwara LG will enjoy electricity for the first time.

The Governor has insisted that the practice of citing projects in the major cities of the state and completely abandoning the rural areas must cease. Every part of Niger state deserve development.

This is why he has focused on both rural and urban areas of the state. Agwara is about 400km away from the state capital Minna.

cc: lalasticlala, seun, mynd44

About 2 weeks ago Governor Abu Sani Bello together led Infrastructure Committee headed by Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe, Chief of Staff, on a visit to Suleja town to inspect the ongoing township roads.

One of the projects that were inspected was Jubillee road where work had stopped.

The contractor was immediately directed to go back to site.

Further to the visit, I am happy to report today that work has resumed on the road.

Road infrastructure in Niger state has taken unprecedented direction. His Excellency has expressed special interest on all ongoing road projects within the state and intends to personally ensure that these projects are of the highest possible standards and are delivered in a timely manner.

cc: lalasticlala, mynd44

Post Covid-19: 32 states may find it difficult to pay salaries - expert 

.Says Osun will be negatively impacted 

A governance and policy expert, Dr. Tunji Ogunyemi, has declared that about 32 states of the federation may find it difficult to pay salaries, post Covid-19.

He also said that there was a possibility of a further downward review of the already reviewed Federal Government's budget,  going by recent happenings globally.

The  Economic Historian cum lawyer, and who is also the acting Head, Dept of History, Faculty of Arts, OAU, Ile -Ife, urged the Osun State Government to meet with the Labour  leaders in the State with a view to revisiting the Comrade Hassan Sumonu-led CCommittee's template, insisting that the State would be negatively impacted by the global economic downturn occasioned by Covid-19. 

Dr. Ogunyemi stated these on Wednesday  while featuring on a popular radio programme tagged 'Frank Talk', in Osogbo.

"The Federal Government can deliberately create money by printing more money that may not be backed by productivity to pay its workers. 

"But no State can do that. Already, states are cutting their budgets significantly because of the drop in the federal allocation. What they will be sharing in June is half of what they shared in January. Only about four states can manage to survive marginally. 

"The opportunity that the civil servants have now is that no State can say go home, I am not paying. But States can decide to pay slashed salaries because one cannot appropriate and reprobate at the same time. So, the State can only pay from what it has. If it has nothing, what will it pay?

"We are in dire straights. Some states like Kaduna, Delta, Plateau, Taraba, Gombe, among others, are slashing the salaries.

"Though it is rather very difficult to advise the beleagured Governor Oyetola because I know  there will be a lot of calculations in his head now to which there are few answers. But the advice must be based on the foundation of the challenges that Osun is facing.

"Osun pays three quarters of its income into recurrent, salaries, wages and overheads, including liabilities owed the pensioners. Osun also has a background of owing a significant debt both domestically and externally going towards the realm of N200 billion. 

"From that background coupled with 30 Local Governments with huge civil servants, one would rather advise Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, Chairman of the Committee of Government and Labour, to share some views with the governor by calling on the civil servants to know the truth about the financial status of the State.

"Politicking should end here. Some professionals can be called to that kind of meeting, especially experts in public finance and banking to let the truth be told on the status of Osun.

"When an income is far, far less to expenditure, and there is no extra capacity to generate more, it means that the State must  begin to reduce wasteful expenditure.

"So, government must pursue the idea of land charges, cut down if not suspend capital expenditure to pave the way for the maintenance of minimum services of government.

"Also, for the State to stay afloat, then people must prepare for the impact. They must support government and show patriotism in view of the socio-economic reality.

"Reality is staring us in the face and for the clouds to clear, it will take five years or more",

he said.

cc: lalasticlala, mynd44

By: Ochada Jerry Ajogwu

One of the real tragedies bedevilling modern day Nigerian newspaper columnists, even the ones that are well regarded by discerning readers, is the penchant to often latch onto populist angst and ride the waves of temporary popular idiosyncrasies. This often happens as they relate to interpretations of existential vicissitudes  and dislocations, to sustain relevance.

Gone are the days when informed commentary was penned by proper, well grounded columnists, whose rational insights and polemic leanings often resulted in seminal opinions, crafted with the meticulous interrogation, rigorous exploration of the subject matter and delivered in the preferred genre, most enjoyably with satirical flavour, to an eager community of readers, whose nationalistic and universal views were defined by the suggestions and interpretations contained in these essays.

In the last decade or thereabouts however, columnists have become more dependent on the popular mindset of emerging cultures to set the tone and determine the focus of informed commentary. By this unfortunate capitulation, they cede the agenda setting role of the columnist in defining the temper and engagement of national discourse.

It is little wonder therefore that the contextuality of our national psyche has more or less been translated in the excess latitude of social media, the mass hysteria often provoked by the lyrical intoxications of mundane and banal lyrical excursions such as Marlians, as well as the triumphalism of ritual, cum cyber-voodoo induced wealth, the laziness of some present day Newspaper columnists and social commentators have been drastically exposed in their inability to tackle societal challenges with erudite articulation. Thus, by this glaring failing, continue to undermine the fine art of critical writing in the country.

One of such recent offerings, which sadly reflects this capitulation is the piece entitled: 'The Real Trouble With Magu', by Abimbola Adelakun, published in a popular national Newspaper of March 5, 2020, in which the columnist went to great lengths to vilify and castigate the personality, intellect and reputation of the boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over his widely reported comment that the Corona Virus is caused by corruption.

Indeed, Adelakun may have no doubt managed to attract and endear herself to a motely cult of personality following over the years.  Although discerning readers may not necessarily place much credence in her 2017 Ph.D in Theatre and Dance, from the University of Texas at Austin for the incontestable fact that top Nigerian Universities are better rated in the obstructions and practice of Theatre and Dance. 

