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Celebrities / Scott Disick Becomes A Guest In His Home by WatchdogNews: 12:13pm On Sep 08, 2015
Kourtney Kardashian and her boyfriend Scott Disick who split for some time now and later went on lunch dates just for the sake of their kids have gone from bad to worse. Recently, Scott Disick attempted driving into their home in Calabasas but was asked to join the left lane which is for guests. It so happened to be that Kourtney Kardashian had hi name removed from the residents list which allows one entry without questions. But at the moment, Scott has become a guest in their home. Now he basically has to ask for permission before visiting.






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Technology Market / Porn App Takes Secret Photos Of Users Before Demanding Cash by WatchdogNews: 12:05pm On Sep 08, 2015
Android users with a penchant for porn are advised to steer clear of the Adult Player app or risk ending up with a locked phone and a demand for cash.

Spotted recently by U.S. security firm Zscaler, Adult Player, once installed, kicks off by secretly taking photos of you via the device’s front-facing camera. If that’s not creepy enough, it then locks your handset and displays your image on the screen alongside a demand for $500.

Pay up (via Pay Pal) and the ransomware promises to delete the discreetly snapped images and unlock your device, though reports suggest that some of those who’ve coughed up the cash have had no luck accessing their handset.

However, Zscaler says you can avoid dropping the money by booting your device in safe mode and uninstalling the malicious software. The security firm outlines the steps to take:

– Boot device into safe mode (Please note that entering “safe mode” varies depending on your device). Safe mode boots the device with default settings without running third party apps.

– Uninstalling ransomware from device requires you to first remove administrator privilege. Go to Settings –> Security –> Device Administrator and select ransomware app, then deactivate.

– Once this is done, you can go to Settings –> Apps –> Uninstall ransomware app.

Adult Player isn’t available via legitimate store fronts such as Google Play. In other words, anyone with the app on their device will have downloaded it from a non-Google source, clearly a risky move if you have little idea about who’s behind the software.

What’s more, when you first open Adult Player, it asks for admin rights. Of course, giving an app you’ve never heard of access to your mobile device, and not fully understanding why you’re doing it, really is asking for trouble.

Ransomware appears to be a growing problem for mobile users, with an increasing number being caught out by apps like Adult Player. While the malicious software often targets Android users – a result of the platform’s more open design – Apple’s more tightly controlled iOS operating system has also been hit. However, as with Adult Player, most incidents occur as a result of those with jailbroken iPhones downloading software from outside Apple’s own app store.




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Celebrities / See Photos Of Kelly Rowland, Her Cute Son And Husband At The U.S Opening by WatchdogNews: 11:55am On Sep 08, 2015
Kelly Rowland, her husband Tim and their son, Titan, pictured as they arrived at the day seven of the U.S Open inNew York city on Sunday. Adorable family she has.

Pictures available at www.watchdognews.net




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Politics / As Buhari Blazes The Trail For Merit – Reno Omokri by WatchdogNews: 11:02am On Sep 08, 2015
Reno Omokri, Former Presidential Aide to Goodluck Jonathan, has written an article on the fact that President Buhari bases his appointments solely on merit.

FULL TEXT OF ARTICLE…

Recently there was a big uproar about the appointments made by President Buhari. I disagreed with those who complained that the President’s appointment were lopsided. Appointments should not be made on the basis of ethnicity, region or religion. Appointments should be made strictly on merit! As far as I am concerned, the President can appoint all his appointees from the same state as long as they are the best Nigeria has to offer.

In 2013, Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations. That victory was only possible because we selected our best players.
A large proportion of the squad were from the Southeast and Southsouth including Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim, Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Kenneth Omuero, Efe Ambrose, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Godfrey Oboabona, Mikel Obi, Reuben Gabriel, Nosa Igiebor, Obiora Nwankwo, Brown Ideye, Ogenyi Onazi, while Ejike Uzoenyi, Victor Moses, Ikechukwu Uche, Sunday Mba and Emmanuel Emenike.
Nobody complained that this squad was lopsided because we knew these were our best and if we wanted to win we had to present our best. At the end of the day they brought home the cup and that was all that mattered.
In the same vein, nobody should complain about where Buhari’s appointees come from. What we should insist on is that they are appointed on the basis of merit and that at the end of 2019 they must bring home the cup by giving Nigerians good governance that will yield tangible democracy dividends.
Nigerians are always quick to say the problem with Nigeria is corruption, but I am not so sure it is.
Corruption is a symptom of the problem but it in itself is not the problem.
Corruption is the catarrh coming out of Nigeria’s nose. If you experience catarrh you do not treat it by merely cleaning your nose. The discharge will just keep coming because you are treating the symptom not the cause.
The way to treat catarrh is by treating its root cause which is the common cold.
What is the common cold that is causing the discharge of mucous from Nigeria’s nose?
In my humble opinion, it is quota system and the principle of federal character.
Federal character and quota system are the root cause of corruption in Nigeria.
As long as ethnicity is the yardstick for admitting children into schools or recruiting adults into the civil service, we will never have a merit driven system and where we do not have a merit driven system, the end result will be corruption.
President Muhammadu Buhari means well in his anti corruption battle, but if a civil servant has to report to someone who is less qualified than him and who only got his position because of quota system or federal character, his morale would be low and he will not be committed and when opportunity presents itself to be corrupt, that civil servant will seize it and he will not feel sorry or guilty.
As long as there is no level playing field in Nigeria, none of our anti corruption efforts will work. We will merely be cleaning rye discharge of mucous from our nose. There cannot be a successful anti corruption war in the midst of social injustice.
Nigerians are not by nature correct. It is the Nigerian system that is by nature corrupt.
The other day the Federal Ministry of Education released cut off marks for unity schools and the cut off Mark for one state is 138 out of 200 while the cut off mark for another state is 4 out of 200.
This is not a joke! This is a reality in modern day Nigeria in the year 2015 and I kid you not!
Right there and then Nigeria has planted the seed of corruption in the heart of the child from the 138/200 state and the seed of entitlement in the heart of the child from the 4/200 state.
Any system that is not built on merit cannot but be corrupt. It is a fact of life and those who do not like this inconvenient truth can get as angry as they like with me and people like me, but that will not change the truth.
Whether we like to say it or not or whether we choose to pretend it does not exist, the truth remains that so many groups in Nigeria feel alienated by quota system and federal character.
We have grand plans as a nation of being amongst the top 20 biggest economies of the world by 2020, but which of the countries amongst the current top 20 economies has a system like ours?
The answer is none.
The G 7 nations of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States along with their partner nations of China and Russia are constantly competing with each other in the areas of early childhood to high school education.
If the educational pass rates of children in America is slipping when compared to that of other nations in the G-7, it will become a major electoral issue.
The influential Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) releases a regular triennial study of global education systems and these nations keenly compete to outdo each other in these rankings.
Now, how can Nigeria expect to join their ranks and compete internationally when we do not even allow fair competition domestically?
Are we going to write a letter to the G-7 or the OECD telling them that is not fair to expect us to compete with them and ask them to lower the standards for us?
I don’t think so!
Merit is the way. No, I take that back. Merit is the ONLY way. And I thank God that we have a President with the foresight to base his appointments solely on merit.
That is a beginning, now we must ensure that merit is also applied to admission into government schools and recruitments into the public service.




