₦airaland Forum

The crocodile was eventually killed by the workers.

The appearance of a crocodile in an office at the Baruten Local Government Council Secretariat at Kosubosu in Kwara on Friday caused pandemonium, forcing workers to scamper for their safety.

When a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria visited the secretariat, workers were seen in groups discussing the incident.

Some workers said that the reptile was sighted behind a door by a worker, Haruna Hussein.

According to one of the workers, Hasheem Tijani, the movement of the reptile behind the door of one of the offices attracted the attention of Hussein, who raised an alarm on sighting it.

Tijani said that workers in their offices ran out when the alarm was raised but some brave men later went back to the office with stones, sticks and cutlasses to kill the reptile.

He said that no one could actually explain how the reptile got into the office.

Mr. Tijani described the appearance of the crocodile as the strangest thing to happen in the history of the council.

According to him, the secretariat is clean without bushes around the premises for a crocodile or any animal to enter the office.

“It is a strange thing seeing a crocodile in our office. There is no river near us to suggest that it might come from the river and our environment is not bushy.

“Also, today is not Monday so that we would have said it hid there over the weekend,” he said.

The official said that workers were in the office on Thursday and that the door was locked after close of work.

After the reptile was killed and taken away, normal activities resumed at the secretariat.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/national/147297-crocodile-causes-scare-council-secretariat-kwara.html

The president is in Israel with eight governors, seven ministers, and other public officials.

President Goodluck Jonathan in Jerusalem on Thursday led other Nigerian pilgrims to Israel in a special prayer for the numerous challenges facing Nigeria.

Leading the intercessory prayer session at the Chapel of Dominous Flevit (where Jesus wept), the President particularly prayed for God’s intervention in the current political and security challenges in Nigeria.

Other pilgrims who led in different prayer points included Governor Jonah Gang of Plateau; Minister of Agriculture, Akin Adesina; Abuja Christian leader, Israel Akanji; and a lawmaker, Ndudi Elumelu.

The president had earlier visited Mount Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Bascillica of Agony and Mount Zion where he also prayed alongside other pilgrims at the Upper Room (where Jesus had the last supper with His disciples).

Other places visited included David City, The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, the last place where Jesus was kept a night before he was crucified.

The president and other Nigerian pilgrims also walked down the Palm Sunday Road to the Chapel of Dominous Flevit.

President Jonathan is expected to visit the Jerusalem Old City, The Wailing Wall, Golgotha, Pool of Bethesda and other holy sites in the second day of his pilgrimage.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that eight governors, seven ministers and three members of the National Assembly were part of the entourage to Israel.

The governors are Theodore Orji of Abia; Peter Obi of Anambra; Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom; Martin Elechi of Ebonyi; and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta.

Others are Gabriel Suswam of Benue; Jonah Jang of Plateau, and Lyiel Imoke of Cross River.

The ministers included the supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri; FCT Minister of State, Olajumoke Akinjide; Mnister of Infromation, Labran Maku; and the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah.

Members of the National Assembly in the presidential pilgrimage are Senate Committee Chairman on Power, Philip Aduda, and Paul Paulka.

This is the first time a sitting Nigerian president will embark on pilgrimage to Israel and this year recorded the highest number of Nigerian participants.

The president is in Israel on dual purpose: undergoing pilgrimage, and state visit where Nigeria would sign a number of agreements with the state of Israel, including the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, BASA.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/national/147287-christian-pilgrimage-jonathan-leads-nigerian-pilgrims-special-prayers.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=christian-pilgrimage-jonathan-leads-nigerian-pilgrims-special-prayers

Faction to hold meeting next week.

The Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said it has filed a notice of appeal over last week’s ruling by a Federal High Court, Abuja, which restrained it from using PDP’s logo and colours, and recognised the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee, NWC, as the authentic leadership of the party.
A statement by the spokesperson of the faction, Chukwuemeka Eze, on Thursday in Abuja, said the notice of appeal was filed by its team of lawyers.

