Nigerian Eye

Obama denounces gun violence after latest deadly shooting

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US President Barack Obama denounced the country’s epidemic of gun violence on Saturday and renewed a call for tougher controls on military-style weapons after yet another deadly shooting, saying “enough is enough.”<br />
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The latest bloodshed came on Friday when a man entered a family planning clinic in the state of Colorado and allegedly opened fire, killing three people, including a police officer, and wounding nine others.<br />
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The motive of the suspect now under arrest was not known and police were to interrogate him Saturday.<br />
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The tragedy came a day after Americans celebrated their cherished Thanksgiving holiday, a time to relax with family, and ushers in the holiday season in earnest.<br />
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Obama said the suspect had been armed with an assault weapon — that was the first official word of this detail — and he also disclosed for the first time that the man had held hostages at the Planned Parenthood center from which he opened fire at people outside in an hours long standoff with police.<br />
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“We have to do something about the easy accessibility of weapons of war on our streets to people who have no business wielding them. Period. Enough is enough,” Obama said in a statement.<br />
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The gunman had entered a Planned Parenthood clinic around noon Friday and started shooting from a window. Police surrounded the building, and after an exchange of gunfire and a standoff lasting more than five hours the gunman surrendered.<br />
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Local police on Saturday identified the suspect as 57-year-old Robert Lewis Dear. News reports said he was from South Carolina.

Latest-News Obama denounces gun violence after latest deadly shooting

US President Barack Obama denounced the country’s epidemic of gun violence on Saturday and renewed a call for tougher controls on military...

Messi, Neymar, Suarez strike to keep Barca rolling

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Barcelona stretched their advantage at the top of La Liga to seven points on Saturday thanks to another clinical display from Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez to down Real Sociedad 4-0.<br />
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Messi was making his first league start in two months as he continues his comeback from knee ligament damage.<br />
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But the Argentine was initially outshone by his strike partners as they each swept home from two Dani Alves crosses to put Barca in command at the break.<br />
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Neymar then added his second shortly after the half-time before teeing up Messi for his first league goal since September in stoppage time.<br />
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Atletico Madrid can close the gap at the top to four points when they host Espanyol later on Saturday.<br />
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Meanwhile, Real Madrid are now nine points adrift ahead of their trip to Eibar on Sunday.<br />
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Barca boss Luis Enrique made four changes from the side that destroyed Roma 6-1 in the Champions League in midweek, but with Messi, Suarez and Neymar deployed once more in attack, the Catalans didn’t miss a beat.<br />
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Suarez should have opened the scoring after just two minutes when he was brilliantly played in by Neymar, but Geronimo Rulli rushed from his line to bravely smother the Uruguayan’s effort just inside his area.<br />
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The Argentine goalkeeper did well once more to deny Neymar at a narrow angle from Messi’s wonderful through ball eight minutes later.<br />
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Even when Rulli was beaten, the woodwork saved Sociedad when Andres Iniesta headed Suarez’s perfectly measured cross against the post.<br />
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The visitors’ luck eventually ran out on 22 minutes, though, when Messi released Alves down the right and Neymar was quickest to meet his low cross and drive the ball into the top corner.<br />
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Alves was the creator once more for Barca’s second just before the break as his floated cross picked out Suarez to acrobatically volley into the far corner.<br />
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Barca had to wait just eight minutes after the break for a third with the full-backs proving Sociedad’s downfall again as this time Jeremy Mathieu squared for Neymar to apply a simple finish.<br />
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That strike took Neymar and Suarez’s tally in La Liga this season to 26 — the same as the entire Real Madrid squad.<br />
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However, both then turned their hand to trying to set up Messi.<br />
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The four-time World Player of the Year fired into the side-netting and then straight at Rulli from two Neymar crosses before pulling a free-kick inches wide of the far post.<br />
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It looked like being a forlorn afternoon for Messi when his brilliant curling effort came back off the crossbar four minutes from time.<br />
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However, a final piece of magic between Neymar and Suarez allowed the Brazilian to roll the ball invitingly across goal for Messi to slot into an empty net and seal a fantastic week for Barca which has seen them take a strangle hold of La Liga and clinch their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Latest-News Messi, Neymar, Suarez strike to keep Barca rolling

Barcelona stretched their advantage at the top of La Liga to seven points on Saturday thanks to another clinical display from Lionel Mess...

Ighalo helps Watford defeat Aston Villa

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<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Watford condemned bottom club Aston Villa to their 11th defeat in 14 Premier League games.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Odion Ighalo poked home to give the visitors the lead, but Micah Richards’ header levelled it before half-time.</span></div>
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<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Hornets lost goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to a head injury, but Alan Hutton’s own goal and Troy Deeney’s bullet header put them in control. Jordan Ayew’s shot found the corner to give Villa hope but they could not equalise in 10 minutes of injury time.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The results means Aston Villa, on five points, have equalled the league record for the lowest points tally after 14 matches of a season.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And no Premier League team has ever avoided relegation having accumulated five points or fewer after 13 games of a season.</span></div>

Latest-News Ighalo helps Watford defeat Aston Villa

Watford condemned bottom club Aston Villa to their 11th defeat in 14 Premier League games. Odion Ighalo poked home to give the visitors t...

Crystal Palace trash Newcastle 5-1

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<div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alan Pardew enjoyed victory against his old club as Crystal Palace came from a goal down to trounce Newcastle.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Striker Papiss Cisse opened the scoring for the visitors with a glancing free header from close range on 10 minutes.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But Palace hit back quickly with two goals in three minutes through James McArthur’s deflected effort and Yannick Bolasie’s lashed finish.</span></div>
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<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wilfried Zaha volleyed home a third with Bolasie and McArthur heaping further misery on Newcastle.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Palace move up to seventh after a devastating display in which they could have won by more.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jason Puncheon and Joel Ward both had efforts saved by Rob Elliot – the goalkeeper could do nothing about the five he did concede though.</span></div>

Latest-News Crystal Palace trash Newcastle 5-1

Alan Pardew enjoyed victory against his old club as Crystal Palace came from a goal down to trounce Newcastle. Striker Papiss Cisse opene...

