janniesanjuan-blog

[janniesanjuan-blog]

Osun APC Party Leaders Commends Kusamotu For Empowering Constituents

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains in Osun State has hailed the empowerment and philanthropic gesture of a senior Lawyer and a former aspirant of the Federal House of Representatives, Barrister Ayodele Musibau Kusamotu, who recently feted constituents from Odo-Otin/Boripe/Ifelodun federal constituency.

Using his foundation, the Ayodele Musibau Kusamotu (AMK), the Ikirun-born politician and legal luminary distributed food items and fabrics to over 5,000 persons both young and old especially women.

The distribution was preceded by different traditional dance steps and melodious songs hailing Kusamotu as God sent and as a man who feels the pulse of the common men in his society.

The disabled too were not left behind as they were given special attention towards ensuring that they get their own share of the items.

Party leaders present extolled his virtues noting that he had been empowering the people for over 10 years in spite of the fact that he had never held any political office or appointment at any level.

A party chieftain of the party, Alhaji Fatal Diekola, a former Commissioner of Information, Honourable Sunday Akere, Hon Fatal Bamidele Araba and Bayo Daoudu took turns to appreciate his empowerment programmes.

Diekola described Kusamotu as a unique man with heart of gold and urged him to present himself for future elections assuring him that the people would back his ambition.

In the same vein, Akere noted that he has been following the activities of Kusamotu for over a decade, adding that he is not surprised at his benevolence because his father and Uncles were always caring for the people at all times.

Another twist to the event was a gathering of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders who met him and pleaded that he should contest under its platform boasting that the PDP would be a party to beat in the 2018 election in the state.

Responding, Kusamotu thanked the leaders and his people for the show of affection and for always honouring him with their presence whenever he is in the state.

He assured them that he would continue to cater for their welfare in his own little way.

He however declared that he had not made up his mind whether to run or not or the party platform that he would use but promised that whatever the people and his supporters want will be done.

According to him, "I thank you all for your show of love and affection. Your welfare would continue to be my priority and as my people, I will heed your call to run whenever you want me to.

He urged them to continue to be steadfast and committed to the party’s Ideals adding that he is neither a PDP or APC aspirant for now. "I am for all of you. My love for you all transcends party divides and you can be assured of my continued loyalty to this cause.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

Acting Chairman Of Federal Character Commission Caught Favoring Cronies And Loyalists

SAMPLE 1: "One of them called the speaker whose village was nearby. He then came with some policemen. He ordered them to shoot the armless officers who were sitting inside the patrol vehicle and mercilessly beat up the team leader."(Policemen Shoot FRSC Officers for Stopping Abia Speaker’s Wife’s Car, the Sunday Punch, July 16, 2017)

We focus attention on the word armless which occurs in the following context: "He ordered them to shoot the armless officers who were sitting inside the patrol vehicle and mercilessly beat up the team leader." About this time last year, we had spent a lot of time and energy explaining the inappropriateness of this word in a context not dissimilar to the one now under scrutiny.

Here some policemen allegedly beat up some "armless" FRSC officers who dared to stop the vehicle in which the wife of the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly was travelling. We know of course that men of the Road Safety Commission don’t carry arms and ammunition. It is for that reason they are said to be armless. So people who don’t carry arms are armless? Not at all.

To facilitate our discussion, let me announce immediately that the word that the writer has found elusive is unarmed, a word that is clearly supported by context. Unlike the policemen who were carrying guns, the FRSC officers had no arms and ammunition. They are, therefore, unarmed.

Actually, there are four or five words whose resemblance to each other is likely to cause confusion and result in mistaken identity. The words are: harm(less),arm(less), arm(verb), arms(and ammunition), alms.

First, harm. This word can be used both as a noun and as a verb. We start by illustrating its usage as a noun: 1)Too much sugar does a lot of harm to the human body. 2)Too many military interventions have done much harm to the Nigerian nation. 3)The nurse claimed that she meant no harm when she accidentally gave the patient an overdose of the drug. 4)By the age of sixty, eating beef can do more harm than good to the body. 5)Long hours of work has done great harm to his health. 6)If you do not stop drinking and philandering, you will definitely come to harm.

Now the verb form of harm: 1)The doctor said the patient had harmed himself by too much drinking and smoking. 2)Although he had planned to take his own life, we were much relieved to find out that he didn’t harmhimself. 3)Neighbours attested to the fact that the man who allegedly committed the murder had no reputation up to this time of being able to harm anybody. 4)These sharp objects, if not carefully handled, can harm little children. 5)When factory emissions are not carefully controlled they harm the environment. 6)Beyond being raped and traumatized, the lady was not physically harmed.

The adjective forms are harmful and harmless: 1)A workshop is in progress on the harmful effects of smoking and drinking. 2)Eating too starch-based food is harmful to human health. 3)The authorities have said that smuggling is harmful to the economy. 4) Children should be told early in life that pornographic materials are harmful to the mind. 5)Indiscriminate bush burning is harmful to the environment. 6)Dictatorial practices are harmful to our democratic experiment. 7)Once the man was convinced that the young boy was harmless, he allowed him to interact freely with his beautifu but naive daughters. 8)I had thought my comments were altogether harmless until the chairman said he took exception to them. 9)No drug is completely harmless if not used according to prescription.10)People you think are harmless and even loving can do scandalous things behind your back. 11)What may be regarded as harmless jokes can sometimes hurt some people very badly. 12)A practice as harmless as two members of the opposite s3x hugging each other can have very serious implications in some cultures.

As we have seen, the word harm is about hurt, injury, damage or trouble. This idea runs through the various forms whose usage we have illustrated above. The adjective harmful is the opposite of harmless.

We now come to the word arm(s) which can be used both as a verb and as a noun. First, we illustrate the usage of the noun form. It is important to note that the noun form, in the sense of fire power, usually occurs in the plural—arms—and often collocates with the word ammunition: 1)The recent civil strife leading to the massacre of hundreds of innocent people has led to the government’s withdrawal of arms and ammunition from the people.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

Gov. Elrufai's Tyranny And Journalist Luka Binniyat's Prosecution

It's no longer news that Luka Biniyat ha been incarcerated and now in jail despite his poor health. What was supposed to be a normal court procedure became a charade of the highest order as the judge after the hearing ordered that Luka be remanded in prison until the 20th of July. The judge, by keeping Luka in the prison walls definitely is acting a script carefully put together by Elrufai who is desperate to prove a point that he is Lord of the law and has power to twist our Nigerian constitution to suit his purposes.

Kaduna State, under the leadership of El Rufai has degenerated to an all time low. At the slightest provocation, he deploys executive powers given to him through a mandate. He has mischievously transformed this power into an instrument of coercion and oppression to humiliate and torment citizens of the State, particularly those of the southern extraction, the very same people whose votes he sought to be so elected governor today. These are the same people he seeks to humiliate and it appears to be a hobby and his favorite style.

Months ago, Luka Binniyat was charged to court for publication a story that turned out to be false. He was misled by someone who manufactured the story for purely selfish and pecuniary reasons. It was purely a game plan by the person in question in other to take advantage of his employer and to extort money from him. The employer, as soon as he realised that the story was false, turned his staff to the police and he quickly offered an apology to the government and retracted the story. The governor insisted and had his way with law enforcement agencies until the employer was docked and spent days in prison.

Elrufai's naivety and blatant disregard for law and due process, led him to arrest and prosecute journalists, lawyers and academics mainly those of them from southern kaduna whom he perceives to be his enemies. Their crime is that they are reporting events in the State as they unfold. This is clearly a manifest breach of fundamental human rights and disregard for the rule of law. El Rufai's clamp down on journalists and their subsequent arrest, detention and prosecution violates the very basic principle of justice as enshrined in our grand norm. Why should El Rufai arrest and prosecute Luka Binnayat the reporter of the story without prosecuting the carriers of the story which is Vanguard Newspapers?

Nasir El-Rufai

Let's not forget that on the 27/07/2015, El Rufai, accompanied by the Deputy governor filed a case in the State High Court Lagos against The Union Newspaper for reporting his asset declaration falsely.

If the governor can sue a whole Publication company without suing the reporter who reported the story, why is he prosecuting Luka who merely reported the alleged killings at the College of Education Gidan Waya without prosecuting Vanguard, the Publishers? Meanwhile, Luka Biniyat, upon the discovery that the story wasn't as accurate as he was made to understand, made attempts to call the editor but failed as each time he called, the editor had excuses for him. Undeterred, he sent a text message to the editor asking that the story be stepped down. Yet, Vanguard Newspapers went ahead to publish the story. So the question remains, why is Luka prosecuted while the editor and the publishers are walking about free? Is there something sinister between the governor and Vanguard Newspapers?

It clearly shows that the governor is carrying out vendetta and demonstrating that he has an axe to grind with Luka by insisting, that he must be punished for daring to take on the person of El Rufai and his administration. If the intention was good and altruistic, he ought to have dragged Vanguard news Papers to the court and not Luka Biniyat as he did in the case of Union Newspapers.

