The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has called on INEC to release the results of Rivers East Senatorial District and Rivers West Senatorial District without tampering with it.

Wike declared that the candidates of the PDP had already won both elections based on results from polling units.The governor also called on INEC to immediately release the results of Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency and Andoni State Constituency, which he claimed the PDP had won.

Wike, who spoke in an interactive session with journalists on Sunday, said it had never happened in the history of elections that the Rivers East Senatorial District result declaration exceeded 24 hours.

According to him, the result of Rivers East has been held down by the plots of INEC, the Army and the Police to manipulate the results of Emohua and Ikwerre Local Government Areas for the purpose of concocting the senatorial results in favour of the APC .

He said, “As I speak with you, they are doing everything possible to rewrite the result of Emohua Local Government Area to ensure that the APC wins”.

The governor said that since the conclusion of voting, INEC had been playing pranks, moving collation back and forth from Emohua to Port Harcourt to create room for rigging.

“For now, all the collation officers have refused to be compelled to declare false results. As such, the collation officers have left and INEC has resorted to using her internal staff for the collation of results.

“Release Rivers East Senatorial District where Senator George Sekibo has won clearly. Release Rivers West Senatorial District where Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozu has won clearly.

INEC should release Andoni/ Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency where Abiante has won and Andoni State Constituency where Ikunyi Ibani has won clearly,” he said.

He described as unfortunate the deliberate use of the Nigerian Army to deny the PDP agents access to collation centres so that INEC staff could concoct results.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/12/12/weve-won-rivers-east-west-senatorial-districts-wike/

A stampede at the premises of the Synagogue Church of all Nations, Ikotun, Lagos State, has killed no fewer than three worshippers on Saturday.

The victims were part of a crowd that struggled to see the church’s General Overseer, Prophet Temitope Joshua, during a special healing service.

Two of the victims are identified as Emeka Okonkwo and Emmanuel Oherin, while the third victim is yet to be identified. Their corpses were said to have been deposited in a morgue in the state.An eyewitness, who prefers anonymity, said the stampede occurred around 4.30am.

According to him, “It was the church’s annual deliverance and healing programme. Usually at this time, the church becomes a beehive of activities as people come in their thousands to see the prophet for miracles.

“People lodge in different hotels surrounding the church. And they all arrive at the church very early.

“There is a canopy on the premises where worshippers are screened before they see the man of God.

“However, on Saturday, after being screened, the crowd was much and they started struggling through the doorway to see the prophet. In the process, three people collapsed. They were rushed to the Isolo General Hospital, where they were confirmed dead.”

Another source said the two victims were identified through their phones, adding that the third victim did not have any means of identification.

“Their families were immediately contacted and they identified them. The police from the Ikotun division were also contacted,” he added.

Nigerian Police confirmed the incident. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said: “The story is true. Investigation is ongoing as we await the result of the autopsy. For now, we are treating the case as sudden and unnatural deaths.”

However, when some reporters called a telephone number spotted on the church’s website, an official with a foreign accent, denied the incident. She said, “Nothing happened on the church premises yesterday. Nobody died. Nobody. Thank you.”

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/12/12/three-die-in-stampede-during-healing-session-at-tb-joshuas-synagogue/

As the year 2016 gradually winds up, it was really an eventful year where new records were made and others broken. The year 2016 in the history of Nigeria marked the first year of the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. In the course of the eventful year, Buhari dropped some quotes that Nigerians will not forget in a hurry as many of the quotes stirred controversy.

THE SUMMARY brings you 4 memorable quotes of Buhari in 2016:

1. “My wife belongs to my kitchen, my living room and the other room”

2. "What I want Nigerians to remember me for, even if I have to leave the Presidency tomorrow is that I respect them"

3. “This government is like no other. We are absolutely committed to changing the structure of the Nigerian economy once and for all”

4. “Living in the State House does not alienate me from your daily struggles. I hear your cries, I share your pains”




SOURCE: http://thesummary.com.ng/index.php/news-categories/national/item/9020-2016inreview-see-buhari-s-most-controversial-quotes-in-2016

HEALTH TIPS: Attention People Who Eat Dog Meat! Here are 3 Major Health Concerns You Should Know About

Although the concept of eating dog meat is completely unheard of in the U.S., in other parts of the world, it is regarded just the same as eating chicken or cow. In Vietnam, for example, approximately five million dogs are killed every year for meat, other places dog meat is eaten include Europe, Russia, Africa, Latin America, China, the Philippines, and South Korea. While the suffering of these animals is undeniable, there are also major human health concerns arising from the consumption of dog. The issues highlighted are critical concerns that could have a negative impact on human health if they are not addressed by ending the consumption of dog meat.

1. Rabies
One of the largest dangers of dog meat is the spread of rabies to both animals and people. According to the Center for Disease Control’s records, only 10 people have ever survived this horrific disease. This is clearly a major concern when such a dangerous and deadly disease can be so easily spread.

2. Other Diseases
There are many other diseases and infections associated with dog meat that can endanger human health. Possible infections include parasites such as E. Coli 107 and salmonella. There is also a danger that bacterial infections like anthrax, brucellosis, hepatitis, and leptospirosis can be spread through the meat to people. The bacteria associated with Cholera is also easily spread and propagated through the process of mass transporting and slaughtering dogs for consumption. Trichinellosis is a zoonotic parasite that can be easily transmitted from dogs to humans through infected meat consumption. Once these parasites are in the human body, they can cause inflammation in blood vessels which leads to hemorrhaging in the nail beds and eyes, in addition to severe muscle weakness. If left untreated, trichinellosis can be fatal.

3. Antibiotic Resistance
There are many parallels to be found between dog meat farms and factory farms in America, unfortunately, antibiotic resistance is one of them. According to Change for Animals Foundation, “On dog farms, large numbers of dogs are living in close confinement, under stressful conditions, and are usually being fed insufficient, poor quality food. These factors result in increased levels of infectious disease and high mortality rates. In an effort to try to control the spread of disease and maximize productivity, there is evidence of farmers resorting to the indiscriminate overuse of antibiotics and vaccines.”



SOURCE: http://thesummary.com.ng/index.php/news-categories/health/item/8979-health-tips-attention-people-who-eat-dog-meat-here-are-3-major-health-concerns-you-should-know-about

Snake meat is not common in Western meals, but is popular in other cultures for its supposed health benefits. Snake meat is also being more widely accepted as a healthy exotic game meat, and is often offered along side other exotic meats like alligator and ostrich in Western restaurants or over the Internet. Snakes are considered medicinal in Chinese lore, as a "warming" food, and the blood of snakes is often mixed with liquor to produce a virility enhancer. Traditional South American medicine includes dried or powdered snake meat which is believed to cure several different illnesses. Snake meat is usually said to taste like chicken, but a closer approximation is frog legs. Snake meat can be very tough if not prepared well.

