₦airaland Forum

Friday Olokor, Abuja

The number of Senior Advocates of Nigeria increased on Monday to 451 with the conferment of the prestigious title on 22 outstanding lawyers.

The new SANs were inaugurated by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, at a special session of the Supreme Court in Abuja to mark the commencement of the 2016-2017 legal year.

The new SANs included Olaseni Adio, son of a former Chief Judge of Oyo State, Yekini Adio, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Olanrewaju Onadeko.

While 131 lawyers applied for the rank this year, 55 including four women, were shortlisted for interview out of which 22 emerged victorious.

Out of the 22 new SANs, 19 came from the advocate category while three were from the academics.

Only two women made it this year.

Other beneficiaries were Abdulhakeem Uthman Mustapha, lawyer to the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai; Nnamonso Udo Ekanem; Prof. Muhammed Tabiu; Secretary of the 2014 National Conference, Dr. Valerie-Janette Ogonna Azinge and Olufunke Abimbola Agbor.

Also named were Olusola Ojutalayo; Richard Akintunde; Oyesoji Oyeleke; James Njeze Ikeyi; Yakubu Kurah; Adewunmi Ogunsanya; Olatubosun Olanipekun; Kalu Umeh and Adewale Adesokan.

Others are Fredson Alexander Okoli; Olasheni Ibiwoye; Abdulhakeem Mustapha; Mba Ekpezu; Edward Pwajok and Prof. Chukwu Omaka.

http://punchng.com/ex-oyo-cjs-son-21-others-make-san/

If u r posted to Ogun state and has influence,,u can use ur influence to be posted to a private school in Abeokuta under Obafemi Owode LG dat pays 30k monthly and 1 free daily meal to corps members and u wont even teach.....

coyy:
exempted from state allawee but entitled to private allawee..

u expect me to teach in a profit making organization for free?

kolewerk

U will surely be paid in private sector.. ....

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has attributed the current economic recession to the activities of militants in the Niger Delta.

Osinbajo said there was no way Nigeria would not be affected given the fact that “the nation now loses over one million barrels of crude oil on a daily basis.”

The Vice-President said this on Monday at the maiden meeting of the Presidential Quarterly Business Forum with members of the organised private sector and other stakeholders at the State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa, Abuja.

The meeting is part of the Federal Government’s effort to continually engage regularly with different segments of the Nigerian public on its economic policies and direction.

Osinbajo said, “Perhaps it is important for us to understand the nature of this recession in which we have found ourselves. In discussing this issue of recession, there is the tendency for people to generalise. A lot depends on what sort of recession and how we got here.

“If we did not have vandalism in the Niger Delta as we are currently suffering, we will not have this recession today. Moreover, in looking at the solutions, we should try to focus on the type of problem we have and what instigated it then we can begin to come up with better solutions.”

Osinbajo, who is the head of the Economic Management Team, said the Federal Government was ready to address challenges in the power sector.

He added, “We are doing a whole lot by interfacing with the private sector because we realise their role in the economy. If the Dangote refinery comes on stream, it will help us overcome some of those challenges like the sub-sea gas pipelines; it will take care of vandalism.

“But I think the more important thing is how to clean up the mess in the power sector, especially infrastructure, in the short term, we will try to bring up power to an appreciable level to help the manufacturing sector.”

The members of the organised private sector, who were present, listed 13 challenges they were facing.

Top on the list are access to finance which got 32ý per cent vote, access to foreign exchange (23 per cent), high interest rates – (18 per cent) and high energy cost (18 per cent).

Other challenges listed are: transport and infrastructural deficit (nine per cent), weak export support, inconsistent government policies, and absence of clear investment policies.

Others are ease of doing business and approval delays, low support for domestic manufacturing, customs delay and security.

The members of the private sector who took turns to list out the challenges and proffer both immediate and long term solutions, called on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to address the issues.

Also speaking, the President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Micheal Cole, advised the government to show consistency in its policies as investors usually reacted negatively to instability.

He lauded the Presidency for initiating the quarterly forum, saying government could measure its progress by getting regular feedback from the citizens.

http://punchng.com/osinbajo-blames-niger-delta-militants-recession-2/

Most of you will be posted to private school wic will makes u automatically be exempted from state allawee.. ....