Meanwhile, governor El Rufai, speaking to Channels TV reporters vowed to prosecute and arrest anyone who peddles and circulates false stories about the unfortunate crisis in Southern Kaduna that led to wanton destruction of lives and property. If he was sincere in his outburst, why has he not apprehended and prosecuted Alh. Haruna Usman who deliberately misled the public and lied by giving a press text to journalists that 17 herdsmen were killed in Dalle, Kariyo village of Jama'a LGA of Kaduna State? The Army came out with a public statement issued out by Deputy Director, Army Public relations Col. Kingsley Umoh to disproof Alh Haruna's claim. Today, Alh Haruna is a free man and boldly walking down the streets because he has the protection of his kinsman, governor El Rufai.

Very recently, a group of miscreants converged in Kaduna and issued the Kaduna declaration asking Southerners to vacate the North by 1st October. Weeks have passed by after the Kaduna declaration, the culprits and perpetrators of hate speech are still and enjoying the protection of the State Governor. They are traversing the length and breadth of this country as free men. Clearly, without equivocation, we can say there are two sets of rules for two sets of people.

Equity and equality is what leaders strive to bring to the society and they make sure they provide equal playing ground for everyone without discrimination irrespective of ethnic, political and religious affiliation. Leaders should not be found manipulating the justice system to witch hunt individual citizens. El Rufai has failed this basic test.

Luka Biniyat, by his arrest and detention has become a victim of human right abuse and his fundamental human rights grossly trampled upon for simply carrying out his professional duties.

What could be more unjust than seeing how the governor of a state using state might to abuse the mandate freely given to him by the people to suppress and crush the very same people he swore to protect and uphold their dignity?

We urge the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El Rufai to abandon his despotic approach and embrace a more tolerant approach in handling very sensitive issues such as those that pertain developments in southern Kaduna. We seek the immediate release of Luka Biniyat and any other victim of free speech who are presently facing frivolous and trump up charges preferred against their persons. We insist that due processes must be followed always in handling cases and we abhor the manipulation of law enforcement agencies and judges by the governor. He is a democratic leader and not a tyrant. El Rufai can still tow the path of honour now by releasing the journalist so that he can adequately take care of his failing health.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

IN CELEBRATION OF OKPEWHO’S LIFE AND LEGACY

A year after Isidore Okpewho’s death in the US, his friends, associates and admirers converge for a literary evening in his honour in Asaba.

Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

TRIBUTE Meeting place: Hotel Benizia in Asaba. Among the guests expected here tomorrow are the literary community’s leading lights. But this is really not about them. Rather, the meeting – which calls itself a "literary evening" – turns the spotlight on the departed literary titan, Isidore Okpewho.

It was only last year that Okpewho closed his eyes to this side of existence at 74. Indeed, it’d be exactly a year by tomorrow, September 4. This was in a hospital in Binghamton in New York, US, where he had lived and taught since 1991. More detailed reports suggested that he battled an undisclosed ailment and died "peacefully" from it.

Subsequently, on Saturday, September 17, his earthly cloak was interred at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover in New Jersey. This was after a funeral mass, among other rites, held the previous day at St Vincent de Blessed Sacrament Church in New York.

Meanwhile, the tomorrow’s "literary evening" in Asaba – billed to hold from 1pm to 5pm – is expected to feature special readings from two of Okpewho’s award-winning books (The Victims and The Last Duty), short critiques, eulogies and anecdotes, among others in celebration of the departed. The guest list, which flaunts names like Professor Pat Muoboghare, Dr Sunny Awhefedha, Odia Ofeimun and members of the deceased’s family, requires the participants at tomorrow’s event to deliver 10-long eulogy on the life, works, scholarly stature and literary relevance of the late Okpewho. They are also enjoined to speak on Okpewho’s "exemplary dedication and commitment to his chosen career or indeed any other aspect of the outstanding scholar, as [they] may deem appropriate and comfortable to handle."

Okpewho, known to have been a novelist, poet, folklorist, scholar and university administrator, was described by the poet Niyi Osundare as "a Jack of many trades and master of all, who left his mindprints on virtually every aspect of African literature and literary studies".

Okey Ndibe, a celebrated writer and visiting professor of creative writing at St Lawrence University, Canton, USA, was certain that "even in death, his name, reputation and work, his memory, would never dim or lose their lustre but would remain vital."

Marame Gueye, an associate professor of African and African Diaspora Literatures in the English Department of East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, US likened the death of "a scholar and mentor such as Isidore Okpewho, [to] losing a parent".

Chiji Akoma, the acting chair, Department of Global Interdisciplinary Studies and associate professor of English at Villanova University in the US described the late writer as "a true iroko tree standing majestic in the public square, unperturbed by the passage of time".

Okepwho would probably have winced at this eulogy. For he was a man known for his discreet lifestyle. This must have informed his family’s decision to make this important anniversary celebration a private affair. According to one of his acolytes, Professor Nduka Otiono, who spoke for the late writer’s family: "To commemorate the one-year anniversary of Professor Isidore Okpewho’s passing, his family will be gathering with friends to share memories, stories and prayers at his graveside in celebration of his rich life and legacy."

As a foremost scholar of African oral literature and award-winning novelist, the late literary titan has engraved his name in the consciousness of many Nigerian literary enthusiasts. It is not surprising, therefore, that the news of his passage last year was received with shock in the Nigerian literary circles both at home and in the diaspora. Indeed, his renown as a distinguished man of letters continued to linger even within the first one year after his death.

Otiono also noted that this has been acknowledged by intellectuals from various parts of the world. Several activities had held posthumously in his honour. Among these was the special roundtable on his life and work at the 2017 African Literature Association (ALA) conference at Yale University. The event, chaired by the new President of ALA, Professor Adeleke Adeeko, featured associates and speakers who had been taught by professor Okpewho and who had become professors in North America. Born in the Delta State town of Agbor to an Urhobo father and a Igbo mother, he had his early education at St Patrick’s College in Asaba. Later, he studied classics at the then University College (now the University of Ibadan) in Ibadan and graduated with a first-class honours degree. He would later further burnish his credentials with a PhD in comparative literature from the University of Denver in the US and a D. Litt from the University of London, UK.

He had first worked at the Federal Ministry of Education, then at the Federal Ministry of External Affairs before becoming an editor with Longman Publishers, a post he held for eight years.

While in the US for his doctorate, he had taught at the University of Buffalo, The State University of New York from 1974 to 1976, Harvard University from 1990 to 1991 and Binghamton University.

His stint in academics also saw him becoming a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in 1982, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in 1982, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences in 1988, the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute in 1990, National Humanities Center in 1997, and 2003 Guggenheim Fellowship.

Okpewho would become the president of the International Society for the Oral Literatures of Africa (ISOLA).

The fact that he wrote, co-wrote and edited 14 books, dozens of articles and a seminal booklet established his literary prominence. His four novels – The Victims (1970), The Last Duty (1976, winner in manuscript of the African Arts Prize for Literature, an international competition organised by the African Arts Center, UCLA), Tides (1993, winner of that year’s Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, Africa region), and Call Me By My Rightful Name (2004) – are not only studied in Africa and other parts of the world, but also translated into other languages.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

#ResumeOrResign: The Senate & Police Are Enemies Of Nigerians, Working With The Cabals

We have read with utter dismay the statement credited to the Chairman of the Media Committee of the Senate, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, condemning our daily #ResumeOrResign sit outs. Dr. Abdullahi’s comments were lacking in the depth, insight and critical analysis expected of a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

2. We have also read the statement credited to the FCT Abuja Command of the Nigerian Police Force that it was compelled to disperse today’s sit out because it was infiltrated by miscreants and criminal elements. It is disheartening that a law enforcement agency can resort to such brazen and easily disproved lies, especially in the face of an abundance of evidence that participants at the sit out conducted themselves with decorum and within the ambits of the law.

3. It is shameful that Dr. Abdullahi and the Nigerian Police Force deliberately fail, refuse and neglect to recognize that the Constitution of our beloved nation guarantees all Nigerians the right to peacefully gather in furtherance of peaceful and lawful adjectives.

4. For the avoidance of doubt, we hereby clarify the following facts:

a. We informed the Police and the State Security Service (SSS) of our intention to hold this peaceful sit out starting from Monday, August 7th, 2017.

b. Having conducted ourselves peacefully and properly on Monday, we sought to conduct our daily sit out in the same manner today. We were surprised to find Policemen at the Unity Park venue of the sit out in large number but sought to peacefully go about our affairs.

c. None of the participants at our sit out was armed or carrying weapons of any sort.

Charly Boy leads Resume or Resign protest Sahara Reporters Media

d. None of our participants were confrontational or aggressive with the Police. At various points, we insisted on our rights to peacefully gather but at no time was any police man or officer threatened with physical violence of any sort.

e. There is an abundance of evidence on social media that shows that at all times the Nigerian Police was the aggressor using attack dogs, tear gas, water cannons and other such materials to threaten, harass and intimidate participants at the sit out.

5. In the face of such evidence, it is shameful that a Senator, who ought to act as a custodian of our laws and deploy deep insight in the protection of the civil rights and liberties of the Nigerian people, speaks in such a manner. It seems that Dr. Abdullahi requires a crash course in the protection of the civil rights of the Nigerian people. In this wise, we refer him to the comments of Senator Shehu Sani where the latter clarifies that we have a right to convene peacefully to press home our demands.