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Science/Technology / Hackers Stole Information From Bugzilla: Mozilla by WatchdogNews: 11:52am On Sep 07, 2015
Mozilla, creator of the Firefox web browser, said hackers had stolen security-sensitive information from Bugzilla, its bug tracker, and used it to “attack” Firefox users.

The account that the hackers broke into was shut down shortly after the company discovered it had been compromised, the company said in a blog post.

Mozilla said on Friday the hackers may have used information from Bugzilla to exploit a vulnerability that allowed them to search for sensitive files and upload them to a server.

A version of Firefox, the world’s second-largest browser by users, released on Aug. 27 fixed all the vulnerabilities the hacker learned about and could have used to harm its web browser users, the company said.

Bugzilla is an open-source tool used for tracking “bugs” or flaws in software that result in incorrect or unexpected results. While Bugzilla is mostly public, access to security sensitive information is restricted to certain trusted users.

Mozilla said it had conducted an investigation on the breach and notified relevant law enforcement authorities.

Rising cybersecurity threats and a jump in the number of reported incidents have led companies and governments to beef up their security platforms and software.

Several high profile cyber attacks including those at Anthem Inc, one of the largest U.S. health insurers and retailer Target Corp have brought the issue of data security to the fore in recent years.

www.watchdognews.net
Sports / NPFL Match Day 28 Review: Giwa FC End Enyimba 10-game Unbeaten Streak by WatchdogNews: 11:43am On Sep 07, 2015
Week 28 of the Glo Premier League saw a total of eight games played across stadia in Nigeria on Sunday 6th September 2015 with two delayed games to hold on Monday. Apart from a 1-1 between Nasarawa United and Warri Wolves all other game ended in victories for the home sides.

Enyimba lost for the first time in ten games when Charles Henlong converted a penalty in the 74th minute. The People’s Elephant were before now five points clear at the top of the log but were unlucky to concede a penalty after Anyanwu handled the ball in his box. The result sees Giwa FC remain unbeaten by Enyimba since the Jos based side got promoted to the Glo Premier League. Enyimba are now 4 points above Warri Wolves who climbed to second place over the weekend when they drew at Nasarawa.

Ifeanyi Ubah came off a bad last week by winning relegated threatened side FC Taraba. Goals were provided in the second half by Abdulwahab Bidemi and Chukwude Stephen to secure maximum points for the Nnewi-based club. The win makes it three home wins in a row for Ifeanyi Ubah under Daniel Amokachi and takes them up to 8th on the log with 41 points.

Wikki Tourists closed in on intercontinental football when they put in a spirited display in front of a mammoth crowd to defeat visiting Akwa United 3-1. Victor put the hosts in front after 25 minutes of play and Mubarak equalized 5 minutes into the second half. The hosts continued pressing forward and were rewarded with a goal 6 minutes later through Mubarak. Ebenezer then scored the third goal in the 79th minute to put the game beyond reach of Akwa United. Wikki Tourists are now level on points with 3rd place Sunshine stars at 47 points but differ on goal difference.

Full results of match day 28 available





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Politics / Buhari, Not Interested In Nominees Of Govs, Senators, Reps For His Cabinet by WatchdogNews: 9:51am On Sep 07, 2015
State governors seem to have lost influence to make input into the appointment of ministers.

The governors, especially those elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have found it difficult to penetrate President Muhammadu Buhari to pick their nominees as ministers.

Also, some Senators, who are godfathers in their states, might be unable to install their stooges as ministers.

In deference to the principle of Separation of Powers, there were indications that Buhari may not accept imposition of nominees on him by some leaders of the National Assembly.

But the jostle for ministerial ticket is assuming a hot race in Kwara, Sokoto, Gombe, Enugu, Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Katsina, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, and Bauchi,

Investigation by our correspondent showed that apart from deference to party supremacy, President Buhari has largely been his own man in appointing members of his cabinet.

However, we understand some governors had attempted to recommend some nominees, the president is insisting on merit.

The same dilemma is confronting some influential Senators and leaders of the House of Representatives.

According to findings, Buhari is sticking to the principle of separation of powers instead of throwing the ministerial nomination open.

The discipline being employed by the president in choosing his cabinet members accounted for the delay in appointing commissioners in some states.

It was gathered that the governors prefer to compensate their loyalists, who may be schemed out of ministerial slots, as commissioners.

A reliable source said: “Unlike in the past, most governors are stranded this because the president will not ask them to nominate ministers. Some of them attempted to make recommendations but did not succeed.

“In fact, the same game is playing out with influential Senators who have found it difficult to lobby for their candidates as ministerial nominees.

“Buhari is trying to be his own man as far as the choice of ministers is concerned. The only thing he reckons with is party supremacy. He also wants to adhere to constitutional provision on the appointment of ministers.

“The governors could not have their way because Buhari has refused to ask for any office slot or favour from any governor, including his own governor, Aminu Masari of Katsina State.”

As at press time, investigation confirmed that the jostle for ministerial slot is keen in Kwara, Sokoto, Gombe, Enugu, Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Niger, Delta, Edo, Kogi, and Adamawa.

Some godfathers in the affected states were said to be panicking because of recent political developments in the country, especially in the National Assembly.

Another source said: “Those who have no respect for party supremacy cannot recommend or nominate ministers. Respect begets respect.

“This is why the president is looking for credible hands whom they cannot disqualify under a flimsy excuse or the other.”

It was learnt that the president has met with some leaders of the party on the shape of his cabinet, those who may be on board and what he intends to do.

But he is yet to unveil his list of cabinet members to the leadership of the party.

It was unclear if the President will reduce the size of the cabinet from 42 to 36 or a lower figure.

Section 147(1-3) directs the President to appoint at least 36 ministers unless the constitution is amended.

The section reads: “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.

“Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.

“Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution:

“Provided that in giving effect to the Provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”



For more News update please visit www.watchdognews.net
Politics / Amaechi Reacts To ICPC Probe; Says They Have No Right To Probe Him by WatchdogNews: 3:08pm On Sep 04, 2015
Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, has reacted to recent reports that he will be probed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission (ICPC).

Speaking on behalf of the ex-governor, Tony Okocha, a former aide to Amaechi, said his boss was not afraid of Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission (ICPC) or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as long as the probe was not a witch-hunt.

