₦airaland Forum

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http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/nigerians-react-to-super-eagles-1-1.html

Apparently President Buhari's action is a sign of humility...according to Ahmed Safian. Lol

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/what-is-wrong-with-this-buharis-photo.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

In a recent report, the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo confirmed five more suspected Lassa fever deaths in Taraba state.

Adding the recent deaths, the total of Lassa fever related deaths in Taraba state is now 12.


In a related news, Attah Iliya, Head of Clinical services of the Federal Medical Center, Jalingo has confirmed that seven suspected Lassa fever patients left the hospital without proper treatments.

Iliya stated that 19 treated Lassa fever patients have been declared free from virus.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/lassa-fever-kills-5-more-in-taraba.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Governor Nyesom Wike in a state wide broadcast, on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, thanked citizens of Rivers state for voting for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded National Assembly rerun elections that held on Saturday, March 19, 2016.

The Governor also thanked the Rivers people for conducting themselves peacefully during the elections.

He also pledged his commitment and loyalty to President Buhari, adding that the Rivers government will do all in its power to assist security personnel to maintain peace and order in Rivers state.

He said ”I wish to also express my profound gratitude and loyalty to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari for his uncompromising commitment towards entrenching a permanent culture of free, fair and credible elections in the country.”

Wike also sympathised with the family of the corper who was killed during the elections, Mr. Dumiebi Samuel Okonta, and prayed that his soul rest in peace.

He also said ”I am fully convinced that all those persons, including highly placed politicians, INEC staff and members of the Security Services, who deliberately worked to sabotage the re-run elections in the State on March 19, 2016, were fifth columnists and enemies of progress who were out and determined to undermine the electoral process and perpetuate the old discredited ways of doing things in order to ridicule the people of Rivers State, Mr. President, and the nation in general, as incapable of conducting credible and violence elections before the global community.”

”I wish to re-emphasize that I fully share Mr. President’s position that we must as a people and as a nation exterminate the scourge of recurring flawed elections and join the rest of the civilized world in conducting relatively flawless and credible elections at all times,” Wike added.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/rivers-rerun-wike-thanks-rivers.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Essex Police Uk on Tuesday, March22 appealed for the public's help in tracing a Nigerian man wanted on suspicion of breaching a harassment order.
33-year-old Martin Omorogbe, from the Clacton area is believed to be in Croydon. He is described as black, 6ft 3ins tall, of stocky built and a beard.


http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/photo-nigerian-man-declared-wanted-by.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Kidnappers have released Elyon Nteiro Elijah, an APC chieftain and former leader of Andoni local Government legislative Assembly . He was abducted on Thursday.

The circumstances of the kidnap of Elyon Ntiro Elijah and so was his manner of freedom.

Elijah was kidnapped at Asarama waterside in Andoni local Government area of the state.

The kidnappers took him away in a getaway speed boat by the Asarama waterside.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/kidnapped-apc-chieftain-freed.html

cc: lalasticlala

Months after Nollywood actor, Charles Okocha was hit by stray bullets shot by a reportedly drunk policemen, he has returned to what he's good at. The actor recently held a Thanksgiving service at his Church to Thank God for sparing his life. More BTS photos as you continue....


http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/photos-mercy-johnson-returns-to-asaba.html

cc: lalasticlala

Two more local councils in Rivers State have had their election for state and national assemblies candidates suspended over late arrivals of polling materials and violence.

Four councils were initially affected.

The six local councils are Andoni, Bonny, Gokana, Khana, Eleme & Tai

In the earlier announcement the Resident Electoral Commissioner Mr Aneidi Ikoiwak, said the cancellation of rerun elections in the four Local Government areas was because of irregularities.

Ikoiwak told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Saturday that some party agents attacked INEC officials for allegedly using fake election materials in their areas.

Ikoiwak described as untrue allegations that INEC sent fake election materials to some local government areas.

“All INEC materials used for the election are genuine,” he said.

The commissioner said a new date would be announced for the rerun election in the four local government areas.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/rivers-rerun-elections-suspended-in-6.html

cc: lalasticlala

A lecturer at OAU Department of Chemistry, Dr. Ogunkunle, on Wednesday reportedly assaulted a student from the Department of Demography and Social Statistics named Alaaka Tobi Jibola.

The student could not contain the treatment and took to social media, demanding prosecution and punishment of Dr Ogunkunle.

Explaining, he said he mistook the venue of a Special Elective course which he had registered for and is expected to hold at the same hour with the CHM 102 exam the lecturer was coordinating right in that venue. Just as he was making to leave for the exit, he said the lecturer called him back, to which he responded and explained himself.

"But in a dramatic turn of event, he landed some repeated slaps on me, dragged my belt buckle, pushing me angrily in an attempt to shove me to the ground but eventually ripped my shirt to shreds." Alaaka Tobi recounted.

Reports say the lecturer believes Tobi was impersonating another student in a bid to help take the exam.

However students didn't think this was plausible. "How can a Demography student, someone from Faculty of Social Sciences impersonate for someone writing Chemistry exam which he has never had it's knowledge in his life?" they queried.

Efforts to reach Dr Ogunkunle for comment proved abortive.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/oau-student-beaten-black-blue-by.html

cc: lalasticlala

Reuben Abati, former Presidential spokesperson is back with a new article.