As it stands, with comments like the ones made by Dr. Abdullahi, it seems as though the Senate has taken an anti-people position and is willing to side with the cabal that seeks to hold Nigeria and all Nigerians hostage by every means necessary.

It is, therefore, imperative for all members of the Senate such as Senator Shehu Sani who are willing to side with the Nigerian people to stand up and speak out in order to protect our democracy.

6. It imperative to note that while the Nigerian Police Force deployed a considerable amount of manpower, resources, and arms to harass and intimidate law abiding Nigerian citizens, Boko Haram (the terrorist organization) attacked and killed 31 fishermen in Baga, Borno State. The Nigerian Police Force, and indeed the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will be better served if such critical assets as were deployed to harass and intimidate innocent and law abiding Nigerians were deployed to combat terrorists who seek to violate our territorial sovereignty and abrogate our constitutional rights and freedoms.VIDEO: @PoliceNG lies exposed #ResumeOrResign protesters led by @Areafada1 did not come To Unity Fountain with miscreants pic.twitter.com/qddBNEIvUq

7. In furtherance of our rights as guaranteed by the Constitution, we reiterate our position that:

a. The Nigerian people deserve to know the true state of health of President Muhammadu Buhari.

b. The Nigerian people deserve to be governed by a President who is fit to perform the duties of his office.

c. That after spending 93 days abroad, it is imperative that President Buhari returns to Nigeria to carry out his functions as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or he resigns from office so he can cater to his health.

8. In this wise, we will continue our daily sit out tomorrow Wednesday, August 9th, 2017. We invite all Nigerians and all members of the media to join us.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

Niger Delta No Longer Attractive To Investors

Mr Igo Weli, the General Manager, External Relations, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), on Thursday said the Niger Delta was no longer attractive for investment.

Weli made the claim in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on the sideline of an SPDC sponsored two-day meeting with stakeholders in Abia and Rivers states.

He said that declining interest by investors was partly due to restiveness, damage of facilities and the unpredictable nature of the region’s business environment.

"The Niger Delta is no longer attractive to investors, as most businesses have already left with new and potential investors preferring to invest in other places like Lagos.

"There are issues in Nigeria today but there are parts of the country that are still working.

Even in the midst of these issues and challenges, Lagos is making progress.

"Investors are going to Lagos because of the choices the state government makes and the way they organise themselves and the confidence that gives to investors, which is the reverse in the Niger Delta.

"If Dangote could invest 18 billion dollars to build a refinery in Lagos that ordinarily should be sited in the Niger Delta, then the Niger Delta should be seriously concerned.

"The region is depriving itself of investment, employment and business opportunities because of endless agitations and choices it took out of anger," the SPDC official said.

Weli explained that Dangote refinery alone would create over 149,000 new jobs with the economies of Lagos and other South-Western states the major beneficiaries.

He said that unemployment was on the rise in the Niger Delta partly because most firms have left while others have reduced their operation in the area.

Weli wondered why the region was yet to develop despite benefiting from 13 per cent derivation and presence of establishments like the Niger Delta Development Commission; Niger Delta Ministry and Amnesty Programme.

According to him, people who desired to hurt SPDC forget that the company was a global brand with assets all over the world, and as such, could make adjustments.

"Even the existing companies’ activities are dropping because everyday instead of spending time thinking of how to grow the business; the companies are busy thinking of how to manage crises.

"So, people need to think deeply before they act because perception of the situation in the area is likened to one day one trouble, and no longer one week one trouble.

"We should ask ourselves questions of why the region is not on the path of progress; why its roads, schools, hospitals and electricity are not different.

"Well, we should look no further because it is simply the choices the region is making," he said.

Weli said that re-positioning of the region would involve collaboration of all stakeholders including both state and local governments; the private sector and the people. (NAN)

[janniesanjuan-blog]

Fertilizer Dilemma: Fear Of Poor Yield Grips FCT Farmers

The cheering news came recently from the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association (FEPSAN) that Nigeria would begin to export fertiliser in the next five years, going by the programme of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI).

FEPSAN executive secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Rabiu Kwa, who gave the assurance in Abuja, said the PFI strategy had led to the revival of 11 fertiliser blending plants across the country with six others coming on stream this month, and was now working towards increasing production for export.

While the innovative efforts of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), also known as the Sovereign Wealth Fund, had substantially brought down the price of fertilizer, ended fertilizer subsidy and ensured the availability of the commodity, some farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) still complain of not being able to afford the commodity.

Their situation was further compounded by the alleged hijack of interventions from politicians in the area. FCT Senator, Philip Aduda, had on April 29, 2017, presented six truckloads of fertilizer to the six area councils for distribution to farmers.

Daily Sun also gathered that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) administration, headed by Abdullahi Candido, and his counterparts in Bwari (Musa Dikko) and Kuje (Abdulahi Galadima) also gave out subsidised fertilizer to farmers.

Dikko, at the official launch of the distribution of 60 metric tonnes of fertiliser and other farming items to farmers in Bwari last month, said the gesture was to encourage farming.

He said: "We will ensure every farmer benefits from the distribution of these products because we have brought the price down to the lowest level you can get in the market.

"A bag of fertiliser that costs N7,000 will be sold at N1,400; a knapsack sprayer, which costs N7,500 will be sold at N1,500 each. A 50kg bag of rice will be sold at N200, while 50kg bag of maize will be sold at N300, we are sure these amounts will not be expensive for farmers in the community.’’

Dikko further promised to establish a committee, made up of district heads, community leaders and ward councillors, to ensure equitable sale of the items.

He said that official reports would be expected from the committee at the end of every sale to ensure accountability.

But the head of the agriculture department in the council, Dr. Godwin Abah, has identified paucity of funds as a major challenge against fertiliser distribution in the community.

Though a predominantly farming area, the council spent N10 million to procure about 1,200 bags of fertilizer, 115 sprayers; 200kg improved seeds of rice and 400kg of maize to be distributed to farmers.

However, farmers who spoke to our reporter complained that the interventions of the area councils did not only come late but were also not significant, especially for a government that has talked much about agriculture.

For instance, while Bwari distributed 1,200 bags of fertilizer in July, Kuje only kicked off the exercise two weeks ago.

Even at that, farmers alleged that several of the inputs, including the batch from their senator, were diverted by those entrusted to distribute them, mainly non-farmers who sold them for financial benefit. They claimed that the development affected their farming activities negatively this year.

The farmers have vried foul, accusing the foot soldiers of the politicians in rural areas of hijacking the fertilizer meant for farmers. They maintained that the distribution process was riddled with dirty deals.

Farmers in Kagini, Karu, Kuje and some other communities of the FCT alleged that most of the beneficiaries in their areas were not farmers.

A farmer in Kagini, Dantani Sabo, said, "I heard that a hundred bags of fertilizer were sent to this place, but only two measures were given to me.

"What will a farmer do with just two mudu of fertilizer that is not up to a bag? I’m a complete farmer that needs at least 10 bags upward."

Similarly, the village head of Kaba in AMAC, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar, flayed representatives of politicians in his area over the sharing process of the fertilizer meant for farmers.

Abubakar confirmed that he was invited to Apo, venue of the fertilizer distribution, but he only heard of it and could not get a bag.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has exposed the new tactics adopted by fraudsters who adulterate fertiliser in the country even as government has crashed the price of the product.

"We have reduced the price of fertiliser to N5,500 nationwide, but the problem we have now is that some people, fraudsters, are now using bags that bear Federal Government and its logo to sell adulterated fertiliser.

"We are warning both merchants and blending companies to desist from such activities, because we will go after them and, when caught, they will have a long walk with the police and the court," Ogbeh said.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

Benue Govt. Shut Over 2,000 Illegal Schools

The Benue State Government has shut about 2, 424 illegal schools in the state following failure to meet minimum standard.Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Dennis Itavyaar, who announced this, on Tuesday, at a press conference at the Government House in Makurdi, said the affected schools included, 1,925 nursery and primary schools, 435 secondary schools as well as 14 tertiary institutions. Ityavyar, who posited that the schools were shut because they failed certification by the Ministry of Education in meeting phase 2 approval, also decried the increasing number of illegal schools springing up in the state which he said have constituted a big set back to the educational sector as they have continued to produce half baked graduates. "These illegal schools have been responsible for the poor performance of our students in both internal and external examinations. The State ranked 14th in the last WAEC. This is not good. We should rank first because education is the only industry in the state and the Governor is so passionate about improving the educational sector." The commissioner also frowned at the decay in norms and values by the youths, attributing it to poor education, maintaining that the closure of the schools was a deliberate step towards revamping the educational sector of the State.While saying that the decision to close the schools was not meant to witch-hunt anyone, he, however, warned that itwould no longer be business as usual for anyone who feels he or she can just wake up and start a school without the requisite qualification and certification.