Nonetheless, her sojourn in the Mass Communications department at the University of Ibadan redeems her credentials to scholarship and  may even be conjectured that she probably has a high level of academic intelligence. But that may have been entirely so if her specific disciplines in Ibadan and Texas had been reversed. Simply put,If she had studied Theatre and Dance in Ibadan and Mass Communication in Texas. Then, she might have been more balanced because Ibadan is regarded globally as the academic home of African Theatre and Dance with the influence of Soyinka and others, while America is seen as the leader in Mass Communication  theory and practice.

Be that as it may, it is only natural to expect that someone whose academic focus majored on theatre and performance, Pentecostalism and Pentecostal culture, indigenous African religions, religious creativity, Yoruba studies and black popular culture, would quickly embrace the theatrics and crusading zealotry of spontaneous national opprobrium against a statement which has been uttered more in the connotative context of a metaphoric innuendo than in the clearly pedestrian denotative interpretation of a columnist with a penciled pedigree. 

Indeed, one is a bit flummoxed by the seeming ignorance of a Professor of Communications and Language Arts or is it Theatre and Dance now, to differentiate between when a comment is made in the context of expansive metaphor and innuendo and when it is done as an attempt to exhibit particular or specific knowledge of the subject matter.

Of course there is the little matter of locating  Magu's comment within the ambit of popular imagination by putting it in proper perspective.

Recall that the EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu first made the Corona virus and corruption claim in the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari, at the passing out parade of EFCC’s Detective Inspector Course 5 cadets at the Nigerian Defence Academy, (NDA) in Kaduna on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, when he said: “Corruption is the biggest strategy to humankind. Your Excellency, corruption is worse than all the diseases now running about. And I strongly believe, Your Excellency, that even the coronavirus is caused by corruption.

“The EFCC is not satisfied with just prosecuting and jailing the fraudsters, rather the commission has concluded plans to reform them in collaboration with relevant government agencies towards making them better citizens.

“EFCC has zero tolerance for corruption as our mandate is to kill corruption as corruption is worse than all the diseases we have now and I strongly believe coronavirus is caused by corruption.

“Corruption is a huge burden to our nation. It has spread to insecurity, poverty, unemployment, falling standard of education, weak access to affordable health care, falling infrastructure and so many others.

“As part of vigorous pursuit, the commission has created new specialised directorate and section taking into cognisance the changing phase of criminality,” 

The national verbal backlash which greeted this isolated comment on Coronavirus and corruption was understandable because global news channels and social media had already saturated the airwaves and  inundated Nigerians with the devastating consequences of this new disease that has no cure. 

A sneaky translation therefore, would suggest that majority of folks who attacked Magu's comment were simply reacting instinctively to the larger suggestion that many Nigerians were already gripped in the throes of the pandemic of corruption and Magu was indirectly telling them that they had Coronavirus. 

Attempt by the EFCC to properly situate Magu's comment in its proper interpretative context and his subsequent reaffirmation of his statement, was greeted with the same vitriolic outbursts by Nigerians, who perhaps were subconsciously wishing that the virus will not get here, until it finally did on February 27, when the mysterious Italian was caught at the International airport and quarantined. 

The feeling, as is typically Nigerian, was that Magu, by linking Covid19 to corruption just less than a week earlier and even insisting on his position the day before, must have somehow attracted Covid 19 to the country. And with this mindset gaining traction, especially in social media amongst the mass of gullible information consumers, Ibrahim Magu became the pantomime villain for a nation and some of its informed commentators, gripped in the allusion of a global pandemic mutating into the essence of a generic and willing national host.

Those who know the EFCC boss very well, will quickly confirm that his zero tolerance for corruption is not just passionately unparalleled, but can only be equated perhaps, with that of President Muhammadu Buhari and if indeed there was a stronger word or disease to capture how he regards corruption and intends to do curb it, would not hesitate to use that word or do that which would kill corruption dead, once and for all. It is not news anymore that he has often metaphorically associated every national malaise to corruption.

However, what beggars belief is that a seeming Professor of Literary Arts would so brazenly input literal translation to what is obviously Magu's figurative references and then proceed with frenzied zeal to embark on a lengthy and oftentimes rambling diatribe of contracted commentary, aimed at diminishing the ebullient stature and serial successes of the anti-corruption champion on the basis of a metaphoric sentence in a very serious discourse.

To be sure, Ibrahim Magu's excellent credentials, both in rigorous academics and the anti-corruotion crusade speak for themselves and are verifiable. Only a cretin would attempt to impugn on his sterling reputation and even proceed to define him as a dingbat in the public space of a newspaper column. This simply reflects the sad depths to which informed commentary has fallen into at the hands of attention seekers, whose existential relevance reconciles in exploiting public angst to undermine heroic national crusaders to satisfy paymasters, with dubious intentions.

It is important to advise Miss Abimbola Adelakun that while life is a stage (metaphorically of course), the real challenges of existence and governance, which can also figuratively be regarded as Theatre and Dance, demand a deeper, more poignant and instructive interpretation than the literal excursion which reveals her poorly disguised intentions to take a deliberate swipe at Ibrahim Magu.

*Ajogwu, writes from Abuja.*

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44, seun

....earns commendation from Senate President, Ahmad Lawan

Governor Emmanuel has cleared the air on who will succeed him, saying only God will determine his successor.

He made this revelation at the 60th birthday anniversary celebration and thanksgiving service of Senator Akon Eyakenyi of Akwa Ibom South senatorial district at Destiny International Mission, Uyo, on Sunday.

The governor maintained that no man can give power to another man except God and the leadership of the state after him will be a collective decision of the people of the state, led by the Almighty God, adding that he would rather pray that God reveals to him who he wishes to lead the state after him rather than try to play god.

“I don’t have the power to anoint anybody, but my prayer is, God whoever you want to succeed me reveal the person to me so that I don’t waste my time on somebody that will not be.

"Let God show me who to queue behind. I am a mere mortal and I think God will do that”

. He said.

Governor Emmanuel said his administration is focused on providing good governance and used the opportunity to appeal to the political class to desist from unnecessary distraction with permutations of 2023.

