₦airaland Forum

fxuser:
GTB in a zone all by itself

Indeed. I wonder what is driving this Bank in this recession?

Aero Contractors Airlines has announced that it will suspend its scheduled services from Thursday September 1, 2016.

A statement from the Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said the development was part of the strategic business realignment to reposition the airline and return it to the part of profitability.

This business decision, which is a result of the current economic situation in the country, has forced some other airlines to suspend operation or out rightly pull out of Nigeria.

In the case of Aero, Akinkuotu said the airline had faced grave challenges in the past six months which impacted its business and by extension the scheduled services operations.

These factors, according to him are both internal and external environmental factors that have made it difficult for the foremost airline to continue its scheduled services.

He said during the period in review, Aero, which was hitherto revered for its safety, timeliness among other virtues witnessed epileptic operations and services to the external publics that are caused by non-alignment of fundamental issue of the business, which in some cases have been frustrating and embarrassing to all parties including staff, customers and indeed all stakeholders.

As part of its resolve to ensure the airline survived unlike most other carriers that experienced short life span in the country, AMCON had appointed Mr. Adeniyi Adegbomire (SAN) as Receiver Manager in February 6, 2016, with the aim of turning the airline around. Since AMCON’s intervention in Aero Contractors in 2011, it has provided support for the airline to meet working capital requirements and fleet expansion. These were to ensure the airline remains a going concern providing services to various clients and the general public.

Unfortunately, the operating environment within and outside the airline have hindered any possible progress especially in the last six months when the naira depreciated against the dollar thus making it impossible for the airline to achieve its operational targets.
https://newtelegraphonline.com/aero-suspends-scheduled-services/

There was pandemonium at the Arik stand at the Ibom International Airport, Uyo, on Tuesday over the refusal of the management of the airline staff to explain the incessant cancellation of flights to agitated passengers, witnesses and passengers told PREMIUM TIMES.

The passengers were booked on an Arik Air flight W3 417 to Abuja which was scheduled for 11: 45am on Tuesday.

However when the passengers arrived the Arik stand for check-in, a female attendant casually told them their flight had been ‘stood down’.

The passengers said the attendant did not make any further clarification of what ‘stood down’ meant to the worried passengers who demanded explanation.

In her response, the lady simply said an aircraft might come to pick them.

Not satisfied with the explanation of the Arik staff, the passengers approached the airline’s station manager, who assured them that the flight would leave between 12 and 1PM.

But that did not happen as the manager and his team made no effort to explain the flight delay from 11:25am to 5pm, our sources said.

By 5:15 PM, an Arik aircraft from Lagos arrived Uyo, but was quietly moved to the hanger despite an earlier announcement that the expected flight was on its way.

When the passengers, comprising the former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Dipo Fashina; the Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Nuhu Toro; and some journalists accosted the manager for explanation, he got angry and asked everybody to keep quiet.

Prior to this incident, Arik had aborted its flight to Uyo which was to pick some officials of the NLC to Abuja. The disappointed passengers abandoned their ticket for a Dana flight to Abuja.

The station manager (whose name the passengers could not ascertain) in his explanation, which was his first contact with the passengers since 11:am, said the aircraft had a bird strike and could no longer proceed to Abuja as scheduled.

He then made to leave without any further explanation which prompted the bewildered passengers to demand that measures be put in place to address the issue.

In the process, he and his colleagues threatened to beat up some of the passengers, a witness said.

The loud argument that followed attracted a large number of security personnel who empathised with the passengers and appealed for understanding.

“Although, the security personnel were mature and did not harass anybody, the Arik Staff were not as they threatened to ‘deal’ with some of the aggrieved passengers and detain them if they behave rudely to the manager who was also threatening,” one passenger said.

The manager later said the management of Arik had arranged to move a flight from Lagos to pick the passengers.

As of the time of publishing this report at 8:25 pm, the aircraft from Lagos was yet to arrive Uyo, and the passengers remained stranded.

Prior to the disagreement over the cancellation of the flights, some of the passengers said they telephoned the spokesman of Arik, Banji Ola, who promised to call the station manager.

Mr. Ola could not be reached to comment for this story.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/209574-arik-manager-threatens-passengers-protesting-delayed-flight-akwa-ibom.html

NIGERIANS have been urged to respond positively to the word of God if they are to benefit from the abundant blessings of God which are always available to the faithful. State Co-ordinating Overseer of Deeper Christian Life Ministry in charge of South-South, Pastor Obinna Nkemjika, gave the charge while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on the forthcoming visit of the General Superintendent of the Church, Pastor W.F Kumuyi, to the zone. Pastor Obinna said that the crusade which will take Pastor Kumuyi to Cross Rivers State on the first of September, Bayelsa State on the second, Rivers State on the third, Akwa Ibom State on the fourth, Delta State on the fifth and Edo State on the sixth, will be attended by top government functionaries as well as church members and leaders from other denominations.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/deeper-life-church-tasks-nigerians-obedience-gods-word/

Thanks. Are you one of the candidates or you're a student?

Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari said yesterday that false alarm led to the killing last weekend of eight people in Talata-Mafara.

He debunked insinuations that it was a religious clash in which Christians were killed.

According to him, those killed were Muslims. He promised to ensure that the killers are brought to book.

Also yesterday, the apex Islamic body in the North, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), raised the alarm on a plot by some forces to hide under “blasphemy” to cause religious tension and crisis in the North and in the country at large.

A woman was killed in Kano and eight people were killed in Zamfara – for alleged blasphemy.
The Zamfara killings started when a student of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic and seven others were killed on Monday for alleged blasphemy against Islam.

A mob set fire to the house of a man who tried to rescue the student.

Speaking with reporters after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Yari described the killings as an act of the devil.

He said: “From the intelligence I had from the security agencies, there was a fight between two students and I think one of them injured the other and started shouting that the other person abused Prophet Muhammad.

“Other students came and beat up the other boy who is Yoruba from Kogi State. Some people are saying he was a Muslim and some say the boy was a Christian. They beat the student until he collapsed and thought he was dead.

“Then security personnel requested help from one shop owner who then took the boy to the hospital in his car. When the students heard that the boy was still alive and in the hospital, they went to the hospital. But the boy was rescued by soldiers in the hospital.

“Then the students went back to the polytechnic and burnt down the shop of the person who gave his car to rescue the boy.

“They went back to town again and, as you know, the police in the division don’t have enough men to contain the riot and before reinforcement came, the crowd threw tyre in the man’s house and burnt down the house.

“That was how everybody in the house was killed and all the people killed in the House were Muslims and not like the rumours going around in the social media that Christians are being killed in Zamfara.

“In fact, the mob wanted to go and burn churches and attack non-Muslims but the security forces stopped them. It’s my home town and that’s where I live.”

