₦airaland Forum

The Lagos State chapter of Accord Party has adopted the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Jimi Agbaje, for the 2019 election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the party endorsed and adopted Agbaje on Thursday at a programme to flag off its campaign activities in Ikeja.

The endorsement followed the open pronouncement by the governorship candidate of the party, Mr Joseph Beckley, that he had agreed with the party to step down for Agbaje and support his ambition.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of Accord, Rev. Adebayo Adeniji ,while presenting Agbaje to party men, said his adoption was strategic.

He said there was the need for well-meaning people to join forces to take the state from the All Progressives Congress(APC).

Adeniji said the party believed the adoption of Agbaje would help “rescue”the state and ensure residents enjoy the dividends of democracy.

“Today is a historic day because we have taken a step to give Lagos to the people.

“We have adopted Mr Jimi Agbaje so that together, we can take the mantle of leadership in 2019.

“Agbaje has the vision and capacity to win and even deliver.We believe it is better to join efforts with a candidate who will give the state to the people,” he said.

Adeniji explained that Accord was only supporting the PDP governorship for the election but would field candidates for other elections in the state.

He enjoined party members to give their best to ensure victory for Agbaje in the governorship election as well as Accord candidates vying for legislative seats in the state.

Beckley, in his brief speech, said he decided to step down for Agbaje because he had the capacity to govern Lagos and was better positioned to win the election .

He also urged party members to work hard to mobilise residents to vote for Agbaje in the 2019 election.

In his acceptance speech, Agbaje described his adoption by Accord as humbling.

He thanked the party and the governorship candidate for endorsing him.

Agbaje gave the assurance that he would reciprocate the gesture by winning the election and delivering real democratic dividends in the state.


He said his determination to dislodge APC and “free Lagos “ in 2019 was unwavering, urging all residents to support him to give them the state of their dream.

“My message to those who are still waiting on the other side is that the freedom train on the move.

“Let them join it before the momentum will move too much for them to catch up with. There is still room in the train and it is time to move in.

“And to the other people, the APC, my message is clear: their time is up. They will be defeated in 2019.

“Instead of delivering good governance to Lagosians, they are after my posters and campaign boards.

“I am telling them now that enough is enough. It is time for freedom. It is time for free Lagos from impunity, from imposition and from one-man rule”,he said.

NAN reports that Mr Wale Oluwo, who recently resigned from the cabinet of Gov.Akinwunmi Ambode as Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resources to join PDP, was with Agbaje at the occasion.

The PDP deputy -governorship candidate, Mrs Haleemat Busari; the PDP state Chairman, Dr Adebola Dominic; and Publicity Secretary, Mr Taofeek Gani, also joined Agbaje at the programme.

NAN reports that Accord, at the ocassion, received many defectors from the APC and also presented flags to its candidates for Federal and state legislative seats.

Prince Sunday Ajayi, who led the APC defectors into Accord, said they left their former party owing to what they called the culture of impunuty and imposition.

He said the inability of Ambode and others to get tickets for re-election despite good performance was proof that APC in the state was only for some people and not for members.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/lagos-2019-accord-governorship.html

Access Bank Plc could raise up to $457 million or about N165.6 billion in new debt and equities capital to support ongoing business combination with Diamond Bank Plc. Access Bank will be the post-merger entity and its Group Managing Director, Mr Herbet Wigwe, will remain the chief executive of the enlarged bank.

At a joint media briefing in Lagos yesterday to outline key details of the business combination, Access Bank and Diamond Bank said the business combination was driven by value accretion and synergies, citing the potential to become Africa’s foremost financial institution.

Access Bank said it has received regulatory approvals to raise up to $457 million, equivalent to about N165.58 billion, in tier 11 capital and equity funds to ensure that the post-merger entity has robust capital buffer in line with national and international requirements.

The capital raising includes a $250 million tier 11 capital and a $207 million rights issue. Both capital raisings are expected to be concluded in the first half of 2019, in time for the completion of the business combination, which is also scheduled for the end of first half 2019.

In order to meet international standards of best practice and ensure a robust capital buffer, Access Bank and Diamond Bank have also jointly agreed a strategic capital management plan and expect to achieve a post-completion Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 20 per cent at the bank level and 22 per cent at the group level.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/diamond-banks-merger-access-bank.html

In spite of the political divide between the Executive and the legislature, President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday received a rewarding welcome by lawmakers when he presented the 2019 appropriation bill to the joint session of NASS.

Full report at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/photos-from-president-buhari-as-he.html

The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, on Tuesday
presented the 2019 appropriation Bill of N188.4b to the State
House of Assembly.


He also assented to the National Health Insurance Scheme Bill.

Umahi, while presenting the appropriation Bill of N188, 401, 913, 868, said that the state executive Council has painstakingly went through the performance of the 2018 budget and expressed satisfaction with the


level of performance and implementation.

He. however disclosed that the 2018 budget witnessed a lot of

bottlenecks ranging and affecting every sector of the state economy
simultaneously citing global instability occasioned by persistent
incidence of terrorism and other challenges.


The Governor said the state pursued the implementation of the 2018 budget with resilience and determination to ensure the attainment of ambitious target even in the face of scarcity of funds.

“The 2019 budget entitled ‘Budget of Divine Fulfilment’ has expenditure

ratio between recurrent and capital expenditure of 22.1 percent to 77
percent with recurrent expenditure gulping N41.556b and capital of
N49.068b” he said

He said the 2019 budget, which is lower than last year budget is

expected to take care of recurrent expenditure and is expected to
address all ongoing capital projects across the State.

Earlier in the State Executive Council before the presentation of the
2019 appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly, Governor
Umahi assented to the National Health Insurance Scheme Bill to address health needs of the state civil servants.

Umahi noted that the assent to the bill followed the passing of the
bill by the State House of Assembly, adding that the law when fully
implemented is expected to address all health needs of the Civil
servants.

The Speaker of Ebonyi State House, Mr Francis Nwifuru, earlier in his
address, extolled the prudent management of all resources accruing to the State by Governor and maintained that it was the magic behind massive infrastructural development in the state.

He said the synergy between the executive and the legislature had

provided the state enabling environment to excel above her
contemporaries and had placed the state on a high pedestal of economic boom.

Nwifuru noted that despite the hard bite of economic challenges,
Ebonyi State has remained on the rise through robust and healthy
management of resources by the State governor and discouraging
profligacy in governance.

Full report at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/2019-umahi-presents-n1884b-budget-to.html

he federal government has submitted 39 names of alleged treasury looters to the Nigerian Immigration Service to prevent them from escaping investigation and prosecution for alleged criminal acts.

Chairman of the panel, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla disclosed this in a statement on Monday, and added that the action was in accordance with the provisions of the Executive Order No 6 of 2018.

Although details of the list were not made public, the panel said it contained those currently under its investigation including the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, former Senate President, David Mark, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and the Tumsah brothers, among others.

Obono-Obla confirmed “the presidential panel has requested the NIS to place a travel ban on some persons who were alleged to have abused their offices and looted our commonwealth.”

He further revealed that the panel, in partnership with the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, is investigating Nigerians allegedly implicated in the Paradise Panama Papers. He said the “findings would be made available to Nigerians; in due course.

“The panel is investigating the Tumsah brothers, Tijani Tumsah (vice chairman, Presidential Initiative on North East) and Ibrahim Tumsah (director, Finance and Accounts, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing), for alleged abuse of office, corruption and possession of unaccounted suspicious wealth beyond their legitimate earnings.

“The panel has recovered an assortment of 86 brand new luxury and sophisticated cars from the duo; 23 of these vehicles are bulletproof without the requisite permits.

“Also recovered from them are several choice properties, located in highbrow areas of Abuja and a quarry in Kuje, the Federal Capital Territory.

“The panel has since obtained an interim order of forfeiture from an FCT High Court; in respect of these properties.