“I want to appeal that for 2020 we want to work.

We are out to work in year 2020, so I don’t want any distraction. Let nobody come and consult me about any office in year 2020 because at the end nobody will ask you who did you anoint to go for what office, but what God used you to do within your powers and within that time that God gave you.

"We are combing the whole world looking for help everywhere, so let God see our effort and support what we are doing".

Meanwhile, the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, has described Governor Emmanuel as one of Nigeria’s leaders to look up to in the new political dispensation.

Dr. Lawan, who led members of the national assembly to celebrate with Senator Akon Eyakenyi, noted that the politics of the new Nigeria, which the 9th Senate stands for, to a large extent is defined by how to reach a desired destination in service delivery, devoid of partisanship, saying Governor Emmanuel represents such a fresh disposition.

“I want to say something about his Excellency, the Governor. As a politician, he is a decent man, very decent; as a partisan, practicing politician, he is a very tolerant leader. ...Here is one elected leader who believes we should all walk together to deliver service to Nigerians. Your Excellency I commend you”.

The senate president pointed out that the turnout of senators at the event, irrespective of party affiliations, is a testimony to the worthiness of the Akwa Ibom contingent in the senate, saying they are worthy representatives and great team players.

He thanked the governor and people of the state for maintaining the penchant for qualitative leadership.

In her thanksgiving, Senator Akon Eyakenyi expressed gratitude to God for her 60-year life journey, her family life and successful election to the Senate.

She thanked the Governor and wife, Martha for their support and said she remains indebted to the people of the twelve local government areas of Akwa Ibom south Senatorial District, who ensured he emergence as their representative.

In his homily at the thanksgiving service, the General Superintendent of Destiny International Mission, Arch Bishop Cletus Bassey, speaking from Luke 17:12-18, said in the present world of ungratefulness, God expects his people to be different by responding to his benevolence with a show of gratitude.

The cleric admonished the people to always acknowledge God as the most dependable, reliable and trustworthy one who holds the future of every man, adding when men acknowledge that there are things only God can do, he blesses their future.

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44, Seun

Group Alleges Akpabio, APC Chieftains Plotting State Of Emergency In Akwa Ibom ...Recruit mercenaries from Chad to cause chaos

Clandestine plots are being made by some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State to cause chaos in the State so as to actualise the planned imposition of a state of emergency, a group, the One Nigeria Movement (ONM) has alleged.

The group alleged that the plots are being spearheaded by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, with support from some of his desperate APC allies in the State.

In a release on Wednesday, signed by its Convener General, Ahmed Sodiq-Mugoro, the ONM said current and reliable information at its disposal indicated that the APC in Akwa Ibom State led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, already perfected plans to bring some mercenaries from Republic of Chad into the State, with the expressed order to cause massive killings of innocent people of the State, as well as widespread kidnappings and bombings of churches and other places where people gather in numbers.

The ONM, which called on Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State to act promptly to frustrate the evil plots, wondered what level of desperation would made anyone to be involved in plots to put the lives of the people at risk.

The governor must as a matter of urgency place law enforcement agencies on the look-out for this evil plot and be ready to thwart the execution of this dastardly and morally shocking design hatched by Godswill Akpabio and his tiny cabal of merchants of violence.

It lamented that after the people of the people of Akwa Ibom State had massively rejected Akpabio and his APC at the last elections in spite of the Armageddon and violence they had planned alongside their much vaunted federal might, he (Akpabio) appeared still bent on destroying the State in order to achieve his personal ambitions and those of his acolytes.

We have been reliably informed that the plan has been hatched and is about to be executed.

The fighters are in the process of being brought to a North Eastern State from where they will be moved to Akwa Ibom State. They will be scattered all over the State and are expected to unleash in a coordinated manner series of killings and bombings across the State, almost simultaneously.

The plan is for them to start the killings in Governor Emmanuel’s home Local Government Area and then spread their killing nets all over the three Senatorial Districts.

The strategic consideration of Akpabio and the APC is to sow fear in the minds of the people and then cause the Federal Government to declare a State of emergency in the State, using the spate of insecurity as the reason for such an action.

It is shocking that the ambition of one man can cause this sort of evil plot. The people of the State boldly and unanimously rejected the brand of violence–induced politics of Akpabio and the APC in the State, yet he has refused to accept the verdict of the people expressly given and affirmed in Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Why should one man’s desire to be seen as the political kingpin of the State, which the people have rejected lead to this sort of morally depraved and evil plot? Akwa Ibom State is peaceful and progressing fast under the leadership of Governor Emmanuel, and it is our humble advice that Akpabio and his cohorts should go and prepare for the next elections and allow the people of the State to live in peace and harmony.

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44, seun

As Oyetola signs Executive Order establishing Osun Investment and Promotion Agency


As the 2019 Osun Economic and Investment Summit came to an end on Thursday, no fewer than 22 investors have shown interest in partnering with and investing in the state.


The investors both local and international also reaffirmed their commitments to partner with the state by expanding the scope of their businesses.

They signified their readiness to explore the potentials of the state in the areas of agriculture, mining, infrastructure, health, education and Information and Communication Technology.

Some of the ready partners and investors are: Ms Manisha Dookhony, the Managing Director Rwenzon Consulting; Dr. Segun Aina, President, African Fintech Network; Mr. Muraina Oyelami, Painter/Performing Artiste; Mr U.G Muhammed, Transmission Company of Nigeria among others.

Ms Dookhony said her organisation was ready  to partner with the state in setting up the necessary policies and providing immediate solutions towards creating an enabling environment while Mr Muhammed pledged to partner the state to boost its power sector by providing four Sub-Stations in Osogbo, Ede, Iwo and Ife as well installing DPGW Cables from the state to several locations around the  country. 

They promised to explore the investment opportunities created by the government.

While declaring the Summit closed Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, said the state would continue to provide enabling environment for every investor to thrive and every business partner to succeed.

He said the state would continue to  strengthen all existing frameworks to protect businesses as well as honouring all commitments.