Whatever problem we may have in Nigeria at this or any other time, this country is sustained by the fact that we are indeed a very special people. We have been described as the happiest people on earth, we have also described ourselves as resilient, gifted and determined, and in one report, Nigerians are said to have the strongest shock absorber against some of the deadliest diseases in the world. If anyone doubted this last point, well, recall that we won the battle over Ebola virus, and polio.


The more you look at it, the more it seems as if there is something in the Nigerian DNA that defies defeat, that automatically deletes any virus that can result in system shut down, there is that X-factor in our affairs that rises when hope seems lost, and life seems tragic. Somehow, the Nigerian spirit regenerates, recreates and reinvents itself, turns failure into possibilities, pessimism into new expectations, and tomorrow into an anchor for renewal.

We are at such a crossroad, right now. But in the midst of the despair, the listlessness, the anxiety, the what-happened-to-us and what-the hell-is-going-on, you can’t miss the fact that the average Nigerian has not lost his bounce. The biggest tragedies that can hobble other nations happen here and we just shrug them off. Boko Haram alone has claimed thousands of lives. Hun hun. Herdsmen have killed men and women in their hundreds. Hun hun. More lives have been lost to vehicle accidents on our poorly made, badly maintained roads. Well, hun hun. Many fingers have been caught in the national cookie jar. Ha. What is this? Who dunnit? But, o ma se o. hun hun. The national leaky bucket has a thousand holes. Ha, no country can live with this? Still, hen hun hun. We voted and there were promises of a new spirit of the age. But that spirit is yet to manifest. So? Nothing good comes easy, therefore. No miracles in the new agenda. So, ni igba yen wa n ko? So, life goes on.

Whatever life throws at the average Nigerian, he protests, he complains, but he accommodates it. It is the reason why nobody will throw stones because power supply is at the worst level in years. It is the reason why workers who have not been paid for months after months will still see the same Governor who is responsible for their misery, after collecting Federal money to help them, and has refused to deliver and they will still scream: “My Excellency, sir.” When workers go on strike, someone calls them together, says something nice, provides something nice and everything falls nicely in place. The late Chief MKO Abiola was quoted saying “eto ni gbogbo e”, that is anything in Nigeria can be arranged nicely.

The June 12 debacle sadly could not be arranged nicely. It cost the Chief of native wisdom and martyr of Nigerian democracy his life, but many lessons have been learnt. And one key lesson is that in this country, the people are determined to live no matter what. They can grumble as they wish about the public space but Nigerians are not ready to give up their will to live, their right to live and their understanding of how to live. And if you put your neck on the line on their behalf, you will be shocked that you will the subject of memes and what’s app jokes. The people laugh at martyrs and heroes because they see no reason why anyone should commit suicide, defending Nigeria, when there is so much life to be enjoyed.

Nigeria is probably the global headquarters of enjoyment. The way the ordinary man has complained in recent times, about political change and the socio-cultural changes it has brought, you would think Nigerians are in serious trouble. But that is not the case. The foreign exchange market has gone into a crazy overdrive impoverishing the whole nation. Parents whose children are schooling abroad are afraid that they may no longer be able to pay fees. The manufacturing sector is abusing the Minister of Finance-what’s-that-her-name-again? and where-did-she-learn-finance-public-policy-and-economics, but I beg, look around, more businesses are actually springing up and all those foreign investors who are supposedly monitoring the Nigerian market are actually clinging to this market. Why do you think MTN wants to remain in Nigeria till death do them part? Why do you think all those foreign countries want President Buhari to visit? The banks have retrenched a lot of staff but the same banks have started recruiting again. In this country, what you see is not what you get. There is problem with foreign exchange but activities at the ports have not ceased. Wait till September, you’d be shocked the number of Nigerian children heading towards Europe, North America and other parts of Africa in pursuit of expensive, forex-backed education.

I beg, leave matter. And if you don’t want to leave it go to the nearest fuel station where many Nigerians are queuing up for fuel with power generating sets and jerry cans. The people are going through the hardship but they are laughing at their leaders. You think you can mess us up, na lie. If you people like, sell fuel for N150, we go survive. They stay in front of that fuel station and they review Nigeria’s history and lament the choices they have made, but their spirit remains strong. That is what makes them Nigerian. Go to the vendors’ stand. The crowd of poor people who cannot afford to buy a newspaper copy, have all the same listened to the news and the only place where they can compete as pundits is that roadside corner, where sometimes one drunken idiot loses control behind the wheels and sheds human blood, wasting those who have gathered not to buy any newspaper but to debate Nigeria. This special crowd knows it all. You don’t want to get involved with them. They will remind you that a Ph.D holder is actually a real idiot, and that nobody needs certificates of any type to be a Nigerian, and well they add too, that if you ever worked in government, then you are a confirmed idiot, and a professional trickster.

Nigerians are so inventive, they find every way of beating bad news, bad experience, or anything that tries to defeat them. Everyone says there is no money in town, they claim things have gone from bad to worse but the parties have not stooped. Go to any of the joints around Lagos, nothing has been spoiled. Isi ewu, nkwobi, asun, sawa, orisirisi, point and kill have all defied the Forex market. Yes, the price of staple commodities has risen, but that has not stopped the people from throwing lavish wedding parties. Nor has it stopped anybody from marrying three times when once is enough: our people do traditional wedding – valid, they go to the registry: valid, they rush to church- valid: rather than marry once, they do it thrice all within a week. Nor has the austerity in town stopped anybody from burying the dead as if the more money is thrown at the grave, the likeliest the possibility of the dead suddenly becoming a Lazarus of the 21st century.