“In a counter move, typical of corruption fighting back, the duo recently approached the Court of Appeal which held that the panel does not have the power to obtain interim forfeiture from the FCT High court, pursuant to the EFCC Act but from the Federal High Court, pursuant to the recovery of public property (special provision) Act, 2004, which has mischievously been misinterpreted and deliberately propagated by the appellants to mean that this panel has no power to prosecute any matter in any court” he said.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/travel-ban-fg-submits-39-alleged.html

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday said all former presidential aspirants that contested for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and all the party’s governors have come together to push the campaign of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for the nation’s presidency up for contest in 2019.


Speaking on the ‘Morning Show’ programme of Arise News, a broadcast arm of Akelicious Media, Okowa insisted that contrary to reports, the party has gone beyond the issues relating to the party’s primaries and is preoccupied with winning the 2019 elections.

He said, “There is no truth in the words that former presidential aspirants are not supporting Atiku. All of them are supporting him. I’m not aware of any aspirant that is not supporting Atiku. Even though I cannot mention all their names, we have people like Governor Aminu Tambuwal playing a significant role in the campaigns; you have Senator Kwankwaso also playing a prominent role in the campaign. The Governor of Gombe is playing prominent role in the campaign. These are all former aspirants playing prominent role. Even Aminu Turaki is playing a prominent role; a whole lot of them.

“For those you are not seeing visibly, they also have assignments they are undertaking in the background for the party because it is not possible to engage all of them in directorates, but because they are presidential aspirants does not mean that they are not party men.

“Each and every one of them is on board and each and every one of them has a special role to play. The fact is that you will begin to see Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, more because he is the arrow figure as the Director-General of the campaign. But all others are fully involved in the campaigns; there are no problems at all.”

Also responding to the speculations that the governors of the South-east and the South-south are not fully part of the Atiku project following the emergence of former governor, Mr. Peter Obi, as the vice presidential candidate, Okowa described the insinuations as untrue.
According to him, “That is not the reality on the ground.

“People are over hyping it. The South-south and the South-east caucus met on Friday in Port Harcourt. In that meeting, we took decisions on what next to do. We are indeed planning a South-south zonal rally. Committees are being put in place ahead of the elections under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike. A date is likely going to be taken for the rally in the early part of January.

“There are actually no problems within the South-south; I can confirm that to you. In the South-east, yes, there were some initial hiccups; there is no doubt about that because there were certain party procedures that was supposed to have been followed that were not followed. Some of us believe that we were not taken along before the announcement of the vice presidential candidate.

“We also understand that the candidate has the right of choice of who would be the vice presidential candidate. We have moved beyond that. We have had meetings where we have been able to talk over all the issues.

“The fact is: some leaders of the party including all the governors ought to have known before the announcement of the candidate; not because they want to change the choice but they just wanted to be briefed formally before the information was given to the press. But that has been pushed behind us and we are moving forward.

“The South-east is also meeting. It is a strong PDP zone. In politics, there are always issues and the issues have to be discussed. The South-east is fully on board; from the last meeting we had in Rivers State, so is the South-south. So, I don’t see any challenge in any of the zones at all, not right now.”

Okowa also spoke on the defection of his predecessor, former governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the implication of this on the cohesion of the James Ibori political family, which they both belong.
This, he said, was not an issue.

According to him, “Actually, the Ibori family is still strong. Ibori remains our national leader. I want to assure you that that family is still intact.”
The governor, however, declined to speak on why Uduaghan left the PDP but said that it was the outcome of the election that would determine if it was a right decision.
He stressed that the defection of Uduaghan from the PDP has not had negative impact on the Ibori family and the party.

The governor was, however, frank that he met an empty treasury and a lot of debt when he took over as governor of the state.
He said, “Obviously, there was an empty treasury; no doubt about that. I do not want to look into all the factors, but we met a very challenging condition. Beyond the empty treasury, there was a lot of debt overhang and we had to do what we ought to do.

“I’m the kind of person that will not dissipate my energy looking into the past; and begin to sorry in it. What I needed to do was to assemble a smart team; and we were able to think out how best to get out of the problem that we had.

“Unfortunately, as we moved on, we had the issues of the crisis that came up in the Niger Delta and the blow up of the Forcados Export line, which also brought further challenges to our woes as at then.
“But we are able to work as a team to restructure our debts. We are able to prioritise the projects to undertake and we are able to move forward. Today, we have consolidated and moving on.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/all-pdp-governors-solidly-behind-atiku.html

Pressure from sell-off, which persisted at the end of last week’s transactions on the trading floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), sustained hold on the All-Share Index (ASI) and market capitalisation, as both depreciated by 0.63% and 0.58% to close the week at 30,672.79 points and N11.204 trillion respectively.



Analysts, however, said the current volatily is likely to be sustained, as bargain hunting and portfolio repositioning for year-end are expected to shape performance of the market ahead of Santa Claus rally.

According to them, the expectation is hinged on the fact that a number of companies hitting new 52-week low are on the increase, reflecting the undervalued state of the market.


Similarly, all other indices finished lower with the exception of the NSE ASeM, NSE Banking, NSE Insurance and NSE Industrial Goods that rose by 0.71 per cent, 0.18 per cent, 0.20 per cent and 0.81 per cent respectively.

Furthermore, NSE Corporate Governance Index dropped by 17.62 points to 1225.84 points; NSE ASeM Index dipps by 3.06 points to 2,147.20 points; The NSE Main Board index lost 14.56 points to 793.81 points; NSE 30 index declined by 13.56 basis points to 1383.81 points; and NSE Consumer Goods index down by 20.25 points to 719.05 points.

Also, NSE Oil and Gas index fell by 2.37 basis points to 279.12 points; NSE Lotus II fell by 43.16 points to 2164.26 points, while NSE Pension Index dropped by 2.91 basis points to 1160.22 points.

The Chief Research Officer of Investdata Consulting, Ambrose Omordion said: “The ongoing volatility will persist as Q3 numbers assist investors and fund managers to rebalance their portfolios, while watching the political space and ahead of full year company earnings and post-election market dynamics.

For Codros Capital Limited, the outlook for equities in the near-to-medium term is negative, and “we guide investors to trade cautiously, amidst absence of a near term positive catalyst and political jitters ahead of the upcoming 2019 elections.”

A turnover of 1.169 billion shares worth N14.762 billion was recorded in 14,554 deals by investors in contrast to a total of 1.107 billion shares valued at N11.192 billion that was exchanged in 14,430 deals during the preceding week.


The financial services industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 983.374 million shares valued at N9.358 billion traded in 8,484 deals; thus contributing 84.15 per cent to the total equity turnover volume.

The healthcare industry followed with 44.802 million shares worth N183.753 million in 253 deals, while the consumer goods industry trailed with a turnover of 42.758 million shares worth N3.553 billion in 2,227 deals.

Trading in the top three equities- Zenith Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc, and United Bank for Africa Plc (measured by volume), accounted for 438.938 million shares worth N 5.691 billion in 2,962 deals, contributing 37.56 per cent to the total equity turnover volume.

Also, 34 equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than 30 in the previous week, while 37 equities depreciated in price, lower than 38 of the previous week and 98 equities remained unchanged, lower than 101 equities recorded in the preceding week.

Also traded during the week were 316 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N849,000, executed in five deals, compared with a total of 84,714 units valued at N1.219 million that was transacted last week in 10 deals.

A total of 10,934 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N10.746 million was traded last week in 31 deals compared with a total of 2,908 units valued at N2.516 million, transacted last week in 11 deals.

More at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/no-respite-for-stock-market-as-index.html

President Buhari has challenged state governors to redouble efforts in addressing infrastructure deficiencies in their respective states to revamp the nation’s economy.

The Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, said the president stated this at a closed door with the 36 State Governors of the federation in Abuja.

He said: “Mr President, as usual, responded by telling us that the economy is in a bad shape and we have to come together and think and rethink on way forward.

“So, Mr President talked to us in the manner that we have a task ahead of us. So, we should tighten our belts and see how we can put Nigerian economy in the right direction and how we can address the nation’s infrastructural decay.