Support our efforts to curb corruption in Nigeria’s oil sector – Buhari tells international community

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday in Malta urged the international community to do more to support his administration’s efforts to curb corruption in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.<br />
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A statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by Mallam Garba Shehu, the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said Buhari made the call at a group meeting of Commonwealth leaders on corruption.<br />
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The meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, was attended by the leaders of Australia, Canada, Singapore, Malta, Sri Lanka, Botswana and Trinidad and Tobago.<br />
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Buhari said that corruption in the oil sector and outright theft of Nigeria’s crude oil had been exacerbated by the culture of impunity which reigned under previous administrations.<br />
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He said that corruption in the sector had also thrived because of the ease of transferring illicit funds abroad and the institutional protection given to corrupt officials in the past.<br />
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“Now that we have the political will to stop impunity, we need the cooperation and assistance of the international community.<br />
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“We must all work together to compel multinational oil companies, international financial institutions and international shipping lines to stop aiding and abetting corruption in the oil sector in Nigeria,’’ he said.<br />
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In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Cameron said that the Commonwealth and the international community must do more to fight corrupt and promote good governance.<br />
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“We care passionately about this issue of fighting corruption.<br />
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“In my view, this issue needs to have a much higher billing on the international agenda.<br />
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“Not just because fighting corruption is right in itself, but because all the other things we want to achieve as countries and members of the Commonwealth depend on our success in doing so.<br />
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“If we want fair economic growth, we need to reject corruption.<br />
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“If we want to see fair and sustainable development, we need to deal with corruption. I think this is an absolutely vital issue.<br />
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“It is an issue for all of us because so much of the money stolen from developing countries is hidden in developed countries.<br />
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“So dealing with money laundering, dealing with beneficial ownership and making sure we stop stolen money being hidden away in developed countries is absolutely vital,’’ Cameron said.

Latest-News Support our efforts to curb corruption in Nigeria’s oil sector – Buhari tells international community

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday in Malta urged the international community to do more to support his administration’s efforts to cu...

Does President Muhammadu Buhari have a conscience? by Femi Fani-Kayode

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”Aside the 105 soldiers killed by Boko Haram, additional 34 soldiers were killed two days ago but it wasn’t in the news”- Deji Adeyanju.<br />
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I concur with Mr. Deji Adeyanju. The most heartless and reprehensible thing that our government could have done is to cover-up the fact that 105 of our soldiers were killed by Boko Haram a few days ago. To do such a thing is simply evil.<br />
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A soldier ought to be honored in death and this is especially so if he dies in the course of doing his duty and fighting for his nation.<br />
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The government has not only dishonored them by not acknowledging their sacrifice but they have also buried them in the wilderness like rabid dogs.<br />
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This is wickedness of the highest order and President Buhari, his Chief of Army Staff and his Minister of Defense should bury their heads in shame.<br />
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Anyone that buys the lie and propaganda that the 105 soldiers never died and that they are still alive is a compound fool or village idiot.<br />
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Will the military also deny the fact that a few days ago 34 of our soldiers were killed by Boko Haram? These boys died for their country. Why deny them?<br />
I am outraged by the fact that a soldier will sacrifice his life for his country yet the citizens and authorities of that country don’t even appreciate it.<br />
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Pictures of the dead bodies were posted on social media. Everyone in the military knows that those soldiers are dead. It is an open secret. Yet because government denies it so many people just choose to believe them.<br />
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The truth is that Boko Haram must have used chemical weapons in the attack.When you look at the pictures of the dead bodies this is obvious. It was probably mustard gas.<br />
All we want from the military is the truth. If 105 soldiers were not killed then how many actually were?<br />
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The whole episode happened last week in Borno state and the military authorities are denying it. I am sickened by that.<br />
If others cannot appreciate the importance of honoring our dead soldiers, I can. I will not be intimidated and I will not remain silent.<br />
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Tell us where our boys are buried and if you refuse to do so we will keep asking. There must be accountability and respect for those that have made the supreme sacrifice just to keep the rest of us safe. Our soldiers deserve that much.<br />
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Finally let it be said loud and clear that since President Buhari came to power he has not bought one bullet for the military. Considering the fact that we are in the middle of a protracted and very bloody war I believe that this is utterly shameful. If you say you want to fight and defeat Boko Haram then why are you not buying arms for your troops?<br />
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This brings me to other matters and raises other questions about our President’s sincerity of purposes and commitment.<br />
You say that you are fighting Boko Haram yet you are travelling the world drinking tea with world leaders whilst your soldiers are secretly being slaughtered.<br />
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You say you are fighting Boko Haram yet you were nominated as their spokesman and chief negotiator 2 years ago in proposed peace talks with the Federal Government.<br />
You say you are fighting Boko Haram but the man you appointed as your National Security Adviser was retired from the army a few years ago for ordering the release of Boko Haram terrorists under suspicious circumstances.<br />
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You say you are fighting Boko Haram but the first thing you did when u came to power was to remove military checkpoints.This guaranteed Boko Haram free movement and access to the entire country.<br />
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You say you are fighting Boko Haram yet last year you told the world that an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the north.<br />
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You say you are fighting terror yet since you came to power Boko Haram has grown in strength, has regained lost territory and has been declared the ”worlds number one most deadly terror group” by the Global Terror Index.<br />
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You say you are fighting terror yet since you came to power Nigeria, according to the Global Terror Index, has been declared as not just having ”the first most deadly terror group in the world” which is Boko Haram but also of having ”the fourth most deadly terror group in the world” which is a group that the Index describe as the ”Fulani militants” and that we call the Fulani herdsmen.<br />
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You say you are fighting Boko Haram yet since you came to power Nigeria has been declared the world’s ”third most terrorised country” by the Global Terror Index after Iraq and Afghanistan which were declared first and second respectively whilst Syria and Pakistan were declared fourth and fifth.<br />
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You say you are a ”born again democrat” yet you voted against the protection of human rights at the United Nations alongside Iran, Zimbabwe and North Korea.<br />
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You say you respect human rights yet you barricade Colonel Sambo Dasuki, the former National Security Adviser, in his home, endanger his life, deny him medical attention, flout court orders and make him critically ill.<br />
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You say you respect human rights yet you arrest Governor Boni Haruna simply for standing as surety for Dasuki and you try to force him to abandon his friend.<br />
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You say you respect human rights yet you raid Governor Attahiru Bafarawa’s home and arrest and detain his son simply because he is friends with Dasuki.<br />
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You say you respect freedom of speech and human rights yet you lock up Nnamdi Kanu indefinitely and your security agents shoot two unarmed and harmless pro-Biafra youths to death in Enugu simply because they were involved in a peaceful demonstration.<br />
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You say that you are a believer in the rule of law yet you ordered your secret police to storm a sitting governors official home in Akwa Ibom knowing that he enjoys immunity from such matters.<br />
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You say you love Nigeria yet a bomb goes off in Kano killing over 21 people and instead of coming back home to mourn with your people you continue junketing around the world.<br />
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You say you know how to run Nigeria but according to Paul Wallace and Michael Cohen of the United States magazine known as Bloomberg Business your ”bounce has become bust”, your ”policies irk investors”, you have ”destroyed Nigeria’s economy” and you ”do not have the capacity to move the country forward”.<br />
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You say that you know how to manage the economy yet stocks and shares have crashed, small businesses are folding up, our foreign currency has dried up, industries are collapsing, agricultural output has decreased, our foreign reserves have been spent and the value of the naira has depreciated since you came to power and it continues to fall.<br />
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You say you know what you are doing and how to manage Nigeria’s affairs yet the U.S,-based Washington Times newspaper says that you lied to America about your so-called good intentions for Nigeria and that you have ”duped the United States of America” with your false promises and empty words.<br />
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You say that you are fighting poverty yet according to the Business Day Newspaper Nigerians are ”getting poorer for the first time since 1999”.<br />
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You say that you will restore our countries fortunes yet the fuel queues are back and the prices of food, transport and basic commodities are soaring by the day.<br />
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You say that you are a man of your word and after you were declared winner of the election you promised not to malign, persecute, witchunt, demonize, disrespect or go after President Goodluck Jonathan and members of his administration unless you had concrete evidence of wrongdoing yet when you came to power you did precisely that.<br />
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You say you are fair-minded, true to your friends, loyal to your supporters and always reasonable yet you did not concede even one ministerial slot or approve one ministerial nominee of the two men that helped you more than any others to win the presidential election, namely President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Bola Tinubu.<br />
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You say that you want the country to change, that you believe in fairness and equity, that you are a progressive, that you believe in a generational powershift and that you want the country to move forward yet you are trying to destroy Bukola Saraki simply because he won an election and became Senate President.<br />
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You say that you are fighting corruption yet no-one has been made to face the music or brought to book over the 25 billion naira REMITA and Systemspecs scandal and neither has the matter been clarified or resolved even though it has been established that the whole deal was struck under your watch.<br />
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You say you love Nigeria and all Nigerians yet your Fulani kinsmen, under the guise of herding cattle, are slaughtering thousands of innocent people all over the south and Middle Belt, yet you remain their Grand Patron and you refuse to utter to a word of condemnation for their actions.<br />
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You say you respect Nigerians yet every time you travel out of the country you spend your time telling foreigners and the foreign media how useless, rotten and corrupt your people are and how you are the only saint in Nigeria.<br />
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In view of all this I am constrained to ask whether President Muhammadu Buhari has a conscience or is it that he has just lost touch with reality? Everything that I said about him during the Presidential campaign has been confirmed and in just six months he has betrayed the trust and squandered the goodwill that the Nigerian people bestowed upon him in the March presidential elections. I have to say that I am not surprised by this because his ”change” mantra was just an illusion.<br />
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What he and his APC failed to disclose to the Nigerian people during the campaign is that what he meant by ”change” was a change from light to darkness. Sadly our people trusted him and now he has plunged our nation into that darkness.<br />
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May God enable him to find the courage to retrace his steps before it is too late and may the Lord deliver Nigeria from those that are around him that fail to tell him the truth.<br />
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I gather that they call those of us that oppose President Buhari and that are PDP supporters the ”wailing wailers”. That is an interesting expression because by the time Buhari finishes with Nigeria I have little doubt that the entire country will be wailing.<br />
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The truth is that I would rather be a ”wailing wailer” that posterity vindicates than a ”lying liar” or a ”howling howler” who has lost his way and who continues to have confidence in a man like Buhari and a party like the APC that is hell bent on destroying our country and our cherished democratic institutions with their Rambo-like insensitivity and total ineptitude.<br />
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All those ”lying liars” and ”howling howlers” that voted for President Buhari should clap for themselves for the terrible mess our country is now in. We will remember them in our prayers too.<br />
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Femi Fani-Kayode was former Aviation Minister.

