₦airaland Forum

The Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals are upon us. With favourites like hosts Egypt and Morocco out, the last eight teams are vying to to lift the trophy in Cairo. Here's why each side will (and why it won't) advance to the final four.

SOUTH AFRICA

Why they will

South Africa have arguably completed the hardest job at this AFCON already -- silencing the hosts, Egypt, in their home stadium and beating them on Saturday night with a display full of control and flair. There is a feeling in the camp that this is just the start for Stuart Baxter's side, who had a disrupted preparation for the tournament but have found their groove in the nick of time. They are young, vibrant, fresh and full of running, while Baxter is a wily Englishman with decades of experience. It is a combination that could give Bafana Bafana the momentum to go all the way.

Why they won't

It is one thing beating a nervous Egypt side, who ultimately wilted under the pressure of expectation. It is another beating teams like Nigeria -- and then, presumably at least one of Algeria and Senegal -- who all look more accomplished than Javier Aguirre's side ever did, in reality. South Africa are an inexperienced side primarily built with an eye on the 2022 World Cup; anything they achieve now is a bonus and, while there can be an advantage in playing with the shackles off, you would expect one of these opponents to stop them in their tracks soon enough. Ivory Coast and Morocco certainly had few problems doing so in the group stage.

NIGERIA

Why they will

Did we see the real Nigeria in the second half of their thrilling win over Cameroon? They looked a fluent, potent attacking force at last, Odion Ighalo leading the line masterfully while Alex Iwobi inflicted devastating harm in the pockets around him. If that is the norm from now on then the Super Eagles have attacking riches -- speed, power and guile -- that few can match and will be difficult to repel. That surprise defeat to Madagascar in their final group stage game might just have been the sharp wake-up call Gernot Rohr's side needed.

Why they won't

They might cause damage up front but Nigeria always have a defensive mistake in them. A relatively modest Cameroon side showed that with their two quickfire goals on Saturday and Madagascar punished their ponderousness at the back too. Rohr has experimented with different formations and partnerships but has yet to find a perfect, watertight blend. With top opponents in wait from here on, three games without error would appear unlikely at a time when there is the margin for none.


SENEGAL

Why they will

In the last 16, Senegal shut out a lively Uganda side like a team of practised, seasoned pros. They grabbed an early goal via Sadio Mane and then put up a brick wall. Their opponents barely created a chance and that is what makes Aliou Cisse's team so effective. While Mane always gives you an opportunity at the sharp end, backed up by Ismaila Sarr and Keita Balde, their physical power -- the strength and tenacity of Idrissa Gueye and Kalidou Koulibaly -- make them almost impossible to penetrate further back. A few more smart 1-0s and a first AFCON title will finally be theirs.

Why they won't

The big frustration with Senegal is that they look capable of so much more. They have a tendency to sit back on leads and rely on their ability to hold opponents at arm's length, but that can be a dangerous game in the knock-outs when most teams are blessed with players who can turn a game. There is also the enduring issue with their inability to play through midfield, bereft of a genuine ball-player. That can lead them into a more direct game and, as Algeria showed in the group stage, the better sides can deal with that problem easily.

BENIN

Why they will

Why not, given that they came through a tough group undefeated and then made it past Morocco -- whose fluent performances had lit up the group stage? Benin have few stars but they are compact, tight-knit and well drilled by Michel Dussuyer. As other underdog victors at major tournaments have shown, those qualities can override even the heaviest sprinklings of stardust. They will not outplay anyone but the Squirrels, who are strong on set-pieces at both ends of the pitch -- will keep themselves in games might just have enough to grind their way through to the bitter end.

Why they won't

In the end quality tells and Benin, who by the end of the Morocco tie had resorted largely to kicking their opponents, are clearly less well-off on that front than the other contenders. They enjoyed a significant slice of luck in getting this far too, Hakim Ziyech striking the post with a last-gasp penalty to grant them extra-time, and it is unlikely they will get that fortunate again. Morocco could have scored four or five, even while not at their best, and the tournament's more efficient sides will be licking their lips.

ALGERIA

Why they will

Algeria look the most complete side left in the tournament and, at this stage, the question is: who can stop them? They were masterful in picking apart Guinea with an exhibition of total control and were equally impressive in a ruthless group stage campaign. Djamel Belmadi's side have yet to concede a goal and score more than enough, too, with Riyad Mahrez among those hitting form. They have already struck a blow in defeating Senegal and, with no obvious signs of weakness, it is difficult to see who can stop them.

Why they won't

Nobody quite knows how Algeria will respond to any setbacks, particularly on the back of a fallow few years and with the mounting pressure to break a 29-year AFCON drought. They have a habit of niggling their way through games when opponents are getting on top but must keep their discipline as the prize nears. They are well supported in Egypt but, as the host nation themselves have shown, the weight of expectation can be mightily difficult to bear.

IVORY COAST

Why they will

On paper, the Elephants have the best attacking balance at this tournament. The in-form Wilfried Zaha and the in-demand Nicolas Pepe are a rapier-like threat from the flanks and, if Jean-Michel Seri's radar is on point, they have a playmaker who can create chances too. They have found their range after some early wobbles and, while this vintage cannot yet match the "golden generation" of Didier Drogba, the Toures and company, there is a believe about Ivory Coast that those storied names have instilled. They do not expect to lose in a Cup of Nations and, at this point, there is every chance they will not.