“So, all of us as leaders especially those that are coming to the National Assembly and those coming back as governors and the president who will be re-elected by God grace we should not think that things are going to be easy.

”They are going to be harder than before, this was the message of Mr President,’’ he said.

On the meeting of the National Economic Council, the governor disclosed that the Council deliberated extensively on new ways state governments could generate additional revenues for speedy economic growth and development.

However, Yari declined to confirm on whether the meeting discussed the issue of the proposed N30,000 minimum wage.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/buhari-challenges-governors-on.html

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) rolled out 116,659.8 megawatts in November due to increase in electricity generation.

The daily statistics of TCN operations from Nigerian Electricity System Operator (SO), a section of the TCN, indicated that 116,659.8 mw was generated from Nov. 2 to Nov. 30.

This was against the 107, 864.8 megawatts generated in October.

The statistics indicated that power generation increased by 8,795 megawatts between October and November periods.

NAN also reports that the daily power generated from Nov. 1 to Nov. 15 were: 3,681.7mw, 3,776.1mw, 3,703mw, 3652.5mw, 3,810.5mw, 4,204mw, 3,913.6mw, 3,762mw and 3,712.6mw.

Others are: 3,493.6mw, 3,903.50mw, 4,998.8mw, 4,229.7mw and 4271.8mw.

It also showed that daily power generated from Nov. 16 to Nov. 30 were: 4,168.2 mw, 4,125.5mw, 3,891.5mw, 4,067.5mw, 3,880mw, 4,523.4mw, 4,302mw and 4,089.2mw.

Others are: 3,883.6mw, 3,846.5mw, 4,137.7mw, 4,229.3mw, 4,043.8mw, 4,141.6mw and 4,216mw.

The energy generated was transmitted to 11 distribution companies (Discos).

The TCN said the national peak demand forecast stood at 19,100.00mw, while the installed available capacity was 11,165.40mw.

The current transmission capacity and network operational capacities were 7,000 mw and 5,500.00mw respectively.

The peak generation ever attained in Nigeria is 5,222.3mw, while the maximum energy ever attained stands at 109,372.01mwh.

More details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/power-generation-rises-in-november-tcn.html

About 3,250 members of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Obi Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa state have defected to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The defectors were received by the governorship candidate of the party, Labaran Maku at Obi LGA on Thursday, during his campaign visit, Tribune reports.

Speaking at the event, leaders of the defectors, Ubul Ukor and Elias Manasseh blamed “the failure of their former parties to address the security challenges in the state as the reason for their defection.”


“Apart from the insecurity problem, the present government of APC has not constructed roads and other social amenities in rural communities where we belong.

“Throughout our trying moments of insecurity and other problems confronting the state, Maku is the only person bold enough to speak in the defence of the masses.

“All other politicians and stakeholders of the state had abandoned us and only resurface now because they need our votes to win the election.


“We would stand with Maku no matter the blackmail or lies they spread against him because we know he is the only candidate that would ensure we go back to our farms and transform the state,” they said.

In his reaction, Maku expressed gratitude to the defectors for believing in him and his party.

He promised that if elected as the next governor of the state, he would restore security, develop the state, promote unity and generate employment.

“Under my leadership, any person or group instigating crisis and disunity would have the government to contain with irrespective of his or their status,” he added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/mass-defection-as-3250-apc-pdp-members.html

President Muhammadu Buhari says that the will of the people must always drive the democratic architecture of the country.

He made this known in Abuja on Thursday at the opening of a two-day “Election Security Management Workshop’’ organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The President, therefore, promised to ensure that security agencies involved in the conduct of the 2019 general elections performed their duties professionally to enable the electorate exercise their franchise.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, the President said that the success of the forthcoming elections would partly depend on the professionalism demonstrated by security agencies.

Buhari added that positive changes had been implemented in the nation’s electoral laws to strengthen electoral processes.

He explained that the changes were to ensure that voters were not disenfranchised by actions or inactions of actors or institutions charged with the responsibility of driving the process.

He said “as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I am committed to upholding the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as this is sacred pathway toward our democracy.”

The President noted that “this had been demonstrated in the successes that INEC recorded in Ekiti, Anambra, Ondo and Edo governorship elections, as well as bye-elections in some other states.

“Therefore, the sanctity of the process must be upheld by all political parties and other stakeholders across political party divide if the country is to attain its full potential.’’

He recalled his acceptance speech in April 2015 where he affirmed commitment to promote credible elections devoid of interference in the work of INEC.

Buhari said that those assertions were informed by the conviction that no nation could advance its democratic culture under a security orientation that had no assurance for the safety of the electorate and their votes.

The President, therefore, reassured the international community that Nigeria would continue to advance its democratic credentials within the global space.

He added that “indeed, Nigeria’s commitment to democratic values underscores the leadership roles the country demonstrated in the enhancement of the democratic processes in Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Niger, The Gambia and Guinea Bissau.”

He reiterated confidence in INEC’s competence to conduct credible elections in 2019.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/2019-peoples-will-must-prevail-buhari.html

The Police in Borno said its men had successfully foiled a lone suicide bomb attack on Wednesday night in Maiduguri.

The Police Commissioner, Mr Damian Chukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria on telephone that the incident occurred at about 8:30 pm in the outskirts of Maiduguri.

Chukwu disclosed that a teenage female bomber attempted to infiltrate a security check point, before security men fired shot at her and the Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) vest strapped to her body exploded.

He said the explosion blew the girl into pieces, noting that there were no other casualties in the attack.

The commissioner added that men of the Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) were deployed and sanitise the area.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/police-foils-suicide-bomb-attack-in.html

The candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Uche Ekwunife has described the upcoming Anambra Central Senatorial election as a must win for PDP.

Ekwunife said this during her familiarization tour of the seven local governments in Anambra Central. During the tour, Senator Ekwunife interfaced with party men, stakeholders and leaders across the seven local governments of the zone preaching unity, commitment and togetherness in the party as the party goes into the upcoming elections.

Senator Ekwunife described the PDP as a formidable brand, she noted that Anambra central cannot continue on its current path of representation.

In one of her visits, Ekwunife stated that she wants to be Senator for Anambra Central whose impact will be felt majorly in the zone. She noted that during her seven months stay in the Senate, she ensured that her representation was felt in the zone.

"Within one month of my stay in the Senate I dragged a powerful delegation of Senators to visit the state to see firsthand how bad erosion menace in the state is, we visited the Nkpor - New parts section of Enugu-Onitsha expressway which was almost cut off by erosion, and within a while after the committee visited, the road was put back in shape", she said.

Ekwunife noted that there is a difference between lawmaking and noisemaking.

"Experience counts, I know the workings of the National Assembly more than any of my opponents. Within the short period I stayed in the Senate, I sponsored five bills, my bill on the Reenactment of Forestry Institute of Nigeria to enhance the activities of the institute in their defence of our environment was recently signed into law. I also sponsored a bill seeking for local government financial and political autonomy", she said.

"Anambra Central cannot continue to miss out on representative dividends simply because its representative does not know his way around the National Assembly. A representation that does not create meaningful impact on the lives of constituents is not an effective representation", she said.

She urged the people of Anambra Central to compare and contrast what is obtainable today and what was obtainable when she represented them.

According to Ekwunife, while she was Chairman Senate committee on Petroleum Downstream, the current occupant of the Senate is deputy Chairman committee on labour and productivity. While she attracted road projects in Nri and Enugwu-Agidi, the current Senator is celebrating awards and Chieftaincy title.

She urged the people of Anambra Central to ensure that effective and people-orientated representation is brought back to the zone come 2019 by voting PDP.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/i-want-to-be-senator-for-anambra.html?m=1

AN OPEN LETTER TO BIANCA OJUKWU

By Law Mefor



Since you walked the red carpets as a beauty queen, many of us have followed you. Though beauty contest is a mere competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants, most contests have evolved to also incorporate personality traits, intelligence, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria.

So, becoming the African queen of your time, and even now, was no mean feat. It comes with real beauty, brain and brawn, no doubt.