According to him, Governor Nyesom Wike was only out to rubbish his predecessor.

“I have always said that Amaechi is not afraid of the EFCC or the ICPC as long as such probe is not a witch-hunt. Again, there is a court order that the EFCC or other agency like it cannot probe any government official in the state. Wike is a beneficiary of that court order.

“Until that court order is vacated, the ICPC or the EFCC have no right to investigate Amaechi. Since what they are going to investigate is his (Amaechi’s) activities while in government, the EFCC and the ICPC do not have such right based on the standing court order,” he told P




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Politics / Many Feared Dead After Trailer Skids Off A Bridge And Falls On Cars In Lagos by WatchdogNews: 10:08am On Sep 03, 2015
Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has today announced that the Port-Harcourt refinery in Rivers state has now resumed full operations and is already producing as much as 5 million liters of petrol per day.
Ibe Kachikwu revealed this information while addressing journalists in Port-Harcourt. He said this recent development will help to stop the era of fuel shortage in the country and that the plan is to ensure that all the refineries function optimally.
Kachikwu revealed that there are plans to engage the services of the Nigerian Air force using drones for surveillance of the petroleum pipelines across the country.
He also revealed that the Warri refinery in Delta state will begin full operations before this week ends.




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Crime / No More Freedom Of Speech: ICPC Set To Prosecute Bloggers And Users Of Social Me by WatchdogNews: 9:44am On Sep 03, 2015
In 1984, Buhari passed Decree Number 4, the Protection Against False Accusations Decree—a decree that is considered by many critics and scholars to be the most repressive press law ever enacted in the country. The law allowed the government to try and prosecute anyone who was found guilty of writing, publishing or making any statement that ridiculed or questioned the federal government or a public office—without the option of an appeal. If journalists thought it was a bluff, they were quickly corrected. Shortly after the decree, Buhari’s government went on to jail several members of the press, including Nduka Irabor and Tunde Thompson.

For years, despite the widespread condemnation of the law, President Buhari refused to apologize for enacting the decree. In March 2015, during an interactive session with editors of the Nigerian Press Organization, when asked if he would be willing to apologize to journalists that he jailed during his military rule, Buhari simply ignored the question.

In May, Buhari finally met with one of the journalist he jailed. However, many have questioned the credibility of the meeting, seeing as Tunde Thompson was himself a member of the APC media team in charge of coordinating the president’s media activities during his campaign. Despite claims from the APC that Buhari apologized for instituting decree 4, there are no records to support his. Only insinuations.

Which brings us to today. According to The Nation, in a statement that seemed literally like a reworded version of Decree 4, the ICPC has announced that it intends to attack users of social media. Speaking with reporters in Abuja yesterday, Barrister Ekpo Nta, the chair of the ICPC said that the commission had the authority to go against anyone who was found guilty of making malicious statements or petitions.

“If you look at social media platforms, they are awash now with all kinds of malicious petitions and mudslinging on the people, they should know they are not protected by the (freedom of speech) law. Everybody is supposed to be a whistle blower under our Act, but I will like to warn at this junction that a lot of malicious petitions are also making the rounds, the people who are making these malicious petitions for their personal goods should also know that they are not protected by the law. He said. “The ICPC Acts provide for prosecution, and we will definitely prosecute them.”

The announcement has drawn swift condemnations by several prominent members of the media, including Ben Murray Bruce.




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Politics / Breaking News: Defected Former PDP Chairman Sam Inokoba Reported Dead by WatchdogNews: 1:18pm On Sep 02, 2015
According to a report on daily post, the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), is dead. Inokoba was recently reported to have slumped at a political function in the state.

The 68-year-old ex-PDP chairman had some two weeks ago defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, along with other political heavyweights in the state.

Until his death, the retired Colonel was an APC governorship aspirant in Bayelsa and had procured his nomination form to contest the governorship primaries of the party.



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Politics / Gov Bindo Appoints A ‘man’ As Commissioner For Women Affairs by WatchdogNews: 1:07pm On Sep 02, 2015
Jibrilla Bindo, Adamawa State Governor has on Tuesday appointed and sworn in Mr Aliyu Tola as the commissioner for women affairs.

Mr. Tola was inaugurated alongside 20 other commissioners in the state.

Women Affairs ministries at state and federal levels of government, are seen as symbols of gender balance, and are traditionally headed by females. The ministry handles issues affecting women.

Mr. Tola is the first male to head the ministry in Adamawa State.


The appointment has elicited reactions from women groups and politicians. A female activist in the state, Rahima Bala, said she could not see the logic behind the governor’s decision.

“Actually I see no wisdom in appointing male commissioner to oversee ministry of women affairs. We will continue to educate him. The government is already in confusion,” Mrs. Bala said.

Also commenting, a supporter of the All Progressives Congress, Rifkatu Dantsoho, said she saw the appointment of most of the commissioners as patronage by the governor merely to compensate his cronies.

“It was just a payback to those he considers as factors that helped him have the control of the state. Well, four years is at corner, only time shall tell!” she said.

Mrs. Dantsoho however called on the governor to rescind his decision, saying, “I think it’s not too late to amend and rectify the anomaly”.

She said the change people voted for should not be seen in lopsided appointments that give women little or no role in governance, warning that the decision may lead to protests on the streets.

Another critic in the state, Muhammad Damare, blamed the state lawmakers for screening some of the commissioners, saying the lawmakers had since shown that merit and professionalism were not virtues worthy of recognition in screening nominees.

not-giant-enough-letter-the controversy is the latest for the north east state that has been in the spotlight lately over questionable government decisions. Contacted, the chief Press Secretary to the governor, Yohannna Mathias, cited a precedent, saying Mr. Bindo was not the first governor to appoint a male commissioner for women affairs.

“It’s a normal practice as it happened in Bauchi and other states. He is to oversee ministry of women affairs and social development. Those who are making noise are just making mockery and being mischievous,” said the spokesman.






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Politics / PHOTOS: Investiture Of Dr Akinwunmi Adesina As AFDB President by WatchdogNews: 3:54pm On Sep 01, 2015
Dr Akinwunmi Adesina has been officially sworn in as the President of the African Development Bank (AFDB) today.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Businessman Aliko Dangote, former Ekiti state governor Kayode Fayemi, Taraba state Governor Darius Ishaku, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, are among the Nigerians that witnessed the investiture of former Agriculture Minister Akinwunmi Adeshina as the 8th President of the African Development Bank, AfDB in Abidjan today.

