₦airaland Forum

The zonal leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in
Edo, Delta, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Kwara, Oyo and Ekiti
states has commended Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele
Fayose, for giving priority to the welfare of teachers and
boosting their morale through the provision of incentives.
This is just as the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour
Congress (NLC), Mr Ade Adesanmi, lauded the governor for
promising not to retrench workers or slash their salaries in
spite of the financial challenges confronting the state.
The teachers, in a letter dated November 11, 2015 to
Governor Fayose and signed by Comrade M.O.Fanimokun,
Group Chairman and Elder Joe Iyalekhue, Group Secretary,
thanked the governor for the successful celebration of this
year’s Teachers’ Day.
“We write on behalf of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT)
EDOLOOKOE Group of State Wings (Edo, Delta, Ogun, Lagos,
Ondo, Osun, Kwara, Oyo and Ekiti states) to appreciate and
congratulate you on the successful celebration of the 2015
World Teachers’ Day in Ekiti State.
“We are grateful and encouraged by your full participation,
presence, love, gifts and rewards given to identified
hardworking teachers to boost their morale and add value
to the teaching profession.
“The union will continue to partner with you so as to bring in
the much-needed improvement in the living and working
conditions of the teachers which are synonymous with the
learning conditions of the child.
“We are proud of you sir, the union will continue to identify
with you in the overall interest of the educational
development of the state and the nation at large,” the
teachers said.
The Ekiti NLC boss, Adesanmi, who spoke in Otun-Ekiti,
Moba Local Government Area of the state during the
governor’s sensitisation tour, said the gesture by the
governor showed that he truly loves workers in the state.
He also commended the governor for the provision of N20
million to buy instructional materials for primary schools in
the state.
On the resolve of the governor not to ban the activities of
commercial bike operators in the state, Adesanmi also
praised the governor, saying ‘okada’ operators were also
part of the workforce in the state.
He gave the assurance that workers in the state would
continue to support the Fayose administration and prayed
that nothing would affect the smooth and cordial
relationship between the two sides.


http://dailyindependentnig.com/2015/11/27/teachers-welfare-done-well-nlc-nut-tell-fayose/

sameer1212:
@ops,Cry me a river. Come 2019 we will still vote APC cos there worst will be far better than PDP good.

Inconsequent submission that fails correspondence test of truth.

sameer1212:
@ops,Cry me a river. Come 2019 we will still vote APC cos there worst will be far better than PDP good.

Inconsequent submission!

It's a pity that this is coming from Sahara Reporters. They used the appropriate words.

It's a pity that this is coming from Sahara Reporters. They are on point though.