The governor said no arrest had been made at the time he left the state for Abuja.

The police and the Department of State Service (DSS), he said, were investigating the incident.

According to him, the authority shut down the school immediately the incident happened.

Yari said: “The government will not take this lightly, people taking laws into their hands. If you say the punishment of who abused Prophet should be killed, and you now kill innocent people, knowing there is a government, laws and courts in place.

“So why should someone take laws into his hands? So definitely all the culprits will be brought to book.”

The JNI raised the alarm in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, who urged governments particularly in the North, to urgently check acts of blasphemy.

The statement condemned the Zamfara incident saying individual Muslims were not Jurists, but faithful in practising their religion and, therefore, have no right to pass judgment on emotions.

The statement said: “Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), upon the receipt of reportage on the alleged blasphemy of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is once again poised to make this release over the most unfortunate alleged blasphemy which occurred at Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata Mafara, Zamfara State.

“This recurring matter is becoming tediously monotonous and remains condemned in the strongest terms. The unfortunate attacks that ensued thereafter are criminal and also stand condemned. We reiterate that human lives are sacred and therefore must be dignified. That has been the position of Islam.

“JNI reemphasises that individual Muslims are not Jurists, but faithful in the practicing of the religion. Therefore, they don’t have the right to pass judgment on emotions. The nasty behavior of some miscreants should not be misconstrued as the Islamic teaching. In the light of which we commend the efforts of the Zamfara State Government in nipping in the bud the escalation of the crisis and equally the beefing up of security by the various security agencies, around Talata Mafara and its environs is also commendable.

“We however call on state governments, particularly in the North, to hasten mechanisms which will address these repeated acts of blasphemy; it seems that there are deliberate attempts to cause more tension in the region and the country at large, in the name of blasphemy.

“While we commiserate with all the affected victims of the unfortunate incident, we call on respective predominant Muslim communities to be very wary and cautious of crafty art of blasphemy within or around their respective communities and learn to handle such matters with utmost caution – no matter the provocation that may arise therefrom.

“The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI calls on all and sundry to remain calm and avoid all actions that could jeopardise peaceful co-existence, especially at this material point of trying time of nation building.

“As always, the generality of Muslims are also implored to fervently continue praying for the restoration of peace and security in Nigeria.”
http://thenationonlineng.net/muslims-killed-zamfara-says-governor/

House, please what is driving GTB? It seems to be in a world of its own!

Every time President Muhammadu Buhari comes to the national stage the euphoria and excitement he generates are unprecedented. Yours sincerely was still in school when the military overthrew President Shagari on 31st December, 1983 and “after due consultations” invested then Major General Buhari “with the authority of Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. The whole country was very excited. The expectations were very high. However, twenty months later, the same military that brought him to power overthrew his government.

Buhari has never been a politician and still does not know how to practice the art of politicking, unlike some of his military colleagues like Obasanjo and Babangida. It was no surprise therefore that his military government did not come out with any program for transition to civil rule. There was tension as most politicians were in detention, both the innocent and the not so innocent. He also affected delicate national balance when he and his deputy Gen. Tunde Idiagbon were both northerners and Muslims. No wonder one of the reason for his removal given by Babangida was that he failed to understand the “diverse polity” of Nigeria.

Thirty years later, last year, General Buhari was elected President of Nigeria. He promised to “change” Nigeria and majority believed him. His coming to power as a democratically elected President was greeted with unprecedented excitement and expectations. Even some corrupt elements were yearning for change as the country was drifting towards anarchy with Boko Haram terrorists occupying some parts of Nigeria and the Jonathan government looking seemingly helpless. There was also world record corruption by the last regime. Buhari came at a defining moment in the nation’s history and thus ought to create a national consensus as well as national platform.




Fifteen months into his four year tenure so far, there is complain everywhere. Yes, there was appreciable progress in the fight against Boko Haram but new problems are emerging, further complicating already complex problems. The militants of Niger Delta have metamorphosed into the Niger Delta Avengers as their new platform. Biafra agitation has been renewed under the auspices of Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) organization since MASSOB has apparently lost steam. Even the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents who have pledged allegiance to the ISIS had a new leader appointed for them by ISIS, Abu Musab Al Barnawi, son of the late founder of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf. This certainly is not the best of times for any leader.

To further aggravate the situation, the economy is in dire strait. The international price of oil, which is the main revenue and foreign exchange earner for the country is very low-from over $100 per barrel over a year ago, it is now about $40 per barrel. The volume of oil exports has reduced from 2 million barrels per day to about 1.2 million barrels now due to the activities of the Niger Delta militants. This necessitates a strong economic team to think out of the box and provide fresh solutions to the government. Unfortunately, there are no economists appointed into the cabinet, not even a Chief Economic Adviser to the President and the President has refused to bring economists from the universities or around the world to help out. That is why we are moving in a circle.

There is very little synergy between fiscal policy as represented by the Federal Ministry of Finance and monetary policy as represented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In fact, there is no CBN Board of Directors up till now to help fashion out effective responses to the economic challenges. Consequently, from about N150 to a Dollar, the Naira is now exchanging for about N400 to the Dollar. For a country that relies on imports for the most basic of necessities, that means galloping inflation.

President Buhari has gone on a trip to China where a lot of especially economic agreements were signed to push Sino-Nigeria relations to a higher level. But, since Ambassador Aminu Wali left Beijing to take up appointment as Jonathan’s last Foreign Minister, there has not been any substantive Nigerian Ambassador to China for two years now. How then can there be effective follow up on all these agreements? And China is one of the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council. In fact, fifteen months into the tenure of this government, no substantive ambassador has been appointed to any country in the world. Nigeria has almost one hundred foreign missions but only 47 names have been forwarded to the Senate so far for screening as ambassadors.

This is the era of politics and so the President has to be political as well as politically sensitive to every part of Nigeria. For instance, Mr. James Ocholi, the minister from Kogi state died over three months ago. Up till now, no replacement has been appointed for Kogi and this is a constitutional matter as all the states have to get at least one minister constitutionally. It is their right to have a minister and this has not been done yet. This is largely due to the fact that President Buhari appointed deadwoods who know next to nothing about governance and are therefore not drawing his attention to these important things or help him carry out his enormous duties. They are busy taking pictures with him at the slightest opportunity. They are neither politicians who know and respect people nor technocrats who know and can perform their duties.

Apart from the Federal Ministry of Information and recently Education, all the parastatals are either still retaining their old pre-change heads or have only those in acting capacity. But even if they are appointed, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has centralised payment such that government money is just being kept in the CBN instead of being used to work for the people even for basic things like drugs in hospitals. Consequently, there is no money in circulation and everyone is suffering. Keeping trillions of recovered and public monies in government accounts while projects are not being executed and people are dying of hunger is simply ridiculous.