"This section is not intended to witch hunt anybody. It is for our collective good. Those who think they are above the law, it is no longer business as usual. An enforcement committee has been set up in all the 23 local government areas to ensure compliance. We have involved all the Security agencies including the Police, Department of State Security, area education officers among others. "Any attempt by anyone to reopen the schools, such person will go to jail. However owner of the closed schools can come to us and if they meet the minimum standard, they will be reopened", Ityavyar said.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

Strange Disease Kills 50 In Kogi

The Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC), owner of National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) has commissioned the 330kV Switching Station located in EssienUdim / IkotEkpene LGA of Awka Ibom State.

Commissioning the switchyard project, the Minister of Power Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, said the station involves three double circuit lines that stretched over 287 kilometres.

They will energise the IkotEkpene-Calabar, IkotEkpene-Alaoji, and Ikot-Ekpene-Ugwuaji Transmission Lines.

Fashola said the project is meant to increase transmission grid capacity, adding that the completion of the switching station is a prove that those who have been telling the public that the transmission capacity is static at 5000 MW are wrong.

The minister explained that all the power plants in the Eastern Region have combined capacity of 1,846MW, comprising 561MW Calabar, 450MW in Alaoji, 185MW Ibom power and 650MW Afam VI.

He said before now, the first three plants were producing 100MW each and 300MW for the Afam VI power plant, all totalling 600MW.

He added that with the commissioning of IkotEkpene Switching Station, there will be incremental output until full capacity is available to add an extra 1,246MW to the grid.

He commended the management of NDPHC who midwife the project and the focused dedication of Ugbo and his team for this great success.

He stated: "What is different about these projects is that it involves three double circuit lines that stretch over 287 kilometres. It is meant to increase transmission grid capacity and now that it has been completed, it proves that those who have been telling the public that the transmission capacity is static at 5000 MW are wrong.

"Secondly, you have heard the story of stranded power. That is power that is either present because the plant exists but has no gas.

That is true and government is working to facilitate gas access to those plants.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

I Can’t Quit Acting For N30b –Tope Tedela

The Senate on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari has not violated the law regarding his long absence from duty.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabiu Abdullahi, the Senate said: "The president has broken no law and therefore we do not see any justification for this diversion and noise making. The sponsors of protest for his resignation are merely seeking cheap publicity at the expense of the peace of Nigeria.

"We, in the National Assembly, are satisfied that there is no vacuum. The Federal Government is working.

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is providing the required leadership. So, there is no reason for the protests."

There is some element of truth in the Senate’s position, considering the provisions in section I45 of the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended. It is unfortunate that it was the same National Assembly that amended this section 145 at the peak of the late President Umaru Musa Yar Adua’s health saga that nearly plunged the country into political crisis.

But instead of stipulating the time lag on when a president or governor can stay out of duty after handing over power to his deputy, the National Assembly left it open ended for reasons best known to them.

As it is today, Buhari may not have broken any law, because the constitution is silent on how long a president or governor can stay off duty after handing over. So, it appears there is nothing one can do, not even Charly boy and his cohorts who are protesting.

Even if Buhari could be removed through other means, of which the Senate is expected to play a major role, its position has shown that the lawmakers may not be handy or willing to do so. But morally, the onus lies on Buhari and his cabal to do the needful and save the country further tension and embarrassment.

I Believe In Restructuring-Osinbajo Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday said at no time did he describe those calling for the nation’s restructuring as ‘political jobbers.’

The acting president said this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.

Akande said Osinbajo had expressed support for state police based on the community policing model and had advocated for devolution of powers and fiscal federalism.

He said his principal was surprised at media reports quoting Chief Ayo Adebanjo as saying that the Acting President described agitators of restructuring as political jobbers.

Osinbajo should be reminded that as a renowned pastor, he ought to have known that there is a huge difference between belief and reality. Yes, before now, he may have believed in restructuring, but his actions and inactions so far have proved otherwise, especially since he became acting president.

Nigerians understand his predicament and challenges, considering that he is doing everything possible not to offend his boss and the cabal, who are benefiting from the status quo. But it is hoped he knows that he cannot be under his boss forever. After all, 2019 is coming closer.

For this obvious reason, matters of the moment should not be Osinbajo’s utmost priority, but that of posterity and betterment of the country. The agitation and the call for restructuring are not dying down and may not soon. It has come to stay and the country cannot be the same again, no matter how long it takes. The call for restructuring is a double- edged sword that must be handled with care.

Corruption Fuelling Agitations In The Country-Magu The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has blamed corruption for the various agitations to break up the country.

He made this known on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the management of Daily Trust Newspaper in Abuja.

Magu said the agitations were caused by corruption, noting that the greedy still want to continue plundering the nation’s wealth.

He lamented that corruption is fighting back and the corrupt are being celebrated, adding that some of them have taken over a section of the media.

He said there was no better time to end corruption than now that there is the political will to do so, "If we don’t do it this time around, just forget it."

Magu’s narrative lacks specifics, having failed to state how corruption fuels present agitations. Corruption may have been fighting back, because it has not been institutionally and transparently tackled. The anti-graft agencies appear to be more engrossed in media trial and shadow chasing than proper investigation and diligent prosecution. No wonder the agency has lost some high profile corruption cases in recent times.

Even the recent brickbats between Magu and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN) over how to handle some prosecutions was a pointer that all is not well in the graft fight.

Saraki Returned Pension Payments-Kwara Govt The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has stopped collecting pension and returned all payments made to him, the Kwara State Government has announced.

A statement by Isiaka Gold, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), on Wednesday said Saraki stopped collecting the payment since August 2015 and had returned all he collected prior to that time.

Earlier, Mr. Saraki had said he had returned the pension paid to him by the state government, following criticism of former state governors collecting pension while holding new political offices.

But Mr. Gold said Saraki, on his own volition, considered the morality of the situation since he is still a serving senator and "chose to abandon his legal rights."

Hmmm, Kwara State government!!! Nigerians, especially the people of the state will like to see financial evidence and records of how Saraki returned the pension he has collected. It is not enough to say that Saraki has returned them with any substantial evidence. Maybe Kwara State government still thinks that all Nigerians are gullible.

So, Saraki has been collecting pension, even as a serving senator and the state government and Saraki kept it secret and remained quiet until people let the cat out of the bag. But who blames the state governor who happens to be Saraki’s godson.

Now that Saraki has owed up to collecting pension as a serving senator for years, what happens to other ex-governors, now senators that are also collecting pensions from their states? When are they going to return theirs even if only for them to issue statements and stop collecting?

It is highly immoral for ex-governors, who plundered state resources for eight years, owing salary and pension to be collecting pension, even if it is their legitimate entitlement.

Newly-Registered Party, APDA Erupts In Crisis, Suspends Dokpesi, Nwanyanwu Leadership crisis has erupted in the newly-registered Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), with the suspension on Tuesday of three of its key leaders.

Those suspended are the proprietor of the African Independent Television, AIT, Raymond Dokpesi, Dan Nwayanwu and Mainassara Ilo.

Their suspension was announced via statement issued on behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC) by its National Secretary, Emeka Okengwu.

The action followed the sack of the party’s National Working Committee earlier on Tuesday by the National Executive Committee of the party.

Dokpesi, Nwanyanwu and Ilo were accused of holding "illegal" national executive council meeting of the party during which they suspended the national working committee.

Some may say this is too early. But this is not surprisingly or unexpected, considering that party politics in Nigeria is not only a big business, it is all about the selfish interests of the politicians and not about the people.

Again, since the electoral law gave the party leadership the power to decide its candidates for elections, irrespective of the outcome of primaries, crisis and conflict of interests will continue to afflict political parties. This is why independent candidacy should be urgently considered and included in the electoral laws. That is if the political conspirators, who are great beneficiaries of the present system allow it to see the light of the day.

Atiku Abubakar

2019: PDP Moves To Woo Obasanjo, Atiku, Others The PDP on Tuesday inaugurated a reconciliation committee headed by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his Gombe State counterpart, Ibrahim Dankwambo.

The party also inaugurated the convention and disciplinary committees, headed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Chief Tom Ikimi, respectively.

The event took place at the Chida Hotel, in Abuja, where the National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, told the reconciliation committee to see to the return of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki and many others.

While inaugurating the three committees, Makarfi said; "reconciliation is a gradual thing but we must do it with all sense of sincerity."

With this move, PDP just like other major political parties has shown that nothing has changed in its recruitment process. Why wooing Obasanjo, Atiku, and Saraki again, even when Obasanjo had openly tore his membership card, Saraki and Atiku have defected to the ruling APC? Are there no other credible Nigerians that the party can bring into its fold to boost its chances of bouncing back to power quickly? Besides, how possible and soon can the party reconcile Obasanjo and Atiku, whose differences have lingered for years.

It seems the party leadership has not learnt any lesson from its recently resolved crisis. From every indication, Saraki and Atiku are nursing presidential ambition in 2019. Is it not likely that if they return to the PDP, their ambitions will plunge the party again into another crisis? This is especially as the party has before now zoned its 2019 presidential ticket to the North.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

I Want To Become An Actress

Nairaland Forum / Entertainment / TV/Movies / I Want To Become An Actress (10238 Views) How Do I Break Into Nollywood As An Actress? / My Girlfriend Wants To Become An Actress! / I Want To Become An Actress (1) (2) (3) (4) (0) (1) (2) (Reply) (Go Down)I Want To Become An Actress by Anoushka(f): 4:51pm On Mar 15, 2006 Hey,does anyone know how I can act in Nigeria and do adverts as well? and i can actually act(not like our so-called nollywood actresses).Please i've always dreamed of it.Thanks 1 Like Re: I Want To Become An Actress by hazeleyes(f): 11:02pm On Mar 15, 2006 Hi Anoushka,

I really do hope you get what you want, however, isn't it a bit harsh dissing the 9ija actors.

obviously, you might be good, but lets encourage them

Yeah Re: I Want To Become An Actress by keliscia(f): 5:16pm On Mar 23, 2006 Hi!