Photos From the Event are available at www.watchdognews.net


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Politics / Former NSA Dasuki Sambo Granted Bail On Self-recognition by WatchdogNews: 3:43pm On Sep 01, 2015
Nigeria’s Immediate past National Security Adviser, Dasuki Sambo, has been granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Mr. Dasuki was arraigned Tuesday on a one-count charge of illegal possession of firearms. He pleaded not guilty to the charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Diri.

In his application for bail, JB Daudu, counsel to the former NSA, argued that Mr. Dasuki’s alleged offence was bail-able.

“His being on bail does not mean he will interfere with the investigation or disappear‎. His passport is with the state. We ask that he is bailed on self-recognisance,” he said.

The prosecuting counsel, who did not object to the request, urged the court to use its discretion.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola granted Mr. Dasuki bail on self-recognition, pending the determination of the charge against him. The judge adjourned the case for hearing between October 26 and 27.



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Politics / PDP At 17 – Still The Only True National Party by WatchdogNews: 3:34pm On Sep 01, 2015
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has celebrated its 17 days of existence yesterday August 31 2015. PDP was founded on August 31, 1998 by a group of nine politicians. The membership was later expanded to 39.

FULL TEXT OF PRESS STATEMENT

Text Of Press Conference By The National Publicity Secretary Of The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh On The 17th Anniversary Of The PDP, Today, Monday, August 31, 2015

PDP At 17… Still The Only True National Party

Gentlemen of the Press,

Today marks the 17th anniversary of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and we want to, through you, address our dear nation on this auspicious milestone in the history of our nation.

The PDP, as a party wishes to express profound appreciation to the Nigerian people for their support and the opportunity to lead the country for 16 years, during which we recorded unprecedented achievements despite the daunting challenges we collectively faced as a nation.

As you may be aware, this great party was founded on August 31, 1998 following the vision of pragmatic men and women of the highest integrity and outstanding ability and knowledge, who set aside the mundane demands of their varying ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds in the national interest.

We recall with pride that the founding fathers of the PDP are heroes who rose to the challenge, stood up for millions of other citizens, confronted the military and restored genuine democracy, national unity and stability, entrenched the rule of law and enlarged the political space we all enjoy today.

Over the years, the PDP has shown strength as the only Nigerian political party that is completely owned and controlled by the Nigerian people; with structures in all the nooks and crannies of the country; and where no individual or group of individuals can claim ownership or allowed to appropriate the interest of the generality of the members.

This unique national outlook clearly informs PDP’s irrevocable stance on politics of national integration which ensured that no group or section in the polity is excluded from power, public office and spread of development projects, in line with the federal character principle of our great country.

The PDP stands tall in history as the first political party in Nigeria to nurture and sustain democratic system of government and a stable polity uninterrupted for 16 years. This did not come by accident, but through meticulous application, by successive PDP administrations, of policies as enshrined in the party’s ideology and manifesto, which within the ambit of the laws, achieved and sustained success in all sectors of the polity and economy.

When the PDP took office in 1999, it quickly formed government and calmly, but vigorously applied itself to service, initiating reforms, and facing the challenges inherited from past military regimes, without resorting to blames, blackmail and propaganda.
At the time PDP came to power, Nigeria’s image internationally was in a deplorable state, with very poor human rights records.

The onus of restoring it from its pariah status then rested squarely on the PDP-led government, which it successfully executed, returning the nation to its pride of place in the comity of nations.
The PDP-led government under former President Olusegun Obasanjo went further to work assiduously to settle foreign debts accumulated by previous administrations and extricated the nation’s economy from burdens of the London and Paris Clubs debt overhang.

Furthermore, in line with the determination to establish a moral and ethical society guided by such core values as honesty, integrity and justice, as contained in its manifesto, the PDP administration set up the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit, otherwise known as Due Process Unit, which ensured transparency in government procurements and spending.

The PDP government, in the same vein, immediately established the two major anti-corruption agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), with strict establishing and operation laws to ensure effectiveness and immunity from executive interferences. Down the years, SERVICOM desks were opened in ministries and agencies to further ensure ethical standards in government businesses.

As a result of this deliberate policies, human right and business friendly environment were created and it saw to the massive return of Nigerians in the Diaspora and the influx of direct foreign investments into the country.

Also, in keeping with the vision of our founding fathers to build a qualitative democratic society, successive PDP administrations for 16 years nurtured and sustained national unity and cohesion through strict application of the principles of federal character and social justice, for equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities.

We initiated series of amendments to the constitution to make it more responsive to the wishes and aspirations of the people; reformed the electoral system to allow for greater political participation, granted operational independence to INEC, enacted the Freedom of Information law, while upholding the sanctity of the rule of law in all sectors of the polity.

To re-position the economy for greater productivity, successive PDP administrations applied an economic policy, which enhanced a dynamic economy, in which market forces are combined with the forces of partnership, solidarity and cooperation to boost private sector participation and emergence of an empowered middle class system in the country.

“As you are aware, the hallmark of the PDP administration was anchored on the policy of transfer of wealth from the public sector to hardworking and enterprising Nigerians. This resulted in the rapid expansion of the nation’s economic frontiers with an unprecedented growth in small and medium scale enterprises, which helped in providing employment for millions of our citizens across the country.

It is incontrovertible that within the 16 years of successive PDP administrations, more businesses opened in the country in all sectors of the economy; in telecommunication (with one the world fastest GSM and internet penetrations), transport, aviation, hospitality, education, agriculture, the media, automobile, real estate, oil and gas, food processing, among others, than in any other period in the nation’s history.

“In the same vein, hitherto weak banking sector was repositioned and strengthened, thereby providing support for businesses and restoring investors’ confidence in our system. By 2015, the PDP has grown our nation’s economy to the largest in Africa and one of the fastest growing in the world.

Under the PDP administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, our nation witnessed the successful unbundling of the power sector with massive investments, resulting in the construction and rehabilitation of various power projects. This is in addition to investments in oil and gas sector including the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of our oil refineries, which dividends, the nation is now enjoying.

In the works, transport and aviation sectors, yearly investments by PDP administrations resulted in the revitalization of the railways, inland water ways, remodeling and reequipping of our aviation system to international standard, rehabilitation and construction of thousands of kilometers of roads and bridges across our country.

Similar yearly investments by successive PDP administrations changed the face of agriculture in our country from a development Programme to a business for national wealth creation, focusing on the private sector. By 2014 our national food production had expanded by an additional 21 million metric tons, a record, exceeding the national set target of 20 million metric tons for 2015.

In education and health, meticulous execution of deliberate policies resulted in significant achievements. While healthcare become more affordable and accessible, series interventionist initiatives in life threatening diseases such as malaria, fibroid, HIV and AIDS, VVF, Hepatitis, Sickle Cell Anemia, cardiac related ailments, polio which was successfully eradicated in 2014, among others, culminating in an unprecedented 50%drop in maternal mortality and increase in national life expectancy by 2015.