Nigeria is at crossroads once more. Like Obasanjo, Buhari has been lucky to be both a military leader and an elected President of Nigeria. This his second coming is viewed as an opportunity to validate or invalidate what IBB and co said about him and his style of government when they overthrew him in August 1985. We are trained to look at indicators, and Buhari should know he and the country do not have all the time in this world. History is beckoning and is always on the side of the oppressed.
http://leadership.ng/columns/545511/buhari-and-history

Aero Contractors, one of Nigeria’s largest domestic airlines, is set to lay off some of its workers as its financial crisis becomes worsened.
Already, the airline is in talks with aviation unions on how to cut down on the number of workers in its employ.
It was gathered on Sunday that the airline, which met with officials of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria last Thursday on the issue, would continue with the meeting this week.
Our correspondent also learnt that the carrier was facing stiff operational challenges, a development that led to the closure of some of its stations.
While officials of the carrier debunked claims that Aero was at the verge of shutting down completely, it was, however, gathered that the airline had not been able to bring in some of its airplanes that were sent out for routine maintenance due to foreign exchange constraints.
Officials of ATSSSAN and the Airline Operators of Nigeria told our correspondent on Sunday that the challenges were not peculiar to Aero alone.
They stressed that virtually all domestic airlines in Nigeria were being confronted with problems, ranging from double taxation by government agencies in the sector, scarcity of aviation fuel, popularly known as Jet A1 and difficulty in accessing forex.
The President of ATSSSAN, Mr. Benjamin Okewu, said, “On Aero, we are negotiating redundancy with the airline and it is not because they are closing down. It is because the number of aircraft they have has reduced. So many of them have gone on C and D Check and the airline do not have the forex to bring them back, and they also have to close down some of their stations.
“So, we are in the process of concluding redundancy negotiations for them to send some people out. But that does not mean they are closing down completely because Aero has two segments. They are fixed wing and rotary wing. The rotary wing is servicing the oil and gas sector, while the fixed wing is for scheduled services and is ongoing, even though they have a few issues with the number of aircraft. But I want to believe that they are working round the clock to make sure that few machines come back.”
On the takeover of Aero by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria and how this had been affecting the operations of the carrier, Okewu urged the government to intervene, stressing that the matter had been taken to the National Assembly.
He said, “We had a meeting with them (Aero) on Thursday and we are still continuing on Tuesday or Wednesday, but we’ve not been told officially that they are closing shop. I’m aware that recently one or two of their aircraft had snags of bird strikes, which they are fixing, but they also have two other aircraft flying. However, there are a lot of issues with the airline, ranging from AMCON involvement, mismanagement and a few others.
“And these were things we took to the National Assembly and forensic experts have been brought into AMCON to investigate all the allegations. But the AMCON team is saying that they don’t want to spend any money until they reduce the staff strength. This is because if you have a staff strength that was tied to nine aircraft, whereas now you only have about three aircraft, then there is no way you will expect to break even with that number of workers.”
He added, “I will like to state here that this is not the problem of workers but a purely management issue. So, we have urged the government to intervene because the way AMCON is taking the issue is not the best method. It takes a long time before airlines break even and Aero has been going through a lot of challenges.”
When contacted, the media consultant for Aero, Mr. Simon Tumba, confirmed that the airline was in talks with the unions on redundancy issues.
“Aero has been in talks with them on this issue,” he said.
http://punchng.com/amcon-aero-crisis-worsens-may-sack-workers/

Mother of one of the abducted Chibok school girls, Amina Ali, Binta Ali Nkeki, has disclosed that some of the abducted girls died during child birth while others were killed by bomb.

Amina Ali was one of the over 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents from Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State in 2014.

She, however, escaped from the den of the insurgents after two years in captivity.

Speaking with BBC, Mrs Nkeki while quoting her daughter said, “Some of the girls died in childbirth. Others were killed by bombs. Some girls were deafened by the explosions. Some of the girls were wounded and their legs were broken”.

She further quoted her daughter as saying, some of the girls were given out as wives to Boko Haram fighters.

“The man my daughter was given to was from Mubi. He was a mechanic when Boko Haram came. Everyone one ran away but he was under a car and didn’t see them coming. They captured him and Amina was given to him as wife,” she added.
http://dailypost.ng/2016/08/16/382070/

The former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, said yesterday that he had approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and some embassies in Nigeria over the ongoing budget crisis in the House.
Jibrin said in a statement that after sending a letter to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the matter on Friday, he forwarded a similar letter yesterday to the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption, requesting for an appointment to make a detailed presentation on all the allegations he levelled against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and 12 others.

"I have also commenced briefing the diplomatic community and will in the next few days provide a comprehensive briefing to the British High Commission and the American, French and German embassies.
"I have therefore petitioned the Public Complained Commission and National Human Right Commission to enforce and protect my fundamental human right. Though as Speaker, he has the powers to sack committee chairmen but that must be done with justice, fairness and a huge sense of responsibility
"Nigerians must be vigilant because Speaker Dogara is using his office to obstruct investigation and provide shield for himself and the other accused. He is also using his office to raise money with the massive withdrawal from the House account," he said. The House had at various times said through its spokesman, Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa), that it would not join issues with Jibrin in the media on the matter, but that an action would be taken when the lawmakers reconvene from their annual recess in September.

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/jibrin-approaches-rights-commission-envoys-over-budget-crisis/159132.html#4fLz02FEE7ICh6Ah.99

After killing 11 persons and burning down two villages in Godogodo Chiefdom, Jema’a Local Government Area in the southern part of Kaduna State penultimate week, armed herdsmen, again, allegedly killed six farmers on Saturday in Godogodo village. Meanwhile, Chairman, Kaduna State Chapter of Miyetti Ahallah, Dr. Haruna Usman, said: “Are Fulani crazy to just go and attack people? Did you ask the Godogodo people what they did to the Fulani? We already have 17 grazing reserves in Kaduna State since colonial times, and there is no dispute about that. “What happened was that these people went and killed a Fulani Chief in one of the villages and burnt his house. The Fulani are just revenging.” The villagers, who spoke to Vanguard, claimed that the armed herdsmen said their villages had become cattle grazing reserves and wanted them to vacate immediately. Kaduna State Police Spokesman, ASP Aliyu Usman, confirmed to Vanguard the murder of the six farmers and said some arrest had been made, adding that though there was tension in the area, police were fully in control of the situation. A village elder from Godogodo and family of the deceased gave the names of the victims as Monday Hamza, 24, married with three children; Toma Masara, 35, married with three children and Chaka (Waje) Rubutu, 26, married with four children. They said that the body of Chaka was still missing. The rest are Linus (Golkofa) 20, married with two children; Julius (Golkofa) 19, married with a child; Boboo Okocha, 18, single, and Sambo (Golkofa) 17, single. The elder, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Godogodo is full to the brim with refugees, who have fled their villages seeking for safety here because it is a bigger village, close to an expressway and has better security. [b]“After the attack, they would cut down all the crops for their cattle to eat. [/b]There will be hunger this year in these villages.” Kaduna State Police Spokesmen, ASP Aliyu Usman, told Vanguard that: “It is true that some people were killed in Godogodo on Saturday. There is tension in the place now, but we have deployed our men to all affected areas and we are on top of the situation.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/kaduna-herdsmen-attack-theyre-on-vengeance-mission-miyetti/

The Nigerian military asked a man it declared wanted to go home after he reported at one of its facilities in Borno State.