Governor Oyetola who announced the signing of the Executive Order establishing Osun Investment and Promotion Agency, said the decision was taken to further demonstrate the state's commitment to socio-economic development.

He assured the investors and development partners of government's resolve to turn Osun into an enviable  investment hub.

"I believe that with the support   of   our   partners,   we   can   put   up   a   formidable   front through which we can collectively accelerate development and take   our   beloved   State   to   the   most   enviable   height   ofdevelopment.1

"I   wish   to   state   unequivocally   that   I   commit   myself   fully   to working with all our valued investors and development partnersto deliver on the lofty ideas.

"I   am   aware   that,   in   the   course   of   this   Summit,   many relationships, just as we desired a number of exciting informal and formal business discussions, have been birthed. I am told by the   secretariat   that   not   less   than   45   business-to-business   and business-to-government   of   such   formal   conversations   took place. 

"We will be following up on these discussions, with a viewto   providing   the   necessary   support   required   to   translate   thediscussions into reality.

"As part of efforts towards implementing the outcome of this Summit, I am happy to inform this gathering that I have just signed the Executive Order establishing the State's Investment and Promotion Agency. This is to further demonstrate our seriousness and commitment to ease of doing business in our State.

"As I said in my Opening Speech, we are a law-abiding State. We are Omoluabi. Our words are our bond. We will be guided by the law as a responsible government. 

"We shall also strengthen all existing frameworks to protect businesses.

 "Rest assured that your businesses are safe in Osun.I must register my profound and heartfelt appreciation to all our distinguished resource persons, investors, development partners and participants for making this event a huge success".

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44, seun

More:

...As Osinbajo lauds Oyetola on good governance 


The State of Osun has received a sum of N100 million from Badger Mines, a Canada-based mining company, as sign- on fee for exploration and development of one of the state's mining titles. 


The State Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Tuesday while delivering his address at the opening ceremony of the three-day Economic and Investment Summit held at Aurora Event Centre in Osogbo. 


The governor disclosed that the government had earlier executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the renowned mining company as part of necessary preparation for the commencement of mining operations in the state. 


Oyetola, who expressed optimism that the summit would achieve the desired results going by the positive responses obtained so far from key players in the  private sector, said the government is fully prepared to give all the support required for investment to thrive, particularly in mining, tourism and culture and agriculture. 


He said, "Our mining sector, like agriculture, is an old industry yet to be fully harnessed. The State of Osun has ample reserves of a variety of minerals, notably gold, lead/zinc, quartz, feldspar and several precious metals. 


"We occupy a unique place in the mining sector in Nigeria. We are a mining state that hosts solid minerals. We are also a state that has invested in acquiring the licences for solid minerals under our land from the Federal Government. 


"No other state in Nigeria can offer the unique combination of both regulatory and commercial fusion. We are a risk-ready state with an appetite for enterprise and reward for winnings. 


"The state acquired 17 mining licenses for Gold – 10; Quarry - 4; Lead/Zinc - 2; and Quartz and Feldspar -1, from the Nigeria Mining Corporation, and we are willing to partner with interested local and foreign investors to develop these mineral resources. 


"Our policy for the mining sector is implemented and overseen by the Osun Solid Mineral Development Programme. This programme commenced in June 2019, and has already achieved some encouraging milestones in its First Quarterly Report in 5 of the 7 intervention project areas of the programme. 


"The intervention areas are Osun/Omoluabi Mining Business Restructuring Scheme (OMBRS) to commercialise the state-owned mining company. Osun Revenue Diversification and Maximisation Scheme (ORDMS) is a scheme to register all miners, mines and mining equipment and report on all mining activities in the State in partnership with private sector technology partners. 


"We are happy to report that 9,000 artisanal miners have registered their biometric data on RFID-enabled tags with our technology partners. I am also happy to inform you that Osun recently executed an MOU with the renowned international mining firm – The Badger Mines – for the exploration and development of one of our mining titles with a signature bonus of a Hundred Million Naira (N100m) already paid."


In his remarks while declaring the three-day summit open, the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, commended the state government for hosting the event, which he described as impressive and organised. 


Osinbajo, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, also lauded the governor for providing what he described as focused inspirational and well-meaning leadership in the state. 


He said, "I am particularly very delighted visiting Osun, widely acclaimed for its rich cultural heritage, hospitality and the enterprising tradition of her people. Peaceful, virtuous, resilient and vibrant, Osun is a pride of the nation. 


"As a choice tourist destination, Osun is certainly most enriched in terms of its widespread iconic tourists’ sites, globally-acclaimed festivals such as the popular Osun Osogbo festival, Olojo festival, among many others. 


"Aside its fertile land which makes agriculture thrive unusually, the array of its mineral-resource blessednes,  Osun is also fortunate to be home to some of the nation’s most highly gifted and accomplished citizens. Undoubtedly, Osun is a profoundly blessed State."


The Vice President further noted that the objectives of the Summit is in tandem with the Diversification Agenda of the Federal Government, adding that the governor has demonstrated exceptional leadership in building on the achievements of his predecessor and particularly in his aggressive pursuit of economic rejuvenation of the state. 


Also speaking on the occasion on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, implored all indigenes of the state to support the government in its frantic bid to make the state the economic hub of the country.

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44, seun

A Lokoja-based lawyer, Ehimoni Sunday has approached the federal high court seeking to disqualify Musa Wada of the PDP from contesting Saturday's Kogi guber elections. The suit was commenced by Originating Summons numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1375/19 and filed by his lawyers on 12/11/19. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Engr. Musa Wada are 1st, 2nd and 3rd Plaintiffs respectively in the matter which was filed at the court's Abuja headquarters.

The court documents show that the Plaintiff wants the Court to determine whether going by his medical records the candidate of the PDP, Musa Wada, ought not to be declared and certified lunatic and a person of unsound mind, sanctioned for providing false information to INEC on his forms and prevented from contesting . It will be recalled that social media and the press became awash last week with Wada's medical records from the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba Lagos State after they were leaked by unknown persons.