In education, while all levels of learning received adequate attention, the National Open University of Nigeria was established to boost opportunity for tertiary learning. By the end of first quarter of 2015, 14 new universities were established by the immediate past PDP administration to ensure that all states in the federation has a federal university, in addition to the establishment of the Almajiri system of education in the northern parts to ensure that no Nigerian child is denied access to education.

As you are aware, one of the major challenges we faced was security. Despite the daunting challenges, successive PDP administrations ensured a well-equipped military, police and para-military agencies to tackle external and internal aggressions and ensure safety of lives and property.

The record ending of the Niger Delta militancy by the Late Umaru Yar’Adua-led PDP administration, using the Amnesty Initiative, the containing of kidnapping menace in the south east, the drastic reduction in cases of highway criminality, using a combination of combat system and regulations on electronic money transfer, and the vigourous confrontation of the fight against insurgency in the North east, all give credence to the efforts of the PDP.

Also, the passing into law of “The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2011” which provides for prevention, prohibition and combating of acts of terrorism, the reequipping of the armed forces with officers and men undergoing retraining to enhance operations and professionalism; the streamlining of security agencies for better cohesion of their roles, including improved intelligence gathering and sharing, which are now being deployed in the services are all to the credit of the PDP.

Gentlemen of the press, despite our temporary electoral setback in the last election, the PDP is a success story. Unarguably, the PDP is still the only pan-Nigeria party, wholly committed to the Nigerian project, accommodating all national interest and whose only agenda remains the unity, stability and prosperity of Nigeria and its people.

While we restate our gratitude to the Nigerian electorate who stood by us in our 16 years in government at the center, and who for obvious reasons now have greater confidence in us than before, we deeply celebrate past and present leaders of our party, past and present members of our National Executive Committee (NEC), past and present elected government officials at the national and state levels, our development partners and teeming members nationwide.

As we play our new opposition role, the PDP as a highly responsible party, will continue to provide a firm but credible opposition, presenting alternatives to the programmes and policies of the present government while firmly standing on the side of the citizens in opposing acts and policies that are inimical to the health of the nation and the happiness of the people.
We therefore call on all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to support the PDP as it relentlessly pursue and defend those values and tenets that ensure our unity, stability and prosperity as one people under God.

Long Live The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)!
Long Live The Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Signed:

Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary


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Politics / Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina To Be Sworn In As AFDB President Today by WatchdogNews: 10:57am On Sep 01, 2015
Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, Immediate past Minister of Agriculture who was elected as President of the African Development Bank Group (AFDB) after a keenly contested election in Cote D’Ivoire on May 28th will be officially sworn in Today September 1st 2015.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has arrived Abidjan yesterday night to represent President Buhari at the swearing-in ceremony.


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Celebrities / Sean Tizzle Gets Married On Stage- See Photo by WatchdogNews: 10:48am On Sep 01, 2015
Lol! it was only a part of the perfomance fear not.
Ever the avid entertainer, Sean Tizzle thrilled fans on the last stop of the Star Music Trek concert with a fake wedding during the performance of his single “Perfect Gentleman”.
The performance was to give fans a look as to how it would look when he gets married to his own bride.
I think its a fabulous idea and the fans really looked excited to witness it. See more photos and videos after the jump:




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Nairaland / General / Twitter Tries To Lure In Users As It Searches For CEO by WatchdogNews: 3:08pm On Aug 31, 2015
Twitter’s most urgent task is naming a new CEO. But the most formidable one is convincing more people that its service is essential, easy to use and not just meant for celebrities, 16-year-olds and news junkies.

To help with the latter, there are big promotions, such as last year’s World Cup push and this year’s expanded content and advertising deal with the NFL to help broaden its audience.

There are also smaller tweaks designed to help people find new features or take advantage of tools they might not have been aware of.

And there’s just explaining the basics.

Recently, some Twitter users got a message saying “Retweet to share what interests you with your followers.”

While elementary advice for some, the note shows Twitter is still trying to teach people how to use its service. Retweeting, in Twitter lingo, means blasting out someone else’s Twitter post to your own followers, sort of like an email forward.

Although its brand is widely known and its service boasts more than 300 million users, Twitter has been struggling to widen its appeal and its user growth has slowed down dramatically. Facebook, in comparison, has nearly 1.5 billion members.

“(We) have unbelievably high brand awareness globally,” said co-founder and interim CEO Jack Dorsey (pictured) during the company’s most recent conference call to discuss its financial results. “People all over the world know of the power of Twitter, but it’s not clear why they should harness it themselves.”

With user-growth slowing, Twitter’s management has acknowledged that the service is too confusing to navigate. Finance chief Anthony Noto said the company has “not clearly communicated Twitter’s unique value” and as a result, people who don’t use Twitter continue ask why they should.

“We have not delivered on meeting the new potential users’ expectations of Twitter when they try the product,” Noto said in the July 28 call. “Simply said, the product remains too difficult to use. As Jack mentioned, we need to simplify the product so everyone can get value from Twitter faster.”

Dorsey took Twitter’s helm as interim CEO after Dick Costolo stepped down on July 1 amid criticism over Twitter’s disappointing financial performance and stock-price decline. Besides Dorsey, Adam Bain, head of revenue and partnerships, is also seen a top contender for the post of permanent CEO.

Shares of San Francisco-based Twitter Inc. rose $1.10, or 4.4 percent, to $26.13 in afternoon trading Thursday amid a broader market rally. Still, the stock is down more than 27 percent year-to-date and only slightly above the $26 price of its November 2013 initial public stock offering.




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Politics / Buhari Officially Swears In Femi Adesina, Others by WatchdogNews: 2:51pm On Aug 31, 2015
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president, Mr. Femi Adesina, has been officially sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.

Others sworn in at the event held inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal; and the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.).

The brief event attracted top government officials including the nation’s service chiefs and permanent secretaries, among others.

The the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, also attended.



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Nairaland / General / Dasuki Sambo To Appear In Court On Tuesday by WatchdogNews: 9:49am On Aug 31, 2015
The former National Security Adviser, Colonel Dasuki Sambo (rtd), will appear before a federal high court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday over alleged claims of being in possession of firearms without a license.

Col Dasuki had refuted the claims saying that the firearms belonged to security officials guarding his residence.