Following reports that the Igbo son of Nigeria’s former Head of
State, General Yakubu Gowon, Mr. Musa Gowon allegedly
released three weeks ago from California Prisons in the United
States, U.S, will soon be deported to Nigeria, the Igbo Mandate
Congress, IMC, has revealed plans it has made to accord Musa
Gowon a rousing welcome.
The group noted that it has notified its members in the U.S
to ensure that “this rejected son of Igbo woman, abandoned
to a life of twenty two years in jail, due to acts not unrelated
to her mother’s disapproval of indiscriminate murder of
civilian by Federal Troops, is not left without roots.”
Disclosing this in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST by its
Director-General, Rev Obinna Akukwe, IMC stated that it “has
gotten in touch with those concerned through agents to
determine the actual date of deportation so that this
rejected Igbo son abandoned by his father, is welcomed and
given a sense of belonging.”
The statement further read, “Musa Gowon was borne out of
a courtship gone awry between former Head of State Yakubu
Gowon, then a Lieutenant Colonel and an Igbo Girl by name
Edith Ike-Okongwu while he was still a bachelor. This
relationship between Gowon and Edith Ike ended in the heat
of the civil war. It is widely believed that the relationship
broke off after Federal Troops bombed Aba General Hospital
with NAF Napalm Bomb on July 14, 1968 killing more than
500 patients..
“Edith was said to have expressed disapproval with Gowon
over the deliberate bombing of Biafran civilian soft targets
and the romance was brought to an end. Prior to that, Edith
Ike’s parents, though from Aro-Ndikelionwu in Orumba
North Local Govt of Anambra State but lived in the north for
over thirty years, relocated back to the East after the first
wave of pogrom of 1966.
Edith herself relocated to then West Germany on 30th June,
1967 after Gowon overruled her plans to relocate to either
the US of UK.
“The relationship was said to have produced a handsome
young man with full name Jack Musa Ngonadi Gowon in
1968. Due to Edith’s constant unease at the indiscriminate
murder of civilians, the relationship got frosty and ended
towards the end of 1968. In 1969 Gowon married Miss
Victoria Zakari, a nurse by profession. Gowon reportedly
denied paternity of Musa.
“Edith was said to have migrated to the United States from
then West Germany after the birth of Musa. The young boy
lived with Gowon until her mother took him away to the US.
Edith was later to relocate to Nigeria where she became a
guru in public relations, working with Guinness PLC, NNPC
and others. In the US Musa was said to have joined a
Colombian drug cartel and lived flamboyant lifestyle until he
was arrested on November 18, 1992 aged 23, prosecuted
and given 40-year jail sentence the following year.
The statement noted further that Chief Charles Okereke,
Publisher of Nigeria Masterweb and Ambassador at large for
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, while briefing the
leadership of Igbo Mandate Congress on aspects of the legal
tussle between Gowon and Edith Ike said that “the case of
paternity appeared before the Supreme Court of Nigeria
(Suit No: SC.64/97); the appellant was General Gowon
(Gowon v. Ike-Okongwu (2003) 6 NWLR (Pt.815)38 and
respondents .Mrs. Edith Ike-Okongwu, and Mr.Musa Gowon.
FACTS: Respondent herein as plaintiff in the original action
claimed, inter alia that the defendant, General Yakubu
Gowon, is the father of the 2nd plaintiff, Musa Gowon. They
claimed damages of the sum of N10, 000,000.00 for alleged
libel contained in a letter published by the defendant
through his solicitors to the editor of a monthly magazine
“The Prime People.”
“Defendant in his statement of defense denied liability and
paternity of the 2nd plaintiff. The defendant subsequently
filed a motion seeking leave of court to file an amended
statement of defense by inclusion of a counter-claim. The
subject of the counter-claim was an alleged libelous article
in two publications of the magazine called “HINTS – True Life
Romances.”
“These publications of the magazine were made after the
plaintiffs had filed amended statement of defense. The trial
court at the conclusion of hearing of the application struck
out both the amended statement of defense and the
counter-claim. The defendant’s appeal to the Court of Appeal
was dismissed. Dissatisfied, he further appealed to the
Supreme Court.”
“U.S. President Obama last month granted him state pardon
after he had spent 22 years in prison. He is now in the
custody of U.S. Immigration booked for deportation to
Nigeria anytime from now
“Igbo Mandate Congress also calls on the Federal
Government to ensure that this boy is rehabilitated so that
those evil memories of the civil war is not resurrected and
used by desperate politicians.
“Igbo Mandate Congress also called on Igbos in the United
States to assist to assist Musa Gowon Ngonadi because “he
whom has been rejected should not reject himself”
“Igbo Mandate Congress also expresses gratitude to the
United States President Barrack Obama for the pardon
granted Musa Ngonadi Gowon in the spirit of reconciliation
and demand good treatment of this man born under the
contradictions of love, hate and an unnecessary civil war.”

http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/26/obama-to-deport-gowons-son-igbo-mandate-congress-set-to-welcome-him/

Believe this thrash at your own peril. Ok, is GEJ performance now a yardstick for PMB? The same GEJ you ousted? Remember it is change we are talking about here. Self justification is the nature of a failed man. Must you look for what to justify your cluelessness in office. However you look at it, it has never been this worse especially when it is happening under the watch of your change messiah, Buhari.

NgeneUkwenu:
I would have replied you line by line but for lacing your comment with idiotic profanities, I won't give you my time.

Go and give us a break. Ok? You've got nothing verifiably and truthfully correspondent to say except you still want to buttress the OP's point the more. I don't even know if you actually live here in Nigeria.

S/he is just one of the reasons this administration will disappoint Nigeria.

He just leaves everything for his body language to do. When he travels out of Nigeria where he is not being seen for his body language to be decoded,then Nigeria lies dormant.
Someone should tell him we need him most times here in Nigeria so that his body language can be potent.

Let him continue. All I know is that whatever they did and said against GEJ will be used against them in the court of Public Opinion.

Soyinka couldn't have written this. Since when did Soyinka start being petty and rhetoric?

Following the decision of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) on the Kogi guber election, the camp of
Governor Idris Wada has declared that the Peoples Democratic
Part (PDP) will go to court.
INEC yesterday in a statement by its Secretar,y Mrs Augusta
Ogakwu, said: “The commission has, after due consideration
of the circumstances, decided to conclude the process by
conducting election in the 91 affected polling units as
announced by the returning officer.
“It also decided to allow the APC to fill the vacancy created
by the death of its candidate.
“Accordingly, notice is hereby given to all the 22 political
parties participating in the Kogi governorship election that
supplementary election in the 91 affected polling units shall
hold on Dec. 5.”
December 5 is the same day the governorship election will
hold in Bayelsa State.
It would be recalled that INEC Returning Officer, Prof.
Emmanuel Kucha, declared Saturday’s election inconclusive
due to of irregularities in 91 polling units, which saw over
49,000 votes cancelled.
But Abubakar Audu, APC governorship candidate died on
Sunday, a development that has created a legal issue.
Reacting on the INEC position, a close aide of the governor
confirmed that the PDP will file a law suit within the next few
days.
“The PDP legal team have been meeting since INEC made
the announcement,” the source told our correspondent
Wednesday morning.
“I can categorically tell you that we are going to court.
“INEC did not base its declaration on sound legal provisions,
so what they have done is not within their powers.
“Their role is to conduct election not try to adjust the law to
fit what the want.
“INEC’s decision is clearly bias because what it should have
done, in allowing APC conduct another primary, was cancel
the election so we go for a fresh one.
“In this matter, APC has been favoured and it behoves on us
to act.”