Ahmed Bolori, the coordinator of the Fa’ash Foundation and the Partnership Against Violent Extremism and resident of Maiduguri, was declared wanted alongside two others on Sunday.

The Nigerian Army in a statement said the three, which included journalist, Ahmad Salkida and Aisha Wakil, a lawyer, were declared wanted for their alleged ties to the Boko Haram sect.

The Army said the three refused to provide useful information to authorities despite having clear and unfettered access to the sect and also held them responsible for the Boko Haram video that was released on Sunday.

The video purportedly showed the Army conducting area bombardment of an unknown location where the abducted Chibok girls are kept, killing many of them in the process.

The Defence Headquarters denied killing the girls and said it was also analysing the video to establish its authenticity.

In a message released by Farook Kperoogi, a U.S.-based Nigerian journalism professor, Mr. Bolori reported at “the top military barracks in Maiduguri, waited for more than two hours, but there was no one to interrogate or arrest him.”

Mr. Kperoogi posted the development on his Facebook page which he said was part of the conversation he had with Mr. Bolori.


Mr. Kperoogi also attached a WhatsApp conversation in which Mr. Bolori could be seen discussing with an official of the Defence Military Intelligence about how and where he could turn himself in for interrogations.

IMG_3723Mr. Kperoogi said Mr. Bolori was later told to “go home” after spending more than two hours waiting and making frantic calls to Army hierarchy to come and detain him, having been declared wanted.

The announcement by the Army declaring Messrs. Bolori, Salkida and Wakil wanted has triggered debates across the world.

The spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, could not be reached to comment for this story Monday morning. He did not answer or return calls made to him.

Read the full statement by Mr. Kperoogi below:

It is now self-evident that no one in the highest reaches of governance and security enforcement in Nigeria is thinking. How can you declare people “wanted” when you haven’t even invited them for questioning–and they haven’t resisted your invitation? I just got off the phone with Ambassador Ahmed Umar Bolori, one of the people declared “wanted” by the Nigerian military.IMG_20160815_084519

He told me he called the Chief of Army Staff, the spokesperson of the Nigerian military who announced him “wanted,” and other top military officers and said he was at their beck and call and didn’t need to be declared “wanted” since he wasn’t in hiding.

He then went ahead and turned himself in at the top military barracks in Maiduguri, waited for more than two hours, but there was no one to interrogate or arrest him.

He called and texted the chief of army staff and the military spokesperson again and pleaded with them to send someone to detain, arrest, interrogate, or do whatever they wanted to do to him because he wanted to clear his name.

He was later told to go home and return the following day! They told a “wanted” man to go home and come back the next day! Can you believe that? First, he is personally known to the chief of army staff and to the military spokesman. These people also know his home in Maiduguri.

They know where to get him if they want to. Yet they declared him “wanted.” Is there any parallel to this level of puzzling incompetence in the world? Who declares people “wanted” without any interest in seeing, much less interrogating, them?
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/208607-nigerian-army-confused-asks-wanted-man-ahmed-bolori-go-home-turned.html

An Appeal Court judge in Abuja on Thursday ruled that the election of Yahaya Bello as governor of Kogi State was flawed and should be annulled.

But a differing ruling by four other judges meant the minority judgement given by Justice Obande Ogbuinya could not be implemented.

Mr. Bello’s received two favourable rulings on Thursday.

In the first case, which followed a challenge by James Faleke, the five judges unanimously affirmed Mr. Bello as governor.

But Mr. Ogbuinya dissented in the second case filed by former Governor Idris Wada.

In his judgement, Mr. Ogbuinya held that the Kogi election tribunal was wrong in upholding the election of Mr. Bello since he did not partake fully in the entire election process.

Mr. Ogbuinya said Mr. Wada’s arguments were cogent.

He therefore ordered that the election of Mr. Bello be nullified and that the Independent National Electoral Commission should conduct a fresh election in 90 days.

But the other four judges said the grounds for Mr. Wada’s application did not align with constitutional provisions.

They said there was no constitutional provision for Mr. Wada to inherit votes from Abubakar Audu, the All Progressives Congress’ candidate who died before completion of the election.

Mr. Wada’s counsel, Goddy Uche, said the minority ruling proved that their application was valid, saying the former governor will take the matter to the Supreme Court.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/208082-minority-ruling-appeal-court-judge-annuls-kogi-gov-bellos-election.html

Tittos:
In every democracy people vote for parties and not candidates. If you are suggesting a reform.of the electoral law for it to be candidate based and not.party based, then.you will ne drawing us back. In an ideal situation, A party has its manifesto. It presents the most ideal candidate to push its manifesto and in cases like this, the party knows the next best candidate to.push the manifesto. People vote based on the manifesto and agenda that the party campaigns with not the name of a an individual. Of course in general sense the individual still plays a lot of influence in the choice of leaders.

My brother you're actually correct but if truth be told for example, majority of Kano State people who voted APC in the 2015 Presidential election did not vote APC just for the party sake. They voted the person of Buhari and would have voted him on whatever party platform he ran as they did when he ran under ANPP and CPC. It's really a dicey one because our laws do not recognize independent candidates and the courts have consistently ruled that the votes are for the party (like you rightly pointed out). There are of course States and situations when people vote for parties. In Nigeria, there are States that it was almost certain previously that if you win a particular party primaries, you have won the general election. In the case of Kogi, I am not from there but I know enough that some people who voted Audu would have rather voted Wada if it was down to Wada vs. Bello. Please note that I am not faulting the judgment or siding any of the parties but just highlighting the dilemma i.e. it is not really perfect to say people ONLY vote on the basis of parties, they actually prefer particular candidates for various reasons -the candidate's own sake (achievements and competence or charisma), his money, his tribe, his religion, even his cult group or his lies he told them in the name of campaign.

By Banji Ojewale

There is a small but vocal circle of Nigerians who do not believe that their country needs more of the quickening touch of the Divine to help turn things around for the prostrate land. They look all over the place and spotting what they see as a sea of churches, they conclude that Nigeria would be better off without a ‘surfeit’ of ecclesiastical industry.