Why they won't

Those quickfire wingers can hide a multitude of ills, primarily a lack of real pattern to their play. This is a side, too, that lacks the characters of those before it -- something that comes into the equation when an Algeria, for example, is trying to put you off your game. There remain doubts over Jonathan Kodjia's efficiency up front and the best opponents may take advantage of Eric Bailly's absence from the back line, too.

MADAGASCAR

Why they will

Madagascar are exuberant, and who can blame them? They have stunned everyone in getting this far, and by doing so with a progressive, daring brand of football that most underdogs eschew. They also have nerves of steel. After being pegged back at the end of their last-16 meeting with DR Congo they might have been expected to wilt in extra time. Instead they withstood the pressure and took four flawless penalties. Their coach, Nicolas Dupuis, believes they have already won their own Cup of Nations -- but, incredibly, there is little sign at this point that they cannot entertain serious hope of winning the real thing.

Why they won't

All good things come to an end and Madagascar will surely find things tougher against the tournament's best-drilled sides. They profited against a slack, experimental Nigeria defence and then took advantage of the questionable form DR Congo had shown throughout the competition. They have plenty of verve but no obvious difference-maker at this level; they are not the most watertight either and, while there may well be more fun along the way, it would be a sensation almost without parallel if they were not eventually put to the sword.

TUNISIA

Why they will

Sometimes the gods just seem to be on your side. When Alain Giresse brought on substitute goalkeeper Ben Mustapha for Monday's penalty shoot-out with Ghana, promptly seeing him save decisively from Caleb Ekuban, it felt like the kind of moment than can define an entire campaign. Tunisia have not been fancied here, largely for good reason, but they have an experienced defence and a proven attacking star in Youssef Msakni. Will they now feel that the stars have aligned for a real shot at their first AFCON title since 2004?

Why they won't

While they were relatively enterprising against Ghana, the bare fact is that Tunisia are yet to win a game inside 120 minutes at this competition. While they may end Madagascar's fairytale there is little to suggest they can go toe to toe against Algeria or Senegal -- as anyone who witnessed their dire group stage draw with Mauritania will attest. This is their sixth quarterfinal in the last eight editions of AFCON and the sense is that, as on those other occasions, they are not good enough to go too far further.


https://africa.espn.com/football/african-nations-cup/0/blog/post/3897536/why-each-quarterfinals-side-will-advance-at-afcon-and-why-they-wont

Sambaby7640:
Do you vote Housemates out or vote for them to stay in? For example if i vote for mercy will she be out or stay in?

Sorry for the delay, she stays in

How to vote.....

How they nominated...

Five Housemates are up for possible Eviction coming Sunday.
Tacha, Ella, KimOprah, SirDee and Mercy.

Frodd who was one of the nominated housemates up for Eviction was asked by Biggie to "save and replace" as winner of the "Veto power challenge".

He saved himself and replaced with Mercy.

At least one Housemate is expected to leave on Sunday.

The Anglican Bishop of Akure Diocese, Rt. Rev’d Simeon Borokini, has urged South-West governors to discard the controversial plan by the Federal Government to establish RUGA Settlements.

Borokini gave the warning during the first session of the Diocese’s 13th synod at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Akure, yesterday.

According to Borokini, any South-West governor who offers the people’s land for the RUGA project would have himself to blame.

DAILY POST recalls that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government had announced the indefinite suspension of the RUGA project on the grounds of inconsistency with the National Livestock Transformation Plan.

Reacting, the Anglican Bishop said: “I am not in support of the suspension, I am advocating that it should be abolished.

“If they want to practise it, let them practise it in the northern part not in the South-West. I am not comfortable with that word, suspension. It should be abolished.

“If they want to practise it in Adamawa, Kano and other northern states, they should go ahead, but I won’t support practising it in the South West.

“Why should they give an expanse of land from our community to strangers? And we don’t know what they have in mind; they may have hidden agenda, which I don’t support.

“Why should they give preference to a particular tribe and a particular trade? Cattle rearing is a trade, and we have some of our farmers who are poultry keepers; why don’t they encourage them?

“We have some of our farmers also, they rear sheep and goats, why don’t they encourage them? Why is it only people rearing cows that are to be encouraged? What is special?”

https://dailypost.ng/2019/07/08/anglican-bishop-rejects-ruga-project-southwest-tasks-governors-region/

flames01:
You clearly lack reading ability. You just scanned through my comment without proper understanding, then you started commenting.

Go back to my original post and read it again. You missed it all.

Professor of understanding........Please shift

flames01:
So are you saying the Bible supports adultery by a pastor? You better be careful before you sin against the Holy Spirit because you want to defend immorality.

If you don't understand something,asking would help you before you type what will indeed offend God and not the Holy Spirit....

You said,that's why pastors should stay married.....
I was only re-emphasising that he was already married....the idea was to stay married....I meant remain husband to his wife....where did adultery come in?

Or do you stay married and yet go have sex with someone else?

flames01:
That is why pastors are compelled to get married. If you can't be the husband of one woman, then you shouldn't be a pastor.

1Tim 3:1-7

When it happened, he was married.....