http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/25/kogi-pdp-will-definitely-contest-inec-decision-wadas-camp/

EUROBOMBER:
Are we back to dictatorship under Buhari?

Why is Nnamdi Kanu still in detention after fulfilling all conditions required for bail?

Buhari has not handled this issue with wisdom at all because he has only succeeded in gathering international sympathy for him and making him more popular.

Nnamdi Kanu is now being seen internationally as an activist being oppressed by the Nigerian government.

#ReleaseNnamdiKanuNow.

Buhari required uncommon sense to handle Nnadi Kanu, but because of his easily irritable, intolerant, close-minded, reckless, unrepentant, Igbo-hateful spirit, he rushed to arrest and continue to detain Nnamdi Kanu, who would have been so pained and belittled if he was not dignified by arrest but ignored. Now the guy has got the international recognition and sympathy he seeks. PMB is simply ashamed of releasing the guy and that's why he will continue portraying himself in a bad light to the world by continued illegal detention of the IPOB leader. I thought he said the other day at Chantam House that he was a born again democrat, but his actions, inactions and body language have continued to give him away as an unrepentant despot. Worse still is his "I-don-care" and "I-own" Nigeria dispositions.

Even Buhari too is crying of Sabotage and Theft. You aint seen anything yet. You are operating in a very near free and conducive atmosphere and you're complaining. By the time you experience just 5% of the sabotage, theft and conspiracy GEJ underwent, you'll know.

Data obtained from global energy information providers, revealed that Nigeria is currently recording supply glut in the sales of its crude, as buyers seem to prefer other competing grades from other countries. Analysts are of the view that unless an improvement is recorded in the days and weeks ahead, the Nigerian economy would be plunged into a financial quagmire, as it would be starved of funds to fund its budget and manage the affairs of the country. Data indicated that Nigeria had been only able to get buyers for 22 of its 62 December 2015 loading cargoes, leaving around 40 cargoes of nearly every grade of its crude still unsold. The data said that Qua Iboe was better supported, having cleared most of its December loading cargoes, while other grades, including Forcados, Bonny Light, and Escravos were under substantial pressure. However, in Angola, Nigeria’s fierce competitor, as there were still at least eight cargoes from the December programme looking for buyers, including Pazflor and CLOV. Platts, on the other hand, said Nigerian crude oil market remained under pressure, as many grades have lost around $1 per barrel in value since the start of October, especially as an abundance of sweet crude and high freight rates have failed to excite interest from refinery buyers. The loss of value was attributed to a number of factors — pressure from high freight rates, competing Mediterranean and North Sea grades and general weakness in refinery margins, which have improved over the past week but not enough to counteract the glut of sweet crude. The report quoted traders as saying that Nigerian grades account for the bulk of the estimated 65 million barrels or so still unsold from November and December West African (WAF) crude programmes. “There is a big overhang, with such cheap Urals and Azeri (Light in Europe) for instance, European refineries can take closer grades and that is clearly affecting WAF grades,” one European refinery trader said. Reuters also said that sellers of Nigeria’s oil were forced to cut differentials again, as around two thirds of the December export cargoes remained available, and was expected to be joined by the January exports this week. One oil trader said: “Every crude oil grade is available, and you even have the choice of when it is going to load. You have equity holders in a rush to sell what they have.” However, some traders are of the view that refinery margins remained positive still, with gasoline demand in Nigeria itself helping to support European and United States’ refining margins, and buyers in California and Asia also keen to import more gasoline. As a result of the glut, prices of Nigeria’s crude oil grades took a hit, as Qua Iboe was assessed last week by Platts, at Dated Brent plus $0.20 per barrel, the lowest since January 13, and down from Dated Brent plus $1.25 per barrel at the start of October. Escravos, on the other hand, was assessed at Dated Brent minus $0.15 per barrel, its lowest value since April 17, 2009, when it was assessed at Dated Brent minus $0.175 per barrel. Bonny Light and Forcados, also premium Nigerian grades, were down $1 and 90 cents per barrel, respectively, since the beginning of October, with the latter at Dated Brent plus $0.20 per barrel, the lowest since mid-July. Bonga, which has dropped 90 cents per barrel since the beginning of October to Dated Brent plus $0.10 per barrel was offered by Vitol earlier last week, in the Platts Market on Close assessment process, without attracting interest even as an offer for an early December cargo dropped to Dated Brent minus $0.15 per barrel last Wednesday. Other Platts-assessed Nigerian grades – Agbami, Akpo, Brass River, Erha and Usan, have also weakened. Naphtha-rich grades Agbami and Akpo are now both a $1 per barrel discount to Dated Brent. Brent, the benchmark crude oil grade, was trading around $ 44.51 per barrels over the weekend. However, the reports sated that an easing in freight rates out of Africa should also help spur buying interest in Europe and the United States, adding that with Mediterranean and North Sea oil also under pressure, and oversupplied, the fight for buyers could yet cause more pain for oil producers.