To every body, i want to complement all the actresses in nollywood, i think they are great and my dream is to become an actress one day. Kiss Re: I Want To Become An Actress by LoverBwoy(m): 6:00pm On Mar 23, 2006 I think u should enrol in a drama school

u know when your are watching nigerians films, there are some funny directors that put their number on the DVD covers or in the adverts u watch just call them n tell them to hook u up!

make sure u don't go to nigeria just for a film maybe when your on holiday u can plan to hook them up WITH UR PARENTS OR RELATIVE!

they wont pay your flight money by the way Re: I Want To Become An Actress by keliscia(f): 6:05pm On Mar 24, 2006 thanks a lot loverbwoy ,i will do take your advise :d Re: I Want To Become An Actress by freddie1(m): 9:06pm On Mar 24, 2006 just visit my sites and i'll let u in on how to go about it. Re: I Want To Become An Actress by chinani(f): 1:01am On Mar 25, 2006 Hone your craft. I give you props for knowing the difference between "real" acting and some of the Naija actors etc. I give them props too but ppl we've got to step our game up. I think since your in Wales you should join a theatre company if possible. Stage acting is different from acting on the screen but it'll be a great way to meet ppl, learn on the job, and see a little on the production side. If not take a class or do "community theatre", kiddie shows or whatever. Try to meet people, NEVER burn a bridge and think/walk/live being an actress. This means, when you meetsomeone say "I am an actress" rather than "I want to be an actress". They'll say "what have you done?" and you'll say "Not much, but have you heard anything?" You'll be surprised that they have a cousin, blah, blah, blah. This "cousin" will lead to lots of dead ends and some projects that are out of your "range" for whatever reason. But that's o.k. b/c you only get your foot in the door or "discovered" once and everytime you put yourself out there you're getting a step closer.

I'm actually writing a screenplay that takes place in Nigeria. We need more ppl going home to showcase talent so, again, PROPS. Re: I Want To Become An Actress by TYPOP(m): 2:45pm On Mar 25, 2006 @chinani

These actors and actresses are actually trying. So many things are working against them. We are BACKWARD in terms of technology. Thumbs up for them. Re: I Want To Become An Actress by chinani(f): 7:43pm On Mar 25, 2006 @ TYPOP

You're right. I wasn't trying to hate on them. My apologies. I watch the movies and enjoy them as well. However, there is always a place for criticism. In the creative arts/world it leads to improvement. No one can say that the current stars should be content w/ their level of expertise. They should continue improving just like Nicole Kidman, Warren Beatty, Denzel Washington and more early in their career.

I was only trying to encourage Anoushka to do better than those before her. The advice would have been the same if she was heading to Hollywood instead of Nollywood. Re: I Want To Become An Actress by TYPOP(m): 11:44pm On Mar 25, 2006 @chinani you are right. Plenty space for improvement.

@Anoushka you should perform better when we get to see you in films. Re: I Want To Become An Actress by keliscia(f): 6:56pm On Mar 26, 2006 well i think you get wrong when you say that the nollywood people must improve like the hollywood, to say it all i just start wacthing nigerian films, because i live in between London and Italy. And since i was kid i have bean watching american films i mean all those stuf,and i really want to say that the nollywood actresses are really great, i enjoy a lot watching them, they are so SIMPLE REALISTIC CREATIVEand UNIQUE ,i prefer nigerian films hundred times also because at the end of the film there is allways a MORALITY that lead you in life, but americans films are not realistic ,THEY ARE ALWAYS THE SAME. I WANT TO SAY THAT NOLLYWOOD IS MORE THAN HOLLYWOOD in the way they act, CIAO Re: I Want To Become An Actress by TYPOP(m): 8:28pm On Mar 27, 2006 @keliscia I'm not sure I agree with you. There are so many things that are not real in our movies especially most of their love stories. They don't just happen. Re: I Want To Become An Actress by chinani(f): 8:32pm On Mar 27, 2006 @ Keliscia

I wasn't trying to put anyone down. I just meant: keep working to be a great actress. That's about it. Re: I Want To Become An Actress by keliscia(f): 11:47am On Mar 29, 2006 @TYPOP WELL TYPOP (LOVE STORIES ARE THE PART THAT MAKE US DREAM)IT IS TRUE THAT IT JUST DONT HAPPEN, BUT IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT SOME LOVE STORIES START AND END LIKE THAT,THAT IS WHY I SAY THAT NIGERIAN FILMS ARE REALISTIC.

@chinani HI! I DONT KNOW BUT I THINK YOU WHERE TALKING ABOUT ME WHEN YOU SAID THAT WHEN YOU MEET SOMEONE YOU SHOULD SAY :I AM AN ACTRESS RATHER TO SAY I WHAT TO BE AN ACTRESS. WELL I DID SAID :I WANT TO BE AN ACTRESS BECAUSE AM NOT LIKE ANOUSHKA YES I LIKE THE CONFIDENCE THAT SHE HAVE IN HER SELF, BUT I CANT PRESENT MY SELF SAYING THAT I AM BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT AREA, THEY HAVE BEEN CHOOSE BECAUSE THEY ARE GOOD, AND THEY ARE ACTRESS, I SAID I WANT TO BE AN ACTRESS BECAUSE I THINK HUMILITY IS THE BEST SOLUTION IN LIFE CIAO Re: I Want To Become An Actress by LoverBwoy(m): 9:57pm On Mar 29, 2006 i got some contact details from a film i watched which actually call for anyone interesed in a career in the film industry and Music.

" email you CV and photograph to ogdtalents@yahoo.com

they all have their contatc number

0803 452 5908 0803 818 5225 0802 622 6384 01-34 2220 add 00234 when calling from outside the country e.g, 002348034525908

the advert was from the film MADAM DEAREST produced by Tunde Ogidan, good quality film OGD pictures/Dove media

Goodluck Re: I Want To Become An Actress by chinani(f): 1:21am On Mar 30, 2006 @ keliscia

I applaud your humility. Yet, I wasn't saying that Anoushka is better than the Nollywood stars or that they were so bad. My intention was for the phrase "I am an actress" to be an exercise in confidence and reinforcement. By saying it you are reinforcing the idea and it takes confidence to say it aloud to strangers. You will start thinking "am I?" and then "OK well, what can I do to bring it to fruition?" On the other hand "aspiring" does not give an individual a timeline or a kick in the pants b/c one can "aspire" their whole lives. This idea isn't everyone's cup of tea. Honestly, it's kind of goofy advice so feel free to ignore it. Alls well. Re: I Want To Become An Actress by vichel(m): 2:30am On Mar 30, 2006 First of all, don't take a picture close to a hamper, it kind of makes u look like a regular chick, and we do not need regular chicks in our movie industry. Please disregard everything i have just said, just kidding. Try to get in contact with right people, am sure your dreams would be met. Re: I Want To Become An Actress by keliscia(f): 2:26pm On Mar 30, 2006 @vichel don't worry thanks 4 your advise :Pkiss Re: I Want To Become An Actress by whiteroses(f): 2:35pm On Mar 30, 2006 keliscia is so fine, that is so gay of me. lol. you look exactly like my school daughter that's why i comment. Re: I Want To Become An Actress by vichel(m): 5:49pm On Mar 30, 2006 Whiteroses, u are definitely creeping me out , but hey u both very cute Re: I Want To Become An Actress by keliscia(f): 12:24pm On Mar 31, 2006 @whiteroses

THANKS A LOT 4 YOUR COMMENT I REALLY APPRECIATE, YOU LOOK GOOD TO. YOU ARE REALLY A BEAUTIFUL LADY Re: I Want To Become An Actress by LoverBwoy(m): 1:01pm On Mar 31, 2006 yo keliscia, who is in that in your profile and who's that up thurrr? ^^^

If u are the one up there , i can be your manager

how old are u by the way ? Re: I Want To Become An Actress by whiteroses(f): 2:10pm On Mar 31, 2006 thanks keliscia and vichel. mwaah Re: I Want To Become An Actress by keliscia(f): 7:00pm On Apr 01, 2006 @loverBWOY YES I AM THE ONE, THANKS 4 THE COMPLEMENT, YES I KNOW AM REALLY BEAUTIFUL(JUST KIDDING ) THANKS!!!!!!!! Re: I Want To Become An Actress by adekemi(f): 1:43pm On Apr 14, 2006 i will like 2 be an actress i think i have this thing inside of me that i want to let the world to see Re: I Want To Become An Actress by LoverBwoy(m): 2:06pm On Apr 14, 2006 yea i wanna see that thing too boo boo

Send it to me @ adekemi , i wil hook u up Re: I Want To Become An Actress by TYPOP(m): 2:19pm On May 06, 2006 @whiteroses ,

@LoverBwoy , Hey, what do you want to do with adekemi? Re: I Want To Become An Actress by eveseh(f): 5:57pm On May 06, 2006 good luck Re: I Want To Become An Actress by LoverBwoy(m): 7:07pm On May 08, 2006 TYPOP:

@whiteroses ,

I was actually expecting to see a white lady on your profile. Was dissapointed, not by the beauty, but by the colour. You look cute.