Is there poverty in town? You answer that question based on the evidence of your eyes. What I have seen is that Nigerians are still living as if there is too much money in the country. Take a look at the garments Nigerians wear every week. We certainly don’t look like electricity is a problem or that money is in short supply. Soon it will be another Ojude oba among the Ijebus, for example. You go and check them out. As a teacher at Ogun State University in those days, (I served later as member of the Governing Council), we used to go from one party to the other, guzzling free food and quaffing free drinks. Today, those lavish parties have not ceased. Nobody eats like that in Europe or North America. When you go to all the old joints, in Agarawu in Lagos or Tarmac, nothing has changed either. The music still flows, the swag is on. Elsewhere, new buildings are springing up; new cars are being “washed”, additional wives are being acquired. Leave matter, I beg. Nigeria will survive, and these same people who are complaining about change, you’d be shocked, they’d still vote for their stomachs in 2019.

And that is why Nigeria is one country that beats all the textbook theories. We are just something else. There is more in the social arena that defines who we are, than in the theoretical arena. The same people who are complaining that they have not seen change are actually hoping for more. They are not ready to adjust. They are not ready to make sacrifices. If they have an opportunity to be close to government in any way, they will jump at it. The corruption that we talk about is not just in government corridors, it is in society, but the one inside society is so difficult to trap because it is amorphous and inchoate in so many respects. Invariably, the snake feeds on itself: mobius strip.

What we are left with is the image of the people laughing at government and themselves. Have you taken time out to check what happens on social media? Anybody who ever ventured into governance is easy game. The people design caricatures and mock them. Nigeria produces more memes and graphics than any other country in Africa not necessarily because of the events that happen here but because of the people’s consciousness, and if I may add, private greed. In that other world, political change is ridiculed, poverty is deplored, GEJ is becoming a saint and PMB a villain, but the people are still having fun, and blaming Nigeria and the politicians.

I tell you, the problem with Nigeria is not the politicians but the people themselves. We are very special people, but we don’t really know what we want, and because we are like that, we confuse the politicians and the nation. But for as long as we can wear those impressive attires and throw those parties and dance to old music and pay our private bills, we see no reason to care enough. Pity is: no country can ever move ahead if the people do not care enough. For us, life goes on, no matter what.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/why-nigerians-are-special-reuben-abati.html

cc: lalasticlala

Looks like the actress and mother of three will really spend years in prison over a car accident in 2005 that took a man's life. Her bail application suffered a setback yesterday Thursday March 17th at the court of Appeal in Lagos after the judges ruled that her application was incompetent.

The three man-panel led by Justice U.I Ndukwe-Anyanwu, said that the application was not properly filed as her counsel failed to attach copies of the judgment that was delivered by the court which affirmed the five years jail sentence imposed on her.

The court adjourned hearing for her bail application to April 7th when copies of the March 11th‎ judgement would have been included. She was afterward sent back to prison.

Ibinabo has approached the Supreme Court to set aside the March 11th verdict of the Lagos State Court of Appeal which validated the 5 year jail term handed down to her by the state's High court over the 2005 accident in which her car killed one Dr Giwa.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/ibinabo-fiberesimas-bail-application.html

cc: lalasticlala

Here are images sent in by a www.metronaija.com reader of another fallen cargo truck on Ijora bridge leading to apapa, the bridge itself has potholes and just above it is a billion dollar railway construction. More photos after the cut...


http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/photos-cargo-truck-falls-in-lagos.html

cc: lalasticlala

The Ooni of Ife is pictured with his new bride Wuraola Zynab Otiti.He was not present at the traditional ceremony in Benin yesterday/He was instead represented by his family members..

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/photos-ooni-of-ifes-new-wife-wuraola.html

cc: lalasticlala

Nura Alkali shared the photo on Facebook this morning and wrote:

"This is Tamburawa Bridge in Kano, which is still in use. Rest assured that a sudden collapse resulting in fatalities will meet with "ikon Allah", "kwana ya kare". . . when, in fact, Allah told no one to disobey the laws of gravity. The engineer who came up with this temporary solution should be sacked and prosecuted for public endangerment.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/photo-tamburawa-bridge-in-kano-about-to.html

The Code of Conduct Tribunal led by its Chairman, Danladi Umar, today
adjourned Senate President, Bukola Saraki's trial till March 18.

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http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/sarakis-cct-trial-what-nigerians-are.html

The singer had a snake around his neck during the shoot of his music video for new song titled 'Aunty directed by HG2 Films. See more photos after the cut...

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/9ice-plays-with-snake-in-new-photos.html

Labour unions in Nigeria’s oil sector, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Seniour Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASAN), have called off their strike with immediate effect.

The unions had shut offices of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, nationwide following the announcement of its unbundling by minister of state for petroleum, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu.

Kachikwu the Group Managing Director of NNPC, had explained that what the oil corporation did was “reorganization,” a restructuring that will see it split into five divisions.

He assured that he was going to meet the unions yesterday to forestall further action by the unions, which may lead to a more biting fuel scarcity across the country.