The instruction here is to "stay married".

landmark86:
Major problem is not about the men of God but our evil ladies of nowadays.
Evil has full the world of today, must ladies/woman now walk in nude/naked along the street.
Is not a matter of pastor here abeg, let check on our ladies before they fall victims of rape.

Defender of Pastor B

He has not been found guilty but you became his Attorney-General overnight because you knew him from Ilorin and all that.....

Now it seems there is a credence to the story,you are blaming the ladies.....

2 Tim 1:7
For the LORD have not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and Self-Control.

Anyone who wants to walk naked is free, it didn't start today, its now left for the men to repair or manage their libido or best still you stay "married".

Put the blame where it is, Sir.

A heavy traffic jam has developed in the Alapere area of Lagos, along the Oworonsoki Expressway on Tuesday morning after a broken down tanker filled with petrol product began to spill its contents on the expressway.

While the police and security agents could be seen trying to control traffic in the area to prevent an explosion, this has led to serious traffic for vehicles coming to Ojota, Berger from the Island.

Details later..

https://www.independent.ng/breaking-heavy-traffic-on-alapere-oworonsoki-ojota-axis-as-tanker-spills-fuel/

One of the daughters of the former Premier of the defunct Western Region, Obafemi Awolowo, on Thursday expressed disappointment over the absence of South-west state governors at the launch of a book written in honour of the late sage.

Premium Times gathered that the six governors from the region were duly invited to the event held at the International Conference Centre, the University of Ibadan on Thursday.

The presentation of the book, a Yoruba translation of the autobiography of Mr Awolowo titled ‘AWO’, was organised by Alaroye newspaper, a Yoruba tabloid.

The event was attended by the Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi; Olubadan of Ibadan, Saliu Adetunji; Onimeko of Imeko, Benjamin Alabi; Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams and Afenifere spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin; among others,

Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, while speaking at the event, said it was unfortunate that only Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo, sent his deputy, Rauf Olaniyan.

“We called this gathering in the name of our father, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. I am so delighted to see the Alaafin of Oyo here.

“Awolowo was the Premier of the Western Region which covers eight states of present Nigeria. It is disheartening that only one state governor sent a representative. I don’t know whether the governors do not like Chief Awolowo.

“I encourage Yoruba elders to be visionary and not forsake their visions. Awolowo never forsook his vision for the Yoruba race, and that’s why we’re all benefitting from it.

The guest speaker, Banji Akintoye, a professor, encouraged young Yoruba people to emulate Mr Awolowo and continue with his legacies.

He challenged the people to reject being dominated by people from other regions of Nigeria.

Mr Akintoye said: “We thank Alaroye for this. This is a wakeup call to the Yoruba race so that our nation, the Yoruba nation, will not be brought down by anybody.

“It is enough that we have been submerged in Nigeria as a county. Nevertheless, we should not allow the submergence to destroy us.

“There is an intention by a small group of people to reduce the Yoruba race. It is a deliberate attempt by the few people to destroy the people of Nigeria. The Yoruba people must not permit.

“We must continue with our culture of hospitality, but if anybody or any group threatens our land, we have the strength and power to expunge them from our land, and we will.”

The publisher of the newspaper, Adedayo Alao, told journalists that the event was organised to give the Yoruba people an opportunity to bare their mind to their leaders.

“The security situation is getting worse by the day. Truly, things are happening.

“The public was not invited to the security summit that held on Tuesday. It’s not fair and is not in the interest of the Yoruba people.

“If our people are harsh now, it is because we have been neglected.”

Premium Times made efforts to get the spokespersons of the governors to speak on why their principals did not attend the event.

They did not pick calls or respond to text messages.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/337431-awolowos-daughter-laments-absence-of-south-west-governors-at-launch-of-book-on-late-premier.html

The company made representations to top members of the PDP administrations, and they frankly explained that they would NEVER give the company a license for certain, but obviously, political reasons. The effort was abandoned, while the application was still in the books of the NBC. I was appointed DG of the NBC in May 2016, and the first step taken was to REMOVE me COMPLETELY from the Directorship of the company.

You can check with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, to verify the fact. Other people run the company and I have not visited the company in three years; I don’t know anything about their operations. But as a bona fide Nigerian company, their application was re-presented, re-examined and added to the list sent to the President for approval. This time it was approved.

As for Ambassador Babagana Kingibe and his children, is there a law in Nigeria which precludes them from being given a radio license? If there is such a law, please let me see it. Now, what does it really mean to get approval? You have the go ahead IN PRINCIPLE to operate radio/tv stations. However, that is merely a piece of paper, UNTIL AND UNLESS you have paid the requisite license fees to the NBC and you’re allocated frequencies to operate.

As of today, the company being talked about, has NOT paid a kobo for any of the locations and therefore has NOT been issued with frequencies to operate anywhere in the locations for which it got approval. These are the facts, so those making allegations are either ignorant of the processes or are being mischievous or both.

The second aspect of your inquiry is that “10 others approved by the President did not apply for the licenses”. As I have indicated earlier, it is the SOLE PREROGATIVE of the President to APPROVE licenses. ALL presidents before President Buhari have similarly approved licenses for several companies. What then happens is that such companies regularize the processes with the NBC. You would do well to direct your inquiry to the presidency, to ask why the President approved licenses for those companies. The truth is that radio and television licenses have become very popular and many Nigerians want to participate in the broadcasting industry.