@LoverBwoy , Hey, what do you want to do with adekemi?

how can you be dissappointed by her color??

what i want to do with adekemi?

i want to see that "thing inside of her" Re: I Want To Become An Actress by smartsoft(m): 10:50pm On May 15, 2006 If she is still intrested, she can mail me to uc.smartsoft@gmail.com and i would hook her up with someone. Re: I Want To Become An Actress by mcmohd: 8:15pm On Aug 17, 2006 Hi!

What I would suggest you to create your profile on http://www.talentgroups.com and then create your own Music Group / Movie Group or you can join any other existing group to participate in movie making or music album. Once your group will become complete then you will be able to make your own movie or pop album.

How it works? Just check it out at http://www.talentgroups.com

Hope this helps

Mohtashim Re: I Want To Become An Actress by Oracle(m): 6:04pm On Aug 18, 2006 Have you people asked Orikinla? I think you should mail him and let him know what you want, he might be able to help

(0) (1) (2) (Reply) Latest Bollywood Mp4 Songs, Indian Mp4 Video Songs / Your Favourite Int'l Channels And Your Favourite Programmes There? / TSTV Decoder Price And Full Channel List (Go Up) Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket Links: (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2017 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

A Thought For Indigenous Peoples

It is safe to conjecture that by the term indigenous peoples, it should be understood that the International Day observed on August 9 each year refers to the people living in a particular geographical area before either colonialism or urbanisation, or both caught up with them resulting in the dilution of their ways of life or even wiping out such traits altogether.

There are many instances of countries where the aborigines, as they are sometimes referred to, are marginalised in the scheme of things in a territory they have the right to claim as their own.

Time was when such territories were said to be made up of fauna and flora. In other words, the humans living in those areas before the invasion by outsiders were not recognised as humans; hence, the word fauna, a reference to them as animals and attempts were made to wipe them out by people on a fabled civilising mission.

The day, therefore, is set aside to deliberately promote and protect the rights of such indigenous population. Specifically, it is meant to recognize the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection.

It was first pronounced by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1994, marking the day of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, in 1982.

It was celebrated every year during the first International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (1995–2004). In 2004, the Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade, from 2005–2015, with the theme, "A Decade for Action and Dignity". The United Nations’ intention in marking this day is to encourage people from different nations to participate in observing the day to spread the UN’s message on indigenous peoples as well as draw attention to the plight they are compelled to face by circumstances beyond their control. Activities may include educational forums and classroom activities to gain an appreciation and a better understanding of indigenous peoples.

There are an estimated 370 million indigenous people in the world, living across 90 countries. They make up less than five per cent of the world’s population, but account for 15 per cent of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures.

Indigenous peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences and efforts to politically make them irrelevant, indigenous peoples from around the world doggedly hold on to the life they cherish just as they share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.

Indigenous peoples have sought recognition of their identities, way of life and their right to traditional lands, territories and natural resources for years, yet throughout history their rights have always been violated. Indigenous peoples today are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world. The international community now recognizes that special measures are required to protect their rights and maintain their distinct cultures and way of life.

Ten years ago, on 13 September 2007, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a major milestone with respect to the cooperation and solidarity between indigenous peoples and Member States.

The Declaration is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of indigenous peoples. It embodies global consensus on the rights of indigenous peoples and establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for their survival, dignity and well-being. It elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms, as they apply to the specific situation of indigenous peoples. Over the last decade, the implementation of the Declaration has achieved some major successes at the national, regional and international levels. Despite the achievements, there continues to be a gap between the formal recognition of indigenous peoples and the implementation of policies that affect them.

In Nigeria, the Gbagyi people, who rightly qualify as the indigenous people in what is today known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) marked the day, earlier in the week, with cultural displays and other activities designed to call attention to their existence as a distinct people in the maze that Abuja has become.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

Letter To President Muhammadu Buhari (IV)

RingTrue with Yemi Adebowale; yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com; 07013940521 (text only).

My dear President Buhari, I welcome you back from your medicals in the United Kingdom and sincerely hope that you are as fit as a fiddle as we have been made to understand. This idea of working from home, following the alleged mutilation of your office by rats, leaves me bemused. Nevertheless, I was glad when you said you were monitoring developments in Nigeria throughout your 103 days abroad. As a result, I thought you would have deeply reflected on the challenges at home and swiftly effect changes in many areas in order to pull back our great nation from the precipice. Eight days after your arrival, I am yet to see any signal in this direction. When you departed for your medicals, this country was experiencing an unprecedented division. Our fault lines were wide open. You stoked these fault lines with your lopsided appointments and "why should I treat them equally’ statement.

By the time you returned, things had assumed a frightening dimension, with some misguided youths even threatening Igbos in the North with a ludicrous quit notice. The truth that must be told is that this country has never been this divided. My dear President, you must take practical steps to patch this division. You have to concretely show that you are father to all in order to halt this slide and entice everyone to you. This, you have not done in the last eight days. As a first step, I would like to see a fair representation of every part of this country in the top hierarchy of federal departments and agencies to assuage marginalised sections of the country. Please, let’s start seeing eggheads from the South East heading strategic federal departments and agencies.

Mr. President, it is pertinent to reiterate that the changes you promised in many areas are yet to manifest. One of such is the faltering war against Boko Haram. I am sure that you monitored stories on the killing of 69 oil explorers and soldiers in Borno State few weeks back. You must have also monitored how the terrorists boldly showed the video of 14 women abducted in Dalwa village on June 20. Boko Haram has spent the better part of this month attacking Konduga and Madagali, with dozens of people killed. The continuous voter registration in the entire Madagali Local Government has been suspended due to the attacks. Many are worried by the spate of suicide bombings in Borno State and the failure of government to curtail the terrorists. The University of Maiduguri has also been repeatedly attacked. In the last seven months, these terrorists have attacked the university nine times, killing innocent people, including a professor of veterinary medicine, Aliyu Usman Mani. Never in the history of this institution has this much pain been inflicted on its staff and students. Tales from other towns and villages in Borno State are not palatable. The terrorists are everywhere. This is why millions of IDPs in many camps across Borno State can’t return to their homes. These towns and villages are still not safe.

Mr. President, clearly, the situation in the North East is not getting better. Under your watch, thousands of innocent Nigerians have been killed in the last two years by Boko Haram. It is pertinent to rejig the military leadership in charge of this war. They have to make way for others with fresh ideas. It is also germane to make the welfare of soldiers on the war front a priority. They are at present getting a poor deal from their commanders. Still on welfare of our soldiers, Mr. President, you need to call for the files of the 38 soldiers illegally dismissed by the military authorities last year. There is a deliberate delay in transmitting the appeals of these innocent officers to you.

Fulani herdsmen, kidnappers, ritual killers and armed robbers are still ravaging the nation. There is hardly any state immune to any of these evils. Nigerians are living in fear. We are daily assaulted by well-coordinated gangs of kidnappers, armed robbers and herdsmen. Mr. President, I am sure that you monitored the story of those hapless Lagos pupils that spent over two months in the den of kidnappers. Parents and relatives had to pay N30 million to secure their release. On Tuesday, former minister of Labour, Hussaini Akwanga was abducted in his farm in Nasarawa State. So many other Nigerians without "big names" are abducted daily across our country and forced to pay ransom. Some are even killed in the process. Our security agencies have been lethargic in their response to these challenges. Whether it is the menace of kidnapping, armed robbery or rampaging herdsmen, the truth is that our security agents can no longer adequately protect lives and property, not only because they are ill-equipped, but also because of the high level of ineptitude in these organisations. The police and the DSS require total overhaul, if we genuinely need appropriate response to these security challenges.

Mr. President, there is a legion of sycophants around you who are persistently telling you that you are doing well. Don’t be deceived. These people are just out to protect their meal tickets. Infrastructures across the nation are in shreds. The economy is still very much in tatters, with frightening unemployment figures, dwindling industrial capacity utilisation and inflation hovering around 17 per cent. Hunger, disease, poverty, unemployment and malnutrition are ravaging our land. Hundreds of Nigerians are losing jobs daily, no thanks to the recession in our nation. This week, the National Bureau of Statistics confirmed how no fewer than 8,663 banks’ employees lost their jobs in the first half of 2017. A large army of unemployed youths is a time bomb. It is gradually exploding in form of rising crime rate.

On your war against corruption, Mr. President, I am not sorry to say that you have been struggling to build Ibrahim Magu, instead of building an institution truly committed to the war against corruption. The EFCC regularly bungle a number of high profile cases due to the faintness of this organisation. If you don’t carry out an urgent surgery in the entire institution, this war will largely remain rhetoric and a battle against opposition. This institution called EFCC has to be truly independent for it to actualise its mandate. For now, it remains an appendage of the Executive.