Snake meat contains protein like any other type of meat. Protein is necessary for many body systems, including the development of muscles. Protein provides amino acids the body cannot obtain any other way, which do everything from building cell walls, to regulating hormones. Snake meat contains roughly 93 calories per 100g (3.5 oz) of raw meat, depending on the type of snake. This is roughly half the calories and one third the amount of fat of a similar amount of sirloin beef steak. Fewer calories and less fat content for the same weight of meat can aid dieters in controlling their weight.




SOURCE: http://thesummary.com.ng/index.php/news-categories/health/item/8975-see-amazing-health-benefits-of-eating-snake-meat

paulo220:
op...I want to be blogger. pls help me

Learn how to design your own blog/website in just 3 days for free visit http://webtutorial.com.ng/

African women are blessed with beauty, curves and brains. There is no denying that God took special time in carving this beautiful women that will make any man miss spell his name.

When 2 Baba sang the song “African Queen,” he must have been referring to the beautiful, dark skinned women who are sometimes painted as fat and ugly by foreign media. Clearly that is a lie. African women are generally gorgeous, attractive, blessed with beauty and brains. No one with eyes will see these ones and not bless God almighty for such amazing creation!

Here are 9 beautiful women who truly define African beauty.

1. Figure 8 in purple and white.
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt7f7hhs75l27.6466fb60.jpg[/img]
2. Body of a goddess.
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt4qi7qff79qo.5f7f0d9a.jpg[/img]
3. Ekaete that can confuse oga.
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkytvj0mcnsfueg.31ca6f12.jpg[/img]
4. Mama Africa
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt1m0oliv3m7bg.27a09adc.jpg[/img]
5. This one can make a man speak 40 languages at once.
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt4nugdch07hd.d6aef966.jpg[/img]
6. Sister Caro, why so hot?
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt2b044br96bug.b1c01aea.jpg[/img]
7. Baddest view from behind.
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt2nbab5caafbg.2fa53090.jpg[/img]
8. African queen.
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt501bdar1av6.3dd6b3f3.jpg[/img]
9. Overload
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt6fg097ndm8v.763479c6.jpg[/img]

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/9-hot-and-curvy-african-women-who-are-the-true-definition-of-african-queen/

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has suspended its directive to telecommunication operators to increase the price of Data.

This is coming shortly after the Senate had asked the NCC to stop the planned data price increase until all parties meet to resolve the outstanding issues.The National Assembly on Wednesday, directed its committee on communication to meet with the service providers and get back to them.

The NCC had mandated the five big telecommunication operators in the country, to increase their data tariffs beginning from Thursday, December 1, 2016.

In a statement by the commission’s Public Affairs Director, Tony Ojobo, stated that:

“The decision to suspend this directive was taken after due consultation with industry stakeholders and the general complaints by Consumers across the country.

“The Commission has weighed all of this and consequently asked all operators to maintain the status quo until the conclusion of study to determine retail prices for broadband and data services in Nigeria.

According to him, “the decision to have a price floor was primarily to promote a level playing field for all operators in the industry, encourage small operators and new entrants.“The price floor in 2014 was N3.11k/MB but was removed in 2015. The price floor that was supposed to flag off on December 1, 2016 was N0.90k/MB.

“In taking that decision, the smaller operators were exempted from the new price regime, by virtue of their small market share.

“The decision on the price floor was taken in order to protect the consumers who are at the receiving end and save the smaller operators from predatory services that are likely to suffocate them and push them into extinction.

The statement therefore clarified that “the price floor is not an increase in price but a regulatory safeguard, put in place by the telecommunications regulator to check anti-competitive practices by dominant operators.

Furthermore, it cleared the air on the insinuation in some quarters that the regulator has fixed prices for data services.

“This is not true because the NCC does not fix prices but provides regulatory guidelines to protect the consumers, deepen investments and safeguard the industry from imminent collapse.

“Before the new suspended price floor of N0.90k/MB, the industry average for dominant operators including MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, EMTS Limited (Etisalat) and Airtel Nigeria Limited was N0.53k/MB.

“Etisalat offered (N0.94k/MB), Airtel (N0.52k/MB), MTN (N0.45k/MB) and Globacom (N0.21k/MB).

The smaller operators/ new entrants charge the following: Smile Communications N0.84k/MB, Spectranet N0.58k /MB and NATCOMS (NTEL) N0.72k/MB.

“The NCC as a responsive agency of government takes into consideration the feelings of the consumers and so decided to suspend the new price floor,” the statement read.

The suspension of the directive, has indeed allayed the fears of many Nigerians, who already anticipated the move from Thursday, in the face of an already harsh economic situation.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/ncc-suspends-plan-to-increase-data-price/

Internally Displaced Persons in Bauchi State have lamented that they have been rejected, abandoned and are being treated as refugees in their own country.

The Chairman, IDPs in Bauchi State, Buba Shehu, stated this during an interactive session with the Security, Stability and Peace Building sub-committee of the Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma-led Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative.The sub-committee, led by its chairman, Brig. Gen. Habila Vitenaba, was in Bauchi for an on-the-spot assessment and to have an interaction with the IDPs, the government and people of the state.

Shehu, who spoke on behalf of all the IDPs in the state, regretted situations whereby food sent to them by the government were diverted by middlemen.

He called on the government to urgently come to their aid, noting that they lack access to basic social amenities like water, health care, education and many others.

He said, “Even when food is sent to us by the government, we don’t get them and for the little that gets to us, they will put us together with the physically challenged. Is there any physically challenged person more than the IDPs? Please, tell the President that we are really suffering and that next time any aid will be sent to us, it should be sent directly to us with no middlemen involved because these things are diverted.

“Is it because we fled our homes that we are treated as if we are refugees and not citizens of our own country? This is not fair and it is not right.”

He said their properties were being thrown out because they could not pay their rent anymore.

“Since you (the sub-committee) are here for us, we will have to speak out our minds and tell you our problems. Our children cannot go to school because we can’t pay their school fees. We cannot pay our rents anymore and our landlords have been throwing us out of their houses.

“Our children are jobless with nothing to do. Some of us only manage to cut and sell firewood and even this cannot meet our daily needs. Please tell the President to come to our rescue because we have been abandoned.

Responding, the chairman of the sub-committee, Brig. Gen. Habila Vitanaba, promised that their plights were noted and would be presented to the chairman of the committee for submission to the President.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/we-are-treated-as-foreigners-in-our-country-idps/

In a bid to provide a more resilient mode of transportation for wheelchair users in Africa, a British inventor has designed the world’s first all-terrain wheelchair.

23-year-old Janna Deeble has invented the SafariSeat that can handle rough terrains such as jungle or desert.



Deeble felt the need for this after suffering an accident which left him wheelchair-bound for months.

Janna grew up in Kenya and was able to see the challenges experienced my Africans who try to navigate through rough areas with the standard wheelchairs. He decided to help by creating a special wheelchair out of bicycle parts. The wheelchair has four wheels and it is capable of traveling through rough terrains.Janna needs as high as £50,000 to achieve his dream of making more of this for Africans. He has been able to get close to achieving this goal through the use of a crowd-funding website.