Making reference to Sections 182(1)(c) & (2)(a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) the plaintiff urged the court to determine as follows:

1. Whether in the light of 3rd Defendant’s Medical Records which emanated from the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba Lagos State, the 3rd Defendant ought not to be declared a lunatic and /or a person of unsound mind.

2. Whether by virtue of Sections 182(1) (c) & (2) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), the 3rd Defendant is qualified for election to the office of Governor of Kogi State.

3. Whether having regard to the provisions of Sections 31 (2), (5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (As Amended), Sections 182 (1) (c) & (2) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), vis-a-vis 3rd Defendant's INEC FORM CFOO1, submitted to the 2nd Defendant by the 1st and 3rd Defendants, particularly Part “B”, Article “E” Question “1”, the 3rd Defendant has not provided false information regarding his mental health and therefore liable to be disqualified from contesting the Kogi State Governorship election scheduled for the 16th day of November, 2019.

In addition to determining the points above, Mr. Ehimoni prayed the court for several reliefs including the following:

1. A DECLARATION that the 3rd Defendant is of unsound mind in view of the 3rd Defendant’s Medical Records which emanated from the Federal Neuro - Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos State.

2. A DECLARATION that by virtue of Sections 182 (1) (c) & (2) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), the 3rd Defendant been a person of unsound mind is not qualified for election to the office of Governor of Kogi State.

3. A DECLARATION that the 3rd Defendant's INEC FORM CFOO1 submitted to the 2nd Defendant by the 1st and 3rd Defendants, particularly Part “B”, Article “E” Question “1”, contains false information regarding the mental health of the 3rd Defendant.

4. A DECLARATION that having regard to the provisions of Sections 31 (2), (5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (As Amended), Sections 182 (1) (c) & (2) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), vis-a-vis 3rd Defendant's INEC FORM CFOO1, submitted to the 2nd Defendant by the 1st and 3rd Defendants, particularly Part “B”, Article “E” Question “1”, the 3rd Defendant has provided false information regarding his mental health and therefore liable to be disqualified from contesting the Kogi State Governorship election scheduled for the 16th day of November, 2019.

5. An Order disqualifying the 3rd Defendant for election to the office of Governor of Kogi State scheduled for the 16th day of November, 2019, for submitting to the 2nd Defendant false information regarding the 3rd Defendant's mental health in INEC FORM CFOO1 particularly Part “B”, Article “E” Question “1.

Following the leakage of Mr. Wada's personal details online, his medical records in particular have generated intense scrutiny and debate in Kogi State and across the country. Said to be from the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba the records actually seem to confirm that the PDP candidate is grappling with serious mental health issues.

While the medical condition is not to be stigmatised, the electoral laws rightly prohibit anyone suffering from them from seeking high public office. This is because the capacity to reason well and make rational decisions, not just about oneself but the millions of other humans in one's care within the polity if the individual is elected cannot be compromised.

No doubt the PDP candidate has presented with strange, sometimes bizzare, behaviour while on campaigns. For instance, Kogites are still scratching their heads from images of him holding aloft a white chicken from the roof of a car on one of his campaigns.

The consternation is not unrelated to the fact that his party's symbol is an umbrella while the white cock belongs to another All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the PDP's closest rival in the opposition. People wondered if he was unaware of the difference, and if so, what is he doing campaigning to govern Kogi State?

It is also becoming worrisome to the electorate how he seems unable to keep his eyes open for any length of time at any public fora, no matter how important. Even PDP stalwarts are complaining on social media. He has become notorious for his furious fidgeting once he has to sit still for some time followed by attention deficit behaviour and then deep slumber. Images of him dozing off at the two stakeholders' meetings organised by INEC so far are raising questions about probable cause, and how much of it might be drug-related for managing his condition.

From the questions submitted for determination, the Exhibits attached to the Affidavit in support of the Originating Summons, and the reliefs sought by the Plaintiff, the suit presents yet another headache for the PDP and its candidate already facing a plethora of cases by party members and human rights activists.

These cases attack Wada's candidature and PDP's chances from different angles, but all of them portend doom for them, both before and after the elections. It is becoming an inescapable conclusion that if against all odds Wada wins the Kogi gubers this Saturday, the Zamfara situation where the supreme court declared votes for the APC which won wasted and the PDP elected is inevitable. This is because the allegations of invalid primaries, forged academic and other credentials and unsound mind, along with the quantity and quality of evidence provided in proof by the various litigants will be difficult to surmount.

The people of Kogi State would of course prefer that the courts resolve these issues for them before the polls, as they did for Bayelsans yesterday, so they can be well guided when they vote on Saturday. But even if the courts choose not to, Kogites will still vote, except that they will open their eyes wide to evaluate the candidates based on their overall suitability for the physical and mental rigours of governing such a diverse polity.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/11/activist-sue-pdp-inec-over-wadas-mental-health-seeks-pdp-candidates-ouster/amp/

* SENATOR EKPENYONG LEADS BY 38, 000 votes
* I'll defeat Akpabio again' - Sen. Chris Ekpenyong

The minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has to decide whether to resign his recent appointment and pursue his ambition to return to the senate or to remain as a minister.

His dilemma follows the ruling of Appeal Court ordering a rerun of the national assembly election in Essien Udim local government area.

The Appeal Court sitting in Calabar, ruled that a fresh election be conducted within 90 days in Essien Udim local government, as a result of irregularities which both petitione and respondent parties admitted in their separate addresses.

Although the ruling was clearly in favour of the minister, his supporters found it hard to celebrate because the odds are stacked against their principal.

Going into the rerun, Akpabio is expected to register a minimum lead of 38,056 margin to upturn the election of Senator Chris Ekpenyong.
Furthermore, the minister is expected to resign his appointment under the law to be eligible to contest election. This is clearly not what the former governor wants.