You really didn’t need any contest to prove you are one of the most beautiful women to walk the face of mother Africa. Ikemba, while still wooing you confirmed my position when he said in the book, Because I am Involved, “To say that Bianca Onoh is beautiful is like standing before the Eifel Tower and be shouting that the building is tall”.

You later became his wife and sadly, now his widow. And here lies the reason I am writing you. I am of a very considered view that Emeka Ojukwu’s widow does not need partisan politics. You do not have to agree with me. But the bruises you so easily suffered since you ventured into partisan politics were not a coincidence.



Politics is like that. It is adversarial in nature and takes no prisoners. Even being the widow of Emeka Ojukwu will not be armor strong enough to shield you from its vagaries. And that is why many people who may want to serve still shun it; certain persons occupying certain positions do not go into contests for political positions also. They don't need the heat, so they stay away from the kitchen.

Like observed already, partisan politics everywhere, not just in Nigeria, is deep murky waters. Nobody swims it and comes away clean. And because we are living in an imperfect world, there is always a nasty story to tell about someone, especially when they are determined to tell such a negative story. And to show how inescapable, these stories do not even have to be true to be believed. That is why, in politics especially, facts and truths are not exactly the same.

If you recall, when Femi Fani-Kayode made a reckless amorous claim against you, many of us rallied and fought him off. He apologized to you, and because his claim bellied your stay in UK or something like overseas studies, some of us insisted it shouldn’t count.



Many naturally gravitate to your rescue and defence in such hostile circumstance not so much for you as it is for Emeka Ojukwu and here is why. Let us face it: Ojukwu lived and died the symbol of the Igbo race and the struggle for the emancipation of Igbo people. He played certain inimitable roles culminating, ultimately, in leading the Biafra struggle and heading the Republic of Biafra for 30 solid months.

While the Biafra war lasted, it was so brutal that genocidal measures and actions were clamped on Biafrans. Otherwise, what was the intendment of hunger as war weapon used by the federal government against Biafrans during the war if not for their extermination?

In a deft response to the attendant starvation, many Biafra women took harrowing risks to keep the soldiers, their husbands and children alive (watch the documentary 'Afia Attack' produced by Ujuaku Akukwe and refresh on this).

Your late husband and arguably the greatest Igbo man ever lived, Emeka Ojukwu, bore all that on his then young shoulders, barely 33 at that time. The need for the survival of Ndigbo and Biafrans at large deprived him much of his youth and full settled life until you came to fill the vacuum and provide him the much needed succor. He was driven into exile and he stayed away for 13 years. Later he returned, having been pardoned by the Shagari government.



When Ikemba returned home, many of us also were of the opinion that he shouldn’t join politics and that if he must, he needed to join forces with NPP. Ikemba joined the ruling NPN instead and gave his reason as the need to lead Ndigbo back into the mainstream Nigeria polity and politics. He got thoroughly messed up and demystified, to the point that it was claimed that one nondescript Dr. Edwin Onwudiwe(no offence intended) defeated him in a mere senatorial election. Sometimes I wonder what image Ojukwu would have carried if he did not go into politics.

The rest, as they say, is now history. And that is politics for you and a further confirmation that certain persons for some circumstances should not join partisan politics. Or are you not aware that the Queen of England and her family do not vote let alone contest for offices?

Recall also that in the wake of the present democratic dispensation, 3 legacy political parties emerged – PDP, AD and APP (as it then was; it later became ANPP). Soon after, some Igbo leaders felt there was a need to raise a political party where Ndigbo could have unfettered access and expression. By then, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme of blessed memory had been manipulated out of the PDP presidential ticket (I will do a full piece on the emergence of APGA in due course).



I believe the reason APGA was formed, not necessarily as Igbo party, but one where Ndigbo can beat their chest and say it is one they inspired into existence, made Ikemba to accept to be the APGA presidential candidate. As at the time Ikemba joined APGA and became its flag bearer, his majestic and emphatic entry into the fray was such a welcome development and symbolic gesture. He came third in the first presidential poll. Not that Ndigbo deluded themselves that Ikemba would win.



As shown in the relatively paltry number of votes garnered by Ikemba, many Igbos who loved and revered him didn’t even vote for him. They followed their head or heart and entrenched interests in the PDP. Many more Ndigbo, as usual, did not even bother voting at all.



What am I saying? I am only drawing your attention, o our queen mother, to the rugged nature of the struggle, which you now symbolize. It is a role imposed upon you by both choice and destiny. The moment you accepted Ikemba’s hand in marriage, you equally accepted, wittingly, to share his fate. He didn’t co-opt you. And departing, he left the rest of the struggle, as it were, to you.

You can see why I cried when I heard you were contesting to go to the senate? If you were not the widow of Ikemba, may be. But you could see how the race abruptly ended for you, for the very reason I have tried to draw out here.

Whoever advised and goaded you into the risky senate race was unkind to you and demeaned your exulted position. A queen mother cannot bring herself so low as to contest with her subjects. Forget how young you are. It is beyond age. It is about the stool you sit on as Ojukwu’s widow. The more you contest (and lose or even win) you end up debasing your hallowed stool the more.

In APGA, your place ought to be assured. Anything short of chairman Board of Trustees is not for you. But do you really need additional position? I don’t think so! You are Bianca Ojukwu. No position is higher than that in the eye of the Igbo man and woman. Kindly regain this perspective and hold the dream and promise Ikemba left behind.



• Dr. Law Mefor is a concerned APGA member. +234-803-787-2893; e-mail:lawmefor@gmail.com.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/an-open-letter-to-bianca-ojukwu-by-law.html

Lagos State All Progressive Congress governorship candidate, Mr. Jide Sanwo-Olu has called on his rival the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Jimi Agbaje not to break the peaceful co-existence between the Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu was reacting to Agbaje’s tweet, where the PDP candidate quoted Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu of threatening the Igbos ahead of the 2015 election if they failed to vote for APC.

Sanwo-Olu said that the Yoruba do not hate the Igbos as been peddled in some quarters, adding that the longest serving officer of the APC in Lagos, Joe Igbokwe and the longest serving commissioner, Ben Akabueze are both Igbos.

Agbaje had reminded Sanwo-Olu that the statement of the monarch who is a member of the APC lingered in the minds of the Igbos in Lagos, adding that it is the APC that is threatening the Igbos not the Yorubas.

However, Sanwo-Olu had called on Agbaje to make his campaign an issue based rather than bringing sentiments among the various ethnic groups living in Lagos.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/lagos-2019-dont-create-tension-between.html

By Collins Opurozor

Four decades of preoccupation with development in Imo State have yielded meager returns. The economy of the state has been stagnating or regressing. Unemployment is widespread, health prospects are getting poorer, infrastructure has broken down, industries are comatose, agriculture remains crude, crime keeps escalating, and education has taken a nosedive. The state occupies top positions in almost all indices of social misery.

The truth is not so much that development has failed in Imo State than that development has not really started. And the trouble with Imo is simply a failure of leadership. That is the only key that can unlock Imo’s potentials; that is a duty we owe ourselves as a people.

Every cycle of electoral ritual throws up a leadership that would in the end further abbreviate the collective aspirations of the people and abort their dreams. The time to break this cycle is certainly now.

It is distressing beyond words, perplexing beyond imagination, to chronicle Imo’s woes amid her enormous potentials. That two in every fifteen Imo women die of cancer every year, that nearly a million young persons, brimming with energy and talents, roam the streets jobless, and that Imo has joined the league of educationally less developed states are all stains on our collective conscience. They are symptomatic of a system that has gone completely dysfunctional.

The present administration in the state – it seems clear to me – does not have even the faintest understanding of what development is all about. The administration seems absorbed by roofing streets, making images and building unusable worship centers through which the administration fleeces the treasury of the state. Beyond rabble rousing, the commitment of the Okorocha administration to Imo’s development remains neither apparent nor real. The confusion of agenda, the improbable strategies and the conflict between the latent and manifest functions of public policies by this administration are the logical outcome of a government that from the word go took state power as means of production, as means for primitive capital accumulation.