When NBC submits the list to the Presidency, the next level is to get the Nigerian security services to do background checks on all the applicants to determine their suitability to be licensed for radio and television ownership in Nigeria. Again, that is a process that the NBC or its DG do not participate in and cannot therefore influence. It is after the completion of the background checks that the Presidency then SELECTS those that get the presidential approval.

The list is returned to the NBC and we begin notifying the successful companies to pick their letters and the payments are made, and frequencies are consequently allocated to the new stations. So a company might actually be approved for licenses by the President, but if that company hasn’t paid the statutory license fees, it merely holds pieces of paper. That is the situation with the company they have raised allegations against.

Sometimes, companies might even be willing to pay their license fees, but the NBC is unable to collect such payment, if there’s no availability of frequencies in such locations. That is the problem with Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt today. We don’t have frequencies to allocate in the three cities. As for those that allegedly got licensed even when they didn’t apply, it was the President exercising his prerogative as the approval authority.

Efforts to get the response of the Presidency and Mr Kyari on the matter were unsuccessful as presidential spokesman Garba Shehu did not respond to our reporter’s calls and text message, seeking clarifications on the matter.

https://dailynigerian.com/how-abba-kyari-modibbo-kawu-allegedly-tinkered-with-buharis-approval-awarded-10-radio-tv-licenses-to-self-cronies/

List of companies that neither applied for any license and their names not on the list of approved licenses but smuggled in are:

1. Bigger Best Nigeria Ltd
2. High Fidelity Comm. Ltd
3. Cooper Platform Ltd
4. Hattara TV and Radio
5. Oho Media Ltd
6. IZY Group of Companies
7. Oracle Executive Services and Consult Limited
8. TAP Television Network
9. New Radio Network
10. Seamaster Global Resources Ltd

DAILY NIGERIAN further reveals that the NBC DG, whose company is Word, Sound and Vision Multimedia (WSV) with CAC registration number RC647641 was allocated six broadcasting licenses. The licenses are distributed thus: one in Abuja; one in Lagos; one in Kano, one in Kaduna and two in Ilorin, his hometown.

In an advertorial in the Vanguard newspaper of May 24, 2019, a civil society organization, CSO, Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance, CACOBAG, corroborated DAILY NIGERIAN findings and further revealed that, “From our search at the Corporate Affairs Commission, some of the companies were not registered as legal entities.”

CACOBAG in a statement by its chairman, Toyin Raheem, issued in Abuja on the June 8 confirmed DAILY NIGERIAN investigation that six slots were for his (Modibbo‘s) private company, Word, Sound and Vision Multimedia (WSV) Limited and another 10 were approved for companies which neither applied nor appeared on the list approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The CSO’s independent findings revealed that Babagana Kingibe, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and his family were among the 10 beneficiaries of the radio licenses recently doled out by NBC.

“We are again compelled to draw the attention of President Buhari and indeed the Nigerian public to another finding, which indicates that one of the 10 illegal radio licenses doled out by the leadership of NBC is owned by the family of Alhaji Babagana Kingibe.“The 10 companies that did not apply or bided for any radio license were smuggled into a list already approved by President Buhari.

“Our findings at relevant quarters show that one of the beneficiaries of the doctored license list is Oracle Exclusive Services and Consult Ltd, with its registered address as 20 Monrovia Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

“Further investigations also reveal that the company has only two directors/shareholders, who are both children of Mr Kingibe,namely; Abdulkabir Kingibe and Zara Aminu Deribe, who both gave the same address as 59 Nelson Mandela Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja.

“This is obviously another confirmation of one of the ways the deadly cabal around President Buhari operates by circumventing due process and ‎manipulating his approvals for personal benefits.

“We believe this is totally unacceptable in a country governed by rules and regulations. This is an abuse of office and a display of cheer greed,”‎ CACOBAG stated.

Responding to DAILY NIGERIAN inquiry regarding the six licenses said to have been allocated to his company as well as the 10 licenses allegedly allocated to those companies that did not apply for them, the NBC DG responded as follows:

According to the Act which sets up the NBC, in 1. (b) of POWERS OF THE COMMISSION, it is given the power of “receiving, processing and considering applications for the establishment, ownership or operation of Radio and Television stations. And in 1 (c) we have the power of “recommending applications …to the President, for the grant of Radio and television licenses”. These are very broad powers, but at the end of the process: application; verifications of status of the company; structures of ownership, NBC compiles those eligible, and the list is transmitted to the Presidency for APPROVAL. At that point, NBC or its DG, does not have the powers to influence who is given a license or who is denied.

Your inquiry asserted that “NBC awarded six licenses to a company (I am) associated with”. Neither NBC nor its DG has the power to AWARD licenses. ALL licenses are APPROVED by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And because it is his SOLE PREROGATIVE, he approves licenses for whomsoever he chooses and denies licenses too. The company in question WORD, SOUND & VISION MULTIMEDIA LTD. applied for its license in 2008! That is EIGHT YEARS BEFORE I was appointed Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), in 2016. It met all the set criteria and was eventually shortlisted for the approval, but it was DENIED by the PDP administrations of Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari and Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, are under fire for allegedly tinkering with the president approval in the award of radio and TV broadcasting licences.