Mr. Eze said the decision to file the appeal was taken at an emergency meeting of the faction following the return of its leader, Abubakar Baraje, from the 2013 pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

He said the faction was convinced that it had a good case and was determined to ensure that Mr. Tukur and “his cohorts” were not allowed to hold sway as the leaders of PDP.

“Our teeming members and supporters should, therefore, entertain no fears whatsoever and should remain steadfast as we seek to legally establish our case and logically conclude our mission to rescue the PDP from anti-democratic forces so as to restore the noble vision of the party’s founding fathers,” he said.

G7 Governors meeting postponed

Mr. Eze also said the proposed meeting of seven governors, who are part of the faction, and its other officials, had been postponed due to the governors’ busy schedules. The meeting was earlier scheduled for this week.

The seven governors who are members of the PDP faction include the governors of Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Rivers.

He said the meeting would now hold next week.

“One of the major issues slated for discussion is how to receive our new members; particularly the five additional PDP Governors who have indicated interest in joining us,” he said.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147216-pdp-crisis-baraje-led-faction-appeals-court-ruling.html

johntousin: The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has ordered Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, to appear before Tuesday, when its investigation into the armoured car scandal will end.

The committee said she must attend even if she has to arrive by chartered flight.

The order came after the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry said Mrs. Oduah was in Israel to sign bilateral air agreement with Israel and will not be able to return before Tuesday.

The committee asked aviation ministry officials, led by the permanent secretary, who was to represent the minister, to leave; saying they had no relevance to the hearing.

The committee said it will only accept presentation from NCAA whose director is in attendance.

The chair of the committee, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, said the committee wanted independent presentation from the NCAA, hence its insistence that the others leave.

Mrs. Oduah is being investigated over the controversial purchase of two armoured BMW cars for N255 million by the NCAA at her request.

She was recently queried by President Goodluck Jonathan who has also set up a three-man panel to probe the deal.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147195-breaking-house-committee-insists-oduah-must-appear-tuesday-n255-million-car-scandal.html

JUST IN: More on #StellaGate

House of Reps confirms Stella Oduah’s armoured cars not budgeted for

The House of Representatives committee on aviation has confirmed there was no budgetary approval for the ministry of aviation to purchase armoured cars for Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah .

At its ongoing investigative hearing in Abuja, the committee said there was a proposal for the two cars by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, but that it was turned down.

The committee had earlier insisted that Minister Oduah must appear before it before Tuesday.

The committee said the NCAA bought 54 vehicles when approval was given for only 25.

The armoured cars were specifically rejected even when the NCAA proposed to buy each for N70million.

But the agency said it received approval from the minister to purchase the two cars at an higher cost of N255 million.

Meanwhile in the budget approved by the national assembly (the one for 25 cars), the agency said the cars were needed to inspect perimeter fence.

More to come, keep your tab on http://premiumtimesng.com

The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has ordered Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, to appear before Tuesday, when its investigation into the armoured car scandal will end.

The committee said she must attend even if she has to arrive by chartered flight.

The order came after the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry said Mrs. Oduah was in Israel to sign bilateral air agreement with Israel and will not be able to return before Tuesday.

The committee asked aviation ministry officials, led by the permanent secretary, who was to represent the minister, to leave; saying they had no relevance to the hearing.

The committee said it will only accept presentation from NCAA whose director is in attendance.

The chair of the committee, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, said the committee wanted independent presentation from the NCAA, hence its insistence that the others leave.

Mrs. Oduah is being investigated over the controversial purchase of two armoured BMW cars for N255 million by the NCAA at her request.

She was recently queried by President Goodluck Jonathan who has also set up a three-man panel to probe the deal.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147195-breaking-house-committee-insists-oduah-must-appear-tuesday-n255-million-car-scandal.html

The Senate President appealed to ASUU to suspend the strike.

The Senate President, David Mark, has said that representatives of the Federal Government who signed the 2009 agreement between it and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU), were incompetent.

Mr. Mark stated this while ruling on a motion at Wednesday’s plenary of the Senate brought by the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, and co-sponsored by all the Senators.