The SafariSeat is created in such a way that it is easy to maintain and fix since it uses common parts that can be found anywhere in the world.

Certainly, something that can be very useful. What do you think?

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/special-wheelchairs-invented-for-africans/

An Osogbo Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered the arrest of the Chairman Governing Council of the Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun, Mr. Niyi Akande, over the re-awarding of a contract for the premier survey of the college.
Our correspondent gathered that Akande allegedly re-awarded the survey contract to a surveyor, Debo Adedeji, even when the same contract had earlier been awarded to Messrs Oluseyi Oke & Associates.

The warrant of arrest was sequel to a petition written to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11, alleging fraud in the re-awarding of the contract without following laid down procedures.
The petition read, “The perimeter survey our client did in Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun is approximately 1,402.956 hectares of land, and our client requested for 215 Beacon Numbers from the Surveyor-General of the state and this was approved by the Surveyor-General of the state and was used for the project.
“Our client knows as a matter of fact and law that when beacon numbers have been approved for a particular project for one surveyor by the only lawful approving authority for public Survey projects in the state, that is the Surveyor-General of the state, same can never be approved for another professional colleague as enshrined in Osun State body of laws.
“But, sometimes on 27th day of November, 2013 when the project was already at 70 per cent completion stage, our client received a letter from Osun State College of Education, terminating the appointment of our client unlawfully without recourse to the Surveyor-General of the state, who has the prerogative to do so.
“The reason given for terminating the contract awarded to our client’s firm by the school was “excessive costing” of the perimeter survey even though the authorities of the school know full well that it is only the Surveyor-General of the state that have prerogative of costing been a public survey.
“Based on the aforementioned notorious fact, our client replied the said letter of termination stating that the costing that emanated from him was just a proposed costing which is subject to review by the Surveyor-General of the state being a public survey.
“The said letter of termination not withstanding and based on the fact that our client had the beacon number approved for the project by the Surveyor-General of the state, our client remained undeterred and went ahead and completed the job 100% because the beacon number approved to him can neither be used by nor transferred to any other professional colleague.”
The petitions alleged that some persons had been trailing him since he asked the institution to pay him for the services rendered.
Efforts to speak with Akande were unsuccessful as he refused to pick the calls put across to him. He was yet to reply the text message sent to his telephone as of the time of filing this report.

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/court-orders-arrest-of-osun-college-official-over-contract/

Nigerian billionaire Emeka Offor buried his father at All Saint Anglican Church, Irefi Oraifite, Anambra, yesterday, November 18. The casket used in the burial is reportedly pure gold in and out. See the photos below:

[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt7qhcq6rp712.bd07d338.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt19lj328h9tvo.f65f43e0.jpg[/img]

See more Photos: http://nignews.com.ng/what-recession-nigerian-billionaire-buries-his-father-in-pure-gold-coffin-see-photos/

Lieutenant General Yusuf Buratai who is the chief of army staff has said that some Nigerians are still supporting Boko Haram even though the army is working to rid the country off terrorism.

Daily Trust reports that the chief of army staff made this statement on Monday, November 7 on sideline of the seminar on Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.“We need to work together and synergize together, fighting insurgency in Nigeria is a situation whereby, they have melted into the society and we have some elements within the society still supporting them clandestinely.”
“This is a loss too many, there must be collective effort by all Nigerians and indeed globally to ensure that terrorism is fought to the end.

“The support of every Nigerian is key to the end terrorism, not only in Nigeria but globally, you know that not only in Nigeria, but ISIL also are supporting them. It requires total commitment of everybody.”

Buratai also pointed out that the issue of security concerns the whole country and should not be seen as a political one.

John Pham who is the Director African Center Atlantic Council who was also at the seminar said Nigeria was one of the countries that topped the interest of the US in its relations with Africa which was why they were interested in knowing the level of success achieved.

“It important that our two sides get the opportunity to speak and understand better the pressures, the demands and requirements of each side that’s what our partnership is about.”

He added that: “I’m very privileged to be able to come to Nigeria, building the partnership we need for international security in the 21st century.”

The army chief expressed sadness over the killing of Lt. Col. Muhammad Abu Ali and described it as a great loss.

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/some-nigerians-are-supporting-boko-haram-buratai/

The 7 military personnel who will be buried today at the National Cemetery in Abuja.

1. Lt col M Abu-Ali

2. Sgt Muaza Ibrahim.

3. Sgt Hussani Jafaru.

4. Sgt Bassey Okon

5. Cpl Chukwu Simon.

6. Able Seaman Patrick Paul (Nigerian Navy)

7. Pte Salisu Lawal

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/see-names-of-7-military-officers-to-be-buried-at-national-cemetery-in-abuja-today/

If Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, had not breached the Aburi Accord, the 30-month Nigerian Civil War that killed the post-independence promise of national development and integration and claimed millions of lives would not have happened.

Chudi Offodile, a lawyer and two-term member of the House of Representatives, observed this in a new book, while making a retrospective scrutiny of the Nigerian Civil War, almost half a century after the outbreak of hostilities on May 30, 1967.
The Aburi Accord, which was reached between January 4 and 5, 1967 at a meeting attended by delegates of both the Federal Government of Nigeria, led by General Gowon, and the Eastern Region’s leader, Emeka Ojukwu, at a small town in Ghana, presented a last chance of avoiding an all-out war between Eastern Nigeria and the rest of Nigeria.

The Accord broke down due to differences in interpretation of its contents by both parties. The war began a few months later.

The recent publication of his 280-page book, The Politics of Biafra And The Future of Nigeria, offered Mr. Offodile a moment for the re-examination of the tragic incidents that nearly split Nigeria.

In debunking the position of some that the issue of the Nigerian State was already a settled matter, he asked: “Settled by who? In any case, nothing is ever settled until it is settled right. Nigeria is still very much unstable and the democratic institutions remain fragile. There is need to reinforce the structures of the country through deliberate inclusiveness in order to achieve stability.”

The author, who said he was just two-and-a-half years old when the war broke out and was exactly five years and two months old when it ended, in a conversation on his book with PREMIUM TIMES observed that, “Someone once said that history is always current because it always manages to repeat itself. It is never too late to discuss historical matters”.

He singled out a specific episode that could have altered the course of Nigeria’s history:

“In the case of the Aburi agreement, I am of the view that it was the breach of this agreement voluntarily entered into in Ghana that led to the war. The terms of the agreement were clear and unambiguous. No one disputes the original terms. But once General Gowon returned to Lagos, the so-called super bureaucrats, composed mainly of ethnic minorities in the north and south of Nigeria, persuaded him to jettison the agreement. That was not really a problem, and let me even concede for a moment that they had genuine reasons and even good intentions for all.

“The problem was that they UNILATERALLY altered it. To suggest therefore that General Ojukwu should have accepted the unilateral alteration, even if it offered the East 95 percent of the original agreement, as argued by Chief Phillip Asiodu, is at the root of the lack of honour and integrity in the conduct of national affairs. As I pointed out in the book, honour and integrity cannot be measured in percentages.”