The DSS said it had charged Dasuki with possession of firearms without licence, an offence punishable under section 27(I)(a)(I) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, based on evidence so far obtained.
It was learnt that the trial which ought to have started last week was postponed due to the directive of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmmud Mohammed, to various heads of court not to sit throughout the week to enable lawyers and interested judges to participate in the just-concluded one week-long Annual Bar Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association.
The DSS had searched Dssuki’s home and claimed that it searched it “based on credible intelligence linking the immediate past NSA with alleged plans to commit treasonable felony against the Nigerian state.”
The statement partly read:
“You may recall that on July 16, 2015, the Department of State Services carried out search operations on properties belonging to the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd.), in Abuja and Sokoto.
“This action was necessitated by credible intelligence, which linked him to acts capable of undermining national security. The search operations led to the recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition among other things and for which further investigation was conducted.
“Consequently, on Monday, August 24, 2015, he was charged to court based on evidence so far obtained, but which relates to possession of firearms without licence punishable under section 27(i)(a)(i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 LFN 2004.”
The secret service said Dasuki’s arraignment was in line with democratic practice and “our avowed commitment to the rule of law, in which nobody is deemed to be above the law, no matter how highly placed in the society.”



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Celebrities / Kanye West – I’m Running For President!!! by WatchdogNews: 9:41am On Aug 31, 2015
Kanye West just announced he’s running for President in 2020.

On almost every level, it would seem like a gag to end his endless speech at the VMA’s, but the Filibuster was so self-aggrandizing he just may mean it.
Here’s the thing … CNN’s Brian Stelter just tweeted “Kanye for President” was registered earlier this year.


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Politics / Presidency Replies Former Ministers; War Against Corruption Is Not Negotiable by WatchdogNews: 9:29am On Aug 31, 2015
[i][/i]In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the presidency said the war against corruption is not a personal one nor a means of political witch hunting and that the fight is not negotiable and does not have friend nor foe.
The statement released from the presidency was a direct reply to former Ministers who worked in Jonathan’s administration. The former ministers had earlier released a statement (click here if you misses it) asking the Buhari led government to be sincere in its fight against corruption and not use it as a tool for political witch hunting.
Excerpts from the statement below

“In this regard that there is no witch hunt or malice against anyone in the pursuit of the county’s stolen assets still stand . This war against corruption knows no friend nor foe. There is no intention to deny anyone of their good name where they are entitled to it and that President Buhari reserves the highest regards for the country’s former leaders including Dr Jonathan Goodluck who he continues to praise to the high heavens for the way and manner in which he accepted defeat in the last election.

That singular action remains a feat that has earned the former president and Nigeria as country befitting commendations all over the world, the latest coming from Mr Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations who visited a week ago. For the purpose of emphasis, the issue of fighting corruption by President Buhari is non negotiable. It is sine qua non to the overall reconstruction of the economy and social systems which suffered destruction and severe denigration under the last administration.

President Buhari will not be deterred or blackmailed into retreat and surrender. No one in the PDP can accuse President Buhari of undermining the economy when all they handed over to him is at best,was a tottering economy hobbled by corruption and the absence of due process. Things have become worsened by the continuing fall of oil prices, which is expected to fall even further with the imminent full return of Iran to the market.

All he has been doing while around is to put things together, organizing to defeat Boko Haram, paying outstanding salaries, cleaning up the mess left behind, improving security and restoring our relationships with neighbors and the world. So what are former ministers afraid of in these things? Have they become a new trade union? Let this collection of ex-VIPs allow the President the peace he needs to handle the reconstruction of the economy and the nation in a manner that most serves Nigeria’s best interests. President Buhari does not need these types of distraction presented by the so-called association of former ministers.”



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Politics / The Thief Who Has A Right By Rose Ebi by WatchdogNews: 1:41pm On Aug 28, 2015
Nigeria has witnessed what has been the most controversial democratic era since the emergence of Democracy in 1999. Backtrack to over 20 months ago, the political scene in Nigeria was much more stable, people knew what party they were aligned with and who they wanted to vote for in the then upcoming elections. Then came the fall out between then President and a South-South Governor which birthed what is easily considered the biggest political fallout in Nigeria. The effect of this fall out is what boosted the popularity of the political party now called All Progressives Congress (APC) which is a merger of ACN, CPC, ANPP.

Forward to Current times, the Peoples Democratic Party, which was the Political party of the then ruling president lost to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress during the presidential election, and similarly PDP lost several states to APC.
In Bayelsa, the gubernatorial election does not take place until December 2015 unlike most states who already had their elections in April 2015. The current Governor of Bayelsa, Seriake Dickson is seeking a rerun as the Governor of the state under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Bayelsa, a state in Southern Nigeria was created on 1st October 1999. Bayelsa State has one of the largest natural gas and crude oil deposits in Nigeria. Past leaders of the state have left the people of state very unhappy with the bad conditions they left the state in despite the huge allocation sum the state gets monthly. The people of Bayelsa are about to make that mistake again should they vote in Timipre Sylva who is contesting under the APC platform for Governor of the state.

Timipre-Sylva-620x350 (1)
Former Governor Sylvia earlier this year had a 50-point corruption leveled against him by the EFCC

Timipre Sylva, One time Governor of Bayelsa state has the records of a person who should not walk freely on the streets of Nigeria but for reasons best known to the High Court and EFCC they have let him live freely.

What do we know about Timipre Sylva?

Procured a 60 billion Naira loan from Oceanic Bank PLC without approval of the state executive council and the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
Procured 75 billion Naira loan without the approval of the State Executive Council and the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
Procured a 6 billion Naira loan form Bank PHB without the approval of the State Executive Council and the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
Procured a 4 billion Naira loan from Equatorial Trust Bank without the approval of the State Executive Council and the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
Bribed the members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly with 2.6 billion Naira to secure a post-procurement approval for the bank loans.
Arbitrary proscription of the Bayelsa State College of Arts and Science and creating a wasteland out of the veritable institution.
Abysmal implementation of the 2008 appropriation law.
Abysmal implementation of the 2009 appropriation law.
Blunt refusal to conduct the local government elections since assumption of office in 2007.
Abduction, imprisonment and torture of a journalist.
Fraudulent transfer of 40 million dollars to a docile account of the Bayelsa State Oil- Company with the intention of transferring the funds into private accounts.
Open endorsement of acts of embezzlement and corrupt enrichment by political appointees by commissioning personal projects built with questionable sums.
Gross immaturity and arrogance in the discharge of the functions of the executive governor of the state.
Award of road contracts at outrageous sums—a total of approximately 30 km of roads at 75 billion Naira (2.5 billion Naira per km) which were even poorly constructed because of huge kickbacks.
Awards of an over-inflated 7 billion Naira contract for the renovation of Opolo Health Centre.
Initiating and execution of a sinister plot to assassinate his erstwhile Special Adviser on Enlightenment , Famous Daunimighan who has now relocated to Abuja.
Initiating and execution of a sinister plot to assassinate the former PDP chairman of the State, Chief Fred Agbedi.
Fraudulent diversion of 27 billion Naira excess crude of April 2008 to the May 2008 re-run gubernatorial election.
Direct disbursement of the constituency funds to the members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly instead of awarding the contracts to competent companies to execute the projects.
Diversion of public funds to an inglorious birthday party.
uring the APC Bayelsa rDally which held on the 15th August 2015 at the Samson Siasia stadium, Sylva assured the people of Bayelsa that he will do better and eliminate poverty from the state. Funny how this comes a man who left Bayelsa owing a sum of 242 billion Naira and was not able to care for the state nor his people when he had the opportunity to do so.