They refer to patently disturbing reports of abominable conduct in the Church and return the verdict that the trouble with Nigeria isn’t its politics or economy; it is the Church which encourages a craving for materialist prosperity. They argue that the Church and its leaders no longer aim at addressing the soul as their Lord Jesus Christ taught. Today, they say, the Church is master at pandering to carnal needs.

So they want less of sacerdotal activity and more of agnostic enterprise.
Well, this contrasts with the position of a famous French historian and writer as he also studied the role of the Church in the United States of America when that country was struggling with the challenges that came after a war.


The famous French writer Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United States of America in the first half of the 19th century and returned with reports of how great America had become not too long after it had emerged from its war of independence and passed through the teething problems of nation-building. His extensive tour led him to probe the source of this eminence. When Tocqueville had undertaken an arduous search, he wrote: “I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbours, her ample rivers, her fertile fields and boundless forests and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich higher learning and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic congress and her matchless constitution and it was not there. Not until I went to the Churches of America did I understand the secret of her genius and power,”

Tocqueville attributed the prosperity of the nascent American State to the fact that its leaders instituted a national policy that encouraged the Churches of the day to pray to God on behalf of “kings and… all that are in authority”, as enjoined in the Holy Bible (1 Tim. 2:2). As far as he was concerned it was obedience to that Divine order coupled with diligent work that brought down God’s blessings both on the American people and on the land. Indeed, the concluding part of the text we quoted says such intercessions will lead to “a quiet and peaceable life” adding, “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God” (verse 3).

Pastor William Folorunsho Kumuyi, founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM), is in the same class as Tocqueville. He believes that the absence of Jesus Christ in the citizen’s life in Nigeria is responsible for the problems assaulting us, the same way that lack is the source of all of the world’s problems at the moment. The point, he argues, is not to have less of Jesus’ message of tolerance, righteousness, Biblical holiness, love for fellow man (even if he is your enemy), abstemious lifestyle, focus on Heaven, etc. Outlawing Jesus amounts to outlawing peace and order. Man’s duty is to admit Him and allow Him full reign.

Kumuyi has maintained a diligent outworking of this faith in the power of the Gospel to change the fortunes of society if sincerely embraced. He has embarked on a back-breaking crusade nationwide. It has taken the Deeper Life Bible Church leader to far-flung areas, including such so called no-go states as Plateau, Bauchi, Adamawa and Gombe. He was in those places only last week even in the midst of deadly outbursts of violence.

The locomotive of the Gospel message is not expected to halt on account of challenges if you are to be true to your calling as a child of God waving the Flag of the Great Commission: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world Amen.” (Matthew 28:19,20).

The Gospel is especially needed now in Nigeria where we are confronted with a myriad of economic and political issues along with numerous security concerns in the form of armed robberies, kidnapping, communal violence, urban unrest, ethnic upheavals and centrifugal clamouring. The position of many is that the genuine acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with its emphasis on holiness and heavenly focus, and not on worldly materialism, would naturally abolish the spirit that creates the template for destructive traits and anti-social conduct. There is a driving force behind such attitudes that can only be tamed and defeated by the infinitely greater Christ Spirit. This is the missing link in our system, according to Pastor Kumuyi.

On Friday August 5, the Deeper Life Bible Church leader will be teaching this at a crusade in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State, where the Church’s State Overseer, Pastor Dele Rosilu, will be playing host to Kumuyi at a one-day crusade with the theme, TURNAROUND 2016. It is Rosilu’s first as the State Pastor and it promises to bring forth the reward of days and nights he and his team have put in to make the event a glorious outing.

And speaking about having something to show for the crusades, Pastor Kumuyi says God is designing them to effect deep changes not only in the life of the individual but also to transform the society. He says: “We want you to believe in God, that He can conquer any challenge; that is the most significant aspect of our crusade… to remind the people that no matter how bad it may be for individuals, state and nation, God can still turn things around and can move things forward.”

Nigerians must not because of some failed clerics and their ministries run a cynic’s script on the Church of Christ. Nor must we pooh-pooh the Gospel as impotent. There are still a faithful few loyal to the creed of holiness as displayed in the Early Church in the First Century after Christ’s departure.

This is the reason thousands still troop out to listen to Kumuyi’s message of salvation. They get saved by God after true contrition. They get purged of sinful inclination, leading them to abandon anti-God habits like prostitution, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism, stealing of government funds, promiscuity, exam malpractices, kidnapping, sharp practices, conjugal infidelity, Epicurean lifestyle, etc.

They are offered hope that when they are through with life here on earth, their saved souls are assured of celestial abode with God for eternity. But it is tormenting life on the other side for the Christless soul.

If this is seriously preached by more Christian leaders whose conduct would reflect this both in public and in private, we wouldn’t have the despondent and broken down society we are saddled with now.

Still, God hasn’t abandoned the country called Nigeria. He still uses His Church and the humble and committed servants to organise programmes where He performs miracles of salvation, healing and deliverance.

Pastor Kumuyi’s appearance in Ogun State at this time is propitious. He is coming with the power of God to pray against the spirit that has lately spawned an array of unwholesome acts, such as the case of a so-called man of God who chained his nine-year old child and subjected him to barbaric depravity for allegedly stealing.
–– Ojewale is a journalist and writer at Ota, Ogun State.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/07/31/w-f-kumuyi-the-missing-link-in-national-development/

The Integrity Group in the House of Representatives has demanded a comprehensive probe of the 10 principal officers of the House over allegations of padding the 2016 budget.
Their spokesman and member representing Bungudu/Maru Federal Constituency, Hon. Abdulmalik Zubairu Bungudu, told Daily Trust in Abuja yesterday after a meeting of the group that there was no justification in narrowing the allegation to only four officers.

He said in order to ensure proper transparency and accountability, the probe should be expanded.
“All the 10 principal officers of the House must account for their deeds and must come and justify what they are alleged to have done in the padding, including the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila. There should be no exemption in this matter. If it comes to matter of truth, nobody should be exempted, everybody must account for his deeds,” he said.
Bungudu said there was nothing wrong with the recent revelations by the former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, as the disclosure would end what he termed “jungle justice” in the House.
“Though some are saying he is doing it because he was removed as chairman, yes, but if you look at it very well, you would realise that what was operating in the National Assembly is just jungle justice. We were elected on equal status, but someone may have the privilege of appropriating up to N3 or N4 billion to his constituency for his people to benefit, but someone else would have only N40m to N50m, there is no justification for this. That’s why even before Abdulmumin disclosed all these things, there were serious allegations on the matter, it was not disclosed openly until when he was removed,” he added.
He said the Integrity Group which emerged last week as a result of the existence of two other groups has over 106 members so far, and was determined to ensure that justice prevailed over the budget padding crisis, even if it meant proceeding to the court.
“We created this group with an initial 36 members to serve as a platform to express ourselves on these issues, and there are also other issues beyond these in the 8th National Assembly,” he added, noting that after the current recess, the group would address the perennial delay of the legislators’ salaries.