On the flip side, I am horrified by your persistent medical trip abroad. Since you clearly stated that taxpayers’ money would not be used to pay for foreign medicals of public servants, I hope this will be your last medicals abroad. As a reminder, you announced in April 2016 that your administration would no longer provide allowances for medical trips by government officials, unless the case can’t be handled in Nigeria. You stated this at the opening ceremony of the 56th Annual General Conference of the Nigeria Medical Association in Sokoto State. Health Minister, Isaac Adewole, who represented you said: "The government will not encourage medical tourism with the nation’s resources. While this administration will not deny anyone of his or her fundamental human rights, we will certainly not encourage expending Nigerian hard-earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad, when such can be handled in Nigeria." We have not been told what your current health challenge is, but with focused investment in equipment and manpower by you, I doubt if there is any health challenge that can’t be handled in this country. Mr. President, please, reflect on the recent statement of the Nigeria Medical Association, advising you to upgrade medical facilities in our dear nation to the standards obtainable in the United Kingdom instead of persistently going there for treatment.

Please, don’t take upbraids in this letter personal. I am out to challenge you to raise your game in the interest of the country. I simply want you to rise above ethnic and religious sentiment and act as the father of the entire nation, to move Nigeria forward.

The Fallacy about Police Permit to Protest in London

Some members of the Buhari band have been creating an erroneous impression on the social media that the protest against Buhari in London last week would not have taken place without the approval of the London police. One even remarked that "those saying police approval is not required to protest in Nigeria need to know that even in developed societies, an approval is required to protest." This is a fallacy. The police approval is not the source of the right to protest in the United kingdom and other developed societies. The source of the right to protest in these countries is the constitution and it is a fundamental right. Refusal of the police to grant the request to protest (which is rarely done) would not mean that a protest would not go on. In these sane societies, police approval is usually sought for protection, particularly to manage disruption by counter-protesters.

Even when it is obvious that a protest would likely be violent, approval to protest would still be granted by police in developed societies and preemptive security arrangement put in place. A good example is the protest against capitalism at the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland in July 2005. Scottish police granted approval and took proactive steps to avert violence. Nevertheless, the protesters damaged business premises, attacked policemen and caused chaos on the transport network in Central Scotland. Vehicles, banks and a Burger King restaurant on the Springkerse retail park in Stirling were attacked. Scottish police decently battled them without killing anybody and restored order.

Article 11 of the UK Human Rights Act passed in 1998 affirms that the right to peaceful assembly cannot be interfered with merely because there is disagreement with the views of the protesters or because it is likely to be inconvenient and cause a nuisance or there might be tension and heated exchange between opposing groups. It states further that there is a positive obligation on the State to take reasonable steps to facilitate the right to freedom of assembly, and to protect participants in peaceful demonstrations from disruption by others.

In Nigeria, the fundamental right to protest without any police approval has been affirmed (courtesy of Buhari) by our courts and should be respected by all. Recall that Buhari was harassed by the Police on September 22, 2003 while holding a protest (without police approval) against alleged rigging of the 2003 general election. Police justified the disruption with a claim that Buhari did not obtain a permit from them. Displeased with this, Buhari and the ANPP instructed Femi Falana to sue the Police to justify the legal validity of requesting police permit to protest against the government.

This resulted in a suit challenging the constitutionality of the provisions of the Public Order Act relating to police permit. In the ruling, the judge held that Police permit was inconsistent with Sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The appeal against the judgment at the Court of Appeal by the Police was dismissed by Justice Olufunmilayo Adekeye. Sequel to the judgment, the National Assembly amended the Electoral Act to facilitate the enjoyment of the fundamental right to freedom of assembly and expression. Thus, Section 94 (4) of the Electoral Amendment Act, 2015 stipulates that "notwithstanding any provision in the Police Act, the Public Order and any regulation made thereunder or any other law to the contrary, the role of the Nigeria Police Force in political rallies, processions and meetings shall be limited to the provision of adequate security as provided in subsection 1 of this section." Clearly, those still talking about police permit for protest are the biggest enemies of Nigeria.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

Our National Leaders Are Behind APC Crisis In Akwa-Ibom ― South-South Zone Women Leader

Fresh from their 1-0 defeat of Mali in an international friendly in Rouen, France, on Friday, the Super Eagles have arrived in Luxembourg to prepare for their last game in the two-game tour of Europe.

The Super Eagles defeated Mali through a superb strike by second half substitute, Kelechi Iheanacho.

They will meet Luxembourg in another game tomorrow in the European country.

According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Eagles’ delegation left Rouen yesterday and after a few hours flight, they arrived Luxembourg, where they are lodged at the Alvisse Parc Hotel, an impressive facility located on Route d’Echternach in Luxembourg City.

Friday’s defeat of Mali, according to the NFF, has buoyed the spirit of the players, who are now more confident as they prepare for tomorrow’s encounter with Luxembourg. The Eagles trained at the Stade Josy Barthel, venue of tomorrow’s clash with the Red Lions.

Meanwhile, the NFF has denied in a local website, which said that the Super Eagles could not exchange jerseys after Friday’s international friendly with Mali because the players do not have enough and only do ‘wash-and-wear’ of jerseys.

Team administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, wondered where such a story emanated from when the Malian players never offered to exchange jerseys with the Super Eagles at the Stade Robert Diochon.

"We have received calls from Nigeria that people are happy about the performance of this young team against Mali. Most people believe that we are on to a good thing with this crop of players but someone is only interested in spewing falsehood to try and embarrass the nation.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

WORLD ENVIROMENT DAY: Environment Now Threatened By Food Wastage

LAGOS State governor Babatunde Fashola has called on Nigerians to avoid food wastage, saying that it constitutes a challenge to the fight against global warming.

He also noted that avoidance of food wastage, would lead to efficient land use and improved water resource management.

Fashola, who said this recently in Lagos at the 2013 World Environment Day titled: Think, Eat, Save called on retailers, hospitality industry and restaurant operators to redesign product packages to avoid waste.

His words: ‘’Food wastage leads to the squandering of resources, such as fertilisers, pesticides and fuel, used for transportation. The volume of food going into landfill sites is enormous and this creates methane, which is one of the most harmful contributors to climate change."

The governor said statistics of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, an agency of the United Nations (UN), show that 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted in a world where one in every seven persons go to bed hungry daily.

"This is equivalent to the amount produced in the entire Sub-Saharan Africa. As if this is not enough, they said one out of every seven people in the world, including Nigeria, go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children below age five die daily from hunger.’’

In addition, he said, ‘’this report, for me, is unacceptable, unfair and harsh on posterity. Wastage occurs because many producers, retailers and consumers discard food that is still fit for human consumption.

That is why Nigerians must make informed choices in buying and consumption."

The governor further enjoined religious bodies, the government and non-governmental organisations, schools and institutions of higher learning to step up the campaign against wastage of food, charging them to educate the public to only procure and prepare the amount of food they could consume.

"We must make informed choices in buying and consuming food. Food wastage occurs because many producers, retailers and consumers discard foot that is still fit for consumption," he added.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos)

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Religion / David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) (31612 Views) T.B. Joshua Welcomed By Ecuador Military Generals (Photo) / David Ibiyeomie Uses Limousine For His Awareness Rally In Port-Harcourt (Pics) / 19-yr-old Pastor Impregnates Female Church Founder (PIC) (1) (2) (3) (4) (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (Reply) (Go Down)David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by FlirtyKaren(f): 8:01amThe rain in Port Harcourt didn’t stop female church members who wore matching outfits to welcome their pastor, David Ibiyeomie like royalty for a church function last Sunday.

http://www.lailasblog.com/see-female-church-member-welcomed-pastor-david-ibiyeomie-church-function-port-harcourt/ Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by UncleRichy(m): 8:02am this one dey are using females...

let me not talk.... before some people come for my head 86 Likes 2 Shares Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by kennygee(f): 8:06amThis is vain. Really vain. 65 Likes 3 SharesRe: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by jerryunit48: 8:06amNa wa sha , i will leave Jesus out of this 6 Likes Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by BigBelleControl(m): 8:09amAnd the walls look ugly. 6 Likes 1 ShareRe: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Tenkobos(m): 8:12amBluntBoy:

Everyone who wholeheartedly believes that Jesus is Lord has become a part of His Holy Priesthood and a representative of Christ to the lost ones. We are all ambassadors of Christ. We have all been "sent forth". Did you go? Are you doing that which you're sent to go and do? Even leaders elect a chairman when they meet. These are people who are more competent than others.

The meaning of "apostle" is "sent forth". So, because we have all been sent forth into the world to preach the Good News, we are thus all apostles. I ask again, what have you done so far as an apostle? Where is/are your work(s)?

Can they testify for you?

If you don't have people who will appreciate you this way then work harder and don't envy those who've reached certain stage in their ministry.

The Bible verse you quoted was to the Apostles who were sent forth. Since we have all become apostles by virtue of the commission given to each of us, that quote is also directed to us, not just to those who claim to be pastors with special anointing. These people welcoming this man are the evidence of his work. He was sent forth and he went and did that which he was sent to do and this here is evidence of it.