Development, in the parlance of Walter Rodney, implies increased skills and capacity, greater freedom, creativity, self-discipline, responsibility and material well-being. We have it on Rodney’s authority that a society develops economically as its members increase jointly their capacity for dealing with the environment. This capacity for dealing with the environment is dependent on the extent to which they understand the laws of nature (science), on the extent to which they put that understanding into practice by devising tools (technology), and on the manner in which work is organized (mode of social production ).

It is in view of this crisis of development that Mr. Okey Ezeh, a consummate entrepreneur and seasoned technocrat, has offered himself, using a comprehensive economic roadmap known as the Imo Marshal Plan (I-MAP), to salvage Imo State. It is testimony to the depth of Mr. Ezeh’s insight about development that the I-MAP underscores the primacy of the organic unity of all sectors of the state in the development enterprise.

The economy of Imo State currently lacks coherence; it is pervasively disarticulated. Every coherent economy possesses sectoral reciprocity and complementarity, or what liberal economists describe as ‘backward and forward linkages’. Innovations in the industrial sector must give impetus to agricultural productivity, and the knowledge produced in the educational sector must be relevant in the labour market.

In establishing education-business partnership framework, the I-MAP intends to address the hydra-headed problem of youth unemployment and unemployability by making skills acquisition part of the school system. Every child would be made to choose three different skills from a wide range of skills at junior secondary school. They would specialize in just one at senior secondary, so that by the time they are leaving school they would have garnered proficiency in it and be issued a Trade Diploma which guarantees them access to soft loan to start up a vocation should the child choose not to continue with tertiary education. With improved pedagogical facilities, well motivated workforce and proper implementation this initiative can raise an army of young entrepreneurs who will be nationally and globally competitive in so many sectors.

The agricultural policy of the I-MAP will create wealth and expand job opportunities by intervening and facilitating job and wealth creation through the entire agricultural value chain. Seed multiplication farms - livestock and fish breeding centers - will be established under Public-Private Partnership to facilitate access to high-yielding, disease-resistant inputs. Thousands of hectares of land will be put under cultivation which will be allotted to young school leavers trained as 'agripreneurs'. Urban agriculture would be an integral part of this policy to train service providers. An Imo Agro-Investment Promotion Agency shall be established by law, and the state will partner with organizations like the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing Model for Agricultural Financing (NIRSAL) to make credit available to farmers.

There shall be an industrial cluster in each of the three senatorial districts of the state, along with an Imo Technology Village to fabricate artifacts and spearhead technological innovations in the South East. Investments will be made in associated infrastructure requisite for industrial development, like security, housing, power and roads.

Note: In other parts of this series, the I-MAP shall be extensively discussed.

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, yesterday, flayed Anglican Bishops for describing it as a terrorist organisation, saying the group is made up of herdsmen, not terrorists.

The association’s reaction is coming on the heels of the call on the Federal Government by the Bishops to declare the group terrorist. They made their position in a communique by Bishop Diocese of Western Izon, Rev. Edafe Emamezi, at the end of the first session of the 4th synod of the Diocese of Western Izon (Anglican Communion) held at St. Peter’s Church Bomadi, Delta State. The Bishops lamented that while Boko Haram and herdsmen have not been declared as terrorist organisations, it is sad that the government went ahead to declare IPOB and other groups in the country, which are agitating for their rights, as terrorist organisations.

However, the National Coordinator, MACBAN, Alhaji Garus Gololo, yesterday told Vanguard in chat that: “We are not happy with this comment coming from the Bishops who are spiritual heads of the Anglican Church; we want them to withdraw it. “We are not criminals and the President has nothing to do with us. We are not terrorists, we are peacekeeping citizens. “We have the right to graze anywhere in the world, not even in Nigeria, because that is the business we came for. So, if the Bishops ask the President to declare herdsmen as criminals, so every man they see rearing cow will be killed. It is very wrong. “We are not happy with this comment and if they make comments as such next time, we will challenge it in the court.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/were-not-terrorists-herdsmen-warn.html

Internet penetration in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and other part of Africa, sustained global growth in 2018. It moved from 7.7 per cent in 2005 to 45.3 per cent at the end of the year. Nigeria, as at October, can boast of over 105 million users, the highest in Africa.

According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) 2018 global and regional ICT estimates, developed countries slow and steady growth increased the percentage of population using the Internet, from 51.3 per cent in 2005 to 80.9 per cent in 2018.

But the United Nation’s specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), noted that in developing countries, growth has been much more sustained increasing from 7.7 per cent in 2005 to 45.3 per cent at the end of 2018.


Of all ITU regions, the strongest growth was reported in Africa, where the percentage of people using the Internet increased from 2.1 per cent in 2005 to 24.4 per cent in 2018.

According to the estimates, the regions with the lowest growth rates were Europe, with 79.6 per cent, and the Americas, with 69.6 per cent of the population using the Internet. In the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, 71.3 per cent will be using the Internet; 54.7 per cent in the Arab States and 47 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region.

ITU noted that Internet access at home is gaining traction. It estimated that almost 60 per cent of household has Internet access at home in 2018, up from less than 20 per cent in 2005.

In developing countries, almost half of all households have Internet access at home, a considerable increase compared with 8.4 per cent in 2005.

ITU estimated that at the end of 2018, 51.2 per cent of the global population, or 3.9 billion people, will be using the Internet.

ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, noted that global and regional estimates for 2018 are a
p​ointer to the great strides the world is making towards building a more inclusive global information society.

“By the end of 2018, we will surpass the 50/50 milestone for Internet use. This represents an important step towards a more inclusive global information society. However, far too many people around the world are still waiting to reap the benefits of the digital economy. We must encourage more investment from the public and private sectors and create a good environment to attract investments, and support technology and business innovation so that the digital revolution leaves no one offline,” Zhao stated.

From his perspective, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Brahima Sanou, said: “The new 2018 estimates reveal that there continues to be a general upward trend in the access to and use of information and communication technologies. “Access to telecommunication networks continues to increase, in particular in mobile connections. However, affordability should continue to be at the top of our priorities for the digital economy to become a reality for all.”

Further analysis of the report showed that nearly the entire world population, or 96 per cent, now lives within reach of a mobile cellular network. 90 per cent of the global population can access the Internet through a 3G or higher speed network.

ITU estimated that, globally in 2018, almost half of all households had at least one computer, up from just above a quarter in 2005. In developed countries, 83.2 per cent of households possess a computer in 2018, compared with 36.3 per cent in developing countries.


Least Developed Countries showed the strongest growth during the period 2005-2018. In 2018, less than 10 per cent of households in LDCs have a computer. The strongest growth rates were observed in the Arab States and the CIS region. In Africa, the proportion of households with access to a computer increased from 3.6 per cent in 2005 to 9.2 per cent in 2018.

In terms of mobile cellular subscriptions, ITU noted that access to basic telecommunication services is becoming ever more predominant. While fixed-telephone subscriptions continue to decline with a penetration rate of 12.4 per cent in 2018, the number of mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions is greater than the global population.

Specifically, it noted that growth in mobile cellular subscriptions in the last five years was driven by countries in Asia-Pacific and Africa regions. Growth was minor in the Americas and the CIS region while a decline was observed in Europe and the Arab States.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/nigeria-south-africa-deepen-global.html

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it has launched a gun-boat in Cross River to enhance maritime patrol and check cases of illegal migration and child theft across the sea.

Mr Felix Uche, the State Comptroller of NIS, said this on Tuesday during the launch of the boat at the Nigerian Navy Jetty in Calabar.

Uche said that the boat was procured by the Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr Mohammed Babandede and distributed to all commands that have maritime boundary with other countries to enhance sea patrols.

According to him, 16 NIS personnel were trained by officials of the Nigerian Navy on maritime operations and patrols for a period of two months.

‘‘The launch of this boat will help us to patrol the water ways by ensuring that illegal migrants do not come into Nigeria through the sea without valid papers.