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/budget-padding-integrity-group-demands-expanded-probe-of-principal-officers/157485.html#Quhce26U8sCEMBdV.99

Kano state Government said it has uncovered plans by the former Governor of the state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to disrupt next Saturday’s state House of Assembly by-election in Minjibir. Government Spokesman, and Commissioner of information, Youth, Sports and culture, Malam Muhammad Garba in a terse statement made available to newsmen last night in Kano stated that Kwankwaso and his supporters have orchestrated plans to unleash mayhem during the rescheduled election. Minjibir by-election was rescheduled for next Saturday following botched attempt to hold same last April due to break down of law and order midway through the exercise. According to the former President of Nigerian Union of Journalists, “information at our disposal suggested that Kwankwaso has hired thugs from neighboring country of Niger Republic, states of Katsina and Jigawa to unleash Mayhem on Innocent and law abiding electorates, with the aim of scuttling the entire process for his selfish reasons.” Comrade Garba revealed “we have received credible information that the Kwankwasiyya group, knowing fully that their anti- party disposition will fail resorted to hiring of thugs from the republic of Niger and neighboring states of Katsina and Jigawa state.” He stated further “we want to state that as a responsible government, we will not sit down and fold our hands for some disgruntled elements to cause chaos in the state and destroyed the relative peace” Sequel to the unfolding security threat, Garba said ” we have informed the security agencies of this nefarious plan, and we will support them to protect lives and property of law abiding citizens. Continuing further, Garba reiterated that “as a responsible government we will not be party to any process that is undemocratic and unlawful.” The Commissioner therefore enjoins all citizens of the state especially the people of Minjibir local government to be law abiding, while he urged them to go out and exercise their franchise without any fear of molestation, while assuring them of their safety. But in a swift reaction, Engr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso described the allegation as “cheap blackmail”. The allegation is false, unfounded but cheaply designed to maligned a distinguished figure for been a gentleman, AbdulSalam said. Kwankwaso who spoke through the spokesperson of Kwankwasiyya Foundation, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam wondered why Ganduje’s administration was obsessed with maligned a sitting Mp for political benefit. Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam said “If they have a nightmare, it’s Kwankwaso, if they anticipated failure, it’s Kwankwaso, and you continued to wonder why they are so scared of there shadows” He therefore advised them to concentrate on governance and stop chasing shadows.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/kwankwaso-has-hired-thugs-from-niger-to-disrupt-minjibir-by-election-says-knsg/

I called a long-standing friend who lives in Bauchi and he corroborated this story. He said the woman is well known. I have no further comment on this subject ...... "But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and he healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief". (Mark 6:6).

The official price of kerosene will move up to N135 from N73 per litre on Monday, THISDAY investigation revealed wednesday.

According to reliable sources, the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has decided to increase the ex-depot price to N135 per litre with effect from Monday, after the next consignment of about 17,000MT capacity imported vessel arrives Lagos this week.




THISDAY gathered that following foreign exchange crisis, which makes it difficult for the private marketers to access foreign exchange at the official price, the PPMC assumed the sole importer of kerosene, thus leading to the scarcity of the product.

But THISDAY learnt that the public who are the end users would not be losing much as the product had always sold above the N73 official price because of racketeering by officials of PPMC and the marketers.

In the massive scam, officials of PPMC allocate the product to marketers at ex-depot price of N73 per litre, while the marketers sell to the public at over N180 per litre, THISDAY’s investigation revealed.

In a circular number: PPMC/MKT/IBN/01/2016, signed by one LNS Madubuike, the PPMC had directed marketers to pay N73 per litre for kerosene imported by the company. The marketers, however, sell the product to the public at between N180 and N250 per litre.

Some independent marketers, who could not get allocation from the PPMC, told THISDAY that some officials of PPMC collect bribe of N1 million on every truck of kerosene allocated to the marketers.

Another alleged scam by PPMC officials in kerosene importation, it was learnt, is that up to 50 trucks are not discharged in every imported vessel.

According to a PPMC source, after discharging kerosene to the private marketers, this quantity is left in the vessel by PPMC as Remain on Board (ROB) and nobody knows what happens to this product.
NNPC’s spokesman, Mr. Garuba Deen Muhammadu, however, told THISDAY yesterday that he would find out the true situation from the PPMC before responding to the issues raised.

But it was gathered that PPMC has been the sole importer of kerosene as the private marketers use their limited foreign exchange to focus on the importation of petrol.

An official of PPMC, who was not happy with the fraud in kerosene allocation, said that it was brisk business between some officials of the company and the marketers.

“We thought that things will change with the new administration. It actually changed initially but is now business-as-usual. It does not serve public interest to allocate kerosene at N73 or N135 per litre to some people at public expense and the beneficiaries will sell to the public at N180 and even N250 in some instances. This arrangement serves private pockets and something has to be done fast about it,” he said.

Investigation revealed that from the last consignment imported by the PPMC, the independent marketers were selling at ex-depot price of between N170 and 182 per litre.

Some of the independent marketers whose depots had sold kerosene between N170 and N182 per litre include: Capital Oil, Eterna Oil; Rahamaniyya, Aquitane, AA Rano, and Obat Oil.

It was also gathered from PPMC sources that Honeywell, Aiteo and NIPCO Plc would share the next consignment of PPMC’s kerosene that will arrive this week.
However, it was gathered that PPMC has increased the ex-depot price of this new consignment from N73 per litre to N135 per litre.

It was also learnt that because of the scam perpetrated by the marketers and the PPMC officials in kerosene allocation, the major marketers have shunned kerosene business to protect their business integrity.

“The whole kerosene thing is messy and that is why the major marketers do not want to get involved. The major marketers are not ready to give anybody bribe and sell above stipulated price. The whole thing improved when President Buhari came in initially. You will recall that Forte Oil became involved and it sold kerosene at N50 per litre to the public and it was publicised. But now, we are back to the status quo and the whole thing has become messy. The major marketers are not ready to play ball to get kerosene allocation,” said one of the major marketers, who spoke to THISDAY off the record.