ASUU embarked on a nationwide strike since July 1 to protest the failure of the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreement for proper funding of universities.

The senators appealed to ASUU to call off its lingering strike and return to work to prevent further devaluation of the country’s education sector.

Mr. Mark observed that the basis upon which the agreement was reached did not reflect fairness and sincerity of purpose on the part of both parties.

According to him, the Federal Government ought to have acknowledged from the beginning that the agreement is not implementable because so many demands are embedded which are not realistic.

“The issue of research and development in our educational institutions cannot be over emphasised, our national development must be hinged purely on education not on oil, not even on the amount of money that we get.

“Listening to the agreement that was signed by the Federal Government, I was really wondering whether this was signed or it was just a proposal, but it was signed.

“It only shows the level of people the executive sent to go and negotiate on their behalf because abinitio, people must be told the truth, what can be accomplished and what cannot be accomplished,’’ Mr. Mark said.

The Senate President said “but even if you decided immediately after that you cannot accomplish it, I think it is only proper for you to go back and start renegotiating’’.

“But if you prolong it on the basis that you are still going to honour it and you don’t honour it, then it doesn’t portray us in good light.’

“This is where the Federal Government ought to call those who were party to this agreement.’’

Mr. Mark said ASUU simply took advantage of the ignorance of those who were sent and “just allowed this agreement to go on because it is obvious that this is going to be a very difficult piece of paper to implement.”
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147131-ASUU-crisis-signed-2009-agreement-government-incompetent-mark.html

The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Monday raised an alarm, saying that she was unnecessarily being demonised over the Academic Staff Union of Universities’, ASUU, strike and other issues stemming from it.

The Minister, speaking through her Special Adviser on Media, Paul Nwabuikwu, said that rather than embrace dialogue and work towards an amicable resolution of the crisis, some members of ASUU were now making her the issue.

A statement issued by Mr. Nwabuikwu on Monday said that the ASUU members were claiming that Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala instigated the Federal Government to adopt a take-it-or-leave-it approach in its negotiations with the union.

The statement emphasised that, contrary to reports, the Federal government’s approach to resolving the crisis was focused on positive engagement and achieving sustainable solutions to the challenges facing higher education in the country.

The statement made reference to President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent appeal to ASUU, during the commissioning of the Engineering College of Afe Babalola University (ABUA) in Ekiti on Saturday; where he called on the union to call off the strike in the interest of suffering students and parents.

The Minister, in the statement, alleged that, despite the President’s best intentions, some members of ASUU had for several days been distributing pamphlets and flyers, containing abusive and inflammatory messages against her, in mosques and other religious places of worship in the Northern part of the country.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147067-stop-demonising-ASUU-crisis-okonjo-iweala-cries.html

The Federal Government on Tuesday reiterated its call on striking university lecturers to return to work in the interest of students and prevent further damage to the education system.

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, made the call during the Ministry’s monthly press briefing in Abuja.

He claimed that government had conceded to most of the demands made by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and wondered why the union would not budge in the interest of the nation.

He said government’s commitment to resolve the crisis was further demonstrated by its representation by Vice President Namadi Sambo in the dialogue.

Mr. Maku explained that the strike was not for salaries but for allowances, as salaries had been increased.

According to the minister, “salaries have been increased by 54.3% which is half of our monthly income but they still insist on their 100 billon allowance.

“Government offered N30 billion but after a meeting with the vice president, government promised another N10 billion, making it N40 billion.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147039-ASUU-strike-fg-asks-lecturers-end-strike.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=ASUU-strike-fg-asks-lecturers-end-strike

Our country’s political discourse rests on the pedestal of misgovernance without commensurate and sufficient appreciation from materially inebriated, docile and apathetic citizenry. Why are we content at setting new stupid standards every day?

Bad roads? Take it to The Lord in prayer

Comatose Healthcare System? Bad diseases will not be our portion in Jesus name.

Collapsed Educational System? What will be will be, our children are overcomers.