But the unions have now resolved to work with the NNPC as long as its workers were not affected in the unbundling.

Kachikwu’s Technical Assistant on New Media, Ogechi Nnodim, confirmed the development to this morning.

“Please be informed that the unions have shelved their strike,” she said.

“They took the decision after a long meeting with the Minister.

“The meeting ended just after 4:30am and had in attendance unions that had kicked against the unbundling.

“We believe that with this development, the queues will end.”

Meanwhile, below is a communication from the GECs of NUPENG and PENGASSAN on the development.

“The GECs of NUPENG and PENGASSAN had a marathon meeting with the GMD/Minister of Petroleum (State) and NNPC Top Mgt for several hours, ending this morning @ 4:30am on the on-going industrial action. After exhaustive deliberations, a resolution was signed by the two parties. In view of that, the INDUSTRIAL ACTION is hereby suspended.
The GEC salutes your SOLIDARITY, UNDERSTANDING & COOPERATION.
NUPENGASSAN”.

“Details of the communique signed at the end of the meeting will be provided in due course.

“On behalf of the BECs of the two in-house unions, I thank you all for the cooperation and support extended to us during the struggle.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/breaking-news-oil-workers-call-off.html

cc: lalasticlala

Labour unions in Nigeria’s oil sector, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Seniour Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASAN), have called off their strike with immediate effect.

The unions had shut offices of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, nationwide following the announcement of its unbundling by minister of state for petroleum, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu.

Kachikwu the Group Managing Director of NNPC, had explained that what the oil corporation did was “reorganization,” a restructuring that will see it split into five divisions.

He assured that he was going to meet the unions yesterday to forestall further action by the unions, which may lead to a more biting fuel scarcity across the country.

But the unions have now resolved to work with the NNPC as long as its workers were not affected in the unbundling.

Kachikwu’s Technical Assistant on New Media, Ogechi Nnodim, confirmed the development to this morning.

“Please be informed that the unions have shelved their strike,” she said.

“They took the decision after a long meeting with the Minister.

“The meeting ended just after 4:30am and had in attendance unions that had kicked against the unbundling.

“We believe that with this development, the queues will end.”

Meanwhile, below is a communication from the GECs of NUPENG and PENGASSAN on the development.

“The GECs of NUPENG and PENGASSAN had a marathon meeting with the GMD/Minister of Petroleum (State) and NNPC Top Mgt for several hours, ending this morning @ 4:30am on the on-going industrial action. After exhaustive deliberations, a resolution was signed by the two parties. In view of that, the INDUSTRIAL ACTION is hereby suspended.
The GEC salutes your SOLIDARITY, UNDERSTANDING & COOPERATION.
NUPENGASSAN”.

“Details of the communique signed at the end of the meeting will be provided in due course.

“On behalf of the BECs of the two in-house unions, I thank you all for the cooperation and support extended to us during the struggle.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/breaking-news-oil-workers-call-off.html

cc: lalasticlala

Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday renamed all the state owned tertiary institutions after notable indigenes of the state.

The Osun state University has been named after Chief Bola Ige, the former Attorney General of the Federation.

The Osun state Polytechnic, Iree was named after former minister of Internal Affairs, Chief Sunday Afolabi

Osun state College of Technology was named after Chief Bisi Akande, former governor of Osun state

The Okuku campus of UNIOSUN was also named afer Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola

Details later

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/university-of-osun-state-now-bola-ige.html

cc: lalasticlala

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi say investigations carried out by the agency suggest overspeeding as the main cause of the accident that killed former Minister of state for Labor and Employment, James Ocholi, his wife and son on March 6th.

Oyeyemi stated this while presenting the accident’s Road Traffic Crash Investigation Interim Report to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided by President Buhari today March 9th.

He said investigations by the agency also showed that the driver of Ocholi's SUV had no driver's license and that the impact of the accident was more on Ocholi and his family members who were seated at the rear seats because they were not using seat belts.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/overspeeding-did-not-cause-ocholis.html

cc: lalasticlala

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A campaign by students of Jesus College, part of Cambridge to get the authorities return a Benin bronze looted by British colonialists, has yielded partial fruit.

The College has removed the bronze Okukor from its hall and says it would hold discussions about its future “including the question of repatriation”.

The college’s Student Union passed a motion in February calling for the artwork, which it said was stolen by British forces in a “punitive raid” in 1897, be returned to Nigeria.
It comes after the Rhodes Must Fall campaign at Oxford, in which some students demanded that Oriel College take down a statue of British colonialist Cecil Rhodes.

A Jesus College spokeswoman said: “Jesus College acknowledges the contribution made by students in raising the important but complex question of the rightful location of its Benin bronze, in response to which it has permanently removed the Okukor from its hall.

“The college commits to work actively with the wider university and to commit resources to new initiatives with Nigerian heritage and museum authorities to discuss and determine the best future for the Okukor, including the question of repatriation.

“The College strongly endorses the inclusion of students from all relevant communities in such discussion.”

According to the British Museum, almost 1,000 bronzes were taken after Benin City in present-day Nigeria was occupied by imperial troops in 1897. Some 900 are now in museums and collections around the world, including at the British Museum.

The minutes of the student union meeting in February says Jesus College was bequeathed the Okukor in 1930 by Captain George William Neville, a former British Army officer whose son had been a student there.