Most state only pays allawee on paper.. ...

dhare88:
pls how does one do revalidation...cause i didnt go for camping in batch A

When portal open for registration oct 17th, u will do dat.. .

They are trying to delay the commencement of the program till next year.. ..

Let the MGT ask stream 2 if agreed to be paid 11 months while their counterpart be paid 12 months and passed out same day.......U will see their reactions.. ..

Btw Stream two started some years back n not as speculated.. .....

Year 2000 corpers dont even know stream 2....

Nysc law stated that you must serve and receive a stipend for twelve months....

October 27th will make it 12 months for stream 1 and and 11 months for stream 2.....

Stream 2 twelve months will b completed towards ending of November and they are passing out November 4th. .......

Both stream 1 and 2 will now serve for 11 months and some days as 21 days leave will be excluded.. ....


NYSC knows better than u people.. ......

Offpoint.. ..

Just poison the food and eat, so that you can die n stop complaining. ..


Hope it helps?


Any oda question?

A 400-level student of the University of Lagos, Olorunfemi Adeyeye, talks about the Facebook post that led to his rustication with GBENGA ADENIJI

Were you part of the University of Lagos Students’ Union executives recently suspended by the school management for their roles in a protest in the university?

No, I am neither a member of the University of Lagos Students’ Union nor a member of the Students’ Representatives Council. I am only a concerned student. I also made it known to members of a panel inaugurated by the university management when I was invited that I was not a member of ULSU or SRC but only a concerned student.

What department and level are you?

I am a 400 level student of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Department of Building.

Your Facebook post titled, ‘The Senate of UNILAG: A conglomeration of academic ignorami was believed to have earned you rustication for four semesters; approximately two academic sessions. Did you bargain for what happened after the post?

I was prepared for it. The whole thing started after the resolution of the Senate of the University of Lagos. Some of us saw this coming. The resolution was anti-student. You do not make a resolution without the consent of the people it will affect.

The resolution of the Senate came after the peaceful protests we had on campus on April 6, 7 and 8, 2016. On April 6, it was the union executives who went to the office of the Division of Students’ Affairs to ask that the students should be addressed. But no one came to talk to them. On the second day, it was agreed by the student leaders, the faculty and hall executives that a protest be staged. The protest was about poor welfare. At the time, there was a fuel scarcity in the country and the union executives were using the union’s bus to convey students from Yaba to Akoka. This happened for weeks. The protest was peaceful. I think the problem was ego. No member of the management came to address the students for two days.

On the third day, it was a siren of police cars and an armoured personnel carrier that woke us at 6am. We were also sent text messages to vacate the halls of residence by 10am as academic activities had been suspended. The student leaders saw the directive as draconian. We all insisted that we would not leave the campus. A student mounted the armoured personnel carrier playfully and the police officer in it drove head on until it hit the school gate and its roof opened. The student was not injured and after sometime, we decided to go home. We were at home for three weeks. Later, the management asked us to resume for examination and that there would be rationing of electricity from 7am to 7pm. All students were also told to sign an indemnity form with our parents and take an oath before we could be reabsorbed into the university. The union and its constitution were also suspended. This is a union that was just reinstated after 10 years of proscription. I saw all these as failure on the part of the Senate and an attempt to curb and crush the union. All these made me to pick my pen and write about the Senate of the University of Lagos. I later posted it on my Facebook page.

In the post, you specifically mentioned some lecturers and the vice-chancellor of the institution who you accused of certain failings in the discharge of their academic and leadership duties respectively. What was your motivation?

I was not pushed by any allure of social media. I did it because I was convinced that there was administrative failure. I am of the opinion that a citadel of learning should provide solutions. It should be a place where policy-makers should run to for ideas and a place of solution for the society. But what we have in the university today is far from that.

What happened after the post?

We were allowed to sit for examination and after it ended, those targeted were called to appear before a panel one after the other. It was done that way so that it would not appear as ‘scapegoatism.’ I was sent a letter to appear before a panel on allegation of social misconduct. The panel was called ‘Special Senate disciplinary panel on the recent students’ protest.’ I explained what I meant in the article to members of the panel. It was later that I got a letter rusticating me from the university for four semesters.