In 2016, Mr Kyari was accused in an online report of taking N500 million from communications giant, MTN purportedly to help it mitigate the fine of $5 billion imposed on it by federal government, just as the embattled NBC boss is currently facing charges bordering on misappropriation of N2.5 billion.

The recent recommendation by the NBC of applications by some companies for the grant of FM Radio and Digital Television broadcasting licenses by President Muhammadu Buhari has been soiled in acts of forgery, breach of trust, fraud and systemic racketeering by Messrs Kyari and Kawu.

Mr Kawu, on the 20th July 2018, ‎wrote a letter with reference No. NBC/SEC/FMIC/II entitled, “Recommendation of Applications for the Grant of FM Radio and Digital Television Broadcasting Licenses by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces” to the President through the Chief of Staff.

“Your Excellency, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Section 2(1)(b) and (c) of the National Broadcasting Commission Act, Cap NII, Laws of the Federation, 2004, the National Broadcasting Commission hereby submits for the grant of FM Radio and Digital Terrestrial Television broadcast licenses by the President, Commander in chief of the Armed Forces, the under listed companies whose applications have been processed and found to be in conformity with the statutory requirements for the grant of broadcast licenses as stipulated by the NBC Act.”

According to the letter obtained by DAILY NIGERIAN, the NBC requested Mr Buhari’s ‎approval for a total of 303 licenses made up of 245 for radio and 58 for television.

While the radio licenses were sought for each of the six geographic zones viz: ‎North Central, 48; North East, 20; North West, 44; South East, 29; South South, 37 and South West, 67, approval for the television licenses were sought viz: National TV stations, 35; Regional TV stations, 7 and 16 for some states and the FCT.

However, the Chief of Staff, in his letter with reference No. SH/COS/II/II/A/54 and dated 24th September, 2018, conveying the approval of the president stated that, “The President has approved your request for the grant of FM Radio and Digital Terrestrial Television broadcast licenses to the one hundred and seventy (170) organisations and institutions recommended in your submission.”

In the Chief of Staff’s summary to Mr. President, FM Radio and Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Licenses numbering 147 and 23, respectively were approved by the President.

However, according to documents obtained by DAILY NIGERIAN, the Chief of Staff and the DG of NBC, having secured Mr Buhari’s approval,‎ conspired to substitute names of approved licensees with forged and non existent applicants.

Investigation by DAILY NIGERIAN reveals that names of corporate bodies that neither applied for any license nor have their names initially on the list of NBC’s memo, were inserted and names of approved beneficiaries, expunged from the president’s approved list.

Source: https://dailynigerian.com/how-abba-kyari-modibbo-kawu-allegedly-tinkered-with-buharis-approval-awarded-10-radio-tv-licenses-to-self-cronies/

Six suspected militia have been killed while vandalizing and looting a church in Ayu town in Wukari local government area of Taraba state. Ayu town, which is a Tiv community and located in the midst of Jukun villages, came under attack by suspected militia.

Our reporter gathered that the Tiv in the community allegedly killed and chased away the invading militia who looted and vandalized a church in the area. The president of Tiv cultural association in Taraba state, Mr Goodman Dahida, told Daily Trust in a telephone interview that the militia had also attacked several other Tiv community, vandalized churches and catered away properties worth millions of Naira.

“As am talking to you several Tivs villages in Donga and Takum local government areas were burnt down and property including farm produce and animals carted away by the militia,” Dahida alleged. He said several Tiv including women and children have fled the areas. When contacted, the police spokesman of Taraba state command, DSP David Misal, said he was not informed of the incident.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/tiv-jukun-crisis-six-killed-while-vandalizing-looting-church-in-taraba.html

This administration is blessed and we are suffering insecurity unnecessarily.

A former Military Head of State as President who foiled "several coup attempts" against himself...

A PhD holder in Criminology who was former Minister and now Governor....

A Professor of anti-terrorism who is presently lecturing the OIC members right now on how to combat insecurity and terrorism......

This is exactly where we need their expertise.

Rip to the fallen and may the sick get well quick.

Six people, including an elderly woman, were killed in a fresh attacks by suspected militia in Tsondi Wukari local government area of Taraba State. Daily Trust’s findings revealed that the attackers invaded the village at dawn and shot several people.

It was gathered that six persons were killed during the attack while several others got injured after being hit by bullets. The attackers, it was learnt, had crossed from neighbouring Benue villages and rained bullets into the Jukun village.

Many houses were also set ablaze and residents fled to Wukari town and other villages for safety. Kente axis, where Tsondi village is located, had suffered series of attacks by suspected militia in the past one month, resulting in kidnapping of dozens of people and sacking of about 10 communities.

The attackers, Daily Trust gathered, were using guerrilla warfare tactics by striking and running into the bush, mostly during the night and early morning. Five persons were admitted at general hospital, Wukari for treatment of gun shots.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Taraba State command, DSP David Misal said he was not informed about the incident.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/just-in-6-killed-4-wounded-in-fresh-attack-in-jukun-village.html

G

Jos North local government Council had on Friday officially presented 15 hectares of land located at Babale Village to the Muslim Ummah of Jos city to be used as burial ground. Daily Trust reports that the local government council handed over the documents of the land to Plateau state chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI).