The motion says that the students’ union “believes the time is right to repatriate the cockerel to the Royal Palace of Benin in line with existing protocol”.

Jesus College was set up at the start of the 16th century and has 500 undergraduate and 300 postgraduate students according to its website.

In January Oriel College Oxford said it would be keeping its statue of Cecil Rhodes, the founder of the Rhodes Scholarship, following “careful consideration” and after receiving an “overwhelming” amount of support to do so.

Campaign group Rhodes Must Fall, which collected more than 2,000 signatures on a petition demanding the statue’s removal, said it represented racism and oppression.

It accused the college of “selling out” in making its decision and warned that it was critical for the institution to “reckon with its past”.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/photo-cambridge-college-removes-stolen.html

cc: lalasticlala

Can you imagine? They are actually fetching water from a stream and putting in Cway bottles ...God help us!

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/shocking-photo-see-where-these-guys-are.html

cc: lalasticlala

Workers in Cross River Waste Management Agency on Monday marched to the Governor’s Office in Calabar to protest against the non-payment of their salaries since July 2014.

But the Governor Ben Ayade cleverly dodged them, with aides telling the angry workers he was not available.

The workers’ leader, Mr Joseph Fernandez, said they were in the governor’s office to solicit his intervention over their plight.

Fernandez said the workers, numbering obout 200, had not received their monthly salaries in the last 20 months, adding that this had caused untold hardship to their families.

“We have not been paid since July 2014, so we are here to solicit the assistance of the governor to direct the payment as the suffering has become too much for us bear.

“Our children no longer attend schools and we can no longer meet our family obligations’’, he said.

He attributed the stoppage of their salaries to the reorganisation that took place in the agency, adding that most of those who had put in up to five years were casual workers.

However, security operatives at the gate informed the protesters that the governor and his deputy and Secretary to the State Government were not in the office.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mike Eraye, said the Ministry was looking into the problem, adding that all those that were duly certified would be paid at the end of the exercise.

“We are working on the problem. It was as a result of the reorganisation and right now, we are looking at the issues and as soon as we finish, those who are qualified to get their money will be paid‘’, he said.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/cross-river-workers-protest-over-non.html

cc: lalasticlala

Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has come under fire from the State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for stopping the free education policy and scholarship scheme introduced by Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State and now Minister of Transportation.

Wike announced the development on 4 March, 2016 while appearing as a guest on Viewpoint, a Rhythm FM Port Harcourt programme.

Wike stated: “Imagine the people they were giving free education and scholarship, people that were studying Economics and English Language!. Just imagine, ordinary Economics and English Language! You expect me to continue? No, I cannot continue free education and scholarship.”

Rivers APC in a statement signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, and issued on Monday in Port Harcourt described Wike’s action as shocking and unfortunate.

“The free education policy was introduced by the Amaechi administration with the aim of creating an opportunity for the less privileged class in our State to be educated. Stopping this great legacy of a visionary leader aimed at making Rivers a leading State and empowering her citizens irrespective of social status exposes Wike as lacking the capacity and vision to effectively govern Rivers,” APC said.

The party described the development as “a big shame”, saying that it exposed “the poor understanding of Wike who, though he read Law, never practised Law for one day probably because of his poor understanding of Law. It is, therefore, not entirely surprising that he considers those that read Economics and English Language in the university as inconsequential and of no relevance. This mistaken view is unexpected of a 21st Century State Governor.”

Lamenting the disaster that Wike’s eight months governorship has turned out to be, Rivers APC said: “Today the over 24 Model Secondary Schools described in some quarters as being better than some universities are now under lock and key. This sinister act against the future of Rivers State also applies to over 300 Model Primary Schools constructed and put into use by the then administration of Amaechi.

“While it is true that we never expected much from Wike since his emergence as Governor was by accident and he has no blueprint for the development of the State, we never anticipated that he would be so callous as to set out to destroy all the great legacies of his predecessor in the areas of security, education, agriculture and attracting of investors to the State.”

The party appealed to Rivers State voters to come out enmasse and demonstrate their displeasure over Wike’s sinister agenda against the better future of Rivers State by ensuring that all Wike’s stooges parading themselves as candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the rerun elections come March 19th do not receive a single vote as electing them will only embolden Wike to embark on more anti-progress policies, thus setting back Rivers State by several decades.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/wike-is-big-shame-rivers-apc.html

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African telecommunications giant MTN says profits fell 37 percent in 2015 largely because of a hefty fine imposed by Nigerian regulators.

The South African-based multinational’s report posted online Friday says it cut off 4.5 million Nigerian subscribers last month. That is in addition to 6.7 million Nigerian and 3.7 million Ugandan subscribers disconnected last year under new regulations requiring the registration of cellphone SIM cards.

MTN Group Ltd. says it has set aside nearly $600 million against the $3.9 billion Nigerian fine for failing to deactivate unregistered cards, which is under negotiation.

Overall, the company earned 23.57 billion rand ($1.54 billion) on revenue of 147.06 billion rand.

Nigeria is MTN’s biggest market with about 60 million subscribers before the disconnections. MTN now reports 232.5 million subscribers in 22 countries.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/mtn-blames-nigeria-over-losses.html

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An Ikeja chief magistrates’ court has granted a N1 million bail to Obinna Obaji, a trader who allegedly defiled a three-year-old girl.