What was your first reaction when you got the letter of rustication from the university?

I did not feel any way. I read it and saw that I had been rusticated.

What are you doing to appeal the management’s decision?

On ethical grounds, I would say the reversal of the rustication should be at the discretion of the university management. But on legal grounds, I pray that the reversal comes soon. We are in court already. The case will come up on October 10. Besides, I wrote a letter of appeal to the pro-chancellor and chancellor of the university. I explained all that happened. Others executives of the union also did the same.

Do you regret your action?

I cannot regret doing what is right. Some people told me that it is proper to be anonymous when posting such an article. They also urged me to deny the post and say that my account was hacked. I see that as ‘quackery of activism.’ The decay in our society has got to a level that if one is addressing issues, it is also important to face personalities. If I had been anonymous, none of the issues I addressed in the article would be taken seriously. I want them to understand that the rot in the society starts from the education sector.

Did you receive telephone calls and text messages from friends and colleagues that you should delete it after the post generated reactions?

Nobody did that. After the post, I sent a friend request to the Acting Dean of the Students’ Affairs who accepted my request. He saw the post and shared it. I later sent him a message saying, ‘thank you for sharing the truth.’ At the panel, the members said they got it from the DSA and I think he showed it to them.

Did you envisage how long the battle for your reinstatement would last?

I did not really. But I know that it is a struggle that I am in for as long as it lasts.

Is this post about the university the first you posted on your Facebook page?

I have not directed any post to the university. I always write on general issues. There was one titled, ‘What is great about great Nigerian students?’ It was about academic docility though I mentioned the university there. I think this post generated reactions because it was directed at the university.

How are your parents reacting to the development?

Initially, I could not tell them but when I told my sister’s husband, they got to know. They said I had ‘killed’ them. But now they are calm about the whole matter.

Are they urging you to sort things out quickly?

As good parents, they are seeking ways to apologise to the university authorities. But if they do that, I will be unhappy. At this stage, the university management will use it against me. They used the apology tendered by one of the rusticated union leaders against him. When I was leaving the panel, they said I was not remorseful and that other rusticated students had written letters of apology. But none of them was pardoned.

I know that pleading guilty in court will not make the judge to set free the accused. If anything, it will only make his or her conviction easy.

I am a writer of conscience and did not post the article because I want popularity or anything. Even in the appeal I wrote, I did stylistic and semantic analyses of what I meant in the article. It is really appalling that in this clime we see it as disrespectful when a young person tries to plead with an adult to do some things in certain ways. It has got to a situation in Nigeria where university management sees itself as demigod. The philosophy now is that every protest must be met with a punishment. It is wrong.

What are you doing now pending the resolution of the matter?

I am sensitising people on the environment. It is about humanitarian work. I am also starting a project on the environment as an environmental scientist. It is not part of what I learnt in school, it came as a result of self-education. We mistake schooling for education. We go to school in order to know how to read and write. But getting education is about the norms, ethos, ethics and values that an individual is able to imbibe through schooling to develop himself first before transferring them to the society for development.

Adeyeye’s controversial Facebook post

The Senate of the University of Lagos; a Conglomeration of Academic Ignorami

The University of Lagos prides itself as a cosmopolitan university and over the years has maintained the status quo of excellence among her peers in Nigeria and the world at large. I promise not to make this BOMB as lengthy and circuitous as my last post on this medium. I will also make it as lucid as possible.

I mentioned in my last article WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT THE GREAT NIGERIAN STUDENTS the jejunity of the mission statement of the UNILAG, hardly had I finished the article when the whole statement of mine started receiving fulfillment. One would call me a prophet!.

I now see the reason for the backwardness of my nation, we blame those at the corridor of “power” forgetting those at the corridor of “education;” the corridor of “common sense.” I am a discussant of history and it has made me realise that from time immemorial, whenever there is problem in the society, tertiary institutions are places of solace, they are citadels of solutions. Government would go to schools to consult undergraduates, lecturers; professors as they posed to be the backbone of the society. Now, Nigeria is in shambles, the economy is crumbling, where is Dr. Nduibisi Nwokoma of the Economics department? Buhari is still waiting for your economic model computation and those econometrics rubbish theories you teach your students. Prof. G.L Oyekan!.., there is infrastructural decay! Prof. Idoro Godwin, buildings are collapsing and projects are poorly handled! This is not project planning class where you come to disturb students with your unending battery of questions e.g What is Objective?..answer – Objective is ….Question 2 – What is “is”? What a comedian!