‘‘In the past few weeks, the Navy has arrested some boats with illegal migrants and handed them over to us. After profiling, we saw that majority of them were coming into Nigeria illegally.

‘‘More so, now that we have crisis in Cameroon; this gun-boat will help us to reduce the large illegal movements of Cameroonians into Nigeria,’’ he said.

He thanked the naval authorities for the training of the NIS personnel, adding that the synergy between both forces was cordial and rewarding.

Speaking, the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, said that the Nigerian Navy held in high esteem the issue of synergy.

Nwagu explained that the navy had tried at all levels to partner with sister agencies in the provision of security for all Nigerians.

He maintained that the navy had enjoyed the partnership with the NIS in the state, noting that the NIS personnel were well behaved during the training.

‘‘I am not in doubt that men of the NIS benefited from the training they have undergone in the past two months by the navy.

‘‘One boat is not enough by our standard operating procedures. As you go out at sea, each time you need our assistance in ensuring that the migration laws are upheld, the navy will support you.

‘‘We are ready anytime to partner with the NIS because the navy value synergy. Your boat will be secured and made available at any time you need it for operation,’’ he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/nis-launches-gun-boat-in-cross-river-to.html

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, yesterday responded to former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s persistent support for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, saying it would end in total defeat.

Mohammed spoke in Abuja at a media briefing where he also refuted opposition party’s claim that the federal government’s social investment programme, TraderMoni, was advanced vote-buying.


“I want to assure you that his (Obasanjo’s candidate) will be defeated roundly and comprehensively. It is not about endorsement- it won’t win election,” Mohammed said, contending that Atiku would be no match for President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He, however, conceded that the former president has every right to support anyone he likes in the 2019 presidential election.

“Obasanjo has every right to support anyone he likes,” he said, adding that such a right is constitutional.

TraderMoni Not a Vote Buying Scheme

Mohammed rejected opposition parties’ allegation that the federal government’s ‘TraderMoni,’ launched to enable artisanal traders access loans up to N10,000 at the first instance is a vote buying scheme, clarifying that it is a poverty alleviation programme.

Responding to the allegation that TraderMoni was an inducement to voters, he insisted that ‘TraderMoni’ was a trust of the administration’s Social Insurance Programme, which included N- Power, School Feeding Programme, targeting one million students, CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme and cash transfer of N5,000 per month in support of 200,000 families.

He disclosed that 1.2 million artisanal traders had benefited from the ‘TraderMoni’ since it was flagged off and argued that it was becoming popular among the public and without political undertone.

Mohammed said, “Are they just waking up? We reject the insinuation that TraderMoni is a technical form of vote buying. It is a trust of our social insurance programme and has no political undertone. The opposition is becoming jittery because it is successful and being embraced by traders. In some states, they are even discouraging potential beneficiaries from coming forward to access the loan.

“It is not vote buying, but rather a poverty alleviation programme. We are yet to receive allegations it was being diverted in some states for the purpose it is intended. They also say that school feeding programme is a form of bribery, but we are investing in the future of our children.”

The minister spoke on the clamour for presidential candidates to debate salient issues of national and public interests and declared that it is the prerogative of the president to attend any televised presidential debate.

He argued that the president has a cabinet, and every member of the Federal Executive Council will debate on policy issues.

“It is the prerogative of the president to decide whether he will attend any debate or not. I think he will decide on that. He has a cabinet and we have been busy selling the policy thrust of the administration to the public. This is what I am doing and I am aware that other ministers are doing similar thing,” he said.

He also justified Buhari’s grounds of refusal to assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018, alleging that it will create uncertainty in the electoral process.

The information minister rejected the insinuation by the opposition that the withholding of presidential assent to the amendment bill is a ploy by the ruling party to rig the election.

The minister, who accused the PDP of fabricating fake news to hood-wink the public, added that the opposition was already rejecting the outcome of the 2019 elections and preparing grounds for the loss of the election by asking the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to resign.

“The constitution is very clear on the amendment to the Electoral Act Bill. When a bill is passed to the National Assembly, it goes to the president for assent and INEC has already clarified this position and this bill has not been passed into law yet. So, I don’t see any contradiction,” he said.

Read more at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/2019-presidency-obasanjos-support-for.html

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday appointed his wife, Aisha, and the wife of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Dolapo, as members of Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse.

The committee has the former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) as its chairman.

Buhari said the appointment of Aisha and Dolapo as members of the panel was in recognition of their concerted efforts in the course of eradicating the menace of drug abuse in the country.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/buhari-appoints-wife-dolapo-osinbajo-to.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has condemned the non-accessibility of the N500 billion export stimulation fund set up basically for the promotion of non-oil exports in the country.

As such, the CBN has set up a committee to look into the challenges confronting accessibility of the funds.The apex bank and Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) had in 2017 approved an export facility of N500 billion for exporters in the country, which till date farmers find difficult to access.

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this yesterday at a media conference on the sidelines of the ongoing 10th yearly bankers’ committee retreat in Lagos.

Emefiele said the apex bank had discovered that farmers and small businesses within the non-oil sector found it difficult to access the funding facility.

He said: “We need to set up a committee headed by a bank chief executive officer. What that committee will do is to take a deep dive into some of the issues and challenges that are faced by exporters and report back to the bankers’ committee meeting in February 2019 to raise some of the issues and through that, the banks themselves will commit to ensuring that we deploy funds either on a commercial basis through the banks or some of our intervention funds at the CBN to support the initiative.

“We took a review of it, we must confess that that aspect has not permeated the system and we wanted to hear from some of the export companies what their challenges were, hence the reason we set up a committee to look into the issue.

“By this time, we are determined that they will get the support they need, we will make it easy for them to access the credit and will put in place policies that will reinvent the export earnings in a way that funds come in and are used in a way that is beneficial to the economy.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/cbn-decries-non-performing-n500b-export.html

Sen.Olamilekan Adeola (Lagos West) on Thursday urged Nigerians to give the All Progressives Congress (APC) the needed support to fix the present challenges confronting the country.

Adeola gave the advice in Lagos while speaking at a meeting with traditional rulers in his senatorial district.

He said some of the problems facing the country were inherited by the current APC administration owing to what he called 16years of inept leadership of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP).

Adeola said that the PDP nearly ruined Nigeria with incompetent leadership, but the APC was making sincere efforts to reposition the country.

“People talk about the problems in the country but we have to understand that the present challenges of the country were not caused by the APC but inherited from the PDP.

“For 16 years, the PDP delivered nothing but bad governance; in fact, they almost destroyed the country. So, the mess created in 16 years cannot be fixed in three years.

“The truth is that the Buhari-led administration has made steady progress in the last three years. And Nigerians can bank on the government to address all the issues to make life better for all,” he said.

Adeola said the promise of the PDP, particularly its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to make things better for Nigerians was an empty one.

He said before Atiku’s promise to turn around the country could be taken seriously, Nigerians should ask him to list his achievements as Vice-president under PDP.

Adeola urged Nigerians to be wary of Atiku, saying his plan to sell some national assets if elected should scare all patriots.

The senator implored traditional rulers to always criticise the present government constructively and give their support for the continued progress of the country.

He said that he believed traditional rulers should be given constitutional roles in nation-building, promising to champion the cause in the 9th Senate, if elected.

Adeola thanked the traditional rulers and the people in the district for their consistent support for him, assuring them that he would always deliver democratic dividends in the area.

The senator said as a representative of the area, he had put in place impacting programmes and interventions.

He said thousands of constituents had benefitted from his empowerment programmes in the area and his various interventions in infrastructure development.

Adeola said he had facilitated jobs for many youths in the area and had supported many in business.

The senator said he was passionate about the progress of Lagos West and urged the constituents to support him in 2019 to do more.

The News Agency of Agency (NAN) reports that traditional rulers who were at the meeting include Oba Shakirudeen Kuti (Elewu of Ewuland); Oba Kamilu Isiba (Olu of Agege Kingdom); Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka (Osolo of Osolo Kingdom) and Oba Suleiman Suberu (Alajasa of Ajasaland).