In his ruling, Taujudeen Elias, the chief magistrate, ordered the defendant to produce two sureties in like sum as part of the bail conditions.

Elias said Obaji should deposit N100, 000 into the chief registrar’s account, pending the determination of the case. On February 29, Obaji, whose business premises is located at 32, Orisumbare Street, Iyana-Ipaja, a suburb of Lagos, was arraigned on a one-count charge of sexual assault but he pleaded not guilty.



Benedict Aigbokhan, the prosecutor, told the court that the defendant committed the offence at his residence on February 21. Aigbokhan said the defendant was living in the same compound with the victim’s mother. “It was when the victim, a three-year-old girl, wanted to urinate that her mother discovered that she was finding it difficult to urinate and also crying,” he said.

“The mother saw marks on her daughter’s vagina and when she asked her what happened, the girl said it was the defendant that inserted his hand into it.” The prosecutor said the offence contravened section 404 of the criminal law of Lagos state, 2011.

Elias adjourned the case to April 13 for the department of public prosecution’s advice.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/lagos-businessman-gets-n1m-bail-after.html

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According to a www.metronaija.com source, this happened yesterday afternoon February 28th at Illela Road, Sokoto. The driver of the vehicle was allegedly shot dead by customs officers as he smuggled bags of rice. He refused to stop when asked to...which allegedly resulted to his vehicle being shot at. Pic of the man after the cut *warning - graphic content*

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photos-customs-officers-kill-man-while_66.html

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Nigeria and the State of Qatar on Sunday in Doha signed Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) to pave way for direct flights between major cities of both countries.


Both countries also signed an agreement to avoid double taxation and tax evasion on the sideline of President Muhammadu Buhari's state visit to Qatar.


The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, representing President Muhammadu Buhari, signed the air services agreement on behalf of the country while Qatar’s Minister of Transportation and Communications, Jassim Bin Saif Alsulaiti, signed on behalf the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hammad Al-Thani.


The agreement which was signed in the presence of both leaders is expected to pave way for more direct flights between major cities of both countries on the principle of reciprocity by the designated airlines on behalf of the country.
Sirika said after the signing of the agreement that the accord would promote trade, commerce, tourism and travel between both countries.


"Qatar is the richest country in the world at the moment in terms of per capita income, their economy is strong and their national carrier, Qatar airlines, is one of the most viable and most focused in the industry.


"They (Qatar airlines) presently fly to Nigeria but they want to fly to more cities and with the focus of the present administration in Nigeria on establishing a national carrier, we have commenced discussions on how we can partner with countries like Qatar in our quest to establish a national carrier".
The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who signed the agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes income with her Qatari counterpart, Ali Shareef Al Emadi, expressed delight that the agreement which was negotiated since February 2015 has been finalised.


"What is symbolic in this agreement is that the Qataris who are already investing heavily in Nigeria will bring in more investments because the earlier lack of an agreement to avoid double taxation was a stumbling block to some of the investors.


"I am very confident that the signing of this agreement will bring much more investment and business between Qatar and Nigeria," she told reporters after signing the agreement.
In his remarks to journalists, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geofrey Onyeama, said President Buhari and Sheikh Al-Thani had fruitful discussions on security, oil price stability, and the fight against corruption in Nigeria.


"The Qatari leader acknowledged that President Buhari has really created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country.


"The Emir made the point on the war against corruption in Nigeria and the progress President Buhari is making in that front and they are of the opinion that if that problem is addressed with focused polices, the country will progress.
"The Emir also made it clear that the Qatari’s are ready to invest in Nigeria in a big way", he said.



Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity)
February 28, 2016

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/nigeria-qatar-sign-agreements-on.html

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Samson Siasia, who is one of the coaches appointed by NFF as a caretaker coach for Egypt clash has revealed plans to recall Vincent Enyeama and Emmanuel Emenike to the national team. The two football stars announced their retirement from Super Eagles after reported clash with former coach, Sunday Oliseh. Speaking to the press on Friday, Siasia said;


“It is an emergency assignment. If they (the NFF) say we should do the rescue job, we have to do it for the sake of Nigeria. We will go for the best legs. I mean players with commitment, to ensure that we qualify ahead of Egypt. We will look at the players we believe can help the team, including Vincent Enyeama and Emmanuel Emenike who retired from the team last year. The coaching crew will sit down and make up the list, and the Egyptians must fall as far as we are now in charge.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/samson-siasia-to-recall-enyeama-and.html

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The electricity produced in Nigeria is now less than 3, 697 MW.

This against the peak of 5,074 MW achieved early February.

The crumbling output is what is being blamed by distribution companies for the prolonged blackout countrywide.

The embarrassed companies woke up today to tender apologies over the blackout.

The Eko Electricity Distribution Plc first issued a statement this morning, offering an explanation to its consumers. And now the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has also appealed to its consumers to exercise patience over the drop in power allocation.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the company, Muhammad Kandi and issued to newsmen in Kano on Saturday.

It said that current generation profile had descended to less than 3, 697 MW against the peak of 5, 074 MW achieved earlier in February.

“The Management of KEDCO hereby calls on all its customers not to panic as concerned authorities in the sector are working assiduously to address the problem”, the statement said.