Latest-News Does President Muhammadu Buhari have a conscience? by Femi Fani-Kayode

”Aside the 105 soldiers killed by Boko Haram, additional 34 soldiers were killed two days ago but it wasn’t in the news”- Deji Adeyanju. ...

Buhari’s six months of deceitful change – Fayose

18:38 Unknown 0

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<b>Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described the last six months of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as that of “deceitful change,” lamenting that the President was destroying the image of Nigeria and its people for cheap international recognition.</b><br />
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The governor, who also described the claim by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun that the ministry do not have details of any fund recovered from officials of the immediate past government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as a vindication of his position that the President was not saying the truth, said Nigerians must ask the President where the so-called looted fund was paid and who made the payments.<br />
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He said; “If the Ministry of Finance is not aware of any recovered fund, it is either those who purportedly made the refund did so by loading cash into Ghana-Must-Go bags and dropping the bags in the President’s bedroom or the fund was lodged into the Central Bank without records.<br />
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Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said “the only areas President Buhari has recorded tremendous achievements are areas of political persecution, disobedience of court order and desperate bid to turn the country to a one-party state as evident in the Kogi State election, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), headed by staged managed and muddled up.”<br />
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He said; “in the last six months, a section of the judiciary has been so openly manipulated by the Buhari’s administration such that different judgments were given in similar cases, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) getting negative judgments while the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured positive judgements in cases with similar facts and evidences.”<br />
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While sympathising with Nigerians, who were deceived to vote for the APC and are now bearing the brunt of the six months of Buhari’s administration’s cluelessness, Governor Fayose said; “It is painful that Nigerians are being made to suffer great hardships from fuel scarcity, thousands of people are still being killed in the North by Boko Haram, Chibok Girls are still not found, power supply has dropped, and above all; the unity of the country is being threatened as admitted by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, yet all our President does is junketing around the globe.”<br />
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Speaking further, the governor said; “Honestly, this change promised by President Buhari and his party, APC is nothing other than ‘one chance change’ and this has been attested to even by highly respected international news media.<br />
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“For instance, Bloomberg, in a report two days ago said hopes have fizzled in Buhari’s ability to turn around Nigeria and that money that flowed into stocks and bonds in Nigeria, which McKinsey & Co. says could become one of the world’s 20 biggest economies by 2030, is now fleeing as growth prospects diminish along with oil prices.<br />
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“Under President Buhari, the United States-based investment banking and financial services multinational J P Morgan ejected Nigeria from its Government Bond Index for Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) with effect from the end of October this year.<br />
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“Under Buhari, the future of workers are being threatened by the APC government plot to reduce minimum wage and retrench workers.<br />
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“Under Buhari, oil subsidy is to be removed next year January, thereby causing further hardship for the people.<br />
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“Under President Buhari, multi-national companies are laying-off thousands of workers while contractors working for the Federal Government have left their sites. Yet, what the President does is to junket from one country to another to cast aspersion on Nigeria and its people and one wonders how foreign investors will come to a country that its President says is peopled by rogues.”

Latest-News Buhari’s six months of deceitful change – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described the last six months of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as that of “dece...