http://www.thebreakingtimes.com/buhari-magic-oil-buyers-reject-nigerian-crude/

One wonders why inDEPENDENT INEC had to wait for the unlawful directives from the subjective AGF. Let them keep setting illegal precedents and let their hangers-on continue supporting their unconstitutional acts. Notes are being taken.

This government is in deed a threat to our democracy.
One wonders why inDEPENDENT INEC had to wait for the unlawful directives from the subjective AGF. Let them keep setting illegal precedents and let their hangers-on continue supporting their unconstitutional acts. Notes are being taken.

This primary election will be unavoidably do or die. You can imagine where winning party primary gives you the position outrightly. That's a bypass you know. APC has more or less won the election, just to be legally bound through an insignificant but constitution-satisfying rerun.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
yesterday said it was yet to be formally informed of the
death of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), Prince Abubakar Audu.
The commission, which was locked in series of meetings in
Abuja, some 24 hours after it declared the Kogi State
governorship election inconclusive, said it was simply being
proactive in tackling the issue. Audu, APC governorship
candidate in the election, died on Sunday morning, few
hours after he cast his ballot in his polling unit at
Ogbonichain Ofu Local Government Area.
INEC Director, Voter Education and Publicity (VEP), Oluwole
Osaze- Uzzi, in a telephone interview, said the commission
was holding series of meetings over the situation in Kogi.
“The meetings are still going on. We are still consulting with
our lawyers. In the next 24 to 48 hours, we will issue a
release on the matter.
“But mind you, we are yet to be formerly informed of the
death. But we are being proactive in tackling the issue,” he
stated. A source at INEC disclosed that the legal
inecdepartment would be meeting with the consortium of
lawyers engaged by the commission on how to solve the
legal issues created by Audu’s sudden death. According to
the Electoral Act, INEC has 14 days to conduct
supplementary election in 91 polling units where the
election was declared inconclusive.
But with the death of Audu, which was not fore-seen neither
by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) nor by the Electoral
Act, there might be a shift in the date for the supplementary
poll.
Deputy Director of Publicity, Nick Dazang, however,
promised that INEC would apply relevant laws to resolve the
legal logjam. “All these relevant laws will be looked at with a
view to determine what to be done to ensure that whatever
is done subsequently is done within the ambit of the law.
INEC, as a law-abiding body, will do everything prescribed
by the law,” he added.
Dazang advised the APC to do the proper thing by notifying
the commission of its candidate’s death with a death
certification issued by a medical doctor. “Once the
commission is notified, it will look at relevant clauses of the
1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2010 (as
amended) and also the Constitution of APC itself,” he
assured.
A source at the National Secretariat of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) whose candidate, Governor Idris
Wada, scored the second highest number votes in the Kogi
governorship, said the party was waiting for the outcome of
the Monday’s meeting by INEC before taking position on the
matter. It was gathered that the party’s legal department was
meeting and might approach the court to ask for its
candidate to be declared winner of the election based on the
prevailing circumstance.
Meanwhile, APC has urged its members and supporters in
Kogi State and nationwide not to allow their spirit to be
dampened by the sudden passage of Audu.
“Rather, the party should be united in mourning and be
encouraged to effect the desired change in Kogi State
through the ballot anytime, any day,” he said. APC said it is
studying the declaration of the Returning Officer, Prof.
Emmanuel Kucha, that the November 21 governorship poll
was inconclusive. In a statement issued yesterday, APC
National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, Said the ruling party
believes in the rule of law, strict adherence to 1999
Constitution and Electoral Act 2010(as Amended).
“Our government was a product of the rule of law, we have
absolute faith in the nation’s law and we will not in any
manner undermine the law. Our observations and position
will be within the laws of the land. “The situation in Kogi
State is a test case for the rule of law and our growing
democracy. APC is committed to its pledge to ensure a
sustainable democracy in the country,” Buni said.
The party said it will not abandon Audu even in death
because “his legacies are timeless, his virtues can withstand
all seasons and his vision remains immortal.”
“We appeal to the people of the state to see Audu’s death as
an act of God. There should be no recourse to lawlessness
or vindictiveness in whatever form.
The only honour will can do Prince Abubakar Audu is to
remain peaceful and resolve to be undaunted in preserving
the adorable ideals he lived for. It was evident to all that he
ran a good race, he played his part well and he earned a
rare rating as an exemplary leader,” APC said.