Epileptic Power Supply? May the good Lord bind all the principalities, demonic spirits and the powers of darkness preventing Nigeria from enjoying stable electricity supply.

http://premiumtimesng.com/opinion/147023-bamidele-upfront-nigeria-170million-stupid-people-bamidele-ademola-olateju.html

A Freedom of Information response issued by Nigeria’s House of Representatives on how it spent N1 billion taxpayers’ funds it received for the conduct of the constitution review is fuelling another round of suspicions of fraud.
The House reacted to an FOI request by a Nigerian youth group demanding a detailed financial statement of the constitution review process.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146986-nigeria-house-reps-unable-account-n750-million-constitution-review-funds.html

The herbalists say their will continue to back the ongoing ASUU strike but did not say how.

The umbrella body of Nigerian herbalists in Oyo state has pledged support for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over its ongoing nationwide strike.

The leader of the group, Arunoyemi Asanlaye, gave the commitment at a town hall meeting organised by the University of Ibadan, UI, branch of the union.

“We are in support of ASUU on the ongoing strike,” he said.

The meeting, which was held at Trenchard Hall, UI, had in attendance, academia, students and members of the public, where update on the four months old strike was discussed.

Nigerian students, who attended the programme in large numbers, called on the striking lecturers to ensure that they achieve their aim before calling it off.

According to them, any compromise without the government acceding to their demands will amount to betrayal.

The students also expressed their displeasure over the failure of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to join the strike and force the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreement between it and the university teachers.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147001-ASUU-strike-herbalists-back-nigerian-university-lecturers.html

The Chief of Army Staff stated this in Ibadan.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, said the army had commenced massive recruitment to tackle the security challenge in the country.

Mr. Ihejirika said this while opening a five-day seminar organised by the army’s Department of Civil-Military Affairs at the 2 Division, Odogbo, Ibadan on Monday.

“I have commenced the recruitment of 9,000 persons in our various training institutions’’, Mr. Ihejirika said.

The army chief, represented by Major General John Ewansiha, said the objective of the seminar was to foster better working relations with civil society organisations toward winning hearts and minds.

Mr. Ihejirika reiterated the intention of the army to train and retrain its officers in order to meet the security challenge of the country.

“Indeed, the Nigerian army is currently occupied with domestic challenges in several parts of the country, especially in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States’’, he said.

The Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General Bola Koleoso, said the seminar was part of the quests to resolve the crisis currently facing the nation.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146991-nigeria-army-begins-massive-recruitment-9000-officials-ihejirika.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=nigeria-army-begins-massive-recruitment-9000-officials-ihejirika

PREMIUM TIMES makes the much talked about agreement public

On the first day of July this year, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, began an indefinite strike that has lasted till date and may run deep into the future.

According to the union, the strike followed government’s inability to keep to an October 2009 agreement reached by both parties.

The agreement was reached after two years of negotiation between the lecturers and a government team appointed by the then Education Minister, Obiageli Ezekwesili.

The Government team was led by the then Pro-chancellor, University of Ibadan, Gamaliel Onosode while ASUU’s team was led by its then president, Abdullahi Sule-Kano.

The agreement reached at the negotiations included conditions of service for university lecturers, funding of universities, university autonomy and academic freedom, and issues that required legislation to implement.

Details of that agreement were held as confidential by both ASUU and the government, leaving the public to feed on crumbs of information thrown out at negotiation meetings between the two parties.

PREMIUM TIMES has now obtained a copy of the agreement and is now making it available for public viewing.

Download a copy here: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146763-download-ASUU-federal-government-2009-agreement.html

Eighty three-year old Ben Nwabueze has described his nomination to the 13-member national conference committee by President Goodluck Jonathan as inappropriate, stating that the appointment should be for a younger and healthier person.

“It is an appointment for a younger person, not for an old man of 83 years afflicted by ill-health,” the elder statesman said in a statement signed by him and distributed on Thursday.

According to him, the President should have requested the Patriots to nominate someone to the committee rather than asking him who is battling with a terminal illness at a very old age to come be part of the committee.