Buhari appoints 30 federal High Court judges

16:07 Unknown 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8IEFqE0v7c2n4rjM7TClUGqfDAlY9v3i8raqQ2Xy7kVibJ8HyOcpUsh9ijtCeQU4kUoL9sIkA-AhYcwfuXb8Dhd2kZ1l6P4tkKy6pb1Gip6wMt5Ly2qPoMj22G1nHzscJ64mdYHu7N6I/s1600/Muhammadu-Buhari-court-suit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8IEFqE0v7c2n4rjM7TClUGqfDAlY9v3i8raqQ2Xy7kVibJ8HyOcpUsh9ijtCeQU4kUoL9sIkA-AhYcwfuXb8Dhd2kZ1l6P4tkKy6pb1Gip6wMt5Ly2qPoMj22G1nHzscJ64mdYHu7N6I/s640/Muhammadu-Buhari-court-suit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-left: 0.5rem; margin-right: 0.5rem; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of 30 new judges for the Federal High Court on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the NJC acting director (Information), Soji Oye.</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The statement said the new judges would be sworn-in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed on Wednesday.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The newly appointed judges are: Justices Yellin Bogoro (Bauchi), Rosemary Oghoghorie (Delta), Taiwo Obayomi Taiwo (Ogun), Ibrahim Watila (Borno), Mallong Hoommuk (Plateau) and Isa Dashen (Adamawa).</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Others are; Hassan Dikko (Kebbi), Jude Dagat (Kaduna), Olayinka Tokode (Osun), Simon Amobeda (Kogi), Jane Inyang (Cross River) and Daniel Osiagor (Rivers).</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also on the list are, Prof. Chuka Obiozor (Anambra), Iniekenimi Oweib (Bayelsa), Hassan Sule (Zamfara), Hadiza Shagari (Sokoto), Saleh Idrissa (Yobe) and Joyce Abdulmalik (Edo).</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also appointed are; Hillary Oshomah (Edo), Fadima Aminu (Adamawa), Toyin Adegoke (Kwara), James Omotosho (Ogun), Nehizena Ekunwe (Edo) and Stephen Pam (Plateau).</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Others are; Akintayo Aluko (Ekiti), Dr. Nnamdi Dimgba (Abia), Emeka Nwite (Ebonyi), Abdulazeez Anka (Zamfara), Abdu Dogo (FCT) and Adamu Muhammed (Jigawa).</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px 0.5rem 0.3em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(NAN)</span></div>
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Latest-News Buhari appoints 30 federal High Court judges

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of 30 new judges for the Federal High Court on the recommendation of the National ...

I’ll complete all projects before my tenure ends – Aregbesola

16:07 Unknown 0

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Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said all projects embarked on by his administration will be completed before the end of his tenure.<br />
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Aregbesola said that he was not bothered by politicians “fabricating lies over the state of finance of Osun State.”<br />
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The governor spoke in Osogbo, Osun State capital at the opening of a new privately-owned radio station, Rave FM, by the immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Yemi Farounbi.<br />
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Farounbi is a veteran journalist turned politician.<br />
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At the event, Aregbesola said all “detractors and opposition will soon come to appreciate my administration when all projects embarked on are completed before the end of my tenure in office.”<br />
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Though he acknowledged that things were financially tough for the state, he said help was on the way for the state.<br />
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He said the Gbongan-Akoda Road project and others in the state would commence before the first quarter of 2016 and that no project would be abandoned by his administration at the end of its tenure.<br />
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He said, “I will not be disturbed by bad comments from some people about my policies because I believe in God who sent me to Osun and supports me.<br />
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“What we are doing in Osun may not be appreciated now, but it will become what people will praise later; we came here and all we have been doing has been inspired by God.”<br />
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Aregbesola described as shameful the exaggeration of the debt profile of the state by some parties.<br />
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He said, “If we borrowed N800bn, like some (people) said, how could we have been able to pay the loan interest? How could we have survived? Though we took loan, and that is the only way we could have brought development to the state; as tough as it is, God and His help is on the way and Osun shall overcome.”<br />
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Farounbi thanked the governor for his support even though they belonged to different parties.<br />
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He said, “I remember when I was nominated as an ambassador and I needed the support of two senators from my state. I went to Senator Adeyeye, who is my brother, and all the senators in my state were from the Action Congress of Nigeria.<br />
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“It was Adeyeye who told me that I needed not to be bothered as the governor (Aregbesola) had instructed all the senators from the state to support me. Without meeting you (Aregbesola), you made me proud. I am grateful for all you have done, even though, I did not see you and despite the fact that we are not from the same political background.”<br />
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Meanwhile, the governor on Friday inaugurated the reconstruction of Olaiya-Junction-Asubiaro-Ita Olokan Road in Osogbo, the state capital.<br />
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The governor said the 2.8 kilometer road project was awarded to Messrs RATCON Construction Company Limited for N985m.<br />
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Aregbesola also said the state government would pay N392m as compensation to those whose buildings would be affected by the road construction.<br />
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According to him, the project will be financed from the money saved in a special purse by his administration.<br />
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The governor stated that he had written to the House of Assembly for permission to spend the money on the project, saying he believed God would supply the remaining fund to execute the project.<br />
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Claiming that the project would be completed in six months time, Aregbesola boasted that no governor, since the creation of the state, had worked for the development of the state than his administration.<br />
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He praised The Apostolic Church whose building the governor said would be demolished, for willingly agreeing that the property should be pulled down for the road project.<br />
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He said his administration would compensate the church to enable it to build another church.<br />
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Aregbesola, however, said he had paid workers’ September salaries and retirees’ pensions.<br />
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But the Peoples Democratic Party accused Aregbesola of insincerity regarding the road project.<br />
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The spokesperson for the PDP in Osun State, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, said in a statement that the state government had been allocating money for the construction of the same road in the last three years.<br />
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The statement read, “Why reconstructing Odi Olowo Road every year? What happened to the money allocated to it every year? From 2012, Odi Olowo Road has continued to be in the budget, yet nothing was done on the road.<br />
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“In 2013 and 2014, the same road was in the budget, contractors were paid and yet no serious work was done. We believe the latest inauguration is another avenue to make noise and after that spend the money on frivolity. This has exposed Aregbesola as a clueless governor.<br />
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“The people are dying of hunger daily, workers are not paid, contractors are not paid yet, Aregbesola wants to commence doing another reconstruction that will join the list of abandoned projects in the state.”

Latest-News I’ll complete all projects before my tenure ends – Aregbesola

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said all projects embarked on by his administration will be completed before the end of his tenure...

We are responsible for the suicide bombing on the Shiite Muslim procession - Boko Haram

15:52 Unknown 0

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Boko Haram on Saturday claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on a Shiite Muslim procession near the northern Nigerian city of Kano that killed 22 people.<br />
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The hardline Islamist group said in a statement in Arabic on social media its bomber “detonated his explosives which led to the death” of the victims on Friday.<br />
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“And by the permission of Allah these attacks of ours against Shi’a polytheists will continue ‎until we cleanse the earth of their filth,” it warned.<br />
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At least 21 people were initially reported killed but the toll rose after one more person was confirmed dead.<br />
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“For now, we have 22 deaths following the death of one more person yesterday. Thirty-eight people have also been injured, two of whom have been discharged from the hospital,” one of the organisers of the march Ali Kakaki told AFP Saturday.<br />
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He said that, despite the attack on Friday, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria members had continued their march from Kano to Zaria in neighbouring Kaduna state, where their leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky is based.<br />
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The march is to mark Ashura, which commemorates the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.<br />
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“Following the attack, many more of our members have joined the procession,” Kakaki said, adding that they aimed to arrive at their destination next week.<br />
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Friday’s attack took place in the village of Dakasoye, some 20 kilometres (13 miles) south of the city of Kano.<br />
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One of the procession’s organisers said a bomber clad in black ran into the crowd and detonated his explosives.<br />
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Boko Haram, the radical Sunni jihadists who want to create a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria, has previously been blamed for attacks on Shia Muslims in the region.<br />
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Boko Haram, whose six-year insurgency has left at least 17,000 people dead and made more than 2.6 million homeless, condemns Shias as heretics who should be killed.<br />
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The group has increasingly used suicide bombers against “soft” civilian targets since the start of a military offensive earlier this year that pushed them out of territory they controlled.<br />
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Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has given his military commanders until next month to end the conflict but there are fears that suicide and bomb attacks may persist.<br />
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(AFP)

Latest-News We are responsible for the suicide bombing on the Shiite Muslim procession - Boko Haram

Boko Haram on Saturday claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on a Shiite Muslim procession near the northern Nigerian city of Kano ...