Recalling the sequence of missteps be believed triggered the war, Mr. Offodile regretted that some officials, acting on behalf of the Federal Government, circumvented the implementation of an important provision of the accord and plunged Nigeria into a bloody conflict.

“The second point about the Aburi agreement, which may be even more important than the first, is that both sides agreed that the constitutional conference which was ongoing before the counter coup that brought Gowon into power should continue and draft a new constitution for Nigeria.

The decision by Gowon to dissolve that conference and then unilaterally set up a ‘political committee’ to advise him on the creation of between 12 and 14 states exposed clearly the real motives for the breach of the agreement. The constitutional conference had the mandate to draft a new constitution and a timetable for the return to civil rule.

“Gowon and the new power elite in Lagos wanted to elongate their hold on power, and state creation was the bait. Yet, they successfully branded Ojukwu as the ambitious one, despite clear evidence to the contrary. This is one of those strange paradoxes of history. How can one who wanted a new constitution drafted and a return to civil rule be accused of provoking a war because of his ambition? Ojukwu had his own faults but they manifested in Biafra but not before it. It was the breach of Aburi that led to the war and nothing else.”

Mr. Offodile, who was elected into Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives in May 1999 for Awka North/South federal constituency of Anambra State and served as Chairman, Special Committee on Joint Venture Oil Operations between 2001-2003, and, Chairman, Public Petitions Committee between 2003 and 2005, disclosed further that the recurring disregard for the will of the people arising from arbitrary breaches of agreements and the law resulted in Nigeria’s experience of prolonged military rule that has distorted Nigeria’s federal structure.

“Let me finally point out that this same matter of whether the people or the government should work out the structure of their government was again an issue in 1970 when the instrument of surrender was being negotiated after the fall of Biafra.

“The Biafran Chief Justice, Late Sir Louis Mbanefo, insisted on inserting clause ‘C’ of the surrender instrument, which after accepting the EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE AND POLITICAL STRUCTURES [12 States], says that any future constitutional arrangement will be worked out by the representatives of the Nigerian people. Six years later, in 1976, General Murtala Mohammed and General Olusegu Obasanjo unilaterally increased the number of states to 19. General Babangida added his, and General Abacha brought the number to 36.”

He advised that in view of the prevailing turmoil in the land, there should be an end to the arbitrary use of state power. He noted that in order to foster a sense of national belonging, Nigerian citizens need to agree on the terms of being together.

“This raises issues of jurisprudence and, of course, the compelling argument that the new states arbitrarily created have been accepted by the people by electing representatives in those states under the existing constitution over the years,” Mr. Offodile said. “Equally compelling, is the concern, in view of existing tensions in the land, of the sustainability of the arbitrary exercise of state power. There is the need to have Nigerians agree to the terms of our union. It will infuse the citizenry with the missing dose of patriotism.”

Addressing the revival of the Biafran idea in the emergence of MASSOB (Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra) and IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra), he blamed it on the non-inclusive exercise of state power by successive governments at the centre.

“Uwazurike formed MASSOB in 1999, I believe, in response to the mood of the Igbo nation after Dr. Alex Ekwueme lost his presidential bid. It is there in Wikipedia,” the author said. “The struggle has gone beyond Uwazurike. There are several other groups but Nnamdi Kanu has emerged as a charismatic leader and captured the imagination of not a few of the Igbo people. They have a strong following and should be engaged.”

The author, whose father, Chris Offodile, now late, was the first Nigerian Editor of the Hansard (the official parliamentary reports of the Federal House of Representatives) and the author of a biography on Dr. M.I. Okpara, former Premier of Eastern region, also expressed serious concern about what he said was the unsatisfactory performance of some of the past governments in the South East of Nigeria.

He praised Ukpabi Asika’s post war administration (1970-1975) as the golden era of governance in the region, that now comprises five of the 36 states in the federation – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo. He suggested that one of the most effective ways to alter this dismal picture of non-performance by state governments was through devolution of powers to the states.

“I am persuaded that a change in the structure of the federation will make for better performance by the component units but even with the present arrangement, we could have done better but I leave that for the citizens of the respective states to make their own assessment.”

On the planned national census for which almost N300 billion has been proposed, the author suggested that the controversies that dogged past national census exercises would be of little consequence when Nigeria is restructured.

“Census is good for planning purposes. It is politicised in Nigeria because of the kind of system we operate. Money accrues generally into the federation account and all the states share from it every month… These things will not be so important if a proper federal arrangement is worked out.”

Projecting into the future of Nigeria in global terms and condemning what he called Nigeria’s descent into a dysfunctional “Unitary-Federalism”, Mr. Offodile, whose book was publicly presented at an elaborate event at the Yar’ Adua Centre in Abuja also lent his voice to the calls for the restructuring of the federation.

“The future of Nigeria depends to a large extent on how the calls for restructuring are handled,” he said. “Those who insist on the status quo keep on attacking the patriotism of those who call for a review of the existing structure, instead of giving reasons for the continuance of what has clearly failed. In the end, it is what it is – a contest of ideas.

“I stand firmly on the side of those who insist that the present consumption structure must give way to a competitive structure, no matter how configured. A lot of Nigerians have become global citizens, living and competing all over the world. The government of their home country should modernise and embrace global best practices in line with the aspirations of several thousands of its people playing on the world stage. That would help lift millions of others out of poverty.”

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/how-gowon-caused-nigerian-civil-war-that-killed-millions-chudi-offodile/

[img]http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Oluyinka-Olutoye-496x437.jpep[/img]

A Nigerian pediatric surgeon, Professor Oluyinka Olutoye, is making the headlines in the United States and around the world for his success after performing a rare surgical operation.

Professor Olutoye, alongside his surgeon partner carried out the delicate surgery on a 23 weeks old foetus who was removed from the mother’s womb, operated upon and returned to the womb to heal and continue to grow until the baby girl was born at 36 weeks.The baby suffered from a tumor known as ‘sacrococcygeal teratoma’, a tumor that develops before birth and grows from a baby’s coccyx, the tailbone.

Research says it is found more often in girls than boys, and occurs in one out of every 35,000 births.

Doctor Olutoye received his medical degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state south west Nigeria and his Ph.D. in anatomy from Virginia Commonwealth University In Richmond, Virginia in the United States.

He shared his experience from this rare surgical feat and suggestions on how Nigeria can harness the talents that abound in the country’s medical space.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/u-s-hails-nigerian-surgeon-who-removed-baby-from-womb-operated-returned-her-back/

Mrs Fatima Kaka, a member of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement, has urged the Federal Government to hasten the process for the release of the remaining Chibok girls.
Kaka made the appeal on Monday in an interview in Abuja.
She also urged the government to hasten the release of other Nigerians kidnapped in the North East. The Presidency on Oct. 12 confirmed the release of 21 of 291 Chibok girls kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorists on April 14, 2014.