Prof. Nwabueze who leads the Patriots-a socio-political association of elderly Nigerians-claimed that the group got a hint of the planned conference during a meeting with President Jonathan in July and expected him to ask the group for someone to be on the committee.

Expressing his displeasure with the nomination, the octogenarian said “I never expected to be appointed............

For more details on this news:

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146768-nwabueze-blasts-jonathan-inappropriately-nominating-national-conference-committee.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=nwabueze-blasts-jonathan-inappropriately-nominating-national-conference-committee

The minister’s spokesperson said the vehicles are ‘protection from external threats.’

After initial efforts by aviation officials to dismiss as mere rumours the purchase of multi million naira vehicles for Stella Oduah, Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, the ministry, Wednesday, confirmed the purchase.

Joe Obi, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, said that the two armoured BMW cars were to protect his boss from “imminent threats.”

“Yes, it is true that some security vehicles were procured for the use of the office of the honourable minister in response to the clear and imminent threat to her personal security and life following the bold steps she took to reposition the sector,” Mr. Obi told the Punch newspaper, on Wednesday.

“When she came on board as the minister, she inherited a lot of baggage in terms of concession and lease agreements in the sector, which were clearly not in the interest of the government and people of Nigeria,” Mr. Obi continued.

“And so, she took bold steps and some of these agreements were reviewed and some were terminated, and these moves disturbed some entrenched interests in the sector, and within this period, she began to receive imminent threats to her life; therefore, the need for the vehicles,” he added.

For more on this news: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146751-nigeria-aviation-ministry-justifies-purchase-n225-million-vehicles-minister-oduah.html

Prof Rufai says it is now unfair to ask her to speak on the strike.

The immediate past Minister of Education, Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, who was sacked from the federal cabinet last month, has joined the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which she desperately tried to break while in office.

PREMIUM TIMES enquries at Bayero Universities, Kano, BUK where Mrs Rufai was teaching Education Curriculum before joining the Jigawa State cabinet in 2007 and later the federal cabinet in 2011, revealed that although the former minister had returned to the institution, she was yet to commence work as a result of the ongoing industrial action.

Public Relations Officer of BUK, Mustapha Zaharaddeen, told this newspaper in a telephone interview on Wednesday that the former minister had joined her colleagues in the strike.

“How can she teach? She has joined the strike,” Mr. Zaharaddeen said. “She has no choice. How can anybody teach? Don’t forget, ASUU National President is from BUK.”

Mrs Rufai, the first female education minister from the northern part of Nigeria, was sacked from the federal cabinet alongside eight other ministers last September 11.

The other sacked ministers were Olugbenga Ashiru (Foreign Affairs), Hadiza Mailaifa (Environment), Shamsudeen Usman (National Planning), Ama Pepple (Land, Housing and Urban Development), Ita Ewa (Science and Technology).

Ministers of State for Defence, Power and Agriculture, Olusola Obada, Zainab Kuchi and Bukar Tijani, respectively were also relieved of their positions.



http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146741-ASUU-strike-failing-resolve-crisis-ex-education-minister-ruqayyatu-rufai-joins-strike.html

Police said the man asked a traditional ruler in Ogun state to for ram for Eidel Kabir

A 50-year-old man who claimed, falsely, to be an Aide-De-Camp to President Goodluck Jonathan, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command while attempting to extort money from a traditional ruler in Agbado town of the State.

Police said Hassan Ayinde claimed he was an army colonel, and approached the traditional ruler of Agbado, Adedayo Shyllum in his palace on Monday soliciting for money to purchase ram for the Eidel Kabir celebration.

For more on this news:
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146737-fake-jonathan-adc-arrested-while-seeking-ram-money-from-ogun-chief.html

Hearing on the suit has been set for January 29, 2014

The destitute recently deported by the Lagos state government, to Onitsha, Anambra state, have dragged the Lagos government to a federal High Court, demanding N1 billion in compensation for the violation of their rights.

The 76 deportees are asking the court to declare that their arrest and detention in various camps within Lagos state without being charged for any offence or convicted by a court, amounted to a serious breach of rights, as provided for in the constitution.