Plateau bye-election: INEC seizes 7 PVCs, 5 fake agent cards

15:52 Unknown 0

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Jos says it has seized seven Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from under aged voters and five party agent cards during the Qua’an Pan North House of Assembly bye-election.<br />
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Prof. Anthonia Simbini, INEC National Commissioner, North Central, made the disclosure to newsmen in Kwa, Qua’an Pan on Saturday.<br />
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“We discovered in some polling units three major problems during the accreditation in this bye-election; under aged, fake party agent cards and low turnout of voters,’’ she said.<br />
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The commissioner expressed happiness with the presiding officers, who she said had turned away most of the under aged voters that came for accreditation.<br />
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“We have seen with our eyes and seized seven PVCs from the under aged and five fake party agent cards in some few polling units visited.<br />
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Simbini said it was totally unacceptable to see g under aged carrying PVCs to participate in elections.<br />
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“The children should not take the law into their hands but should wait until they reach the age of 18.<br />
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Commenting on the election, Dr Godwin Kwanga, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, described the accreditation as “peaceful and orderly.’’<br />
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He appealed to the people of Qua’an Pan to give the INEC officials the necessary cooperation for a successful and credible election

Latest-News Plateau bye-election: INEC seizes 7 PVCs, 5 fake agent cards

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Jos says it has seized seven Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from under aged voters ...

INEC to use 8, 000 ad hoc staff for Bayelsa governorship election

15:52 Unknown 0

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa has said that more than 8, 000 ad hoc staff would be engaged in the Dec.5 governorship election in the state.<br />
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Mr Baritor Kpagih, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, stated this in an interview in Yenagoa on Saturday.<br />
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He said that the commission’s permanent staff would also be actively involved in the conduct of the election.<br />
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“We will involve ad hoc staff, more than 8, 000 of them will be recruited; definitely in election period, most of our permanent staff are always involved.<br />
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“The ad hoc staff have been trained on what they should be doing while on duty; some of them were trained at the local government area headquarters.<br />
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“INEC in Bayelsa is working with the electoral guidelines and we will continue to do our best in ensuring that the governorship election in the state is succesful,’’ he said.

Latest-News INEC to use 8, 000 ad hoc staff for Bayelsa governorship election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa has said that more than 8, 000 ad hoc staff would be engaged in the Dec.5 ...

Appeal Court nullifies David Mark’s election

15:38 Unknown 0

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A Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, Benue state has nullified the election of former Senate President and lawmaker representing Benue South Senatorial District, David Mark and ordered a rerun within 90 days.<br />
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Mark’s victory at the polls was challenged by Daniel Onjeh, candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC).<br />
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The election, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was upheld in October by the National and State assembly petition tribunal sitting in Markudi.

Latest-News Appeal Court nullifies David Mark’s election

A Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, Benue state has nullified the election of former Senate President and lawmaker representing Benue S...

World leaders make Queen wait at Malta party

15:38 Unknown 0

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Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles were made to wait for world leaders at a drinks reception in Malta on Friday after the high-level guests got stuck in traffic on the Mediterranean island.<br />
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The queen and her eldest son were hosting a drinks party at the presidential San Anton Palace after the opening ceremony of the 2015 Commonwealth summit.<br />
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But the pair were left waiting for five minutes for some of the 10 new Commonwealth leaders attending, after most of them fell foul of heavy security measures which closed many roads.<br />
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“Are you sure they’re here?” quipped Charles as the queen, dressed in an aqua-green coat and hat with pink flowers on it, peered around the entrance to the Grand Master’s Hall where the reception was to be held.<br />
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Relief came in the form of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari — the first to arrive at the reception, where pomegranate and orange juice and Australian sparkling wine were served with a selection of canapes.<br />
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Queen Elizabeth, who is the head of the 53-country strong Commonwealth, was in Malta along with her husband Prince Philip, Charles and his wife Camilla.

Latest-News World leaders make Queen wait at Malta party

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles were made to wait for world leaders at a drinks reception in Malta on Friday after the high-level gu...

Samson Siasia’s mother freed by kidnappers

15:38 Unknown 0

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The police in Bayelsa have confirmed that abductors have freed the mother of Nigeria’s Under-23 National Team Coach Samson Siasia, Mrs Beauty Siasia.<br />
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ASP Asinim Butswat, police spokesman in Bayelsa, said the kidnappers freed the victim following a clampdown on their location by men of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of police in the state.<br />
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He said that the victim, 72, who was abducted on November 16, was dropped off at about 1.30am on Saturday.<br />
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Butswat said the police were cautious and professional in the operation to ensure that the hostage was freed unhurt.<br />
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“She is hale and hearty and has been reunited with her family and the police have intensified efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects,” he said.<br />
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(NAN)

Latest-News Samson Siasia’s mother freed by kidnappers

The police in Bayelsa have confirmed that abductors have freed the mother of Nigeria’s Under-23 National Team Coach Samson Siasia, Mrs Bea...

'I’m not a terrorist' - Kingsley Kuku

15:38 Unknown 0

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The Immediate past Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Hon. Kingsley Kuku, has cried out over surreptitious moves to link him with terrorist acts and stockpiling of arms in the country.<br />
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Kuku in a press release, yesterday, accused some desperate unnamed ‘Hawks’ of conspiring with some security agencies to frame him up as sponsoring terrorism with a view to preparing the grounds to arrest him on arrival in Nigeria.<br />
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Kuku has been abroad to seek medical attention over a broken knee, coinciding with his invitation by the EFCC to answer to charges bordering on the management of the resources of the PAP.<br />
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He is preparing to return to Nigeria any moment from now.<br />
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He said that the alarm became necessary following an online media report by a spectral Kano-based group, National Security Watchdog, which claimed that “there was incontrovertible evidence linking (me) to terrorist acts and illegal stockpiling of arms.”<br />
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The group had called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to initiate proceedings for Kuku’s extradition to face terrorism charges.<br />
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He said: “The claim by this group must not be taken lightly by either the government or well-meaning Nigerians.’’

Latest-News 'I’m not a terrorist' - Kingsley Kuku

The Immediate past Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Hon. Kingsley Kuku...