A university lecturer and political analyst, Dr. Chris Inyang, believes Akpabio will rather ignore the ruling than take a chance with an election he is clearly losing.

"Akpabio should not make the same mistake the former managing director of NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere, made. It is obvious that the present assignment Akpabio is handling presents him with great latitude to expand his influence in the Niger Delta region. Going back to the senate will be an anticlimax and then Akwa Ibom state would have lost out of NDDC twice", he said.

He further pointed out that Nsima left NDDC in spite of an extension of his board's tenure from a few months to six years and failed in his ambition to become governor. This time, Akpabio may resign to face a definite loss notwithstanding the outcome of the rerun in Essien Udim.

Meanwhile, the incumbent, Senator Chris Ekpenyong maintains that he is not perturbed by the ruling and assured his supporters to remain calm while a date for the election is fixed.

“I am very prepared to defeat him again in Essien Udim, let’s go to the field, he has to resign first as a minister in line with the provisions of the constitution,” he declared.

"God gave me victory to salvage my people from deceit and poor leadership, and nothing has spoilt that victory,” Sen. Ekpenyong restated.

He said with election in one local government area only, all focus and attention would be given to the election and there would be no room for manipulation and rigging, as was noted in the area based on reports of observers and the electoral umpire.

“He brought war and federal might, but the people’s might and God’s mighty hand gave me victory. This is another opportunity for the gap of that victory to be expanded,” Senator Ekpenyong added.

It was gathered that results obtained from the other nine local government areas show that Senator Chris Ekpenyong leads with 114, 973 votes while Akpabio has 76,917.

Akpabio who lost the election to Chris Ekpenyong by 83 ,158 votes to 118 ,215, had approached the Appeal Court to seek the order of the court for the illegal figures he allocated to himself, after losing to Chris Ekpenyong in 8 of the 10 local government areas of the district.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had confirmed that only 19,455 voters were accredited in Essien Udim local government area during the election and had rejected the illegally manufactured scores that Akpabio appropriated for himself.

This INEC decision was upheld by the National Assembly Elections Petitions tribunal in Uyo, which decided that the 61,329 votes claimed by Akpabio were inconsistent with the number of accredited voters during the February 23 elections.

In a related development, the Appeal Court has also ordered that a fresh election be conducted in Essien Udim local government area for the House of Representatives Seat between the incumbent Nsikak Ekong of the PDP and Emmanuel Akpan of the APC.

Ekong will also go into the election with the lead garnered from his victory in the other two local government areas of the federal constituency, Ikot Ekpene and Obot Akara.

Edward Onoja, the Kogi state deputy governor has asked PDP youths to stop enslaving themselves to Ibrahim Idris and Wada family of Kogi.

In a video he released, Onoja said it's time for the PDP youths to wake up and learn from APC who ressule power from older politicians.

"If you look at the APC people in Kogi government, we are all young men. Can't PDP youths think like this? Must they be slaves to the Wadas or Idris?"

The former Chief of staff to the governor added that Kogi state must not become another Kwara where political position rotates within a family.

He urged all youths in the state to vote and return Governor Yahaya Bello for another 4 year term to consolidate on his New Direction movement 

Watch video: https://twitter.com/inoutnaija/status/1193147279382896640

cc: lalasticlala, seun, mynd44

Chain Reactions Appoints Ex-ogilvy And DDB Super Performer, Uche Ugorji As Vice President, Strategy And Business Development

Chain Reactions Nigeria Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading Public Relations and Integrated Communications Consulting firms and Nigerian affiliate to Edelman, the world’s largest Public Relations firm, has named Uche Ugorji as Vice President, Strategy and Business Development.

Managing Director and Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Nigeria, Israel Jaiye Opayemi, announced in a statement that Uche Ugorji’s appointment as Vice President, Strategy and Business Development was effective Friday 1, November 2019 as part of a holistic and aggressive business development drive the company is embarking upon.

According to Opayemi:-

“Uche Ugorji’s appointment is aimed at turbo-charging our bold client acquisition drive towards 2020 and beyond. He will effectively function as a Vice President and Chief Operating Officer with the mandate to give our 5-year business growth plan the leadership kick it requires. We see in Uche a man with incredible understanding of the art of selling, hence our decision to put him in charge of our growth train.”

The statement further disclosed that Ugorji’s choice was deliberate considering his robust cross-functional marketing communications background. “We have deliberately primed our business for the age of convergence and this is evident in the kind of work we do for clients and the kind of talents we retain to do them.

We do not engage in run-off-the-mill PR works for our clients. We have fully embraced Edelman’s concept of Communications Marketing for our clients and so Uche is yet another bright example of the kind of talents we parade in Chain Reactions to deliver amazing results to our clients.”

In his reaction to the decision of the management of Chain Reactions to bring him on board, Uche Ugorji said, “I am super delighted at the opportunities ahead. I love the shared vision of Chain Reactions and the intentionality of its founder. It is bold and daring. I love the trajectory of the company, its international flavour in creed and in action. I love the company’s audacity to play big in not just Nigeria but in Africa. That is why I am in.”

Uche Ugorji has about 16 years of practical experience in the Marketing Communications industry within and outside the shores of Nigeria. He began his career in Public Relations with the then CMC Connect, now CMC Burson Cohn and Wolf before making a switch to core advertising as a strategic planner with Bluebird Communications.

He later joined SO&U Saatchi & Saatchi where he was once described by one of the living legends of the industry, Udeme Ufot as “more than a Star but a genius!” upon his impressive performance on the Guinness account.

This commendation came off the back of a character and dedication testimonial Uche had received from the Guinness Brand team in which he was described as a “rock” and a man who could deliver against incredibly impossible timelines”.

The Guinness Marketing Manager at the time had cause to describe Uche as a man who exudes “nothing else but a can-do attitude even at the craziest deadlines” within the Guinness brand team.

Uche displayed similar impressive performance at Etuodi Communications and DDB Lagos respectively before joining Ogilvy as Business Director and Agency Council Lead for West Africa Region where he had oversight for all Ogilvy Integrated Marketing Communications interest accounts.