The applicants equally asked the court to perpetually bar the Lagos government, their agents, privies, subordinates, workers and officers, howsoever called, from further deporting, or refusing them free entry into Lagos and free exit, as well.

They also demand a written apology by Lagos, ...........

For more on this news: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146723-onitsha-deportees-sue-lagos-state-n1-billion.html

Mr. Bakare, “Nigerians have wept and prayed, marched and protested, the time has now come for us to take our destiny in our hand and we must get set to rebuild and reconstruct from region to region.”

Convener of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Tunde Bakare, has welcomed the proposed national conference with some level of caution but warned that if the nation does not talk before the next general elections, the country might cease to exist.

The pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly gave this remark at the launch and maiden lecture of the Centre for Change in Lagos on Tuesday, where he noted that Nigeria should be a model for not only Africa but the black race.

Mr Bakare who is a stunch critic of President Goodluck Jonathan, subtly endorsed the planned conference at the event which had the theme; retriving the soul of a country in ruins.

The former Vice Presidential aspirant, who noted that the amalgamation of the country was not a mistake and that the things that unite the country and more than those dividing it, said “that is why we must all reason together when we have the chance to talk” adding that “and we must walk the talk.”

Without mentioning his name, Pastor Bakare subtly criticised the national leader of the All Progressive Change (APC),Bola Tinubu, for his stance in opposing the planned national conference.

Referring to the former governor of Lagos state, Pastor Bakare inferred that ”those that have being campaigning for the national conference in the past are now campaigning against it because tables have turned and they have benefitted from the public treasury.”

“If we do not talk before the 2015 elections, we can just kiss Nigeria goodbye,” the clergy predicted.

For more on this news: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146714-tunde-bakare-backs-jonathan-national-conference-tackles-tinubu.html

Aviation authorities say Minister Stella Oduah is too rich to compel an agency under her to buy her cars.

Aviation authorities in Lagos attempted a vigorous push back on Tuesday report that the nation’s aviation minister, Stella Oduah, abused her office by compelling the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to purchase two armoured BMW cars for her worth N255 million.

The New York based online newspaper, Sahara Reporters, claimed in an investigation report that Mrs. Oduah compelled the NCAA, an agency under her supervision, in a presumed case of corruption, conflict of interest, and abuse of office, to procure the cars for her with public funds.

Aviation spokesman, Yakubu Datti, dismissed the newspaper report as “rumours” suggesting that it was politically motivated.

“I don’t respond to rumours…[and] as we approach 2015, people are bound to make up all sorts of stories,” Mr. Datti told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview, arguing, “This is a woman (Mrs. Oduah) who is successful and established. A woman that made her mark in oil and gas, who owned trucks, barges, and so on. What is two cars?”

For more of this news visit: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146711-aviation-officials-claim-n255-million-ministerial-car-scandal-rumours.html

The group said Mr Al-Mustapha is a brave soldier

A group, the Northern Emancipation Network, has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to reinforce his administration’s war against corruption by appointing Hamza Al Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late dictator, Sani Abacha, as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The group made the call at a press conference addressed by its Coordinator, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, who described Mr Al-Mustapha as a ‘brave, fearless and honest intelligence officer’ capable of taking the administration’s corruption war to the desired level.

“While we commend Mr President’s committed war against corruption, we advise him to reinforce the EFCC with an equally committed and dedicated head like Major Hamza Al Mustapha who is capable of moving the graft war to the desired level,” he said.

The group said corrupt politicians particularly the “bankrupt northern political leadership” are already jittery with the release of Mr Al Mustapha from prison after 14 years of incarceration.

According to the group, even after going through 14 years of unjust persecution in the hands of these people, Mr Al-Mustapha is not an officer known............
Click for more on this news: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146613-group-wants-abachas-former-aide-al-mustapha-appointed-efcc-chairman.html

The four top leaders of the National Assembly have snubbed a set of government-provided homes that have already gulped more than a billion naira in construction, asking instead for new houses at a more secure location.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration said weekend that the construction of four posh homes for Senate president, David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and their deputies, Ike Ekweremadu and Emeka Ihedioha respectively, has been suspended after they rejected the location of the buildings, citing insecurity.