EFCC arrests ‘pastor’ for N200m alleged fraud

09:52 Unknown 0

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has picked up one ‘Pastor’ Jonathan for allegedly obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N200m.<br />
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The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement on Friday that the suspect had earlier jumped bail but was rearrested by operatives of the commission in a sting operation on Thursday.<br />
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He said the suspect was awarded a contract by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to construct a skills acquisition centre at Igualeba, Orhiomwon Local Government Area of Edo State which he failed to execute.<br />
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Uwujaren said the contract which was awarded to the tune of N1.7 billion was expected to be completed within a year.<br />
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He added that the contract was cancelled in 2011 when the contractor failed to complete the contract in 18 months.<br />
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It was further stated that the contractor approached Sterling Bank Plc to obtain a loan facility and presented a Certificate of Occupancy and a mortgage agreement letter to facilitate the loan.<br />
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The EFCC spokesman alleged that the documents presented by the suspect belonged to a former Governor of Cross River State, AVM Babatunde Elegbede, who died in 1994.<br />
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Uwujaren said the commission would charge the suspect to court soon.<br />
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The suspect was alleged to have connived with some members of staff of the bank and another accomplice to commit the alleged fraud.

Latest-News EFCC arrests ‘pastor’ for N200m alleged fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has picked up one ‘Pastor’ Jonathan for allegedly obtaining money by false pretence to the t...

Fani-Kayode blasts Buhari for traveling out despite increasing terror attacks

08:53 Unknown 0

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Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani Kayode (FFK) thinks it is insensitive of President Buhari to continue his foreign trips despite the increasing rate of terror attacks in Nigeria.<br />
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He took to Twitter to express his feelings..<br />
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Latest-News Fani-Kayode blasts Buhari for traveling out despite increasing terror attacks

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani Kayode (FFK) thinks it is insensitive of President Buhari to continue his foreign trips despite the i...

IK Ogbonna’s wife and son robbed in Lagos traffic

05:34 Unknown 0

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Nollywood actor IK Ogbonna shared on social media that his wife Sonia and 5-month old son Ace were robbed in traffic yesterday.)<br />
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The married father said the culprits smashed the car window, not even caring that there was a baby in the car and stole from them. After the incident he even spoke about perhaps getting a gun to protect his family.<br />
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He recounted the harrowing experience while lamenting the degrading state of security in Lagos State:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>“#ALLWEWANTISSECURITY</i><br />
<i>It’s so sad how we sit down and watch these armed robbers attack and terrorize innocent people on daily basis .. My wife and son were attacked around mile 2 in traffic and the bastards dint care if a baby was in the car , smashing the screen all over my 5 months old son snatching a hand bag and phone (which in this case wasn’t such a big deal) but when this becomes a daily routine and the GOVERNMENT sits back taking no action we really beginning to question our security.. Are we safe .. ?Tomorrow morning I am pretty sure I will wake up to another news of these bastards taking things from people in traffic . Please Lagos State, we love you so much we ,moved here to hustle , make a living and live in peace , happiness and security is something we have a fully right to demand for as citizens! This must stop!</i><br />
<i>My wife and son are safe that’s my only joy right now. Jesus is Lord”</i></blockquote>
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Yesterday, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, handed over series of security equipment and vehicles to the State Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), just as he charged them to ensure that the equipment are deployed effectively to tackle criminal activities as residents will no longer accept excuses.

Latest-News IK Ogbonna’s wife and son robbed in Lagos traffic

Nollywood actor IK Ogbonna shared on social media that his wife Sonia and 5-month old son Ace were robbed in traffic yesterday.) The ma...

Jonathan didn’t spend N64 Billion on Independence celebrations – FG

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The Federal Government has clarified the amount spent for independence anniversary celebrations between 2010 and 2015.<br />
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Information obtained from the Office of the Secretary General of the Federation (OSGF) in a letter dated October 12, 2015 and made available to BudgIT Nigeria, an organisation committed to exposing transparency and accountability in public finance, apparently showed that the Jonathan administration spent N333, 600, 000 for four years to hold independence day celebrations.<br />
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According to the letter by OSGF and signed by the Director (Finance & Accounts), Mohammed Lawal Garba, no funds were released for the independence day anniversary celebration in 2011. In 2012, N107,600,000 was released for the celebrations. In 2013, only the sum of N45 million was approved and in 2014, only N180 million was spent.<br />
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Recall that following the announcement that President Muhammadu Buhari earmarked only N70 million for the 2015 Independence Day Anniversary, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, took to his Facebook page on October 1, 2015, alleging that the administration of former President Jonathan spent N64 billion to celebrate Independence anniversaries between 2011 and 2014.<br />
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According to Governor El-Rufai, Jonathan’s administration spent N13 billion in 2011, N15 billion in 2012, N14 billion in 2013 and N22 billion in 2014.<br />
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But in a swift response, the immediate past Minister of National Planning during the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, Abubakar Sulaiman, said the Jonathan administration only spent N333 million on three independence anniversaries (2012-2014) and not the billions of naira being bandied about by the Kaduna State Governor.

Latest-News Jonathan didn’t spend N64 Billion on Independence celebrations – FG

The Federal Government has clarified the amount spent for independence anniversary celebrations between 2010 and 2015. Information ob...

Nigeria can’t sustain generator-based economy – SSANU

05:18 Unknown 0

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The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), yesterday, said that mass unemployment looms in the country following epileptic power supply that is hampering the operations of industries.<br />
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National President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Ugwoke who raised the alarm at the SSANU 2015 National Delegate Conference holding at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State, said many industries have started laying off workers which has adverse effects on the the country.<br />
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Comrade Ugwoke also berated state governors that recently said that they would meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on the possibility of stopping the payment of the agreed N18,000 minimum wage, saying that such plan was unreasonable.<br />
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According to him: “The nation’s economy would be better when we have the right people at the right places. We looked at the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and we’ve seen the effect.<br />
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“What some of us thought was that they would have made a trial elsewhere with one or two ministries to see how it wiould go before applying it at the national level.”<br />
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He further lamented over the perennial fuel scarcity in the country, noting that as a country that produces oil, there was no reason for the people of Nigeria to witness such scarcity.<br />
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He said: “Up till now, we are still having fuel scarcity because the government had not done what it is supposed to do. We are talking about anti-corruption; we have not seen anything there.<br />
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“That one or two people have been prosecuted is not enough to say we are fighting corruption. There is still oil bunkering, people are stealing the crude oil; a country that produces oil does not have oil. I bought fuel at almost N200 in Nigeria, and we are talking about economy.<br />
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“Industries will sack their workers sooner or later because there is no power; the power level is still low. An economy that is generator-based cannot guarantee companies to produce at 100 percent, and it is the workers who are suffering.<br />
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“So if a businessman cannot make profit, he will reduce workers and these people will come back to be unemployed, increasing the poverty level in the country. So government must look at the economy; we must go agro-base. We are blessed with arable land, including 6 to 10 months rain.<br />
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“So, why can’t we feed ourselves and other African countries? Even as we produce quality graduates, we can export them for money, and the economy will be boosted; and a situation where Chinese vulcanizers will come to Nigeria and be called engineers is not acceptable,” he said.<br />
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The SSANU President described state governors contemplating to jettison the minimum wage agreed between government and the organised labour as being unreasonable.<br />
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He said that the Nigerian workers live on credit system where they take loan from cooperative societies to solve immediate family problems which leave them with nothing to go home with at the end of the month as the loans are always deducted at source.<br />
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Declaring that the issue of payment of the minimum wage was not negotiable, Ugwoke said the organised labour had passed the issue of minimum wage as what was paramount presently was the review of the agreement the labour entered into with the government.<br />
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In a solidarity message at the occasion, General Secretary of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU,) Comrade Peters Adeyemi said unions must collectively fight against the introduction of the neo-liberal approach to industrial relations in the university system.<br />
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He said, “At the heart of neo-liberal approach to industrial relations is deregulation of collective bargaining, limited intervention of the state in industrial relations and encouragement of individualism as against collectivism.