dailyindependentnig.com/2015/11/were-not-aware-of-audus-death-inec/

JingoOAU:
Idiot....is he a Nigerian or not
Is he a Briton or chinese

Wise man! What is the composition of Nigeria?

simpleseyi:
Please compare this Aliyu Aziz CV with the IPOB youth that could not produce any I.D. card for 5 years and you will see that khaki no be leather.

Where is this one coming from?

Aliyu Aziz has been appointed as the new director- general and chief executive officer for the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 23, Monday. Abdul-Hamid Umar, commission’s general manager, has informed about this in a statement, stating that the development followed the ending of the tenure of Chris Onyemenam, the leaving head of the NIMC. The statement reads in part: “Aziz was a pioneer staff of NIMC and the director, information technology/National Identity database department of NIMC before he retired in 2014,” the statement read.
“With more than 30 years of post qualification experience in engineering and information technology, spanning both the private and public sectors, Aziz holds a B.Eng in civil engineering and M.Sc in Structural Engineering with Specialty in Computer Aided Design from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. “Before he joined NIMC at inception, Aziz was the information technology adviser to the minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration, where he pioneered the implementation of the first e-government solution that won a Microsoft award in 2006. “He served as the sub-committee technical chairman on the presidential committee on harmonisation of ICT which resulted in the formation of Galaxy Backbone. “He was also a deputy director, information technology at the bureau of public enterprises and the principal consultant, Management Information System (MIS) department, Afri-Projects Consortium.”
After almost six months of waiting President Buhari has last week inaugurated his cabinet of ministers. The incumbent Nigerian leader even received a nicknamed Baba Go Slow for his slow pace of governance. However, Buhari while answering to critics said he would be slow but steady.
https://www.naij.com/646294-president-buhari-appoints-new-director-nimc.html