Oba Nureni Akinremi (Onijegun of Ijegun); Aholu Samuel Olowolabani of Ajaraland and Oba Lasisi Gbadamosi (Onigando of Igando) were also present.

NAN reports all the traditional rulers endorsed the senator for re-election at the end of the meeting.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/pdp-almost-ruined-nigeria-sen-adeola.html

AVM Jumo Osahor, Director-General, Defence Research and Development Bureau, Abuja says the Armed Forces of Nigeria will require about N9 billion to provide military boots annually to meet soldiers kitting needs.

Osahor made this known in a paper he delivered during the Third Annual National Conference organised by the Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists of Nigeria (SLTCN) at the Nigerian Institute of Leather Science and Technology (NILEST), Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference is: “The Contributions of Leather Science, Technology and Innovation to the Nigerian Economy and National Security.”

NAN also reports that the Commandant spoke on: “Indigenous Leather Production and Military Kitting: The Armed Forces of Nigeria Perspective.”

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will require about N9 billion to provide a pair of working shoes and boots for each soldier.

“The amount will double if we are to provide two pairs each per soldier every year.

“This huge sum of money if channeled to the indigenous leather industry will go a long way in revamping the sector and improving our national economy as well as security forces and provide jobs to our teeming youths.

“However, the leather industry in Nigeria is yet to take advantage of the huge potential that exists in the military leather requirements of the AFN.”

He said the Armed Forces of Nigeria comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force all utilize leather materials as part of their military kitting.

“These range from service shoes to combat boots among others. With strength of over 200,000 personnel, the requirement for shoes and boots is quite enormous especially with the requirement of at least two pairs of shoes and boots each per personnel per year.

“This translates to about more than half a million pairs of leather wares that could be provided through indigenous leather production industry yearly.

“At an estimated cost of N30,000.00 for a pair of quality working shoes (Bates) and N15,000.00 for combat boots,”

Declaring the conference open, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, gave the assurance that the ministry would partner with any professional body interested in any research field that would enhance the growth and diversification of the economy.

The minister, who was represented by the Director-General, Nigerian Institute Of Leather and Science Technology, Dr Eucharia Ngozi-Oparah, urged the participants to deliberate effectively on topical issues that would address the challenges in the leather industry.

He stressed the need for effective deliberation particularly in areas where the economy would be improved through value addition of leather and leather products.

Earlier, the National President, SLTCN, Dr Solomon Tanko said the essence of the conference was for professionals to deliberate and brainstorm on prospects and contributions of leather to national growth and development.

He described the leather industry as strategic in view of its importance and critical role in the diversification of the nation’s economy.

Tanko observed that leather and leather related products were key to industrial growth that would certainly pave way for jobs opportunities and wealth creation.

The president appealed to participants to avail themselves of the opportunity to improve their knowledge and professional skills to take Nigeria to greater heights.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/nigeria-armed-forces-needs-n9bn-for.html

Brazil and PSG star, Neymar, has opened the door to playing in the Premier League one day, responding positively when asked by Benjamin Mendy.

The Manchester City defender was one of a number of high profile current and former players to ask Neymar questions on his Youtube channel.

And Mendy went straight to the point, saying: ‘Neymar Jnr, answer me in French. Do you think you’ll one day play in the Premier League?’


The 26-year-old replied: ‘It’s a big competition, one of the greatest in the world.

“We don’t know what will happen tomorrow but I believe that every great player, at least one day, has to play in the Premier League.

“If you’re playing there, I hope you can keep enjoying the Premier League, because you deserve only the best.’

Having moved to PSG from Barcelona for a record-breaking fee of £198million in 2017, Neymar is targeting Champions League success in Paris.

But his admission that a move to the Premier League could one day interest him will be of interest to the heavy hitters in England’s top flight.

Mendy’s team-mate Gabriel Jesus was another to ask a question of his compatriot.

“When will he play FIFA against me? He always runs,’ he joked. To which Neymar responded: ‘Hey Gab, challenge accepted!’

Former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez wanted to know why the lethal forward changes his hairstyle so much.

Neymar answered: ‘I don’t know, I always like to change things and the hair is the first thing that I like to change that pleases me. And, well, I don’t know why I like to fool around!’

And David Beckham pleaded the striker to come to play for his Miami franchise: “When you finish playing in Europe, will you come to Miami please?

“David, it’s done! I’ll come to Miami, your city, your team,’ Neymar promised.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/ill-play-in-english-premier-league-one.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Joel Madaki and Felix Bilishan Tagwame, before Justice A.M. Anka of the Federal High Court, Yola, Adamawa State, on four counts bordering on conspiracy, misappropriation and diversion of funds.

Investigation into the $115million fraud involving Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, was linked to them. It was further revealed that the said funds were exchanged to an equivalent of N23, 299,705,000 and was used for the 2015 presidential election.

Substantial amount of the funds, investigations showed, were shared to some staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the nation by Fidelity Bank on behalf of Madueke.


The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, A.M. Labaran asked for a date for trial to commence and urged the court to remand them in prison custody. But the defence counsel, A.T. Shehu, moved applications for bail
which was opposed by the prosecution.

Justice Anka, after listening to the various arguments, granted them bail in the sum of N200million and surety in like sum.

The matter has been adjourned to February 5, 2019 for trial.

The EFCC will on December 10 arraign the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN) at the Federal High Court, Lagos, over alleged N1.4billion fraud.

He will be arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan.
The anti-graft agency claims that Usoro converted and laundered the money in connivance with Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.

However, the governor was not listed as a defendant in the charge, as the EFCC indicated that he is “currently constitutionally immuned against criminal prosecution.”

Also mentioned in the body of the charges are one Nsikan Nkan, described as Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State; Mfon Udomah, described as the Accountant General of Akwa Ibom State; Uwemedimo Nwoko, the Akwa Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Margaret Ukpe, all of whom were said to be at large.

The anti-graft agency claimed that the N1.4billion allegedly converted and laundered by the defendants belonged to the Akwa Ibom State government.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/efcc-arraigns-two-for-alleged-115m.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the South East Zone, Enugu on Wednesday, arraigned the duo of Ferdinand Ugwunwani and John Ugwu before Justice A.M Liman of the Federal High Court, Enugu.
They were docked on a three–count charge bothering on conspiracy and obtaining the sum of N1,780,000 (One Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira only) under false pretences, an offence that is contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

According to investigation carried out by the Commission, it was allegedly found out that the duo having falsely represented themselves as owners and custodians of some non existent plots of land at Umunwene, Iji Nike, Enugu State, obtained the said sums in two tranches of N1.180,000 and N600,000 as payment for two plots of lands and harmonization fees, respectively.


It was further discovered that apart from the fact that the duo knew the original plots were part of a layout, they went ahead to sell the said plots to the complainant and made him pay the money in one of the suspect’s personal account rather than that of the community.

When the charges were read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty, which prompted the defence counsel P.O. Nwanjoku to move a joint motion for their bail.

This was quickly countered by the prosecution counsel, F. A Shehu, saying that the second defendant John Ugwu had severally refused to honour invitation from EFCC.


The judge, however, noted that having come from his house to the court, the defendant has shown willingness to attend to his trial.

He thereafter granted the duo bail on N1 million with one surety each. Each of the sureties must either own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court or be a civil servant not less than level 14 in the local, state or federal civil service.

The case has been adjourned to February 20,2018 for trial.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/efcc-arraigns-2-for-land-scam-in-enugu.html

The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Kaduna State Chapter, has accused the state governor, Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai of running an exclusive government in the state.


The state party secretary, Barrister Shuaibu Yamusa, while briefing newsmen in Kaduna Wednesday on the preparation of the party for the 2019 general election in the state, said, “The government of Kaduna state launched anti-people policies detrimental to real and genuine economic development.

“So many Kaduna state workers and traditional rulers were unceremoniously and with no regards to due process relieved of their means of livelihood thereby suffocating the unemployment market.