Latest-News Nigeria can’t sustain generator-based economy – SSANU

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), yesterday, said that mass unemployment looms in the country following epile...

Group demands Nnamdi Kanu’s unconditional release

05:18 Unknown 0

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The South East Revival Group (SERG) has urged the Federal Government to tread cautiously in handling the current clamour for self-determination, by a cross section of people of the South-East, pressing for the actualization of the Republic of Biafra.<br />
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The group also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kalu,who was arrested in Lagos by the Department of State Service (DSS) when he returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom in October.<br />
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According to an SERG’ statement by its National Coordinator, Chief Willy Ezugwu, it is imperative that the Federal Government acts fast before it becomes too late describing the Biafra agitation as intellectually- driven.<br />
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The statement regretted that some persons close to government tend to dismiss the agitation as the handiwork of hoodlums and paid touts even when it is apparent that those protesting are genuine stakeholders in the Igbo nation’s quest for self determination.<br />
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The statement said that, “it is instructive that this was the same way Nigerians dismissed Boko Haram insurgents as street urchins in the formative years of the terror group and we are all collectively paying the price in tears and blood today.<br />
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“The people of the Igbo nation are currently pursuing their desire through intellectual engagement and peaceful street protests.<br />
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“Sadly security agencies, including the army, have been violently clamping down on these protests in violation of the people’s right to self expression.<br />
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“Those associated with the movement are being thrown into detention and being secretly tried in a desperate effort to stifle the people of the South-East.”

Latest-News Group demands Nnamdi Kanu’s unconditional release

The South East Revival Group (SERG) has urged the Federal Government to tread cautiously in handling the current clamour for self-determi...

Navy arrest boat with 400 truckload of stolen crude oil

05:04 Unknown 0

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The Nigerian Navy in the Delta state has arrested a self propelled barge loaded with estimated 4000metric tonnes, equivalent of 400 truck load of suspected crude oil in what the Central Naval Command, CNC, described as “a big break in the fight against oil theft” in the Niger Delta.<br />
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Flag Officer Com-manding, FOC, CNC, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman who briefed the press yesterday at the Nigeria Navy Ship, NNS Delta in Warri said the boat, MT Camille, was caught on November 15 along with 11 man crew in Forcados waters where Shell operates an oil terminal.<br />
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Apochi said, “The crew captain is making serious confessional statement, but this is a big break that we can’t let the details out now so as not to compromise the investigation. We have informed the oil majors operating in the area too.<br />
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“No ordinary person can put a 400 trucks capacity crude oil stealing boats on the river. This is a big break. We will get to the bottom of this and get the kingpins, working with other relevant stakeholders.”<br />
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The crew members were paraded by the Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed who said they would be handed over to relevant agency for further investigation and prosecution.<br />
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The crew captain whose name was withheld claimed they were sailing on a voyage from Thelma, Ghana to Cameroon, adding that the boat was at the Forcados Rivers get fuel and food when it was allegedly hijacked by gunmen who deployed them for the oil theft.

Latest-News Navy arrest boat with 400 truckload of stolen crude oil

The Nigerian Navy in the Delta state has arrested a self propelled barge loaded with estimated 4000metric tonnes, equivalent of 400 truck...

KOGI ELECTION - ' It’s Abubakar Audu’s son or nobody'

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<b><br /></b><b>The constitutional crisis trailing the Kogi State governorship election took a new twist, yesterday, with All Progressives Congress, APC members of the Kogi State House of Assembly insisting that Mohammed Audu, the first son of the deceased APC Candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, should replace his father in the December 5 supplementary governorship polls.</b><br />
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If the party fielded anyone other than Mohammed Audu, the legislators threatened to impeach the person, if elected.<br />
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This was the message the lawmakers took to the National Working Committee, NWC, of the APC at its national secretariat in Abuja, yesterday.<br />
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Speaking to Journalists, Spokesman of the legislators, Alfa Momoh Rabiu (Ankpa 2) said their message to the APC national leadership was a unanimous decision of the APC members in Kogi state. He, however, said that it was not a threat but a demand that should be given utmost consideration because the late Audu made sacrifices to popularize APC in Kogi state.<br />
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Hinting that the decision had the backing of the members of the national and state executives of the party, Rabiu also stated that the group resolved that Falake having run on the same ticket with Audu should also remain as running mate his son. He said: “Based on our discussion, we have taken a decision and taken our resolution to the national chairman. We are overwhelmed by the response from them but we are still waiting for a safe landing so that Kogi will not be doomed.<br />
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“We told the national chairman that on no account should anybody be smuggled in to occupy that position, which we worked for in conjunction with the late Audu without who, there will be no APC in Kogi state. We present to the national leadership, Prince Mohammed Audu to replace his late father. It is not because he is the first son, but try him, he is very intelligent and equal to the task. With him, we will have the Kogi of our dream.<br />
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“We also resolved and we will appreciate if the leadership will understand that we came to complain to them with pains and tell them our position because of the commitment of our leader and we don’t want Kogi to be left in the hands of the PDP any longer. We are the legislators and have told the national chairman our position that in any case, if anybody is smuggled in contrary to what we present to them, we know the best way to remove him.<br />
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“It is not a threat, but we told them that we have no intention of washing our dirty linen in public. Removing somebody is just a two minutes job for us as lawmakers in the state. We want the change we worked for and we want Kogi to be part of the moving train… Prince Audu was the man who went through primary before nominating Faleke as his deputy.<br />
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“We are not asking Faleke to stay away from the ticket. We equally worked with him during the campaigns. What we are saying is that it should be Mohammed Audu/Faleke ticket. The two of them, must work together”.

Latest-News KOGI ELECTION - ' It’s Abubakar Audu’s son or nobody'

The constitutional crisis trailing the Kogi State governorship election took a new twist, yesterday, with All Progressives Congress, APC me...