The council presented the documents of land through its Secretary, Hassan Maimadara. Maimadara submitted the documents of the land to the Deputy Chief Imam of Jos, Sheikh Ghazali Isma’ila Adam, at the board room of Jos Central Mosque.

Daily Trust observed that the Jos Muslim Ummah lacked a burial ground in the city, having one of their self acquired land at Rusau village blocked access to it since 2008 while the old one at Zaria Road was filled up.

In his remarks, Hassan Maimadara said, “As promised by the Council that it would allocate land for burial ground, Allah in His will has made it possible for us to officially present the 15 hectares of land to Jos Muslim ummah.”

"The Council would employ workers that would be keeping the burial ground as planned,” he said. In his response, the Deputy Chief Imam of Jos, Shiekh Ghazali Isma’ila Adam, assured the council that the Muslim ummah would put the land into proper use.

“We have gone round the land, we have seen it, Muslim ummah are generally grateful to the Council and we would put the land into proper use.” He said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/jos-muslims-get-15-hectare-burial-ground.html

A Federal High Court, Uyo, has declined to grant a request of the Akwa Ibom State Government to stop the implementation of the guidelines on local government funds issued recently by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the NFIU on May 6 issued the ‘Guidelines to Reduce Vulnerabilities Created by Cash Withdrawals from Local Government Funds throughout Nigeria.’

The guideline mandates that state and local government joint accounts be operated solely as transit accounts from which funds will be distributed directly to the accounts of the local governments.

Banks were directed to ensure the full implementation of the guidelines with effect from June 1.

The guideline will, in effect, ensure that the common practice of governors having sole authority over monies meant for local governments is stopped.

Governors have vowed to stop the guidelines from being implemented and have written to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene.

The president is yet to comment on the matter.

In reaction to the directive, all the local governments in Akwa Ibom State, alongside the state government through the attorney-general of the state, approached the Uyo Division of the Federal High Court seeking to nullify the guidelines.

The suit filed against the NFIU has the reference number FHC/UY/CS/88/2019.

The plaintiffs, who were represented by the state’s attorney-general, Uwem Nwoko, also urged the court to grant a restraining order against the NFIU stopping the commencement of the guidelines on June 1.

On Friday, Arthur Obi-Okafor, who represented the NFIU, challenged the right of the plaintiffs to file the suit. He urged the court not to grant any order “in favour of persons who are nothing but busybodies.”

He informed the court that the matter is of grave national security concern and that the urgency raised by the plaintiffs is self-induced since the guidelines were released on May 6.

The judge, A. Okeke, refused to grant the restraining order and adjourned the matter to June 21.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/332724-lg-funds-amidst-complaint-by-governors-court-refuses-to-stop-nfiu-directive.html

Business activities were today grounded in Aba, Abia State, following the sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

The gates of major markets in the city such as the Ariaria International, Ekeoha, Cemetery, Alaoji spare parts, Ehere, Ngwa road, were open, but there were no trader or customer on sight.

Banks, schools, as well as Jubilee Road spare parts market and St. Michael’s Road phone and computer accessories market; shops were placed under lock and key. The roads in the city were also deserted as people were seen trekking to their destinations with several teams of security agents patrolling the streets.

The roads in the city were deserted as people were seen trekking to their destinations with several teams of security agents patrolling the streets while others were stationed at major junctions.

It was observed that traders still stayed away despite the assurance of the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ene Okon, threatening to arrest anybody found harassing residents or traders at any market. Police patrol vehicles were stationed the major entrances to markets.

According to a trader at the Ariaria International Market, Mrs Chioma Ogbonna, “We decided to close shop in compliance with the IPOB order. We identify with IPOB in remembering our fallen hero who died that we may live.

We, the traders are aware that sacrificing a day in the interest of Biafra is not too much. What they are doing is in line with our desire to enjoy freedom from oppression of the Nigerian government. We want an independent state of Biafra.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/05/ipob-sit-at-home-markets-schools-banks-shut-in-aba/

The Economic and Financial Crimes and Commission, EFCC, has reacted to reports that its operatives have arrested former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, and his wife, Nkechi.

Reports had emerged on Thursday that the anti-graft agency arrested the former governor and sealed his apartment in Eastern Palm University, Ogboko.

However, speaking to DAILY POST on Thursday, EFCC’s spokesman, Tony Orilade, refuted the claims, describing the report as “fake news”.

Orilade said, ”Such report that Okorocha and wife have been arrested is fake news, disregard it.”

https://dailypost.ng/2019/05/30/efcc-speaks-rumoured-arrest-okorocha-wife/

The National Youth Service Corps says it has decided to henceforth include the date of birth of corps members on the certificate of national service as a measure to guard against age falsification.

The NYSC said its decision was informed by the West African Examination Certificate and the scheme’s Exemption Certificate which included the dates of birth of the holders.

The NYSC Director-General, Brig Shuaibu Ibrahim, stated this in Abuja at the 2019 Batch B pre-mobilisation workshop, noting that the scheme observed that some tertiary institutions were guilty of presenting over-aged graduates for mobilisation.

Ibrahim said on Tuesday that the rising number of corps-producing institutions and the “attendant rise in corps members’ population pose a great challenge which we must address.”