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Politics / APC Sets Up Assessment Team To Monitor Buhari’s Implementation Of Manifesto by WatchdogNews: 10:37am On Aug 26, 2015
In order to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari does not fall short in implementing all that was listed in the manifesto, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has established a mechanism to ensure proper monitoring and assessment of the implementation of the party’s manifesto as well as other promises it made to the electorate during the campaigns by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The assessment team which will also serve as an advisory committee to the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is to comprise mainly technocrats.As part of the plans for the country, the party had promised among others, to tackle the spiralling unemployment, as well as insecurity, the fight against corruption and the welfare of the people, especially payment of allowances to the unemployed and the aged.
In addition, it pledged to directly address the deficits arising from the failings of the past governments.
Since it took over power at the federal level, the APC-led administration has come under criticism by the opposition parties including the former party in government, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which demanded the fulfillment of campaign promises by the APC and President Buhari.



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Phones / Cortana App For Android Launched As Public Beta by WatchdogNews: 12:13pm On Aug 25, 2015
About one month after a pre-official release version of Cortana for Android leaked out online, Microsoft is now making the app available as a public beta to anyone who wants to take it for a test drive. The Android version of the digital assistant isn’t identical to the native app on Windows, but it can “do most of the things Cortana does on your PC or on a Windows phone,” according to Redmond.

Named for the artificial intelligence character in the Halo videogame series, Cortana became a far more visible presence when Microsoft released its Windows 10 operating system on July 29. On devices running the new OS, Cortana can respond to voice commands, answer natural-language questions, offer verbal to-do reminders to users and manage a wide variety of other tasks.

On Android devices, Cortana will function not as a built-in OS feature but as a “phone companion” app. An iOS version for iPhone users is also planned, although not yet available.

Just For Android in


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Nairaland / General / Breaking News: Twin Bomb Blast In Damaturu, Yobe by WatchdogNews: 11:05am On Aug 25, 2015
There are reports of twin bomb explosions in Damaturu, Yobe state capital this morning. The twin blasts are said to have occurred in two different locations.

At least six have been confirmed dead and over a dozen more injured. Those injured are said to have been rushed to the Damaturu specialist hospital for treatment.

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Politics / Amaechi Diverted N3bn Agric Loan – Commission Of Inquiry by WatchdogNews: 10:56am On Aug 25, 2015
It can be recalled that, the Rivers state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike said he was committed to probe the sale of valued assets of the state and select projects under former Governor Chibuike Amaechi. Public sitting in Port Harcourt commenced yesterday with a revelation that the last administration diverted about N3 billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) agriculture loan to fund elections.

The Chairman of the commission, Justice George Omereji, at the inaugural sitting, said the commission would be fair to all and allayed fears that it was on a witch-hunt.

He also said the commission would stick to its terms of reference.

While interrogating officials of the ministries of agriculture, and commerce and industry based on the memos they submitted to the commission, the counsel to the commission, Dr. Zaccheus Adangor, said the N4billion CBN loan meant to help develop agriculture in the state was shared among 380 mother cooperatives.

The cooperatives had chairmen of the various local government councils as their presidents.

Adangor said Amaechi on January 25, 2015, approved that N3 billion of the CBN loans be converted to grants and disbursed based on a memorandum mounted to the governor by then Commissioner for Agriculture, Emma Chinda.

He disclosed that though 38 of the cooperatives did not have official documentation with the state ministry of commerce and industry, they benefitted from the loans which was converted to grants and disbursed without supervision.

According to him, the grants were disbursed to the local government council chairmen to prosecute the 2015 presidential election and not for the development of agriculture as stipulated by the CBN.



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Nairaland / General / EFCC Denies Allegation Of N1trillion Diversion by WatchdogNews: 10:10am On Aug 25, 2015
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has responded to allegations that Chairman of the Commission Ibrahim Lamorde, was involved in diverting N1 trillion gotten from cases investigated by the commission. In a statement by the Commission’s head of media and publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC said the story was published to impugn the integrity of Ibrahim Lamorde.

Full Text Statement

The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a report captioned, Alleged N1tn diversion: Senate to probe Lamorde’s alleged diversion of N1tn, which appeared in The Punch Newspaper of Monday August 24, 2015 containing salacious claims of corruption against the person of the chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde.

The EFCC should ordinarily not dignify the publication with a response as the motives of the promoters and their media allies are to impugn the integrity of the EFCC boss with fabricated stories of corruption.

However the Commission is constrained to respond, to expose the motive behind the sinister plot. In the first instance, claims of a N1trillion corruption in the EFCC is infantile and assaults the sensibilities of all reasonable stakeholders in the anti- corruption fight.

Even if the EFCC had not returned a kobo of recovered assets in its 12 years existence in addition to the yearly appropriated funds from the federation account, it will be nowhere near a trillion naira. This clearly exposes the mission of the so called petitioner as nothing more than mischief, designed to smear Lamorde.

More sinister is the discovery that the so called petition did not follow the procedure for consideration by the senate. It was sent, not to the senate but to a member, Senate Peter Nwaoboshi, a first term senator from Delta North.

Under the senate rules, petitions meant for consideration by the red chamber are sent to the senate, not to a member of the senate.



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Politics / Issue Of God-fatherism In The Nigerian Political System – Yakubu Dogara by WatchdogNews: 9:52am On Aug 25, 2015
Yakubu Dogara Tweets Opinion
The issue of god-fatherism has long plagued the Nigerian political environment and it appears that even those in the direct political scene are beginning to have problems with this. In a series of tweets by Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker of the house of representatives, he addressed the issue of god-fatherism that has somehow encrusted the Nigerian Political scene.

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Nairaland / General / Ban Ki-moon Arrives Nigeria; Meets State Governors by WatchdogNews: 11:03am On Aug 24, 2015
The Secretary-General was driven to Transcorp Hilton, where he held talks with state governors under the aegis of Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF. During the dinner where he met with state Governors, Ban Ki-Moon said Nigeria occupies a central place in the comity of nations and the government at the state level play a crucial role in realizing the developmental aspirations of the people.


Ban Ki-moon at Dinner with Nigerian Governors

He said Nigeria is on the right path despite its many challenges, top among which is security and insurgency, adding that the United Nations is set to work with Nigeria to ensure sustainability of the social, economic and developmental efforts of Nigeria.