Former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke
has insisted that she never looted public funds.
In the concluding part of her interview with Mr Dele
Momodu, Diezani who is currently undergoing treatment for
cancer in a London hospital, said “I actually left $5.6billion in
the NLNG alone but no one is talking about it. I’m not
seeking to be praised but to be acknowledged that I made
some little contributions.
“That money could have been wasted on frivolities but I was
determined to keep something for the incoming government
once we lost the election.”
Continuing, she recalled: “On 4th of May, Ngozi (Dr Okonjo-
Iweala, ex-Minister of Finance) wrote to the President to
release $2billion from the money to clear her table and pay
contractors, which would have depleted the money to $
3.6billion, but I said to the President we shouldn’t do that.
“I explained what the accrued money was meant for and
gave a detailed background of the account. Even in the past,
Ngozi and the NSA had asked to be funded from it and I
stood my ground because the money was meant for the gas
project in Brass LNG in Bayelsa. Conoco Phillips pulling out
affected it.
“We wanted to run a gas economy. It was the money that
made it possible for President Buhari to pay the bail-out. If I
was corrupt, I would have spent the money on paying
contractors who would have been too happy to do anything.
I got calls from some of them promising kickbacks if I could
pay but I refused and the rest is history.”
Diezani said she was not surprised about the allegations of
corruption, adding that Buhari, despite his impeccable
pedigree was alleged to have had N2.8billion vanished
under his nose.
“Till this day no one has been able to prove that the then
Major General Buhari stole a kobo,” she said.
She said while it is true that a Minister is influential, the real
power is in NNPC.
“A Minister sits in the Ministry treating files, holding
meetings at home and abroad, looking glamorous and
taking all the flak but people forget that the soul and heart
of the nation is NNPC. The kind of due process we followed
was rigorous. You know, I came from Shell, where you had
to account for everything properly”, she added.
Asked to respond to the negative perception about her,
Diezani responded, “I was sitting on the prime portfolio in a
mono product economy. I carried out my duty in the
strictest terms. I stuck to my mandate which incidentally was
one which I championed with my Boss, to open up the
sector to our own people as long as they can satisfy the laid
down rules in the Local Content Act.
“I ensured that Nigerians would get the right of first refusal.
But unfortunately I stepped on toes, very powerful toes. I
was not liked by the foreigners and also some Nigerians who
lost out. Hakeem Bello-Osagie once told me something I
cannot forget; that 90 percent of Nigerians want to do oil
business but you can only satisfy about three percent, so the
rest will get angry thinking you blocked them.
“Believe it or not, and God is my witness, I didn’t have to
steal. I’m not an Angel but I’m not a devil. I don’t have
billions anywhere. How is it possible for one woman to steal
billions of dollars in a country like Nigeria? Did I blow up the
vaults of the Central Bank or transfer the money to heaven?
Where can you keep such money in this age of money
laundering fiasco?
“I did my job professionally without even thinking of anyone
as opposition. Otherwise we would not have approved the
Oando-Conoco Phillips deal. Tinubu came to see me three
times and we approved on merit…”
She also spoke on accusations that she funded President
Jonathan’s re-election bid: “How can I use $20billion for
elections, that is absolutely impossible. My boss will never
do such a thing. Many people don’t know my boss. He is a
very principled and stubborn man. There are things he will
not do. And there are things I will not do. I protected the
interests of my country.
“I can’t blame the doubters. They have seen more of the
worst of Nigeria that it becomes difficult to trust anyone. But
let me disclose something to you today because there is a
difference between belief and reality. I did an unusual thing
in our last days in government. I’m not sure I should tell you
before people say I’m boasting.”
Diezani added that her priority now is how to take care of
her poor health.
“I’m battling with a very serious type of cancer. I have tried
everything to contain the malevolent spread. I have had two
surgeries. The first was to take out the lumps from my
breast and the second was to cut deeper into the tissues. I
did the last one about three weeks ago (now about five
weeks). I’m still in some pains. I’ve gone through
Chemotherapy and now I’m starting Radiotherapy on
Monday for five weeks (two Mondays ago).
“I’m praying this one goes well because I don’t know if there
is any thing the doctors can do beyond this. The steroids
were devastating and at a point, I slipped into coma on July
28. My sugar level went wild first to 25 and then to 80. The
doctors called it a near-miss and I now know what they
mean when people say, ‘health is wealth’.
“My 14 year old son has been asking if Mummy would die. I
really don’t know because I believe nothing is impossible for
God. I’ve told my son that I will carry his children and
grandchildren…I pray I will.
“If I were a man may be things would have been different; it
would never have gone to this extent. I have never stolen
from my country. I will repeat that before God and man
even if no one would listen. On this job, you don’t have to
steal.
“Nigerians are the most wonderful people if you are lucky to
have a few good friends who believe in you. All the foreign
Ambassadors say it, the reason many often come back to
work and reside in our country. People can call Nigeria and
Nigerians bad names but we remain the most generous and
humane people on earth.
“If I have another chance, I will be more tempered on
stepping on big toes but I will still do my job the best way
but in a moderated way. Perhaps, I should have done things
more subtly. I did what I thought was good for my country. I
own no oil well. The President signed none for himself. I do
not indulge in extravagant things even if people think I’m
flamboyant. My only indulgence is my family and may be
architecture and architectural interiors.
“God will do as He wills. He said He will bless who He wishes
to bless… There is nothing anyone can do about it. So be
happy about people’s good fortune. It all feels like a bad
dream but God knows the beginning from the end and the
end from the beginning,” Diezani concluded.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/23/god-knows-i-didnt-steal-buhari-paid-bailout-from-5-6bn-i-left-in-nlng-diezani/

ABUJA- IMMEDIATE past President of the Senate Senator
David Mark has described former President Goodluck
Jonathan as an uncommon statesman.
In a statement yesterday his media assistant, Paul Mumeh,
Senator Mark who hailed former President Jonathan as he
marks his 58th birthday, also commended him for his
services to the nation and proven to be a true statesman
especially during the 2015 general elections.
Mark ” Mr. President , I heartily congratulate you on this
auspicious occasion of your birthday. I am pleased to
associate with you now and always . I am glad that you have
continued to make your services available to the Nation and
beyond even after your tenure.
“Nigerians yet unborn would remember you for your
invaluable services to the nation especially at critical time of
the nation’s democratic consolidation.
“Above all, your display of uncommon statesmanship
especially during the last presidential election has set
unprecedented record and a model for African democracy.
On this day as always, I wish you God’s protection, good
health abundant wisdom and courage in the years ahead.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/nigerians-yet-unborn-would-remember-jonathan-for-his-invaluable-services-mark/

May his selfless struggle and leadership never be in vain. May he defy and overcome Buhari's dictatorial proclivities.
May he live to hold sway in the land of the rising sun.
May God give him more uncommon sense and strength to fight to finish.
May those who seek to take his life take their own lives.