Vice Chancellor sir, you remain a first class Chemical engineering graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife. What has happened to the Great Ife in you? Our power generation is deteriorating and you are alive. The nation’s investment of knowledge on you to make you a scholar is a WASTE. Your first class honours degree is the true definition of a FIASCO.

That’s by the way, the protest that led to Senate’s resolution to dissolve the student union and the forceful blood covenant oath-taking was a peaceful one. One that started on a calm note with the intention to end in a day only if the DSA or VC came to talk to the students during the act. The egocentricity of an African man would not just allow them to come. They are PhD holders. I call them ACADEMIC IGNORAMUSES!

The irresponsibility, insensitivity and irresponsiveness to the welfare of the students of the VC and his misMANAGEMENT have shown that they are all misfits when it comes to parenthood.

They all stood up when the former mistake we had as president tried to rename Unilag to Maulag because the brand UNILAG gives them the pride they need to sleep with any girl-student and admission-seekers effortlessly. These are the goings-on in Unilag, let the world know! The likes of Ogbinaka Karo were ready to tear down the nation if the renaming was not revoked. Now, this is our own issue; welfarism, we can’t find them. Are they telling me that the name issue is greater than welfarism. Is the aesthetics of a building more important than the structural stability? If you don’t know, go ask the MD, Lekki Gardens.

My secondary school teacher once told me that during his days at the University of Ibadan, they protested when the chicken on their breakfast meal was reduced to 1 instead of the usual 2. For Christ’s sake, was it this same Nigeria? We never asked for all these things Bello and his cohorts enjoyed, all we asked for was water/light and all we could get from a sensible Senate is the threat of expulsion. Are there no “common sense” persons in the management anymore? We mourn the late Prof. Ayodele Awojobi freshly.

I promised not to make this too lengthy but I stand in this era for change as I don’t want to be too much of a
victim of circumstance because I have never gained anything from this system of education. I learn everything myself, just like most of us. My lecturers are too busy to teach but are very ready to threaten you with failure. Where is Julius Faremi? .

I am ready not as Adekunle Gold but as an active citizen for any step they might want to take against me. E e ba mi ni’be.

I remain Adeyeye Olorunfemi.

#IwontSign.

#RescueULSU.

University of Lagos

April, 2016

Editor’s note: The university, through its Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr. Toyin Adebule, insisted that he would not grant an interview. He referred our correspondent to the press statement by the university.

http://punchng.com/dont-regret-action-student-rusticated-unilag-facebook-post/

Eniola Akinkuotu

The Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jide Omokore, has returned N200m to the Federal Government, Sunday PUNCH has learnt.

It was learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has also traced and frozen eight bank accounts allegedly belonging to Omokore.

Reliable sources in the commission told our correspondent that the eight accounts were opened at different branches of Skye Bank Plc.

Omokore, who is an ally of the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, among five others, are currently standing trial before a Federal High Court for an alleged $800m (N247bn at an exchange rate of N309/$1) fraud.

A top source at the commission said, “During investigations, we traced about eight accounts to Omokore in Skye Bank. Most of the accounts are company accounts. Some were domiciled in Marina, Adeola Hopewell and some other branches on the (Lagos) Island.

“We were able to identify about N200m. He raised some bank drafts in the name of the Federal Government and the money has been deposited into the Federal Government account while investigations continue.”

The commission had on Monday, July 4, 2016, arraigned Omokore, and five other individuals and firms, before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja on nine counts bordering on money laundering and procurement fraud.

Those arraigned with him were a former Managing Director of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited, Victor Briggs; a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Abiye Membere; a former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo ; Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

Omokore was alleged to have used the Strategic Alliance Agreement signed between the NPDC and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited to swindle the NPDC and the Nigerian government of billions of naira through the lifting of crude oil from some oil wells between March 2013 and May 2014.

The other accused persons, who were senior management employees of the NNPC, were accused of conspiracy in inducing the NPDC to facilitate the lifting of crude by Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited.