At the early stage of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Forte Oil had commenced the sale of what it described as “Buhari Kerosene” at N50 per litre in its retail outlets in Lagos.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/07/28/nnpc-hikes-kerosene-price-to-n135-on-monday/

By Anthonia Duru

Tade and Mirabel had an understanding. They had been married for three years before they had their first child. Mirabel is used to Tade’s bossy attitudes as he was used to having things done his way. Often times Mirabel ignores him and calms him down afterwards. Fifteen days after, they had their child through caesarian section. Tade woke Mirabel when she was trying to take her siesta after hours of trying to put the baby to sleep. Tade requested for lunch and Mirabel who was visibly tired called the house help to help arrange meal for Tade. Despite this Tade was heady but Mirabel ignored him knowing full well that he will calm down. This didn’t go down well with Mama Mirabel who felt Tade is not considering her daughter’s frail health. She threw insults at Tade and verbal battle was raging. Mirabel tried in vain to diffuse the situation, to no avail. Her mother grabbed Tade’s shirt and in his struggle to pull away, the shirt had torn. Tade sent Mirabel’s mum out of their home that night.
Pam, who hails from Imo State after she had her first child invited her mother who operates a restaurant in Owerri to come down to Lagos so she can assist her in taking care of her new baby. Pam’s mother like most grandmothers joyfully came over to take care of her grandchild. After six months she informed her daughter that she will return to her base in Owerri and so she demanded her daughter to give her the sum of N450,000 (Four hundred and fifty thousand naira) for the services she rendered in the six months. According to Pam, her mother said she closed down her restaurant for six months and she would have made over one million naira. “My mother really surprised me as she insisted she will collect N450,000 from us. Initially I thought she was joking but she meant it. I tried not to inform my husband because it is unheard of that a mother is charging for taking care of her grandchild but at the long run after quarrel my husband heard of it. I informed some elders in our village, they perceived her but she won’t listen. After much plea we paid her N250,000 and bought her six ankara fabrics. My husband and myself vowed there and then that we will never invite anybody for omugwo,” Pam narrated her story.
For Evelyn (not real name) her mother-in-law came three weeks after she put to bed to assist her in taking care of her child. “Mama” as Evelyn calls her mother-in-law instead of babysitting was being “babysitted”. “Mama will always complain of pains especially when husband was around. I bath my baby and despite the fact that mama was around my daughter was going to crèche. I asked myself one day if Mama came over to add to our burden. The first thing she demands for once she wakes up is food; she never for once bath my child. I told my husband I can’t cope with two babies because Mama was acting like a baby. Initially, my husband was indifferent, later he said I was unnecessarily finding fault with his mum. After much quarrel he grudgingly took Mama back to the village. I still spent about N100,000 in buying things for Mama when she was returning to the village. I am better without her around,” Evelyn narrated.
Unlike Evelyn and Pam, Toyin Adewumi is a bit luckier as her mother-in-law who has been staying with her for over 30 years when she had her first child has been so helpful in bringing up her children. According to Toyin who is now a grandmother, her mother-in-law takes it upon herself to take care of her great grandchildren from birth. Toyin’s octogenarian mother-in-law helped raising Toyin’s five children and three grandchildren. “When I tell people I can’t bath a baby, they find it hard to believe, my mother-in-law did everything and I will forever be grateful to her,” Toyin said while eluogising her mother-in-law.
From time immemorial, every woman after childbirth needs special care for herself and the new creature. She needs a helping hand(s) as she may not have the physical strength to carry out some chores. Omugwo is the word, in Igbo tradition, that defines the period when a mother, mother-in-law, aunt, or other older female relative, comes to help a young mother after she has given birth. It is considered a thing of pride to most, especially Moms, and daughters to also dream of such a time when they will get some relief. This beautiful practice is also an avenue to pass vital parenting tips, knowledge or information. The birth of a child always brings unlimited joy and excitement not only to the parents involved but to every other person related to them either by blood or friendship. The baby and the nursing mother has to be ministered to by someone mostly women. In most cases, the person who takes care of her (the just delivered woman) is her mother. If the mother is not alive or available, her step-mother performs the functions. During omugwo, the person that comes to stay takes over most of the house chores and responsibilities including cooking (for both husband and wife), cleaning, carrying the baby while the new mum rests.
As beautiful as the practice is it can also be abused.
Initially, everything is fine till criticisms start. “You need to hold the baby’s head like this” “Please enough of the feeding bottle! What she needs is breast milk” “Why are you drinking cold water? Don’t you want your stomach to go down?” “What do you mean you don’t want to drink pap, you want your breast milk to dry up, abi?”
The worst of Omugwo happens when there is already friction in the home, before mother or mother-in-law gets there, the presence of a third party that is not so neutral can further aggravate feud.
Omugwo can be really tricky indeed! But there are some ways in which it can work!
Both parties can make a success of Omugwo situation by ensuring that, regardless of how irritated one person made the other feel, there should always be mutual respect, love, and appreciation! There are boundaries and all parties should always have that at their consciousness. For the caregiver, it will be out of place to intervene in any argument or disagreement. Even though you as a grandmother goes into your daughter’s house with your wealth of experience, respect the fact that it is her home and don’t try to change the processes or routines.
To enjoy Omugwo, new mothers should be patient with whoever comes and appreciate the time she is dedicating to help you. In turn, mothers should keep in mind the primary purpose for which they are there, without veering into areas that are of no concern to them.
http://independentnig.com/2016/07/27/making-omugwo-work/

ogwucheveekee:
PDP were literally the reason why benue voted APC tho southern benue remains with david mark which ever way

Indeed you're very correct. I think they deserve more attention/compensation than they seem to be getting? The State has become a killing field. Frequent news of massacre akin to genocide.

Benue voted massively for APC in both the Presidential and Governorship. The APC leaders there should exploit their links to the Federal Government and the party leadership to demand an explanation for the seeming indifference to the activities of these rampaging marauding murderers. That said, every State irrespective of political leaning and loyalties should be equally protected. In my view, this lawlessness should get equal if not more attention than the fight against corruption. The full force of government should be deployed holistically against ALL threats wherever they occur.

Waoh! Buy why are they wearing identical? Did they selflessly spend their own money to buy the uniforms and heartily endorse him? Just curious........

Barring any last minute change in plans, truck owners would suspend transportation of petroleum products across the country, beginning from today. FUEL-2016 The truck owners had last week, issued a seven-day ultimatum within which to withdraw their services over alleged unpaid bridging claims and reduction of freight rate paid to its members by the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, PEF. At a joint press briefing addressed by the leaderships of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, the groups threatened to withdraw their services at the expiration of the seven-day. National President of NARTO, Alhaji Kassim Ibrahim Bataiya, who was assisted by PTD’s Comrade salimon Olatidi at the media briefing, demanded that the management board of the PEF must immediately commence the full payment of transporters’ claims. The truck owners warned that they will suspend their services of movement of petroleum products from one destination to the other through out the country, should the management of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, PEF, continue to default in payments of transporters’ claims. Alhaji Bataiya asked the management board of PEF to immediately commence the full payment of transporters’ claims as well as the accumulated outstanding claims in respect of the period January 1, 2011 to May 11, 2016 at the rate applicable from 2011 to December 31, 2015. He further asked the PEF management board to immediately conclude the review of the freight rate from May 12, 2016 to date, in accordance with the bridging fund approved by the government.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/fuel-scarcity-looms-truck-owners-withdraw-services/

Some flights have been cancelled again today and some others delayed severely! Where is the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? What are the Ministers of Petroleum, Transport and Aviation doing to address the recurrent scarcity of aviation fuel. Tax paying, law abiding Nigerians, several of who voted for change are having a rough deal at the airports, missing appointments, experiencing harrowing hardship and disrupting business/social plans. Kerosene is way off the roof.