Kaka said: “We don’t know the number of people in captivity; we just know that a lot of people are in captivity. “The number available to the public is not consistent; the government should double up its efforts for the release of abducted people in the North East.
“For the remaining 197 remaining Chibok girls, the government has to do everything possible and whatever it takes to get the girls,” Kaka said. She noted that the condition of the 21 girls so far released by the insurgents was not encouraging, adding, “the faster we recover everybody, the better.’’

Kaka, however, commended the federal government for its efforts in securing the release of some of the girls, saying that their release in batches was in order.

“When people are taken, another thing is the issue of negotiation; they have to come in batches; that is what happens all over the world.

“As long as they are coming out, we are okay, no matter the number at a time but let it just be fast- tracked,” said the the BBOG member.

She appealed to the government not to jeopardise the prospects of the abducted girls to excel in life.

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/bbog-urges-fg-to-hasten-release-of-remaining-chibok-girls/

A Kenyan housemaid has done the unthinkable!

The maid was said to have strangled and killed her employer’s three children by hanging them on the ceiling and attacking them with a cleaver in their sleep. She then killed herself after murdering the children. The 25-year-old Kenyan maid was said to have attacked the children, two girls and a boy aged 15, 14 and 10, because they and their mother had made threats against her own life.Neigbours claim the must have tried to revenge her 42-year-old boss because she was fond of mistreating her.

Wow! This is so sad and cruel!

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/heartbreaking-housemaid-kills-employers-3-children-by-hanging/

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) has given the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government 21 days to halt the mass sack of its members by major oil companies or face mass action from the union, reports Vanguard.

NUPENG made its position known in a communique issued by its Central Working Committee currently in a crucial meeting in Warri, Delta state.The oil workers body noted that over 3000 oil workers have been sacked by oil and servicing companies who are closing shops on account of the current economic recession and said it cannot stand it any longer.Igwe Achese, President of NUPENG who read the communiqué: “NUPENG will take all necessary action to drive home its demands if FG failed to act in 21 days. We are 100% in support against anti-corruption, but there must be respite for Nigerians.

“Right now, our members and even those in other sectors are no longer able to pay school fees for their children and even afford rents. Worse still, those being sacked now are so treated without commitment to proper terminal benefits.”

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/10/26/breaking-fuel-scarcity-looms-as-nupeng-gives-fg-21-day-ultimatum/

PIC Mr Fani Kayode(left) and Minister of Defence,Mr Musliu Obanikoro Px Dare Fasube

Wife of embattled former minister and spokesperson of Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organization, Femi Fani-Kayode, Precious says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wants her husband dead.

Recall that Anti-graft agency had denied reports that that Femi Fani- Kayode slumped at their premises.
Precious who was recently detained in Ado-Ekiti by operatives of the EFCC said her husband is ill and need constant check up .

She insisted that her husband slumped on Saturday at the anti-graft agency’s custody.“Its very clear they want FFK dead at all cost. He is a man that would never give you the pleasure of seeing him down so saying he isn’t ill or never slumped on Saturday is just a way of trying to deny him medical attention. He is ill and constantly checks into the clinic at the Commission and you have seen the health reports. This is pure wickedness,” Precious said.

Meanwhile, EFCC said it is set to arraign both Fani-Kayode and Musiliu Obanikoro to court.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/10/26/efcc-wants-to-kill-my-husband-fani-kayodes-wife-cries-out/

Following the warning given by ‎the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigerian (MACBAN), an association of herdsmen in Nigeria, that the anti-grazing activities of Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, may degenerate into an unquenchable inferno if not curtailed(read here). Governor Fayose yesterday addressed a press conference in the state where he asked residents of the state, particularly those living in border towns to be ready for war with the herdsmen whom he described as ‘Philistines’

“I am therefore using this opportunity to put Ekiti people, especially residents of border towns in the State on red alert. Ekiti people must be prepared to defend their land against these Philistines whose attributes and characters are extremism, violence, bloodshed and destruction.”
‎Read the full text from his press conference below:
On Saturday, October 22, 2016, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the umbrella body of herdsmen in Nigeria openly threatened to wage war against the government and people of Ekiti State, lying that four cattle belonging to its member were killed by the newly inaugurated Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshal (EGEM). Four days after this threat was issued against the government and people of Ekiti State by the Miyetti Allah, the federal government is yet to act in any manner that will disabuse the minds of Ekiti people, who believed that the federal government is in support of the threat.
The silence of the federal government has no doubt further confirmed the insinuation that there is plot to give tacit support to the herdsmen to invade some border towns and villages in Ekiti State and cause chaos in the State so as to justify the evil agenda of declaration of a state of emergency on the State.
Nigerians should be reminded that in May, this year, Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria said openly that the reason for the killing of over 1,000 people in Benue State was the killing of over 800 cattle by Tiv youths.
In other words, Miyetti Allah boldly told Nigerians that its members (herdsmen) killed over 1,000 Agatu people of Benue State because their cows were killed!
Up till today, no one has been arrested for the massacre in Agatu in Benue State and now, Ekiti State and its people are being threatened by this same Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, and the federal government has pretended as if nothing was wrong. From the words and antecedents of the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, it is clear that they have assurance beyond their personal minds from the federal government to kill Nigerians in place of their cows. If not, by now, the man who signed that press statement, threatening the entire people of Ekiti State ought to have been arrested and questioned.
Therefore, in view of the above, we wish to tell Nigerians and the entire world that in the event of any invasion of Ekiti State by killer herdsmen, the federal government should be held responsible. The herdsmen and those urging them on should also be informed that any attack on one Ekiti person is an attack on all Ekitis and we shall not sit back and allow our people to be killed under the guise of cattle rearing.
In the event of federal government’s security agencies refusal to secure the lives and properties of Ekiti people, the people will have no option than to defend themselves. Our forefathers did same in the famous Kiriji War and we won’t mind doing the same now! I am therefore using this opportunity to put Ekiti people, especially residents of border towns in the State on red alert. Ekiti people must be prepared to defend their land against these Philistines whose attributes and characters are extremism, violence, bloodshed and destruction. For the avoidance of doubt, the Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Bill, 2016 that was signed into law on August 29, 2016 remains in force.Nigeria is a federation and each State is empowered by law to make laws to protects its people.
Therefore, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria should rather tell its members to comply with this law by seeking from the government designated land for grazing ranch, which the government is always willing to give. Five cattle that were arrested last week are being kept in the government ranch and their owners can take them back as soon as the necessary fines are paid.
It is strange that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria kept silent when its members killed two people and injured several others in Oke Ako in Ekiti State. So strange that the same Miyetti Allah that defended the murder of over 1,000 Agatu people of Benue State and kept silent when herdsmen killed over 100 people killed in Enugu State and a traditional ruler was killed in Delta State suddenly found its voice when Ekiti State government decided to curb the murderous activities of its men. Why didn’t Miyetti Allah that is now calling on President Mohammadu Buhari to warn me, the custodian of the mandate of Ekiti people warn its members when they were killing Nigerians and destroying farmlands? Are their cows more important than human lives?
To us in Ekiti, lives of 5,000 cows cannot be equated with those of human beings that are being killed daily by herdsmen across the country.
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria should know that cattle farmers are not different from other farmers. If they want to rear cows in Ekiti, they should do so in accordance with the laws of the State. After all, law prohibiting sale and consumption of alcohol was made in Kano State and the law is being enforced while Sharia Law made in some States in the north is also being enforced. We therefore want to appeal to all security agencies to be alive to their responsibility of protecting the lives of Nigerians and their properties.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/herdsmens-threat-fayose-asks-ekiti-people-to-be-ready-for-war/

An NGO, Teens and Times, said about 95 per cent of students writing SSCE examinations do not read, but pay their way out of school.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the coordinator of the NGO, Nnenna Opigbe blamed the development on proliferation of miracle centres and connivance of parents with schools to pass their children at all cost.