The DG said, “We have observed that some institutions present over-aged graduates for mobilisation. Such graduates falsify their age in order to avoid appearing on the exemption list. Such act will not be condoned and the scheme will not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions on any institution involved.

“As a further step toward curtailing age falsification, we have decided to include date of birth on the certificate of national service and exclusion letter. This is just as in the case of the WAEC certificate and the NYSC Exemption Certificate. We also plan to carry out advocacy to encourage other examination bodies to adopt the same approach.

"We have also observed cases of suspected connivance whereby some accredited institutions help unaccredited ones to mobilise unqualified graduates. While the scheme will continue to sanction erring institutions, we are working on introducing a platform on the NYSC portal where the corps producing institution will be required to upload the list of their matriculated students every year.

“This will be used to eliminate the registration of persons whose names are presented for mobilisation but who are not found on the matriculation list."

https://punchng.com/nysc-to-include-date-of-birth-on-certificates/

Don't bother abusing me......
There is no name on earth I haven't called myself in the last 3 months.....nothing you call me here will undo what's happened.

It's no fiction....My story...this is my fake moniker.

I had met this poor girl via SM doing menial jobs about 10years ago.Been an introvert,I had always wanted to run away from the "outlandish" or "too exposed" babes (or so I thought). She was in another state,we got talking,until 3 years later; we got along.I was schooling and managing a small business at the time. Been close to my landlord, who is the Eze of that Community, I did secure her admission in the University.(situated in same community).

I enlisted the family and informed them, its marriage tinx but she had to go to school first(my mistake).Paid her through school with the consent of her parents even nysc. When the economy plunged,I had to travel far for ends to meet but we spoke virtually everyday and I hopped in at least once every year. Nonetheless,hustle wasn't paying off..I often made sure she was near-comfortable. She was my first and we both were green.

We had been intimate until she called me 2 years into the r/ship and told me no sex, I asked why?and she insisted pre-marital sex is unbiblical. I did all i could to make sure,it was her and her alone.We continued in the next 5 years without it but it didn't stop my financial,moral and emotional support.

We had made a covenant (seal) with each other prior to the "first night". We met this year in Jan and then in Feb,I gathered she was married. Changed numbers and so on. I didn't believe until I saw it live on her page. She will suffer it but that's not my concern,my own is to let myself off the hook and move on.

Met a new girl,who had been more than helpful, something is brewing between us both for like a month now. I can't say if its truly love but I refrained from telling her my past in details. My fear is,I don't know how to love again and if she knows what's going on..she will flee. She has told me she had a bad past and had kept away from guys for a long time.

She called 2 weeks ago,and we arranged we will be spending some 4 days together. She is a wonderful chic until a day before her arrival,she called me over the phone and said we need to make an oath when she comes to believe & trust in each other. I spent the next 24 hours constructing "lies" to tell which paid off. Though,she didn't notice it was all bluff.

My ex-es people have been bombarding my phone in the last week. I have changed numbers and limited to a minute few. It's not my business what happens to her, what am after is how to get out of my own mess.

N'landers advise please....

The Governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has challenged the Governor-elect of the state, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, to probe him when he leaves office.

The Governor said this while debunking recent allegation by Ihedioha and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state that he has already withdrawn N17 billion from the state treasury.

According to the outgoing governor, Ihedioha has every right to investigate even the food he and his family ate in Government House from 2011 to 2019.

He described the allegation as unfounded, adding that Ihedioha lacks the capacity to lead Imo State.

DAILY POST reported earlier that Ihedioha had given directives to financial institutions in the state against further transactions with the Okorocha-led government.

The Governor-elect also vowed to “recover all properties acquired illegally by governor Okorocha.”

Reacting in a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha said, “He should also know that with what Governor Okorocha has achieved, Imo people won’t entertain any excuse from him.

“If he likes, let him talk about Okorocha from now till when he will leave as governor. The die is cast. Action speaks louder than words.

“Blackmail or propaganda, which the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) invested heavily in, during the 12 years they governed the state, have become old-fashioned in the state at the moment.

“Ihedioha was contentiously declared winner, on Tuesday, and on Thursday, he came up with the allegation of the government withdrawing N17 billion. He never mentioned how the withdrawal was made?

“Like we said earlier, he is not an intelligent guy. He can’t cope with the challenges of governance."

http://dailypost.ng/2019/03/18/imo-guber-investigate-feeding-cost-family-2011-2019-okorocha-challenges-ihedioha/

Less than 19 per cent of Lagos State voters with Permanent Voter Cards came out to vote in the governorship and state legislative elections, statistics obtained by SUNDAY PUNCH have shown.

According to the statistics released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, out of the 6.5 million registered voters in Lagos State, 5.5 million obtained the PVCs.

INEC guidelines state that only persons with the PVCs are allowed to vote, which means the 5.5 million persons were eligible to cast their ballots on Election Day.

However, figures released by INEC showed that only 1,006,074 actually voted during the general elections, representing 18.29 per cent of the 5.5 million voters with the PVCs in the state.

The winner of the governorship election, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress, garnered 739, 445 votes, indicating that less than 14 per cent of Lagosians with the PVCs voted for him.