They were equally charged with receiving car gifts from Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited.

The charge read in part, “That you, Olajide Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Ltd and Kolawole Akanni Aluko (now at large) between May 2013 and March 2014 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court obtained by false pretences and with intent to defraud, 7,551,867 barrels of crude oil (Brass blend) valued at the sum of $823,75,189.95 from NPDC, NNPC and the Federal Government of Nigeria on the false pretences that you had funds (both local and foreign) necessary to support the NPDC in petroleum operation for the OML 60,61, 62 and 63 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act Cap. A6, 2010, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.

http://punchng.com/diezanis-ally-omokore-returns-n200m-govt/

BAYO AKINLOYE

A popular Nollywood actress, Cossy Orjiakor, has named her two cats Buhari and Goodluck.

She posted on her Instagram page, @cossyorjiakor, a picture of the cats facing each other as if in a deep conversation.

“My cats, Buhari and Goodluck, (are) discussing the Nigerian economy (and) dollar rate,” the actress wrote.

Last month, a man, Joachim Iroko, who named his dog Buhari, was arrested and remanded in prison, following his arraignment at Ota magistrate Court 2, Ogun State.

The Nigeria Police had stated that Iroko’s “conduct was likely to cause breach of peace, by writing a name, Buhari, on a dog and parading same in the Hausa section of Ketere Market, Sango, thereby, committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Law of Ogun State, Nigeria, 2016.”

The accused is expected back in court on Monday.

Orjiakor, however, expressed her readiness to be arrested for a similar conduct.

“All I want is a good-looking sexy police officer with Donald Duke’s (former governor of Cross River) face; Uti Nwachukwu’s eyes; PSquare’s chest and D’Banj’s ‘no long thing.’ He should come with sexy handcuffs.

“And he (the policeman) should have an English accent like Jim Iyke. All I want is a super-handsome police officer with six-packs and stamina to arrest me this morning (Saturday) and take me to Aso Rock prison; and serve me Aso Rock food because ‘Mummy Victor Market’ is too expensive these days.

“If it is a policewoman, then she must have fat, soft buttocks and big tits. I must be high on some cheap stuff this morning,” she said.

Her post generated several comments.

http://punchng.com/cossy-orjiakor-names-cats-buhari-goodluck/

Eniola Akinkuotu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized the passport of the immediate past Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, as part of investigations into the alleged N76bn fraud perpetrated by Shema.

Shema was detained by the EFCC on Friday after he voluntarily walked into the head office of the EFCC.

However, a source close to the ex-governor told SUNDAY PUNCH that despite meeting the bail conditions, the anti-graft agency refused to release him.

The source said, “You will recall that the EFCC declared Shema wanted even though they knew he was not on the run. They had invited him for questioning in June but when he arrived at their office, he was informed that the detective in charge, Mr. Hyecinth A. Edozie, was out of Abuja, and that a new date, after Sallah, would be communicated.

“However, they never informed him of a new date and then went ahead to declare him wanted. On getting to the EFCC on Friday, the ex-governor presented a stamped document acknowledging that he had honoured the EFCC’s invitation in June.

“After being grilled for several hours, the EFCC gave him bail conditions, including that he tenders his passport and property documents of his sureties which he did. However, the EFCC still refused to grant him bail and said he should wait till Monday.”

The anti-graft agency started investigating Shema following allegations levelled against him by his successor, Governor Bello Masari, who is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Masari had accused Shema of financial impropriety and diversion of billions of naira.

The governor said he had “concrete evidence” to drag his predecessor before the anti-graft agency to recover all stolen funds.

According to Masari, there are some mistakes that can be forgiven, “but N70bn is a huge amount of money that we cannot overlook.”

He alleged that the former governor misappropriated over N76.6bn collected as excess crude oil allocation and diverted over N7.5bn into his private pocket.

Masari also alleged that Shema and other top government officials of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs used fake receipts to divert over N750m earmarked to purchase drugs for local government councils.

Shema, however, accused the EFCC of being used by Masari to persecute him for political reasons.

All attempts to speak with the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, proved abortive as his two phones indicated that they were switched off, while text messages were not responded to as of press time.

http://punchng.com/efcc-seizes-ex-gov-shemas-passport-alleged-n76bn-fraud/

She is also my sister

adecares:
Good day, pls I want to know if the registration of those going for nysc has started. thanx for your answers.