Chain Reactions Nigeria’s current clientele include Facebook, 9mobile, HP, Motorola Solutions, Dubai Tourism, First Bank, Lagos State Governor’s Office, The Jack Ma Foundation, Propertymart amongst others.

cc: lalasticlala, seun, mynd44

“The alleged Polling Unit Agents called by the Appellants did not as much as tender their appointment letters or correspondence by 2nd Appellant to the 3rd Respondent (INEC) in proof that they were indeed polling unit agents.”

“The list of 2nd Appellant’s agents accredited by INEC was tendered in evidence and those pretenders who paraded themselves as polling unit agents were not listed.”

Governor Udom Emmanuel, through his Lead Counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu disclosed these on Monday in Calabar, told the Appeal Court to dismiss the Appeal filed by defeated candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Nsima Ekere as lacking in merit and to uphold the decision of the elections petitions tribunal.

He aligned with the ruling of the tribunal that “witnesses of the Petitioners gave hearsay evidence which were information claimed to be obtained by other persons, maintaining that such evidence has no probative value not being that of an eye witness.

Ikpeazu, SAN while responding to some of the issues raised by the Petitioners' Lead Counsel, J.S Okutepa,SAN held that "their allegations that election results were obtained were elections did not hold, amounted to allegations of criminality by the Petitioners and needed the highest standard of proof from polling unit agents."

He held that the 11 alleged polling units witnesses presented by the Petitioners did not reach a significant standard of proof required to upturn elections that held in the entire state.

“The first Petitioner, Mr. Nsima Ekere, his Deputy, Amadu Attai, Ward, Local Government and state collation agents of the Petitioners had statements on oath and oral evidences laced on hearsay.

“Such evidences are inadmissible in Proof of the Petition as rightly contended by the Respondents’ lead Counsel. The submission of the lead Counsel of the Petitioners is therefore discountenanced and the hearsay witnesses hereby rejected and expunged”, the tribunal ruled.

Also, the 1st Respondent argued further that it was not true that the evidences of PW41 and Pw44 were dismissed on technicalities by the tribunal as alleged by Petitioners. He held that despite pointing out that the evidences of the two subpoenaed witnesses ought to have been written, the tribunal went on the evaluate their evidence and dismissed them as lacking in merit.

On the issue of Exhibit PTH36, the first Respondent submitted that PW47, Dr Amadu Attai who was brought to give an assessment report of the inspected electoral documents, could not have given a credible assessment since he was a candidate of the party as deputy to the 1st petitioner.

This, according to Ikpeazu, meant that the Tribunal Court was right in dismissing his credibility and rejecting the admissibility of the Exhibits.

"PW47 was not a statistician but an interested party whose evidence negated the Evidence Act.

The Governor’s lead counsel also argued that the Evidence of the Police Officer(PW 41) related to no polling unit and as such his evidence was baseless when he said that the election in the local government where he served as DPO was peaceful.

In his argument, Ekere through his Counsel J. S. Okutepa (SAN), sought the opinion of the appellate court on 24 grounds with which he wants the elections annulled in his favour, among which is his argument that the tribunal erred in dismissing the evidence of the Essien Udim DPO Samuel Ishiek and the alleged Assistant Presiding Officer {PW 41 and PW44} who were subpoenaed witnesses.

Founded on twenty four grounds and dated October 7,2019, the filed appeal holds that the learned Trial Tribunal erred in law and that the judgment of the Tribunal is against the weight of evidence and seeks that the Court of Appeal should set aside the Tribunal judgment delivered on September 19, 2019.

Furthering on why the case should be thrashed by the Appeal court, Chief Ikpeazu argued that “from the testimonies of the witnesses called by the Appellants, there was no proof that any named agent of the 1st Respondent or anyone for that matter committed a crime.”

On their part Peoples Democratic Party contended that most of the documents tendered by the appellant were inadmissible and thus the tribunal was right in rejecting them.

Counsel to the 2nd respondent, PDP, Tayo Oyetibo SAN in his brief of argument said "The tribunal was right in rejecting Nsima Ekere's documents in evidence because the said documents which were all public documents were not certified in compliance with the requirements of section 104 of Evidence Act, 2011 which provides as follows:

" Every public officer having the custody of a public document which any person has a right to inspect shall give that person on demand a copy of it on payment of the legal fees prescribed in that respect, together with a certificate written at the foot of such a copy of such document".

In this case, the documents submitted by Mr NSIMA Ekere did not contain the name and title of the officials who purportedly certified them. There is also no legally admissible evidence that the said documents were paid for as required by law.

Oyetibo insisted that the documents relied on by Nsima Ekere and the APC were therefore of no probative value and the court cannot consider them because they were dumped on the tribunal.

The affected documents were PT1-PT2331, PTA1-PTA2275, PTB1-PTB275, PTC1-PTC28, PTD1, PTE1, PTF1-PTF4, PTG1-PTG19, PTH81, PYH81A, and PTH81B.

He further noted that "no witness were called to speak by adducing relevant and cogent evidence relating the documents to specific parts of the case.

The 3rd Respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reasoned that Ekere and APC have not established any cogent, compelling, and convincing evidence and reason cognizable in law why the election should be invalidated.

Ogwemoh maintained that when the issues have to do with over - voting and lack of proper accreditation, voter register and complete card reader reports are required along with the testimonies of polling unit agents who were directly present at the place of the election.

According to him, "As rightly found by the tribunal, in over 2980 polling units, the appellants only called a miserable 43 witnesses that were mostly non - polling unit agents who only gave hearsay evidence of what they were told.

Earlier, the 1st Respondent, had raised preliminary objections urging that Grounds 6 and 22 of the Appellants’ Grounds of Appeal be struck out as the Appellants did not distill any issue from them.