It is not about knowing that we are all have been sent, it is about doing what you're tasked to do.

These men(the genuine ones among them) toil day and night but none of you is noticing. They suffer for the gospel, they have many loads on their shoulders, they forget their own problems while attending to other people's own.

No one among you is doing that but just when he's appreciated for his sweats, y'all will remember that you're on the same assignment with him.

It is jealousy bro.

BluntBoy:

Paul was sent forth many times and never did he record being welcomed in the same way Jesus rode into Jerusalem. As a matter of fact, none of the Apostles expected to be accorded the same reverence that was accorded to Jesus Christ. They were always quick to tell people that they were men like them. They rejected being worshipped not being welcomed.

Please, let us stop twisting the Bible to glorify this brood of vipers. [/quote]Nobody is twisting the scripture. You agreed that we are all sent forth but the people like you and I horrible shepherds and incompetent ambassadors so let's not envy that are being appreciated for doing that which you and I were sent forth to do but we are not doing it..

Peace. Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by kennygee(f): 8:13amTenkobos: How?

Is the Word going to have less impact if the pastor just walks in and delivers his message? 105 Likes 3 SharesRe: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Celcius: 8:14amNobody forced them. Women kinda fancy such in churches. I may not blame the pastor. 19 Likes 4 SharesRe: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by zionmade1: 8:20amsee nothing wrong in that. wen men of jerusalem welcome Jesus on a triumphant entry, it was only the pharisees, sadducees and hypocrites that were all murmuring and talking rubbish. From this post, let all the pharisees, sadduccees and hypocrites show themselves now If i was there and i know the word of God he taught me has blessed me so much, i would even pull off my suit so that he will ride on it. He has blessed the life of so many 27 Likes 2 SharesRe: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Evaberry(f): 8:22amlol

Christian Yahweh I think it's time you end the world.

Everyday more people are being deceived

The worst thing is that many people will see nothing wrong with what they did. 8 Likes Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Evablizin(f): 8:23am

Good for them,the pastor did'nt force them neither did they sisters said no,i'm minding my business 1 Like Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Evablizin(f): 8:26amkennygee:

Is the Word going to have less impact if the pastor just walks in and delivers his message? Oh no Sister Kenny you're too much,nice questions 1 Like Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by ipobarecriminals: 8:28amhope they get married b4 they clock 30.Their mumu continue. Ibiyomie is their god 3 Likes Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by ipobarecriminals: 8:30am Mynd44, u see that moniker with mamaMynd44toto so? Do the needful or I'll help u disorganize his brain Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by AngelicDamsel(f): 8:41amIts not bad........... I am sure the women are welcoming while the men are observing.

If you get what I mean! 1 Like 1 ShareRe: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Tenkobos(m): 9:08amkennygee:

How does this welcome reception improve the spiritual life of these sisters?

Is the Word going to have less impact if the pastor just walks in and delivers his message? There is nothing wrong in what they did.

I can tell you some if asked. 13 Likes Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by kennygee(f): 9:29amTenkobos: There is nothing wrong in what they did.

Are you a Christian? If yes, does everything you do improve your spiritual life?

It is a way to appreciate his presence nothing else, churches do it. Organizations do it and we do it in weddings and even in sports. The world will not end if couples just go to a priest, we'd and go home without reception and others.

Moreover, the world will become boring as f if the only things we do are things that improve our spiritual life

Something similar happened during Jesus time, they spread leaves for his donkey to walk on and I can tell you categorically that it didn't improve their spiritual life. They were glad to have him in their midst and what they did was their own way of letting him know that he's well welcomed.

I don't know you personally but I am very sure that you as a person do many "vain things" that do not improve your spiritual life.

I can tell you some if asked.

Somethings are just unnecessary. 16 Likes 1 ShareRe: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Tenkobos(m): 9:53amkennygee:

Somethings are just unnecessary. Can you prove that they don't?

Matthew 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 5 Likes 1 ShareRe: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by kennygee(f): 9:55amTenkobos: Can you prove that they don't?

So if they receive him like that, who will receive me?

Aren't we all a royal priesthood? 3 Likes Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Tenkobos(m): 10:23amkennygee:

So if they receive him like that, who will receive me? Aren't we all a royal priesthood? You're a royal nun not priest

So nah Jealousy dey worry you? Come my house nah, I will lay down on the floor for you to walk on. Lwkmd Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by BluntBoy(m): 10:54amTenkobos: Can you prove that they don't?

If truly he's a man of God then he's Christ's ambassador and it is written that the fulness of God is pleased to dwell in Christ so yes they're welcoming Christ and God indirectly

Matthew 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Please, let us stop twisting the Bible to glorify this brood of vipers. 23 Likes 5 SharesRe: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by fowosh: 11:17amadvanced slavery 1 Like Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Ericaikince(m): 11:59am 1 Like Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by soberdrunk(m): 11:59amAre my eyes deceiving me or is that not Stella that shouts "kill me kill me, hit me hard, is that all you got" during our private 'fellowship', so this girl na worker 4 church........ 2 Likes Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by MykLANNY(m): 12:00pmThe pastor is reigning as a king Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Pweetyjuddy(f): 12:00pmLol...this one pass me oh Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by chinex276(m): 12:01pmall these gullibility... smh 1 Like Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by StRichard(m): 12:01pmPeople are becoming more stu pid everyday 1 Like Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Lexusgs430: 12:01pmHe is their GOD ..... 1 Like Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by habex005(m): 12:02pmking pastor turns church members to slave.... 1 Like Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Frenchfriez: 12:02pmNonsense bloggers. So what should we do about it? Re: David Ibiyeomie Welcomed By Female Church Members In Uniform (Photos) by Asatom(m): 12:02pmNonsense 2 Likes (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (Reply) Pastor Ogue Dies At Burial Service, Hours To Ministering / The Church Being Built By Governor Dickson In Bayelsa - Photos / "N42million Tithe In Benue Is Chicken Feed" - Bishop Kukah Viewing this topic: MENZPRIDE(m), Libo45, chezzy13(f), gibzzhd, Sunsets, JackBizzle, BIODAVY(m), Ajanitaka(m), Auxiliary(m), admeenat, sweetpaschal(m), Donwizy1(m), rajiolawale247, deltateam, ebony123, Finfadei(m), jampro123(m), Moheat(m), Dancos, Simpleguy11(m), Sheezy(m), proudlyme(m), sunkieisland, baobaku(m), zonas4luv, inourcare, Frankyboy1(m), Shedrack777(m), mixyz, Sylvarresta(m), ayobankzz(m), Tinablack, Dapsonemmanuel(m), Emmaxile(m) and 60 guest(s)(Go Up) Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket Links: (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2017 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise.

[janniesanjuan-blog]

Magu Will Remain EFCC Chairman – Osinbajo

The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, says President Buhari has resolved to work with Ibrahim Magu as EFCC Chairman to stamp out endemic corruption in the country.

Osinbajo, who spoke at the inauguration of the Kaduna office of the anti graft agency on Thursday, said that those who think that they were winning in fighting back against the government’s war on corruption, should wake up.

Represented by Gov Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Osinbajo said, so long as Buhari remained Nigeria’ s President Magu would continue to work as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

"Mr Chairman, two weeks ago, I discussed the EFCC and your appointment with President Muhammadu Buhari and he told me he has every confidence in you and every confidence in the commission and the work that you have been doing, and as long as he is president you remain the chairman of the EFCC,’’ he said.

El-Rufa’ i also told the gathering that the Acting president was also solidly behind Magu.

"Last night, I spoke with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who reconfirmed the position of the President and told me that as long as he remained the Acting President or Vice President, Ibrahim Magu would remain the chairman of the EFCC.

"That is the only message from the President, so those thinking that corruption is winning this war, Magu would remain their nightmare for the next two years or six years as the case may be.’’

The governor had earlier said his administration donated the office to the EFCC to demonstrate its "zero tolerance to bad behaviour by public office holders, contractors, businesses and citizens.

"We applaud the leadership of the EFCC for taking the significant step to establish a state office in Kaduna.

"I assure you that you can continue to count on us in Kaduna to support the commission in every facet of its activities.

"We have set aside land for your training school awaiting the submission of your application.

"We have also set aside land to build your staff housing estate, if you so require."

He said the state was first to adopt the Federal Government policy on Single Treasury Account (TSA).

The governor explained that as a result of that, over N25 billion was realised by the government after it closed about 470 accounts with commercial banks.

He said the anti graft agency had assisted the state government in recovering over N400 million from corrupt public officials.

Earlier, the acting chairman of the EFCC had called for public support to the agency in the fight against corruption in the land.

Magu said Nigerians must rise and do what is expected of them to reclaim their common wealth stolen by a few corrupt individuals.

"If we can pause and trace the root cause of the problem that confronts us as a nation, we will discover they are all linked to corruption.

"Corruption is the cause of the recession that has pushed our people deeper into poverty and the insurgency that has visited death, displacement and untold hardship on Nigerians in the North East.

"This is the reason I have suggested that we set up prison for the corrupt in the Sambisa forest, where they can be kept away and have the sobriety to be truly reformed," Magu said. (NAN)