“Leadership is about people, their feelings and welfare, their security and economic freedom, it is not doctorial where opposition are maligned and persecuted; but an all embracing leader, not decisive.”

He explained that the PRP governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmad Tijjani Umar, is a man of integrity, whose knowledge and experience would bring about genuine solution, development to the state and its people.

“It is our conviction and that of many other citizens that the PRP candidate only has the skills and has also resolved to tackle the many burning issues of the state.


“This will be done by collective participation and fairness to all. It will be government of the people, by the people and for the people,” he assured.

He added, “It is a fact that we put so much in the struggle to ensure that the present government succeed in 2015 general elections and we all did it with the hope that there is a genuine concern for the people and an agenda for genuine economic and social development.

“Part of the campaign promises were the promise to tackle security issues, provision of enhanced and or improved mechanized farming system to the people, world class health care system amongst others.”

The state secretary of PRP lamented that since the inception of the El-Rufai-led administration in the state, it has witnessed a lot of setbacks in all spheres of life.

He called on the citizens to vote PRP candidates in the 2019 general elections that is determined to restore the lost glory the pro-administration brought to the people of Kaduna and Kano states in the early 80s.

“We as a party are out to redeem the people from all that they are going through and to give them hope through a purposeful and all embracing government that will carry all along in all spheres of life.

“Our governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmad Tijjani Umar, is a man that has the people at heart, he has proven himself in his relationship with the citizens of Kaduna state irrespective of their differences and given the mandate will definitely restore the fortunes the state was known during the PRP – administration in the early 80s,” he assured.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/prp-blasts-gov-el-rufai-reveals-what.html

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources in Lagos State, Mr Olawale Oluwo, has announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Oluwo made the announcement in a resignation letter sent to Channels Television on Wednesday.

In the letter dated December 3 and addressed to the APC Chairman in the state, he explained that he took the decision as a result of the events played out at the party’s state primary held in October.

Oluwo alleged that the exercise was characterised by voter disenfranchisement, undue influence, violence, and intimidation to members among other activities that violate the electoral law.

He also claimed that the party lacked integrity, stressing that this has diminished the reputation of the state as a reference point for free and fair democratic practice.

The APC leadership in the state has yet to respond to Oluwo’s allegations.

More details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/ambodes-commissioner-resigns-from-apc.html

Fifty-nine pro-President Muhammadu Buhari groups working for his re-election made a U-turn yesterday and endorsed his main rival, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the groups said they decided to back the PDP presidential candidate because Buhari administration has failed to deliver on its several promises in the last three and a half years.


The National Coordinator of the Grassroots Mobilisers for Buhari (GMB), Yusuf Ardo, who spoke on behalf of the groups, accused Buhari of failing to appoint youths in his government, saying the groups have over five million members who visited all areas of the country for Buhari in 2015.

According to him, “We toured the country and campaigned for the emergence of the current All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government. This forum coordinated all support groups for APC and championed grassroots mobilisations of Nigerians.

“Sequel to the foregoing, we are sad that the government we put in place has failed and continued to fail our people, and we cannot continue to reinforce failures. How can we have a federal cabinet without a single youth? A government that does not take the youths into account is a dying government. The future belongs to us-the young people.”

Ardo said today, the country is faced with legions of challenges, adding that the economy which was the fastest-growing in Africa before Buhari took over in 2015, has gone comatose under the present government that has shown unpreparedness and completely cluelessness.

He added: “Unemployment has risen to an alarming level, and instead of creating three million jobs per year as promised during 2015 campaigns, millions of jobs are being lost quarterly, with many companies folding up daily.”

Ardo said he believed that under Atiku, the economy would be revived unlike the “misfortune” of Buhari.

‘’We strongly believe that Atiku will ensure diversification of the economy through agriculture, adequate supply of power and massive industrialisation, thereby creating employment for our teaming youths.

Full report at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/59-pro-buhari-groups-switch-support-to.html

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has given reasons why Nigeria should be restructured saying restructuring of the country would make the country a better place.

Okowa who spoke at the 87th annual national congress and award of honours of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) held at Effurun, Uvwie local government area of the State, stated that with restructuring Nigeria would fare better.

“We do know that Nigeria will be a better place with restructuring, it will bring about healthy competition among the people which will be good for the nation,” the governor said.


“Delta State will continue to be a voice of reasoning for the Nigerian nation and I thank the Urhobos for their stand on restructuring, the Urhobos have added their voice because, we do know that Nigeria will be a better place with restructuring.”

He however urged politicians to avoid actions that will cause disaffection or lead to destruction ahead of the 2019 general elections, urging candidates to woo the people with their programmes and work towards free, fair and acceptable elections which will reposition Nigeria among the comity of nations.

Meanwhile, the governor has attributed the success recorded by his administration to the peaceful co-existence of different ethnic groups in the State.

The governor noted that the peace and unity that exists among the different ethnic nationalities in the state have contributed greatly to the success story of his administration.


“If there is division in any of the ethnic nationalities, there will be problem and as long as each of the ethnic nationalities are at peace with themselves, it will be easy for government to manage its affairs; these have helped us to carry out development projects without distractions.”


While calling on the ethnic nationalities to continue to live in peace, the governor observed that the SPDC will listen to the call of different ethnic nationalities to relocate back to Warri which will not only contribute to the economy of the people but, that of the state.


“We are committed to developing the economy of our people through the provision of jobs because, if the economy of our people grow, we will grow the economy of our state, our people believe that with the return of Shell to Warri, our economy will boom again.”

He commended the unity that exists among the Urhobos, observing that his administration was about to achieve a lot in the delivery of dividends of democracy due to the peace that exists among different ethnic nationalities in the state.


The governor who was accompanied to the occasion by political aides stated, “there is no doubt that the UPU is a very strong union, it is an embodiment of strength of the Urhobo people and I want to thank the leadership of UPU for keeping faith with the ideals of the founding fathers of the UPU; it is good that you have respect for the traditional rulers and I must appreciate the traditional rulers who have come together to ensure that there is no division in the UPU.”

Former Governor James Ibori at the occasion, commended the President-General of UPU, Olorogun Moses Taiga “for the work he has done in the last four years and I thank the traditional rulers for working for the unity of Urhobo land, the people should consider the overall interest of the Urhobo nation at all times; as we continue to ask our Governor to do more for us, we must keep the peace which is necessary for development to take place.”

Chief Ibori noted that it was a good development that different ethnic groups and concerned individuals are lending their voice to the call on SPDC to return to Warri, asserting, “Shell will make Warri boom again.”

Earlier, Olorogun Moses Taiga in an address, listed the achievements of his administration and commended Governor Okowa’s administration for its developmental strides especially in Urhobo land, stating that the UPU will join forces with other ethnic nationalities to make strong representation to Hon. Victor Nwokolo-led committee on Petroleum at the Federal House of Representatives for Shell to return to Warri.


He disclosed that the youths, elders, women are all eager for Shell to return to Warri.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/why-nigeria-should-be-restructured-says.html

South African telecoms firm, MTN Group and Nigeria’s Central Bank are in talks to settle an $8.1 billion dispute, their lawyers said on Tuesday, as a court in Lagos adjourned the case between the parties until Dec. 12.

The dispute is over the transfer of $8.1 billion of funds which Nigeria’s central bank said the company had sent abroad in breach of foreign-exchange regulations. MTN has denied any wrongdoing, Reuters reports.

Nigeria is MTN’s biggest market, accounting for a third of the South African company’s annual core profit. The mobile phone network serves 56 million people in Nigeria.

Seyi Sowemino, a lawyer representing Nigeria’s central bank, said the parties were in advanced stages towards the settlement. “We just want to cross T’s and dot I’s,” he told the court.

Wole Olanipekun, a lawyer representing MTN, also said the two parties were in talks.

The lawyers requested a short adjournment for lawyers to report back to the court on the settlement talks. The judge adjourned the case to Dec. 12.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/mtn-cbn-in-talks-to-settle-81-billion.html