This happened 10th July as in 2 weeks ago and before last week's attack on INEC?

Thanks beloved. Do you know where the GS will minister from today?

The presenter of a popular radio programme on Love FM Abuja, Ahmed Isah, who prides himself as ordinary president, has come under intense criticism over recent comments on his programme: Brekete Family, where he made caricature of an airline and its staff, adding that he prefers travelling with another airline, which he claimed is more prompt in service delivery. Apparently advertising for a carrier, Isah said the air transport company unlike its competitor, was not known for delaying passengers hence he must be at the airport for his travel way before take-off time. Waxing in Pigeon English, he said: “I dey follow Air Peace 9’ocock. They no dey waste time. They no dey like the other one wey start with A, come get R, with I, come carry K (Arik) Those ones, they can cancel flight. They can suspend. They can- they can… and without apology ooo.” He continued, “You go see them dey waka-nyanga tolotolo for airport after they don disappoint you finish. Anytime I send person to buy me ticket, and the person returns and say Ar… I will shout… I go say na you go fly am. If them talk say their fight na 9’0clock, make you dey go airport around 1 to 2 o’clock in the afternoon.’’ This remark unsettled some staff of the airline who complained to select newsmen in Abuja that it was unbecoming of the on-air personality who should always detach bias and sentiments from the job to be making such comment on radio. The workers pleaded for anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for the air transport company. The concerned staff said “it was because Ahmed Isah knew that what he was doing was wrong that was why he rather spelt our company’s name than pronounce it”. They explained that they had to speak up because it is them who would “bear the brunt if Brekete family succeeds in reducing the cash inflow to Arik by his clandestine and wicked campaign to make air travellers avoid our airline.” When asked how this can be, they said that “when people no longer fly Arik, the company may experience cash crunch and the next thing management will likely do is to relieve workers.” Claiming that the management of the radio station is helpless over the excesses of Brekete family and its major anchor in view of the mammoth listenership it attracts particularly among those in the lower rung of the society, they alleged that Mr. Isah often attacks those who do not patronize him, regretting that what he does is outright blackmail. One of the concerned staff said: “We have to engage the media in this development as Ahmed Isah’s comment is capable of rendering most of us jobless. Since what he said is untrue, we suspect that he is out to take our airline out of the market to the advantage of those who pay his bills. Imagine what will happen to some of us if Arik is not able to generate enough money because of this bad publicity. We will lose our jobs! If that happens, I wonder where we would run to as there are no jobs anywhere. Government and well-meaning individuals should caution that man.” Also speaking, another staff said, “I wonder if Isah got any form of journalism training. Ethically, it’s even wrong to promote a company by openly de-marketing its competitor. How can he place two companies in the sector side by side, glorifying one and firing verbal missiles at one? What have we done to this man? Was he talking out of his personal experience or what people told him? Has he ever experienced same and drew the attention of the airline to such? I see his comment as cheap blackmail. Maybe because he speaks in pigeon, he feels he can get away with his attacks on the corporate world.” Another female staff who claimed to have encountered Ahmed Isah once said, “I think that programme should be probed. Many growing companies have series of complaints against the method used by Isah and co, and the man behind the mic is very arrogant. He takes advantage of his charitable services to the poor and the needy in the society to blackmail businesses and organizations. I had thought journalism preaches objectivity, so where is that in his program? He didn’t even make efforts to get the reaction of my bosses. I really felt bad hearing him say that about us and Arik. He has succeeded in painting us all in bad light even when what he is saying is unfounded.” Reacting to the development, the President, National Association of Aircrafts and Pilot Engineers, Comrade Isaac Balami said, “it was a bad publicity for Arik. Arik can begin to look at it as if it was sponsored against it. It is highly unethical and unprofessional for a radio presenter to be promoting a particular airline and at the same time castigating another airline. You can’t compare a new airline with the one that has been in business long before it. “Just like every radio station has issues; will he (the presenter) be happy if someone comes publicly to say that other stations are better than the one airing his programme? Isah or whatever he calls himself must be guided properly and watch his utterances so as not to throw professionalism to the wind.” Balami however confirmed that a lot of transformation is going on in the aviation industry as his union is holding talks with the minister on how to tackle existing challenges in the aviation sector.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/popular-host-of-brekete-family-programme-under-fire-for-derogatory-comments/

Meanwhile, NTI has advised students, members of staff and other stakeholders to remain calm over the NUC’s declaration of its degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Education programmes illegal.

The institute’s Chief protocol and Public Relations Officer, Malam Jibrin Adamu, gave the advice in Kaduna while reacting to NUC’s advertisements which invalidated certificates issued by institute in the last 15 years.

Adamu, while speaking with NAN on Thursday, noted that both NUC and NTI were government agencies, adding that officials of both organisations would meet in the next few days to resolve the issues.

“It should be noted that both NTI and NUC are Federal Government agencies and within the next few days both bodies will meet and sort out the issues amicably.

“For now, we are calling on our students, members of staff and all stakeholders to remain calm as the issue will be attended to,’’ Adamu said. (NAN)

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/nuc-clarifies-position-on-nti-degree-postgraduate-programmes/156283.html#9RF28gZdc7KSm7EW.99

Meanwhile, NTI has advised students, members of staff and other stakeholders to remain calm over the NUC’s declaration of its degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Education programmes illegal.

The institute’s Chief protocol and Public Relations Officer, Malam Jibrin Adamu, gave the advice in Kaduna while reacting to NUC’s advertisements which invalidated certificates issued by institute in the last 15 years.

Adamu, while speaking with NAN on Thursday, noted that both NUC and NTI were government agencies, adding that officials of both organisations would meet in the next few days to resolve the issues.

“It should be noted that both NTI and NUC are Federal Government agencies and within the next few days both bodies will meet and sort out the issues amicably.

“For now, we are calling on our students, members of staff and all stakeholders to remain calm as the issue will be attended to,’’ Adamu said. (NAN)

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/nuc-clarifies-position-on-nti-degree-postgraduate-programmes/156283.html#9RF28gZdc7KSm7EW.99