Opigbe stated that students have assumed that reading hard does not translate to good grades, so they pay to get good grade.Her words: “When I interact with some of these students about their reading habits they will say auntie, do not worry, we will pass and their parents will pay and will pass.“What worries me is that these students are intelligent, creative and innovative and could pass their exam on their own.

“But they feel there is no need to read since they will pay their way out and get the grades they need to get them into university or polytechnic.”

She urged parents to quit helping their wards passing their exams, even as she noted that there was the need for massive reorientation campaign to enlighten parents on the dangers of such practice to the future of their kids.

“It starts from the home. Parents want their children to have all As against all odds. They should be interested in making their children get better academically, not just the certificate,” she quipped.

She continued: “School owners are willing to do anything for students to gets good grades out of fear that parents may withdraw their wards to other schools due to poor performance.

“Schools should concentrate in developing these students for their own betterment and not mainly for the school pockets.”

She however urged relevant government agencies to come up with strict regulations to stem all form of examination malpractice, to encourage students to read and become better persons in the society.Meanwhile, the validity period of results for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was extended to three years as against the present one year by the Nigerian Senate on Thursday, October 13.

According to the Senate the extension was granted to reduce the financial burden of the examination on parents.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/revealed-why-nigerian-students-no-longer-read-for-ssce/

This seems to be the season of nomination refusals, which is quite strange. President Buhari has had his nominations refused three times recently.

Here are the three people that refused his nominations and their reasons for doing so:

1. Usman Bugaje

We will first consider the case of Usman Bugaje. Honourable Dr Usman Bugaje is a graduate of pharmacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He graduated in 1975.

He later did an MA in African Studies and a PhD in Intellectual History, both at the Institute of African and Asian Studies, University of Khartoum, Sudan.

He is a writer on national and international issues, and has published in both academic and non-academic journals and other media.

Dr Bugaje was conferred the honorary title of commander of the order of civil Merit and commander of the order of independent Equatorial Guinea by the president of republic of equatorial Guinea on 26th March, 2002.

He rejected President Buhari’s ambassadorial nomination, and he was convinced not to mention his decision to the media.

2. Dame Pauline Tallen

Dame Pauline Tallen is the former deputy governor of Plateau state. She is also a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) board of trustees.

She turned down the offer for nomination for ambassadorial appointment to attend to her ailing husband.

Tallen said she appreciated the president for counting her worthy to serve Nigeria in the capacity of an ambassador, however, she has to let go to attend to her ailing husband.

According to her, she would not be able to leave her husband who has been sick for sometime now, in the hands of others to look after him, for the sake of the appointment. “It is a hard decision I had to take but I have to, because he is my primary responsibility,” she said.

3. Professor Akintunde Akinwande

Professor Akintunde Ibitayo Akinwande is a Nigerian American engineering professor at the electrical engineering and computer science department of Massachusetts institute of technology.

Akinwande commenced work as a scientist at Honeywell Inc. Technology Center in Bloomington, Minnesota in 1986, initially researching on Gas Complementary FET technology for very high speed and low power signal processing.

Professor Akinwande rejected an offer by the president to serve in the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as chairman.

According to the Nation, Akinwande turned down the offer based on the alleged fact that he was not consulted before the nomination was made.

4. Najatu Muhammad

Naja’atu Bala Muhammad, is the first woman to win a Senate seat in Central Kano for the Kano senatorial seat in central district and the first to serve as president of the National Students (Student Union for president in Nigeria).

She was born in 1956, in the neighborhood sycamore tree Can, the central city of Kano. The federal government on Saturday, February 13, 2015, appointed Muhammad as the chairperson of the governing board of the Dutse federal university through a paid advertorial on a national daily.

“Sir, I Najatu Muhammad wishes (wish) to thank you so much for considering me worthy of being appointed the chairperson of Dutse Federal University.

“It’s however unfortunate that I was not consulted before the announcement in the media. I also regret that I have to use the same medium to announce that I can’t accept the appointment for personal reasons.”

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/see-4-people-who-have-refused-buharis-nominations-and-why/

Anambra state under the administration of Governor Willie Obiano has reached its target of 210, 000 metric tonnes of rice production per annum of achieving self-sufficiency in rice production.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Afam Mbanefo, made the disclosure at a Commodity Alliance Forum/Consultative meeting organised by the state Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Awka.

The commissioner recalled that the state government had earlier targeted 210, 000 metric tonnes of rice production per annum.“Based on the calculation of our expected yields, we are expecting to realise over 236, 000 metric tonnes of rice in 2016 based on the production capacity.’’

Mbanefo said the calculation was based on all the expected yields of 35 per cent of over 14, 300 farmers and the activities of programmes like the VCDP and FADAMA.

He said the expected yield also included the activities of rice investors in the state including Coscharis farms, Joseph Agro and others.

Earlier, the National Programme Coordinator for VCDP, Mr Ameh Onoja, represented by Mr Basil Esinulo,said the aim of the programme was to assist the Federal Government to reduce spending on the importation of rice.

According to him, the overall goal is to ensure that rural poverty is reduced and to ensure accelerated economic growth is achieved on a sustainable and inclusive basis.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/10/24/anambra-state-hits-210000-metric-tonnes-target-for-rice-production/

Ex-Minister Musiliu Obanikoro has reportedly promised to refund N785million out of the alleged N4.45billion he got from the office of the ex-NSA.

Ex-Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has reportedly resolved to refund N785million out of the N4.45billion he got from from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).
According to a report by Nation, friends and associates are rallying round him to raise the funds as a first step to secure his bail.

It was further reported the ex-Senator is willing to refund N100million as the first installment of the N785million.
When contacted, Obanikoro’s spokesperson, Jonathan Eze, said he was not aware of the development.

Another source close to him, however, said “it is true.”

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/obanikoro-ex-minister-reportedly-promises-to-refund-n785m/

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal, Sodique Abubakar has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government, to empower youths across the country through agriculture as a way of addressing unemployment and insecurity in the country.He stated that such empowerment is a potential for accelerating economic growth and making the result more sustainable.