Authorities will now convert the structures to guest houses for the four lawmakers, the FCDA said.

Speaking weekend, FCT minister, Bala Mohammed, who was represented by the FCDA Director of Public Building, Bernard Lot, said work was ongoing at the project before the lawmakers made it clear they will not accept the houses.

“You will recall that we had started that project, and there is a contractor carrying out the road work. You can actually access the place because the contractor has actually commenced work and has also done reasonably well on that,” Mr. Lot told journalists.

“But that too was affected by budgetary provisions. You know government has dwindling resources, but there is an issue there because development is not taking place fast in that area. And so the principal officers of the National Assembly have said that they don’t want that place because of the current security situation in the country.”

An ambitious plan by the FCTA to complete the lavish homes for the principal officers of the National Assembly, was already controversial, as the four lawmakers currently reside in houses constructed by the government, which they later bought for themselves under a contentious monetization policy.

Since the inception of the project in 2010, a minimum of N1.5 billion in appropriation have been made annually for the work. But the FCT minister said only a fraction of the amount was released to complete the project located at a new extension of Maitama district, called Goodluck Jonathan district.

The district is right behind the Lungi barracks in Abuja.

But despite the security, the lawmakers said they needed a safer location with the current situation in the country, and already one has been selected for them in the Three Arms Zone in the city centre.

The FCTA said the request has been granted with the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan, for the project to be started anew, this time within the Three Arms Zone, supposedly Nigeria’s most secure area, where the president himself lives.

“Though it is behind the army barracks, we cannot isolate them there, and government in its own wisdom has said that since they don’t want it, the authorities have decided to convert the buildings to guest houses and scale down the initial cost of the project. That is what we are doing now. We are scaling down the cost of the project to serve as guest houses to the principal officers of the National Assembly,” Mr. Lot said.

For more on this news click: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146647-billions-already-wasted-mark-tambuwal-two-deputies-reject-multibillion-naira-govt-homes.html

In your own opinion, do we need a National Conference?

Take back 1993, recover a hijacked revolution

Will you leave your pearls with a thief believing he has changed? Will you wait and hope that a thief you leave your pearls with will change? Will you write and protest that a thief you leave your pearls with changes? How about leaving your pearls with a thief who does not even understand what stealing is, or what it is to change? Or will you remove your pearls and find an honest and competent man to put them in care of?

I ask these questions in review of the pressing and dragging situation in Nigeria, Africa’s largest and one the of the continents wealthiest nations. Is there any sense in all we say and write, drumming for a change in attitude and an eruption of efficiency, decency and honesty from the proven inept in power? Or is it time the 159,995,000 Nigerians commence on the serious journey of taking their nation and revolution back from the corrupt Cabal that hijacked it and entrusting it in the hands of a real transformation committee?

Some faithless say we do not have it in us to move this change. Others say we are too diversified and at war with each other, thanks to the mischief of the Cabal, to work together to take back our country. They say we are not like the Arabs. May I remind us that before the Arab Spring, Nigeria first sprung. Nigerians marched together, civilians and the army, who showed us their support as we protested; and on August 26th, 1993, one of the harshest dictatorial regimes in recent global history, the Babangida Military government “stepped aside.”

We did it. We were committed. We were united. We were determined and with God on our side, we the multitude were successful.

Unfortunately, what we fought, bled and died for in 1993 was quickly hijacked from us. First by Abacha and later by the Cabal. Our victory was short-lived, partly because we—as is with many other revolutions—did not realize that ousting one bad government was not the end of our campaign, but the beginning of our responsibility to actively be a part of carefully........http://premiumtimesng.com/opinion/146603-take-back-1993-recover-hijacked-revolution.html

What do you think is the reason for worst girl-child education in the North?