Nigeria has been ranked third of the 162 countries of the
world that have been worst hit by terrorist attacks, according
to the 2015 Global Terrorism Index.
The country, Africa’s largest oil producer, was ranked fourth
in 2014.
Going by the latest ranking, Nigeria is only better than two
Middle Eastern countries – Iraq and Afghanistan – who were
ranked first and second respectively.
Another two Middle East countries, Pakistan and Syria are
ranked fourth and fifth respectively, after Nigeria.
The only African countries closer in ranking to Nigeria are
Somalia and Libya which are in the eighth and ninth
positions respectively.
France, which recently experienced deadly terrorist attacks
that killed about 160 people in Paris, is ranked 36th, same
as the United States of America.
“Terrorist attacks are much more lethal in Nigeria than any
other country,” the GTI report said.
The report, released on November 16, 2015 by the Institute
for Economics and Peace, said the Islamist terror group in
Nigeria, Boko Haram, overtook ISIL in 2014 to become the
most deadly terrorist group in the world.
The Institute for Economics and Peace is an independent,
non-partisan, non-profit think tank with offices in Sydney,
New York and Mexico City.
The 2015 GTI report said Boko Haram, in 2014, was also able
to spread outside Nigeria to launch two deadly attacks in
neighbouring Cameroon, killing 530 people.
Cameroon, the report said, didn’t record any death from
terrorism between 2000 and 2013 until Boko Haram struck
in 2014.
Although published in November 2015, the GTI report was
produced from data gathered in 2014.
In 2014, Nigeria experienced the biggest yearly deterioration
in terrorism on record, the report said.
“There were 5,662 more people killed (in Nigeria) from
terrorism in 2014 than in 2013, an increase of almost 300
per cent,” it says.
The number of people killed in Nigeria by terrorist attack in
2014 was 6,118, compared to the 1,595 killed in 2013.
According to the report, “Nigeria has moved from the
country with the fifth highest levels of fatalities in 2013 to
the second highest in 2014.”
In summary, Nigeria recorded 662 terrorist attacks in 2014,
with 7,512 people killed, 2,246 injured and 1,512 properties
destroyed.
But then, Boko Haram isn’t the only terror group in Nigeria
that kills; the Fulani militants in the northern part of Nigeria
is recorded to have killed as many as 1,229 people in the
country in 2014, which is an incredible leap from 63
recorded in 2013.
Unlike religious fanaticism which drives Boko Haram, the
Fulani militants are driven by conflict over access and
control of land between the semi-nomadic Fulani herdsmen
and farmers in north-eastern Nigeria, the report said.
Nigeria, alongside four other countries – Iraq, Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Syria – accounted for 78 per cent of lives lost
globally in 2014 through terrorist attacks.
Of 20 most fatal terrorist attacks in the world in 2014, nine
of them took place in Nigeria.
Boko Haram was responsible for eight of those nine attacks,
while the Fulani militants were responsible for one which
took place at Galadima where 200 people were reportedly
killed.
The worst terrorist attack in Nigeria in 2014, according to the
2015 GTI report, was in Kano city on November 28, 2014
when two suicide bombers and roadside bomb detonated at
the Grand Mosque in the city.
Boko Haram terrorists reportedly opened fire on
worshippers fleeing the explosions. One hundred and
twenty-two (122) people were killed, while 270 were injured.
Nigeria for several years now has been battling Boko Haram
insurgency which is responsible for thousands of deaths in
the northeast of the country. PREMIUM TIMES has
extensively reported on the insurgency.
“The nature of terrorism in Nigeria is different to Iraq and
Afghanistan,” the report said.
“Terrorist activity in Nigeria has more in common with the
tactics of organised crime and gangs, focusing more on
armed assaults using firearms and knives than on the
bombings of other large terrorist groups.
“Firearms were used in over half of all attacks in Nigeria and
were responsible for 67 per cent of all deaths by Boko
Haram and 92 per cent of deaths from Fulani militants.
“Whilst previously the use of suicide attacks by Boko Haram
was rare, in 2014 they were responsible for 31 suicide
attacks with an average of nearly 15 deaths per attack.
“The majority of these attacks were against private citizens
and education and religious institutions. No other group in
Nigeria conducted suicide attacks in 2014,” the report said.
The number of people killed by terrorism around the world
increased from 18,111 in 2013 to 32,658 in 2014.
The increase is said to be the largest ever recorded.
The report put the global cost of terrorism in 2014 at US$
52.9 billion, compared to US$32.9 billion in 2013.
The GTI, which is currently in its third edition, is “based on
data from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) which is
collected and collated by the National Consortium for the
Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism”.
The GTI score for a country in a given year is said to be
based on unique scoring system to account for the relative
impact of terrorism incidents in the year.
“The four factors counted in each country’s yearly score, are:
total number of terrorist incidents in a given year; total
number of fatalities caused by terrorists in a given year;
total number of injuries caused by terrorists in a given year;
a measure of the total property damage from terrorist
incidents in a given year.”