Air Vice Marshal Abubakar disclosed this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital during the official launch of Barracks Youths Empowerment through agriculture mobility command chapter, held at 203 Mag in Ilorin.Over 67 youths have benefited from the programme according to him, “You will agree with me that the present insecurity in the country is largely caused by youths unemployment, either in the Northeast or in the Niger Delta region of the country.

“Youths have been largely unemployed, and if the agriculture is keyed into, you will see that a lot of youths will be involved and as the saying goes that an idle mind is the devils workshop.

when youths are engaged falsely, they are not idle, they get engaged as they earn money, and add values to their lives and the lives of their families.’’ he said.

The Chief of the Air Staff who was represented by the Director Standard and Evaluation of Nigeria Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Saliu Balariba added that the empowerment of youths is therefore not luxury, rather it is an untapped potential in the acceleration of Nigeria’s economic growth and social development’’.

He stressed that “the inauguration that we are witnessing today is the first phase of the program, training of youths in various agricultural skills will be the next phase which will be followed by empowerment through financial assistance by government agencies’’

He further noted that , “Keeping our youths gainfully engaged will no doubt bring rates to the barest minimum which will in turn impact positively on the overall security of the nation”.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/10/21/f-g-to-tackle-unemployment-through-agriculture/

Itse Sagay, professor of law and chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), on Monday said Nigeria would have collapsed if Bubari had not intervened.
He said this after a presentation of the committee’s report on a new legal framework for fighting‎ corruption.

“We know of some governors who are not supposed to be there, but found themselves on the bloody seats with the help of some judges,” he said.“If Buhari had not come, I don’t think there would have been a country. Zimbabwe would have been better. The government is operating on a zero budget.

“We need the judiciary, but we need an upright judiciary. If we don’t have a judiciary with moral integrity, then we don’t have a democracy.

“No agency would have dared to arrest Oputa, Obaseki, Eso, and some others. They gave judgments against the military governments. The moral authority of the golden era of the supreme court has crashed.

“No judge should be guilty of corruption; if that happens then they have reduced themselves to our level, so they should take whatever happens. Let us be fair to this country.”

‎President Muhammadu Buhari set up the committee in August, 2015.

In the report, the committee recommended plea bargaining as an alternative means of settling corruption cases.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/there-will-be-no-nigeria-without-buhari-sagay/

Top Christian clerics led by President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Reverend Felix Omobude, will commit the affairs of Nigeria into the hands of God to lift the country out of the current economic recession.

The prayers will be held at a one week convention with the theme, “Reigning in Life” that will take place at the headquarters of New Covenant Gospel Church, Benin City.A statement signed by Dr. Omobude said social-political issues affecting the well-being of Nigerians are some of the issues to be tackled in prayers.

The statement listed notable speakers at the seven days prayers to include immediate past President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Simeon Okah, Dr. Enock Setima, Dr. Reggies Wenyinka and Apostle Lawrence Achudume.

Omobude said special prayers will be offered to God to help Nigeria overcome her pressing needs and problems particularly the challenges of economic recession, terrorism, violent crimes, kidnapping, corruption and other vices.

According to the statement, “It is our expectation that Nigerians in particular and Nigeria as a whole will witness the Mighty visitation of God during and after the convention as issues bothering on the welfare and safety of this nation as well as her progress and development will be handled in prayers.

“There shall be a harvest of miracles, signs and wonders. We have God’s assurance that the lame shall walk, the blind shall see, the deaf shall hear and the captive set free. There shall be healing galore for all manners of people and the church will be strengthened,” Dr. Omobude added.

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/recession-clerics-to-pray-for-nigeria/

*Group may demand ransom, swap of 16 detained top commanders
*Office of National Security Adviser: Terrorism has overstretched security agencies
*No disquiet in the military over sect leaders in detention – DHQ
*UN Secretary General hails 21 girls’ release

As negotiations for the expected next phase of the release of 83 Chibok girls begins this week, there were indications, last night, that the leadership of the Boko Haram sect might table two major conditions to be met by the Federal Government to seal the deal.A source close to the negotiations confided in Sunday Vanguard that unlike the 21 girls, who were freed by the sect, last Thursday, to test government’s level of commitment and sincerity, the release of the remaining girls may be based strictly on ransom payment and freedom for no fewer than 16 of Boko Haram commanders by the government. The government, it was learnt, was eager to get the remaining 83 girls, reportedly held by a top leader of the sect in an undisclosed location in the North East. Of the 219 girls still missing, a source said that only 104 were left in the captivity of the sect while the rest had long been married off by top commanders and converted to Islam.
“The truth is that those Chibok girls are now Boko Haram members, having married the sect members and become radicalised,” the source said. “The remaining 83 girls are with a top leader of Boko Haram and those are the only ones we are going to work for their release in the next phase of our negotiations which starts immediately. “

The others had since become Boko Haram members, having been married off and radicalised into Boko Haram as soon as they were captured over two years ago”. But Sunday Vanguard learnt that the representatives of the sect, who are meeting with a Federal Government team, might insist on payment upfront of huge cash by government before freeing the captives.

“I think the guys are settled on the idea that the cash must come ahead of the release since they had proved to government that they are reliable by releasing the 21 girls, last week, without many conditions attached”, the source stated. Asked if the sect leaders were unsure of government’s sincerity to keep its own side of the bargain, the source said that the representatives of Boko Haram had also shown that they have confidence in government. It was learnt that the lingering challenge in getting back all the girls arose from the fact that while some of them are with a faction loyal to Benawhi, the rest are being kept by the group loyal to Abubakar Shekau. But one of the negotiators believed the remaining 83 girls would be freed if a meaningful deal is struck between the sect and the Federal Government.

Threats Meanwhile, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has said that threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism in parts of Nigeria have not only stretched law enforcement agencies but have also exposed the gap in the nation’s capacity to deal with asymmetric warfare.” Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Center (CTC) in ONSA, Commodore Yem Musa, who stated this in at a one-day ‘Strategic Communication Analytical Technique Exercise’ in Abuja, said that violent extremist groups were more adapted to using strategic communication than government.

“Through this exercise, we will explore how strategic communication must be a first order capability in the armed forces, law enforcement and intelligence agencies as well as strategic MDAs of government”, Musa said. Musa explained that the nature of asymmetric warfare and the liberalization of information access through the social media has made it imperative for any state actor serious about its national security to develop efficient and effective use of Strategic Communication. He noted that the threat from terrorists, insurgent groups and other non-state actors in the country, has called for enhanced capacity and holistic measures to deal with the emerging security challenges.

The CTC boss however, expressed regret that whereas the non-state actors in the country have perfected effective use of the social media, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to deadly effect, the government is still playing a catch-up role. He said: “The increasing discourse on strategic communication among stakeholders in Nigeria can be linked to the growing body of research on, and practice of counter-terrorism laws, policies and strategy.