Usually, during Sallah, the cost of Ram skyrockets far beyond the savings of many Muslims. Although Ram is the most popular Sallah Sacrifice, there are other animals – usually ignored and cheaper – that faithfuls can use for sacrifice and receive rewards from Allah.

Eid-l Kabir, according to the teachings of Islam is associated to animal sacrifice. Its origin from the time of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) in Quran chapter 37 verse 102-107.

Various rewards are attached to the animals used for sacrifice during this period of Layya.

Here are the six animals allowed for sacrifice in Islam, according to the reward they attract when used as Layya sacrifice.

Ram – Sacrifice with Ram attract highest reward. It Is recommended that one should use Ram for the sacrifice provided he can afford it.

Sheep – If you cannot afford the ram, Sheep is next to Ram in reward.

He-Goat – The He-Goat is next in the hierarchy of rewards. It attracts reward a little lower than the Sheep. A recent market survey suggests that in Nigeria, a cheap goat that can make a sacrifice goes for between N7,000 and N10,000 which relatively is affordable compared to Rams that sell for as high as N100,000 each.

She-Goat – If you cannot afford the He-Goat, the She-Goat is next.

Cow – the Cow is next in the hierarchy of reward after She-Goat even though it is bigger and more expensive than the Ram, Sheep and Goats. It is lawful for seven people to join funds to acquire one Cow for sacrifice. The will be rewarded as well.

Camel – If you are in Hajj, the sacrifice with Camel attracts more reward followed by the Cow then the Ram. For those not performing Hajj, a Camel sacrifice receive the lowest of reward in terms of Layya. Mind you, the Camel is the most expensive of all the animals allowed for sacrifice.

Islam recommends all the animals above for sacrifice. Anyone you are able to buy and slaughter for sacrifice, you will be adequately rewarded.

“you can go for a cheaper and recommended animals like the sheep, He goat, she goat which are relatively cheaper than the Ram,” Sheikh Mohammed Bello Lawal, the Imam of Barnawa Central Mosque, Kaduna, told PREMIUM TIMES.
Other cheaper ways

Sacrifice is an act of worship (‘ibadah). As we have the times of prayers so we also have time for making a sacrifice during `Eid Al-Kabir. The time of Layya sacrifice runs until sunset on the 12th day Dhul-Hijjah.That is the sunset of the third day after Sallah.
Within this three days window, the price of all the animals for sacrifice must have drastically dropped, due to decrease in demand. So if you are unable to buy any of the animals during the rush hour, do not panic, take advantage of the long window of sacrifice.

“Also to mention, the sacrifice is not mandatory for one who cannot afford any of the above.” Sheikh Mohammad Bello Lawal said.

Go, be happy, everybody can enjoy the Eid with a sacrifice.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146337-five-alternatives-ram-sallah.html

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146562-irs-plane-crash-lands-kaduna.html

No lives were lost in the emergency landing

An IRS plane crash-landed in the early hours of Sunday at the Kaduna International Airport, Kaduna, witnesses say.

There were no casualties.

The plane took off from the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos by 8 am, en route Kaduna and crashed around 9:30am.

Airport sources say, the plane conveying 105 passenger from Lagos had a landing gear problem. ”The plane had a tyre that burst during landing but it managed to halt midway, along the runway,” the source said.

“However, all the passengers were evacuated safely and the plane is still on the runway.”

But a spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority denied the plane’s tires were faulty.

But the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Fola Akinkuotu, said the plane landed safely after a hydraulic leak on the tarmac.

He denied any tyre had problems and cautioned against “magnifying a manageable incident out of proportion”.

“The NCAA wishes to assure all air travelers of their safety,” Mr Akinkuotu said in a statement.

The incident happened just more than a week after a small passenger plane crashed in Lagos killing 15 people.

The plane was carrying the body of a former governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Agagu, for interment in Ondo state.

The accident was followed in days by two near accidents, one conveying pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

The incidents have rekindled public concerns about aviation safety in Nigeria, with many expressing fears about a repeat of the multiple air plane crashes that the nation witnessed in 2005 and 2006.