The statement quoted the company’s Chief Technical Officer, David Omoloye as attributing the situation to poor gas supply to generation companies (GenCos) in the country.

“The DisCos are disturbed in the face of the current low power allocation.

“We want all power consumers including the organised labour and members of the media to help disseminate accurate information so as to create positive understanding of the power sector value chain.

“Last week Kano DisCo only received an average of 140 MW daily and this is inconsistent compared to the recent development in our daily allocation.

“This week, the situation became even worse, giving us little or no choice than to drop load as directed by the National Control Centre (NCC) to stabilise the system and thereby leading to load rationing”, it stated.

The statement assured customers that the companies were working to restore power supply to meet customers’ satisfaction..

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In the case of the State and Rev. Chukwuemeka Kingsley Ezeugo, the Supreme Court a few days ago, upheld the rulings of the lower courts and ruled that the bearded, self-styled “little god”, “Jesus Christ of our time”, and founder of the Lagos-based Christian Praying Assembly (CPA), deserves to be hanged, for enacting a form of horror movie which resulted in the death in 2006 of Ms Ann Uzoh.

The simple import of that ruling is that no man is a king before the law, and that the law is no respecter of persons including those who describe themselves as anointed men of God, and who on that account use religion to commit atrocities.

But the most bizarre development since that ruling last Friday has been the intervention of a group called the Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN). The group says Nigeria has nothing to gain by shedding Rev. King’s blood and that President Muhammadu Buhari should grant the convicted murderer state pardon because “he is still a spiritual leader to many Nigerians.” The Ndigbo Society is indirectly saying that Rev King’s life should be spared because he is Igbo, and a religious leader. This is nothing but arrant nonsense. It makes us wonder what happens to people’s heads once they are in the grips of the disease of ethnicism. Has anyone told the Ndigbo Cultural Society that Rev. King’s victim, Ann Uzoh, was also Igbo? Or is Emeka Ezeugo’s Igbo life more important than that of Ann Uzoh? Or the lives of the others: Jessica Nwene, Kosiso Ezenwankwo, Chiejina Olisa, Chizoba Onuora, Vivian and Uche?

We keep encountering this kind of absurdity. Crime is excused on the grounds of ethnic affiliation. My-brother-can-do-no-wrong-once-we-are-from-the-same-village: and it is this that has created a web of conspiracy whenever and wherever the ethnic game is at play, and that conspiracy is against the state and decent values of national togetherness. But we thank God for the courts of law, which in this case have brought the Rev. King saga to a closure. And please note that if the victim in this case had been of non-Igbo extraction, perhaps the Ndigbo Cultural Society would have been more strident with their appeal. They’d do well to keep quiet and not further insult the memory of the dead.

They are right on one score though: that Rev King is still a religious leader to many Nigerians. It is one of those funny things about the scope and spread of superstition and religious fanaticism in Nigeria that there are indeed persons who worship their fellow human beings and turn them into their gods. It is precisely this same form of delusion that led to the crime that is taking Rev. King to the gallows in the first place.

It is why he still has followers who believe that the Supreme Court ruling is a joke and that “Rev. King is superhuman, he can’t be killed by mere mortals”. Members of the Christian Praying Assembly are still reportedly awaiting the return of the man they call “His Holiness”. One Sunny, acting as their spokesman, says:“His Holiness cannot be killed. He is more than a mere human being and cannot be killed by any mortal…He will come back home at the appointed time and by then, the people behind this whole thing will bury their heads in shame…” These characters imagine that the people who will bury their heads in shame include the Justices of the Supreme Court?

Apart from ethnicity, religion is another major source of crisis in Nigeria. It turns people’s heads, turns them into zombies and forces them, in many cases to worship man instead of God. Across the country, every day, there are millions who have turned religious leaders including herbalists into “Little gods”. Among Christians and Muslims, widespread confusion over the interpretation of the doctrine has created such complexity that continues to lead people astray.

Poverty and the scarcity of opportunities continue to drive people to places of imagined salvation. The pastors promise miracles: they not only preach the gospel, they claim all kinds of powers including the power to make the blind see, to make the lame walk, and to help the unmarried find husbands and wives. Some of the pastors add a touch of the melodramatic to it: they give out clothes, cars, houses, and free food.

But it is the people’s money being recycled and given back as token. The lifestyle of many of the religious leaders would make the Pope cringe. They preach salvation and divine protection, for example, but they live as if they are afraid of their own shadows. The poor members of the congregation relate with the anointed man of God from a distance because they are not rich enough to get close to him, but from the pittance that they manage to make, they contribute tithes unfailingly, to make the man of God and his family live it up and boast that their “Lord is Good!”

The more stylish a religious leader is, the more popular. And some have even gone from being stylish to being practically unusual. There are churches where the Pastors slap, beat, and kick members. In some other places of worship, the Pastors are reportedly romantically involved with female members of the congregation, including married women. There is freedom of religion and freedom of worship and association and so, anyone can call himself a Reverend, a Prophet, a Spiritualist or God’s Deputy, erect a tent and turn himself into some people’s God. Rev King actually lived like that, like a mini-God. He built a large cult-like followership and exercised near-absolute powers over his besotted followers. Ann Uzoh was one of his victims. Sometime, in 2006, he had set her and six other members of the church ablaze for allegedly committing fornication, witchcraft and other offences. He sat in judgment in his own court and issued a death sentence. Ann and other ladies in church were Rev. King’s sex slaves, and according to one account it was the rivalry between Ann and another sex slave that led to the dousing of Ann and others with petrol, their being set ablaze, and Ann’s death.