This, too, is as a result of a new kind of threat hitherto unknown to us. Musa informed stakeholders at the exercise that “strategic communication is a crucial and relevant tool for counter terrorism and counter insurgency and permeates all governance structures and enhance national security and well-being”. At the end of the exercise, participants agreed on the need to develop a common lexicon on strategic communication across MDAs in Nigeria.

Remaining captives must be free – UN Secretary General

In a related development, United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, yesterday, commended the efforts of the Federal Government that paid off with the release of the 21 Chibok girls on Thursday. A statement from the UN Secretariat in New York stated that the Secretary-General also called on the international community to assist Nigeria in securing the release of the remaining girls from Boko Haram’s grip.

The statement read: “The Secretary-General welcomes the reported release of 21 Chibok schoolgirls, following more than two years of captivity.

“He remains deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of the remaining schoolgirls and other victims of abduction by Boko Haram, who are still in captivity. “The Secretary-General urges the international community to continue supporting the government of Nigeria in its efforts to secure their release, rehabilitation and reintegration.

“He calls for increased efforts to ensure additional humanitarian access in the north-east of Nigeria, and reiterates the continued commitment of the United Nations in this regard.

“The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, in his capacity as High Representative for Nigeria, continues to engage with the Nigerian authorities and international partners on this matter.”

Source: http://nigerianewstoday.com.ng/boko-haram-sets-new-conditions-to-free-83-more-chibok-girls/

A Cherubim and Seraphim prophetess, 41-year-old Sola Ajayi, who allegedly stole a Canadian-breed life turkey valued at N30, 000, is to remain behind bars, an Ile Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun ruled on Monday.
Ajayi was ordered to be kept in prison custody over his inability to perfect her bail.

Chief Magistrate Olalekan Ijiyode had granted her bail in the sum of N30, 000 with one surety in like sum.Ijiyode added that the surety must be a civil servant and should also reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

No civil servant showed up to stand surety for her and the magistrate remanded the prophetess in prison custody until the bail condition was met.

The accused was arraigned on a charge of stealing to which she pleaded not guilty. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Oct. 16 at about 4.00 p.m. at Iloromu Quarters, Mokuro, Ile Ife. Osanyintuyi said the accused stole the life turkey valued at N30, 000, property of a woman, Khadijat Lamidi.

The offence contravened Section 390 of the Criminal Code,Laws of Osun, 2002. Counsel to the accused, Mr Olalekan Babatunde, urged the court to grant her bail.

The case was adjourned to Nov. 26 for hearing.

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/prophetess-remanded-in-prison-for-stealing-turkey/

– The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate has claimed reponsibilty for an attack on an oil installation in Ughelli, Delta state

– NDGJM launches Operation Hammurabi Code in mockery of the Operation Crocodile Smile, after the Nigeria Army

– The group warns the Nigerian government and multinationals that henceforth it shall be an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth

The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate has served a notice to the Nigerian government and multinationals about the launch of Operation Hammurabi Code .

Militants in the Niger Delta region have resumed hostilities with an attacked on a crude oil delivery line that supplies product to the Ughelli quality control center in Delta state.

The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) which claimed responsibility for the attack on Friday, October 13, also launched its “Operation Hammurabi Code” named after a former King of Babylonia (1792-1750bc) in mockery of the “Operation Crocodile Smile,after the Nigeria Army.

The NDGJM, according to Vanguard, said it carried out the attack on Thursday, October 13.

“At about 2100hours of Thursday, October 13, 2016, the Akuma Strike Team of the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate brought down the Iwhremaro to the Ughelli Quality Control Centre (QCC) delivery line to signal the commencement of the Operation Hammurabi Code,”spokesperson for group, Gen’ Aldo Agbalaja said.

“We have been patient and reasonable all along; hence our choice to restrict our activities to mild operations that were not aimed at causing critical damages, but it has now become crystal clear that we are dealing with devious and incorrigible people,” Agbalaja added.

The QCC which is being operated by the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) plays host to four crude oil tank farms, receives products from six oil fields within the Oil Mining Lease 30 and supplies crude oil and gas to the Forcados Terminal, Warri and Kaduna refineries.

The group which served a notice to the Nigerian government and multinationals about the launch of Operation Hammurabi Code warned, that henceforth it shall be an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

“Now you shall know what uprooting of your cherished assets means. It starts from now on, there is no longer going to be warnings or special consideration for anybody,” it said.

NDGJM accused the federal government of divide and rule and labeled oil companies a leopard incapable of changing its skin.

“We have observed that the leopard of the oil company is incapable of changing its skin; ever deceiving, ever conniving. Your ‘divide-and-rule’ gimmick will fail here as we will not stay idle in the face of your lies,” the group said.

“We have said it once and we shall repeat it here now; the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate will not call this campaign off in secret, when we see reason to do so and we decide to do so, we shall reach the world publicly through this same channel, from where we took off.”

Meanwhile, Oil giant company, Chevron Nigeria Limited has received an ultimatum by leaders of a community in Delta state.

The 14-day ultimatum was issued by the leaders of Okoyitoru community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta state.

The leaders mandated the oil company to commence pilling and sand filling of the community that has been environmentally devastated following activities by Chevron in the area.

The ultimatum was conveyed through a letter written by a lawyer Omes Ogedegbe on behalf of the community and address to the company’s managing director of Chevron was dated October 10, 2016.

Source: http://nigeriabreakingnews.com.ng/tension-as-militants-declare-total-war-on-fg-launch-another-attack/

[img]http://.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/WIKE.jpg[/img]

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has described as false an online report that he bribed some Supreme Court justices to get his governorship election victory validated.

Wike said his election was upheld in line with the same principles of law that also validated the election of some governors who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

The governor, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, was reacting to an online report that some Supreme Court justices were begged to accept N5bn bribe to validate his election.

But a statement signed by Nwakaudu, read, “For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Wike did not bribe any Supreme Court justice or justices to get his election validated. The governor has always had confidence in the judiciary to uphold the tenets of the law.

“The Supreme Court upheld the election of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in line with the same principles of law and facts that it upheld the elections of APC governors, especially in Lagos, Kaduna, Zamfara, Oyo and Ogun states.”

The governor, however, accused the APC in the state of being behind the publication that tended to cast aspersions on his election victory.

But the state APC disagreed with the position of the governor, saying it had no direct or indirect link with the online medium that alleged that Wike bribed judges to get his election validated by the Supreme Court.

A statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday and signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Chris Finebone, read, “Records abound to prove that Amaechi and Peterside have, at one time or the other, came under intense scrutiny in the reports of Saharareporters.

“It begs the question when Governor Nyesom Wike says that the two very busy respectable individuals can spare the time to think about the governor and how to sponsor Saharareporters to scrutinise him, his infamous reputation and derelict government.

“It is perhaps appropriate and well-timed that the press release by Governor Wike has something to say about whether or not he bribed any justice of the Supreme Court over the 2015 governorship matter.

“From what is emerging today across the nation, the APC would like Rivers people and Nigerians to make their conclusions.”


Source: http://.com.ng/i-didnt-bribe-judges-to-validate-my-election-wike/