The turnout of voters in the governorship and state House of Assembly polls was lower than the presidential and National Assembly elections held two weeks earlier.

The total number of accredited voters during the presidential election in Lagos was 1,196, 490, which was higher than the turnout in the governorship election by 190, 416.

From the data gathered from various state results, Jigawa recorded the highest voter turnout in the March 8 polls at 72 per cent. No fewer than 1, 169, 925 persons voted out of the 1, 625, 721 persons with the PVCs.

Sokoto has the second highest voter turnout as 60 per cent of persons with the PVCs were accredited to vote in the elections which were later declared inconclusive.

About 1, 033, 081 persons were accredited to vote out of the 1, 726, 887 with the PVCs. The figure is expected to rise as a supplementary election will hold on March 23.

Crisis-ridden Borno State, which has been battling insurgency for the last nine years, recorded a voter turnout of 1,292,138 out of the 2, 244, 376 persons with the PVC. This constitutes over 57 per cent voter turnout.

Plateau State, whose governorship election has also been declared inconclusive, registered a voter turnout of 54 per cent. The North-Central state accredited 1, 147, 025 out of the 2, 095, 409 voters who had the PVCs.

Taraba State also recorded a 54 per cent voter turnout where Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party secured a second term as governor.

Kaduna State witnessed 53 per cent voter turnout as 1,936,800 voters were accredited out of 3, 648, 831 with the PVCs.

In Adamawa State, where the last elections have also been declared as inconclusive, a 50 per cent voter turnout was recorded. About 894, 481 persons out of 1,788,706 persons with the PVCs voted. However, the figure is also expected to rise as a supplementary election will take place on March 23.

Interestingly, no state in the southern part of Nigeria recorded up to 50 per cent voter turnout.

Of all the states where governorship election held in the South, only the result of Rivers State was held back.

Delta State recorded the highest voter turnout in the South with a little above 48 per cent voter turnout. About 1,188,784 out of 2,470,924 persons with the PVCs were accredited to vote in the oil-rich state while about 37 per cent turned out to vote in Akwa Ibom.

Speaking with our correspondent, a former National Commissioner of INEC, Prof. Lai Olurode, said the election environment was not conducive for peaceful voting.

He believed that the voter turnout and the conduct of the 2015 presidential election were better than the situation in 2019.

Olurode stated, “The aftermath of the presidential election in some places, including Lagos, made many believe that their safety would not be guaranteed. The average voter wants to be sure that when he leaves his home, he will return safely.

“It is important to stress that INEC improved on logistics but other stakeholders in the electoral process probably didn’t do enough. Certainly, there is room for better performance in future elections. Nigeria certainly deserves better electoral engagement.

“Elections ought not to be the equivalent of a slaughter’s slab. Some politicians display an unbelievable level of desperation. We also need to create an electoral regime other than the present zero-sum game, one in which every participant is a winner.”

https://punchng.com/lagos-records-lowest-voter-turnout-at-18-jigawa-tops/#

THE Coalition of Delta All Progressives Congress, APC Support Groups, has told the governorship candidate of the party in the State, Chief Great Ogboru not to go to tribunal to challenge the victory of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, insisting that Dr Ifeanyi Okowa won him squarely and fairly.

Saying it would amount to waste time and resources, the group said Deltans reflected who should be their governor through the ballot last Saturday. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Monday declared the incumbent Governor and candidate of the PDP, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as winner of the election after he polled a total 925,274 votes to beat Chief Great Ogboru who scored 215,938 votes.

Addressing newsmen in Asaba, convener of the coalition, Mr Daniel Ekiugbo said “INEC’s declaration was a true reflection of the wishes of the people of the state and I want appeal to APC leadership not to support Ogboru in his decision to go to court.

“It is obvious that challenging the outcome will be a wild goose chase. The margin is too wide for any sane person to think of challenging it. Ogboru had been challenging electoral victories in the past on allegations of being rigged out.

“So this time around, the national leadership of APC now provided the level playing field so that he will not be rigged out this, but he was overwhelmed, winning in just two out of 25 local government areas”.

Saying that the APC lost the governorship election partly as a result of alleged diversion of over N3 billion that was released for the purpose of the election, he said there was no evidence that such money ever disbursed.

Ekiugbo said Ogboru as governorship candidate was a misadventure, adding that “his ambition was selfishly driven to rake-in election funds without any strategy put in place to guarantee victory,” adding that “a budget of N3 billion was too much to prosecute the governorship election.

“There was no evidence anywhere that he spent N1 billion for the elections. He refused to properly disburse and chose to release paltry amounts only to his few chosen supporters.

“Even for Local Government Area rallies, he never released one kobo, instead he directed that local leaders and supporters to task themselves to fund such rallies. And because most leaders could not raise such funds, a lot of LGA rallies were either abandoned or turned out to be huge flops.

“We reiterate our demand that the National Working Committee, NWC of our great party to set up a panel of enquiry to immediately review the outcome of the Delta APC overall performance in the just concluded elections.”

Chief Great Ogboru could not be reached for comment on the allegation of diversion of over N3 billion campaign funds. However, the party chairman in the state, Jones Erue said he was not aware of how much came in during the elections.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/dont-go-to-tribunal-okowa-defeated-you-squarely-apc-group-tells-ogboru/