Ann Uzoh is better remembered as one of those promising young Nigerians whose life was derailed by religious hypnotism. Young ladies who are still today selling themselves to churches and pastors should be reminded of her story and there is no better person to offer a reminder than the father of Ann Uzoh, Mr. Raphael Uzoh. In 2006, the Nigerian Tribune (August 9, 2006) interviewed him and reported, in part, as follows:

“The decision of Miss Uzoh, a Higher National Diploma graduate in Accountancy from the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu State, to pack out of her parents’ house at the period without telling anybody, was said to have shocked everyone. According to the father of the deceased, during a chat with Mid-week Tribune, when he could no longer withstand the pressure being mounted on him by his daughters suitors who had sought her hands in marriage, shortly before she eloped with Rev King, he began the search for her until he was informed by some concerned family members that she had been sighted at the Christian Prayer Assembly belonging to the suspect.


“To my surprise, when I got there, based on the instruction of Rev. King to my daughter, I was told by some insiders that my daughter had changed her name to Ann King. And she told me that I was not her father, that she had started bearing Ann King, said Mr. Raphael Uzoh. He stated that despite this strange behaviour by his daughter and her unusual and sudden rudeness to him, he did not relent in trying to re-assure her that she was still welcome at home if she could still change her mind and come to her senses. Rather, he expressed regrets that his late daughter who was his first child remained adamant and unrepentant.

“However, the bereaved father, in tears, noted that sometime on Saturday, July 22, 2006 at the church’s premises, the accused person was said to have called the deceased and some other five members of the church into his residence and leveled some accusations against the worshippers who saw him as a little god. Mr Uzoh, now left with two children, said he learnt that once anyone was summoned by the pastor, that person, out of fear, must kneel down before the pastor, no matter how old he or she might be. There and then, the suspect was said to have passed death sentence on the girls for perceived fornication and witchcraft. He ordered for fuel and it was brought to him by one Kelechi because the first gallon of fuel brought by the accused person to sprinkle on the unfortunate worshippers was not enough, he recalled.”


That is not the end of the story. Mr. Raphael Uzoh, while trying to rescue his daughter, was ordered to join Rev. King’s church. He did and was given the assignment of lacing Rev. King’s shoes (!). Rev. King definitely lived like a king, and here are some of his followers still insisting that the hangman cannot kill him, even after the Supreme Court had spoken. It won’t be long before they start claiming that he will resurrect! But what on earth could have turned a graduate of Accountancy into a willing sex slave in a church? Unemployment? We need to worry seriously and do something about the growing hordes of young men and women who have turned themselves into slaves of churches, other religious groups, pastors and clerics. Nigeria is losing too much talent and national productivity time to places of religious worship. It is sad that political leaders also patronize these haunts and their managers. Nigeria has become one big theatre of religious ritual. The name of God is the most abused name in Nigeria today. The resultant tragedy and hypocrisy are astonishing.

For now, we can only hope, that all the religious leaders who use religion as a vehicle of abuse will learn the appropriate lessons from the saga of Rev. Chukwuemeka Kingsley Ezeugo a.k.a. Rev. King. And I am not in any way saying all clerics are bad; but that the likes of Rev. King bring the calling to disrepute and sadly, their population seems to be increasing. Rev King has had his day in court. The law has taken its course. Now, let justice be done according to the existing law, even if the heavens fall, quake or wail.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/rev-king-law-and-kings-supporters-by.html

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https://12800-presscdn-0-96.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Barr.-Kanayo-Chris-Enemuo-and-Alex-Okafor-009.jpg
Former speaker of the Anambra House of Assembly, Kanayo Chris Enemuo and former commissioner for lands , survey and urban planning, Alex Okafor have been docked before Justice. I.N Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Awka, Anambra State, on a five count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.

The EFCC arraigned the duo on 25 February, accusing them of obtaining N4.245million for a fraudulent land transaction, for Plot Os/9 Iyagu Housing Estate in the state capital.

The offence is contrary to section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

Enemuo, allegedly abused his position as a public servant and issued documents purportedly emanating from the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Planning to mask his fraudulent scheme.

One of the counts reads:
“That you, Barrister Kanayo Chris Enemuo, Alex Okafor sometime in February 2013 at Awka, Anambra state, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N4,000,000.00 (four million naira) from one Mr. Anthony Okonkwo when you sold to him a plot of land at plot Os/9 Iyagu Housing Estate, Awka, Anambra state under the false pretence that the said plot of land belongs to you, a pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(a) the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and Punishable under section 1(3)of the same Act”.
The accused persons pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges read to them.

In view of their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Simon M. Ibekute asked the court for a trial date.
In response, counsel to the defendants, Don N. Ezeani, prayed the court to grant his clients bail.
After listening to both counsels, Justice Oweibo granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N5 million each and one surety each in like sum.

The sureties must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the Court with Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and their addresses must also be verified.

The accused persons are to be remanded in EFCC custody pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.
The case was adjourned to May 3 and 4, 2016 for hearing.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/02/photo-ex-anambra-speaker-and.html

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