Check NYSC site for the timetable.. .

Wic kind recession affect dem, dem still dey buy recharge card jare.. .

slimzy28:
I just found this thread. I would like to know how to go about with revalidation. I was posted to Anambra last year but some things came up and I couldn't show up in camp

Just wait till online registration starts,portal will b openned for revalidation.. .

Success Nwogu, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, has told residents of the state that he feels the pain and hardship they are going through as a result of the current national economic downturn.

Ahmed said this in Ilorin when he received the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari, on Wednesday.

He said, “I am concerned; I’m touched. I feel more than you feel because I’m supposed to make you happy and comfortable, even if it means making myself uncomfortable.”
He said contractors engaged by the state government had been mobilised with N1.7bn in line with its resolve to cushion the effects of the economic recession through enhanced infrastructural development.

According to Ahmed, the newly-procured asphalt plants by the government would soon be inaugurated and “all bad roads across the state will soon be fixed while new ones will be constructed.”

Ahmed said the state government would access N700m from the World Bank to be build primary health care centres to take care of mothers and children.

He added that 12 luxury buses were being procured to ply major roads across the state to shore up mass transportation.

He assured the people that the state government’s newly-introduced Kwara Infrastructure Fund would ensure that contractors who key into the programme were henceforth paid quarterly upon certification of the quality of their works.

Ahmed, who attributed the increase in the execution of projects to a reduction in the cost of governance by 40 per cent, said the state government would create more jobs, rather than sack workers.

Earlier, the emir had called on Nigerians to “pray for the success of our leaders as their actions or inactions will impact on the general wellbeing of the citizenry.”

The emir also advised the government to pay more attention to agriculture in order to ensure sustainable food security in the country.

http://punchng.com/feel-pains-ahmed-tells-kwara-residents/

Matthew Kukah
Peter Dada and Atta Ede

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to stop agonising about the past administration but to tackle the challenges facing the country.

He said Nigerians did not vote for him ( Buhari) to complain about previous government but to perform better than his predecessor.

The clergymen stated this at a dinner organised by the Ondo State Government after the 2016 Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria held in Akure, the state capital on Wednesday.

He said, “We didn’t vote a government to complain about yesterday, if we wanted yesterday the new government would not be there. The previous government didn’t only do bad things; he did a lot of good things.

“I think the business of government is not our business; our business is, the previous government did bad, that is why we voted a new government. It is really about taking responsibility. No matter how much you praise or abuse (former President Goodluck) Jonathan, he is no more the President of Nigeria. I think that people must understand that you take power to solve problems not to agonise.

“We are not asking you to change the whole world, but Jonathan created problems: we are now riding a train between Abuja and Kaduna now; the train wasn’t there before. Things that Jonathan did that can help Nigeria, let’s continue with them. The bad things that Jonathan did and those who deserve to go to prison should go to prison. “

Kukah added that the only way the current administration could succeed in fighting corruption was to first solve the problem of poverty and inequality in the country.

“I still believe that unless we get to the root cause of poverty and inequality, which are really the evidences and symptoms of corruption; you can talk of fighting corruption all the rest of your life and very little is going to happen.

“Sending people to prison will only be useful if it puts bread on the table of the people, “ the Catholic cleric said.

In his remarks at the dinner, the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, reiterated his call for the restructuring of Nigeria to reflect the needed true federalism as the only panacea for the development of the country.

Mimiko expressed worries that the Federal Government was biting more than it could chew with the larger percentage of the resources at its disposal to the detriment of the federating units.

The governor posited that the problem of corruption facing Nigeria could be addressed with the right policy.

He called for the prayers of the religious leaders in the country to tackle inter-religious conflicts, noting that the (conflicts) might lead the country to more danger that might be difficult to overcome.

“Government has the responsibility of bringing these bigots to book. We are not comfortable with what the bigots are doing. What they are doing is most worrisome in Nigeria. The Church has a major role to play by praying for Nigeria,” the governor added.

Meanwhile, about 200 pastors and bishops from the Anglican Church across Nigeria are currently in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, for a one-week conference where they would pray for the peace, security and development of the country.

The Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, while declaring the conference open at the Benue State University, Makurdi, expressed excitement that the state was hosting the All Anglican Clergy Conference and assured the pastors that their security would be guaranteed.

Ortom said, ‘’The government and people of the state believe in divine intervention in human affairs and my conviction accounted for the dedication of the state to God at the end of May, this year.

“My faith in God right from my teenage years has accounted for my elevation from a humble beginning to the present status and I’m resolute in my determination to serve God wholeheartedly.’’

He expressed appreciation to the Primate of the Church, Most Reverend Bishop Nicholas Okoh,and other clergy and the laity of the church, for making themselves available for God to use them to bless the present generation.

Ortom urged them to carry on with their activities at the conference without any fear of molestation and advised Benue people to put their trust in God to experience breakthrough in all facets of life.

He said he was sure that the conference would bring blessings to the people of the state as well as all the delegates.

The governor assured the people that his administration was working tirelessly to revamp the agricultural value chain, which he said, would turn around the economy for the better.

In his remark, Okoh thanked Ortom for his contributions toward the success of the conference.

He reiterated the anti-gay stand of the Anglican Church in Nigeria and advised members of the clergy who had gay tendencies to resign their position honourably or risk being disgraced out of the church.


http://punchng.com/kukah-buhari-stop-blaming-jonathan-solve-current-problems/

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha
Gibson Achonu, Owerri

A militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers of Imo State origin, on Wednesday stormed the Government House, Owerri, in trucks where they surrendered their arms and ammunition including AK47 rifles to the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha.

The ex-militants, who arrived the seat of power around 12pm in white T-shirts with the inscription, “Disarmament of Agitators, Powered by the Niger Delta Youths Volunteer Peace Advocacy”, chanted Niger Delta songs. They also castigated oil companies operating in their communities for their insensitivity to the plight of their people.

In the presence of security agencies comprising the police, the Army, the Department of State Services and the Civil Defence Corps, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Okorocha and the Chairman, Disarmament Committee, Mr. Kingsley Uju, said that the occasion was in response to the mandate given to the committee by the governor to find a lasting solution to youth restiveness in the oil-bearing Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta local government areas of the state.

Uju, an indigene of the Ohaji Egbema Council Area, however, regretted that since 1953 when the oil giants commenced operations in the communities, they had failed to address the yearnings and aspirations of the indigenes, hence the frequent outburst of youth restiveness in the areas .

He also regretted the people’s predicament which arose from their wanton neglect by the oil companies that had often led to violent confrontations. He commended the youths for finally embracing peace by laying down their arms, as directed by the governor.

The aggrieved youths, who later spoke through their respective leaders, accused the multi-national corporations of criminally precipitating confusion among their people. They said there was neither pipeline surveillance nor a Niger Delta Development Commission’s presence in their areas, unlike what happened in the neighbouring Rivers and Delta states.

They further pledged that a oilfield had come to prevail in the troubled oil communities but pleaded with the state and the Federal Government to prevail on the oil companies to urgently address their grievances. They also implored the Imo State government to release their members still languishing in detention.

On his part, Okorocha commended the youths for their “rare display of patriotism”, after he received the surrendered arms and ammunition. He assured them that security agencies would no longer invade their areas.

He also said that their demands, grievances and agitations would be articulated and forwarded to the appropriate quarters for prompt attention.


http://punchng.com/repentant-militants-surrender-arms-okorocha/

SexxyDior:
Okay tnx...but Does that mean i dont have to fill out any form before then...

yes

uthlaw:
Please am about to go for service next batch but i don't have jamb number yet

Ur skul shud make provisions for that..

SexxyDior:
Goodevening guyzz...pls i have an issue which is: i was deployed with batch A16, but i couldn't report to camp. I hope to re-validate with batch B16.. So is there any process i will go through before registration starts?.. Please Quote me with ur answers pls!!!..

I think ur question has been answered, portal will open for revalidation wen online registration starts on Oct 17th.. ..

coyy:
Bros, d only issue I have is I want to serve in Lagos and I no wan pay

Lagos na gold oooo, just dont pay for posting cus its not easy to get Lagos slot, but if u see someone that can help u n u pay after service, go for it.. ..