This was accentuated by Counsel to 3rd Respondent who Ogwemoh who opined that failure to distill issues on Ground 22 of their Grounds of Appeal, meant that the Appellants had been deemed to have abandoned it.

The Appeal Court has reserved judgement to a date that will be made known later.

cc: lalasticlala, seun, mynd44

State chairmen of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) on Friday described the decision of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, to set up an Interim Management Committee for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), despite the appointment of a substantive board by the President Muhammadu Buhari as a national embarrassment and asked the President to sack him without delay.

The APC chairmen in a statement issued by their chairman and Secretary, Ali Bukar Dolari and Ben Nwoye, respectively, said: “We see the minister as a clog in the wheel of progress. He has a vested interest to annex the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as a unit of the Niger Delta Ministry where he is the minister.

“We query the rationale behind Akpabio’s hastened moves to impose an illegal Interim Management Committee in breach of the NDDC act.

“What does Akpabio intend to achieve by hurriedly appointing the committee whereas, Akpabio is aware of President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of a substantive board who are currently undergoing confirmation screening by the Senate?

“We view a situation where a minister exhibits crass insubordination to the office and person of the President, who appointed him as a minister, as a national embarrassment.

“We are irked by the conflicting orders one exercised by the President and Commander in Chief who effectively discharged his powers in accordance with the provisions of section 2(2)(a) of the Niger Delta Development Commission,(NDDC) ( Establishment) Act, 2000 by appointing eminent Nigerians into the governing board of the NDDC as read by the President of Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan in plenary only for Godswill Akpabio to appear on a national television in the evening of same day to announce a three-man committee to run the affairs of the NDDC which President Buhari has earlier appointed qualified Nigerians to oversee via his executive communication to the Senate seeking for confirmation of the nominees.

“We call on the President to sack Senator Godswill Akpabio without delay before he causes more embarrassment to this government and malign his hard-earned reputation with his uncommon illegalities.

“We call on President Buhari to reverse the order delegating his statutory regulatory powers of the NDDC to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. The minister’s conducts so far show that the NDDC under the supervision of the ministry will be counter-productive as such, the supervision of the NDDC should be returned back to the Presidency as it was before now.

“We call on the leadership of the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional powers to correct the lawlessness of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and ensure the immediate inauguration of the board upon confirmation by the Senate so as to curb the arbitrariness of a power-drunk uncommon minister and uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2019/11/apc-chiefs-asks-buhari-to-sack-akpabio-for-constituting-nddc-committee/amp/

The town of Kabba in Kogi state was shut down for Governor Yahaya Bello and his deputy, Edward Onoja as their campaign train hit the town.

The governor used the opportunity to sell his New Direction program to the people who welcomed him and his entourage.

Music star, 9ice, performed to the admiration of the theming youths who wanted more.

Speaking at the rally, Governor Yahaya Bello said a second term is important for him to finish the civil service reforms which will help the state save more funds and execute more meaningful projects for the people of the state.

The governor opined that the region has benefitted mostly from the New Direction Government as it was housing the Ejiba Rice milling factory which gulped over 4 billion naira and has the capacity to employ about five thousand youths.

He however expressed optimism that his second term in office would further facilitate greater projects which would be of immense benefit particularly with a focus on human capital development.

Earlier while the governor paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the Obaro of Kabba, HRM Oba Solomon Owoniyi he canvassed support for the election of Senator Smart Adeyemi at the senatorial rerun election slated for the same November 16

Equally, his deputy, Edward Onoja noted that despite paucity of funds, the state has paid salaries, and carried out quality projects across the 3 senatorial district of the state.

He added that security in the state has improved from what it use to be before the coming of the Yahaya Bello administration.

He urged the Okun nation to vote enmass for APC and Yahaya Bello at the November 16 gubernatorial election.

Mr Wada is Yahaya Bello’s main challenger at the November 16 governorship election.

Watch Video: https://twitter.com/inoutnaija/status/1189262062767218688

A call for Graffiti artists

ART BY THE OCEAN

Come and showcase your Graffiti skills beside the ocean

*Free wall
*Quad bikes
*Complimentary drinks & food
*Music and lots more

First prize: #100, 000
Second prize: #75, 000
3rd Prize: #50, 000

How to participate:

Send pictures of previous graffiti designs to: L3hubinfo@gmail.com

Location: Lekki Leisure, Animashaun Drive (By Pinnacle) Maruwa Bus stop, Lekki Phase 1. Or just google LEKKI LEISURE

R.S.V.P: Daniel, 08104039504

Sgt. Maj. Issa Kamara of the Republic of Sierra Leone Military Forces (RSLMF) has been shot dead in a shower of bullets by his bodyguard after a short exchange in their deployment in Sierra Rutile on Wednesday.

The private soldier, Pvt. Jalloh after receiving instructions from his boss rushed into his room for his ruffle which he released on his the major with 28 rounds of bullets.

The culprit has been arrested and detained at the military headquarters in Freetown.

Private Jalloh was reportedly annoyed with his deployment which could be the cause of his reaction. He was quoted as saying that his new deployment had no tips!

According to reports , the culprit will be courtmashalled shortly. He faces the risk of being executed by firing squad.

Source: https://www.inoutnaija.com/2019/03/army-officer-shot-dead-by-his-bodyguard.html

cc: lalasticlala, seun, mynd44

This is what is called beauty and the brain.

More photos:

https://www.inoutnaija.com/2019/03/pretty-lady-bags-award-for-best.html

$70 PAYPAL, up for sale at 310, first come first serve.

NOTE: payment before transfer. If not please do not contact.

Whatsapp: 08104039504

You can see the attached.

Thanks

Please kindly LIKE my picture for the face of ADIKA.

It really mean a lot to me. ����

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvew7xilQTU/

Please kindly LIKE my picture for the face of ADIKA.

It really mean a lot to me. ����

Just Click the LINK below and like the picture

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvew7xilQTU/

Please kindly like my picture for the face of ADIKA.

It really mean alot to me. ����

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvew7xilQTU/

more