The UN Secretary General said state governments are crucial to this new era of sustainability which Nigeria cannot afford to take for granted.

Fifteen governors were present for the meeting and key among the issues highlighted at the meeting was the need to show more attention to governance at the states level bearing in mind the crucial role good governance plays in achieving peace and development .

The meeting is a dialogue between the state governors and the United Nations as a body to seek out ways of collaboration for social and economic developments that hold human rights in perspective.

On the Itinerary of things to do;

Ban Ki-Moon will today 24 August 2015 meet with President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock Villa.

Ban would later lay a wreath in memory of persons who died at the UN House bombing in 2011, as part of activities to mark the fourth anniversary of the incident.

The UN scribe would also have lunch with members of the business community with the theme: “The Role of Nigeria Business and the Economy in Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and Addressing Climate Change.”

The Secretary-General is billed to deliver a keynote address at a “Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights, Development, Climate Change and Countering Violent Extremism.”

The Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, is expected to chair the dialogue at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Politics / President Buhari – Nigerian Lawyers Should Assist In The Fight Against Corruptio by WatchdogNews: 10:49am On Aug 24, 2015
President Muhammadu Buhari made an appeal yesterday 23 August 2015 to lawyers in Nigeria to assist in his administrations fight against corruption. Buhari made the appeal while speaking at the 55th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja and said corruption is the main reason why Nigeria is where it is at the moment.

He stressed that in putting an end to the menace of corruption, Nigeria needs lawyers that will never sacrifice the integrity of the legal system to cover the misdeeds of their clients, no matter how lucrative the brief may be.

“I am convinced that law, lawmakers, lawyers, law courts and the law enforcement agencies all have pivotal responsibilities to discharge, if the change we seek is ever to materialize.

This administration has taken on the challenge of improving security, fighting corruption and revamping the economy, among many others.

The fight against corruption is a struggle for the restoration of law and order. Corruption and impunity become widespread when disrespect for law is allowed to thrive in society.

Disrespect for law thrives when people get away with all sorts of shady deals and the court is unable to check them. Ability to manipulate and frustrate the legal system is the crowning glory of the corrupt and, as may be expected, this has left many legal practitioners and law courts tainted in an ugly way

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Nairaland / General / Amaechi – I Will Co-operate If Wike’s Probe Is Done Within The Ambit Of Our Laws by WatchdogNews: 9:58am On Aug 24, 2015
Immediate past Governor of Rivers state, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has declared that he is not afraid of a fair and decent probe or investigation or inquiry of his administration; and would cooperate and support such probe or investigation or inquiry in as much as it’s done within the ambit of our laws.

Amaechi in a statement released by his media office on Sunday August 23rd 2015 however explained why he is opposed to and wants to stop the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by his successor, Nyesom Wike to probe some selected government transactions, while he (Mr. Amaechi) was governor.

The statement said that:

“However what Wike has set out to do is anything but a fair probe. The commission will not be fair to Amaechi because it was set up to indict him. Wike had repeatedly held that Amaechi, the person to be investigated, acted illegally in the disbursement of public funds and that Amaechi ran a corrupt government. Clearly, Wike has prejudged the matter and showed his bias that Amaechi is guilty even before investigations. This means Wike, with his prejudiced, made up mind has taken a position of a guilty verdict even before the outcome is known or established.

“The same Wike who had adjudged the yet-to-be-investigated conduct of Amaechi as illegal and Amaechi as corrupt, is the same person that has gone ahead to set up a commission of inquiry and will have the final say on the findings of the commission. What a sham!”

“This bias and predetermined agenda to indict Amaechi is obvious even in the terms of reference of the commission. In one of the defective terms of reference, Wike said the Commission should investigate the circumstances that led to the ‘sale of the state Hotel Olympia’.

“With a fair and decent probe, the Inquiry should have been ‘to examine (or investigate) the transaction concerning Hotel Olympia’. The difference is so clear: In the former, jaundiced Wike’s Term of Reference, it has been prejudiced and concluded that the Hotel was sold, while in the latter, the Inquiry is open and fair, and may lead to a finding of a sale or a lease or even a gift or even a pledge.

“Now, having so concluded that Hotel Olympia was sold, would Wike be decent and humble enough to reverse himself if documents showed it was never sold but concessioned or leased?

“This is one of the dangers of Wike’s commission that harbours a predetermined outcome in the name of an Inquiry and Amaechi will not subject himself to Wike’s deceit and phony shenanigans. Hotel Olympia was never sold. The hotel was only concessioned (or leased) on the approval of the State Executive Council and not sold.”

“Even while inaugurating his yeoman commission of Inquiry, Wike could not conceal his vendetta agenda. He was clear to the panel members that their job is to indict Amaechi. And to do this his dirty hack job, he got Justice G. O. Omereji (the commission chairman), a man who is well known to harbour a long-held, extreme anger, hatred and animosity against former Governor Amaechi. And Justice Omereji has never disguised this his stance and disposition towards Amaechi.

“As a matter of fact, Justice Omereji even advised a former Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) chairman in Rivers State on measures (to take) against then Governor Amaechi. He had expressed his hatred for Amaechi several times to the NBA chairman who was also an Attorney-General of Rivers State. How can we now expect Justice Omereji to be fair to Amaechi, the person he passionately loathes with extreme malice and venom?”

“Anyone who has been following events in Rivers State knows this Wike probe is just a fraudulent sham, a deceptive mission to indict Amaechi. Wike’s one-point agenda is to go after his predecessor. Immediately Wike took over, he made a show and gave a performance of his false accusations that Amaechi stripped the Governor’s Lodge bare, saying that the former governor stole spoons, plates, knives, cups, mattresses, forks and even curtains from the Governor’s Lodge!

“However, in the images Wike showed to back his lies, the curtains in the lodge were clearly there, seen and intact. Again, Wike claimed he met a completely empty treasury. That again is another big lie and grand deception.

“We have said that former governor Amaechi left billions of naira and we even went ahead to mention the banks and give the names of the accounts the money were, as at May 29, 2015. We challenge Wike to publish the statements of these accounts and other Rivers State government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) accounts as at May 29; to prove his claim and show the public that Amaechi left an empty treasury for him.”

“This Wike’s probe is dead on arrival. It’s ill-conceived and ill-motivated. Wike’s probe is designed to twist and distort, or even completely alter selected legitimate government transactions in his desperation to cook up, and fabricate sham cases of corruption against Amaechi. Wike’s probe commission shall not achieve anything beyond political excitements, entertainment and theatrics.”

“Finally, Amaechi will continue to use every constitutional and legal means available to protect his name and image from this massive smear campaign, State-sponsored onslaught against him by Wike led government whose sole agenda is a desperate search for a Rotimi Amaechi political downfall.”

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