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/193626-nigeria-now-third-most-terrorized-country-in-the-world-report.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has invited a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) . Saturday PUNCH learnt that the anti-graft commission sent the letter of invitation to Dasuki earlier in the week to answer questions in connection with the ongoing probe into procurement of arms during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. A source said the EFCC also put a 27-man strong team of operatives on standby since Thursday for the mission to Dasuki’s residence. The source said that the operatives had been given a directive to be on standby and were waiting for the final directive from the Acting Chairman of the commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, for the commencement of the assignment. The source said, “The commission has invited the former NSA to appear before it. Already, a team of 27 operatives has been told to remain on standby. “They are waiting for further directives. They are told not to go anywhere.” However, a source close to the former NSA, who confirmed the invitation, said that Dasuki had not honoured the invitation because of the continuing siege on his house by operatives of the Department of State Services. The source explained that he could not leave his house because he was under house arrest. “It is true that the EFCC sent an invitation letter to him. The man would have honoured the invitation by now, but the DSS’s siege on his house is still in place. “As we are talking, the DSS operatives are in the place. So, how can Dasuki come out to the EFCC? Our correspondent could not get the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, to comment on the story as the calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.
http://punchng.com/efcc-sets-up-27-man-team-to-probe-dasuki/

ABUJA – The Independent National Electoral Commission
INEC has urged residents of Kogi state and other
stakeholders to disregard results currently trending in the
social media in respect of the ongoing gubernatorial
elections in the state.
INEC said it is the only constitutionally-mandated body to
declare or announce such results, dissociating itself from the
authors.
In a tweet, the commission described the results as grossly
inaccurate and should be disregarded. “INEC wishes to state
that results of Kogi Governorship election being posted on
Social Media are inaccurate and should be disregarded”,
INEC tweeted.
It said official results will subsequently be announced and
the winner of the election declared by its returning officer.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,
NSCDC has explained why it deployed hundreds of officers
and men of its armed squad for the elections, saying
intelligence reports had indicated that there could be
possible attacks on some critical public assets in thee state.
Acting Deputy Commandant General in charge of
Operations, Dr Nnamdi Nwinyi who is leading the operations
in the state, disclosed this in an interview with our
correspondent yesterday.
He said apart from the initial deployment of 5, 000
personnel, an additional 1,200 personnel of its specialized
units were deployed following receipt of the intelligence
report.
“We decided to deploy officers and men our armed squad
because we have identified many soft targets like the Geregu
Power Plant, the steel infrastructure and many others. Our
personnel were deployed in and around those assets to
stace off any untoward action from unscrupulous elements”,
he said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/disregard-social-media-results-on-kogi-polls-inec-urges/

1.Our government will bring to an end the menace of Boko Haram terror that is plaguing the society. Nigerians are turning into refugees in their country ,” ( ANY HOPE ON THE DECEMBER DEADLINE?)

2.Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who is Buhari’s running mate, said that if elected they will personally lead the war against Boko Haram: “Fighting insurgency requires the Commander in Chief to lead from the front by providing leadership.”( LEADING FROM THE FRONT? OK!)

3.Speaking recently at Chatham House in London, Buhari promised that if he wins, the world will stop worrying about Nigeria: “Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently; that Nigeria will return to its stabilizing role in West Africa; and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service, we will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunitions to work with, we will improve intelligence gathering and border controls to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels, we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas. We will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester, and I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front and return Nigeria to its leadership role in regional and international efforts to combat terrorism .” (EVEN WHEN 105 SOLDIERS ARE REPORTEDLY DEAD, NO, SORRY MISSING?)

4.“On corruption, there will be no confusion as to where I stand. Corruption will have no place and the corrupt will not be appointed into my administration...."(WELL, TONGUES ARE WAGGING, YOU KNOW ANY APPOINTEES AND PARTY FLAG BEARERS NOW?)

5.We are banking on huge coal deposits located at Amasiodo, Inyi and Leje axis of Enugu Coal belt. We are going to award contracts for mining and construction of coal-fired power plant, unlike PDP that since 1999 promised to revamp the coal fields and 16 years after, nothing has been done. ”(WILL IT STILL BE DESPITE THE 5% SPEECH?)

6.It is much more important that the promise of democracy goes beyond just allowing people to freely choose their leaders. It is much more important that democracy should deliver on the promise of choice, of freedoms, of security of lives and property, of transparency and accountability, of rule of law, of good governance and of shared prosperity. It is very important that the promise embedded in the concept of democracy, the promise of a better life for the generality of the people, is not delivered in the breach. (WHAT DO WE HAVE NOW?)