We can't give a specific figure to the amount of looted funds returned yet - Adeosun

05:04 Unknown 0

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The Federal Government is yet to put a specific figure to the amount of money so far returned by those who looted the treasury, as disclosed by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, told journalists , at yesterday’s Federation Accounts Allocation Committee , FAAC, meeting, in Abuja, that the process was still on-going.<br />
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According to her, when collated, the funds would be returned to where they were stolen from as appropriate. Her words, “There is no figure on the funds being returned yet. The process is on-going. When it is completed and the accounts are available, they would be returned to where they were stolen from. We haven’t come to that yet.”<br />
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Meanwhile, the sum of N 400. 310 billion was shared among the three tiers of government as revenue earned in the month of October and meant for November expenditure. It represent a N78.314 billion increased above the N321.996 shared in the previous month. The federal government took a total of N200.662 billion from both federation Account and Proceeds of Value Added Tax, VAT. States and Local Governments received N126. 177 billion and N95.303 billion, respectively. The oil producing states got an additional N24.141 billion as derivation on oil revenue.<br />
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The revenue organizations, namely the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Customs Service and the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR were paid , N6.650 billion, N3.535 billion, and N1.531 billion, respectively, as cost of collection. An analysis of the revenue sources showed that the Non-Mineral revenue has surpassed earnings from the Mineral sector with the former accounting for N213. 080 billion to the latter’s N187.230 billion of what was shared.<br />
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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation paid N6.330 billion to the central coffers as refunds, while N6. 6995 was also earned from Exchange Gain.

Latest-News We can't give a specific figure to the amount of looted funds returned yet - Adeosun

The Federal Government is yet to put a specific figure to the amount of money so far returned by those who looted the treasury, as disclos...

I’m determined to fight corruption in tertiary institutions - Buhari

04:49 Unknown 0

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President Muhamadu Buhari has assured that the problems being encountered in the tertiary education sub-sector as regards the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) will soon be addressed.<br />
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He gave the assurance during the 27th convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State.<br />
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The President said his attention was drawn to the resultant discomfort the implementation of TSA has caused in the academic and administrative activities in tertiary institutions in the country.<br />
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Speaking through the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okogie, he explained that the TSA policy was introduced in order to enthrone financial discipline and curb corruption in the country.<br />
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The TSA was “introduced for a good cause and the issues involved in its implementation as it affects tertiary institutions are being addressed.”<br />
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The President reiterated the ‘zero-tolerance for corruption’ by his administration, saying he was determined to lead by example.<br />
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“We shall obey our laws and shall be transparent, accountable, just, fair and demonstrate integrity in all our undertakings.<br />
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“The leadership of this university should therefore, continue to be prudent, transparent and accountable in the management of both human and materials resources.<br />
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“Government is determined to fight corruption at all levels including corruption in academics in our tertiary institutions.<br />
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“We cannot speak of effective and efficient funding of the education sector if our universities are mired in crises, confusion, fraud and lack of institutional vision.<br />
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“I must at this point call on universities to be at the vanguard of the fight against corruption and eroded ethics, which constitute a major component of our societal ills.<br />
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“We must all endeavour as citizens and members of the academic community to enthrone the spirit of hardwork, honesty and inspirational leadership which are the hallmark of any citadel of learning.”<br />
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The President said the need for the diversification of the economy is ripe now considering the dwindling fortune of oil in the international market and charged universities to join hands with Federal Government in the onerous task.<br />
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The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Adebiyi Daramola in his address said 4,435 students graduated with various degrees from the university with 28 of them having first class.

Latest-News I’m determined to fight corruption in tertiary institutions - Buhari

President Muhamadu Buhari has assured that the problems being encountered in the tertiary education sub-sector as regards the implementat...

REVEALED: How suicide bomber killed 21 in Kano Muslims’ procession

04:49 Unknown 0

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The Kano commander of Shia movement in Nigeria, Muhammad Mahmud Turi, Friday, said 21 members of the sect lost their lives while 45 others were injured when a suicide bomber struck the procession at Dakasoye village near Kano.<br />
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Sheik Turi told reporters that the incident occured by 2.00pm shortly after a suicide bomber was caught by its vigillante group in the procession who confirmed that another bomber was in the midst of the procession.<br />
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Turi explained that the loose suicide bomber detonated his bomb at the point of been captured alive by the search team.<br />
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The revered religious figure said that the tragic incident would not deterred the group from carry on with the journey to Zaria, adding that ‘you don’t display cowardice or cowed by death threat when carrying out religious obligations.”<br />
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“Today Friday, 21 members have been elevated to matrydom and they would be accepted by Allah to the bliss of Janatul Firdausi”.<br />
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Turi revealed that the captured suicide bomber said that he was from Mubi and was abducted by the Boko Haram sect and taken to Sambisa forest where he was exposed to the training on the art of suicide bombing.<br />
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The religious leader said that the suicide bomber further revealed that he was ferried to Kano alongside other and quartered at Gwamaja area of Kano metropolis before they were deployed to the carryout the heinous act.<br />
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But, the Kano police Commissioner, Muhammad Musa Katsina who stormed the scene with his men had a running battle with the sect that bluntly refused to hands off the suspected bomber.<br />
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The sect through one of their local leader told the Commissioner that they would only play game if there supreme leader El Zakky Zakky directed otherwise.<br />
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Speaking further on the tragic incident, a local Journalist, Ali Kakaki who was at the scene of the blast told Vanguard that women, children and a number of youngsters were affected by the blast.

Latest-News REVEALED: How suicide bomber killed 21 in Kano Muslims’ procession

The Kano commander of Shia movement in Nigeria, Muhammad Mahmud Turi, Friday, said 21 members of the sect lost their lives while 45 other...

DSS warns Nigerians - 'Boko Haram plans to use girls to attack churches, mosques, markets'

04:49 Unknown 0

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The Department of State Services, DSS, has alerted Abuja residents over plots by Boko Haram to attack churches, mosques and markets, using girls to bomb those places.<br />
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A memo by the Director of Security Services, Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Ibrahim, urged religious bodies to put their members on the alert.<br />
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The memo addressed to the National Presidents of Jama’atu Nasril Islam and the Christian Association of Nigeria asked residents to report suspicious elements around places of worship to the authorities.<br />
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Three telephone numbers were provided to such reports. They are: <b>09063872207, 09053872208</b> and <b>09053872209.</b><br />
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According to the memo which was being passed round via whatsApp and the internet, the terrorists plan to use young girls.<br />
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The letter which was copied to the FCT Minister, the FCT Permanent Secretary and the acting Secretary, Area Councils Services Secretariat reads in part:<br />
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“Intelligence reaching this office revealed that insurgents are planning to attack the Federal Capital Territory. Their main targets are worship centres and markets with the use of young girls as members of aid groups to carry out their planned attacks.<br />
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‘It is in view of the foregoing, I am directed to inform you to communicate the content of this letter to all mosques, churches and markets across the FCT for extra vigilance, particularly unknown persons dressing as aid workers loitering around the worship areas and markets’

Latest-News DSS warns Nigerians - 'Boko Haram plans to use girls to attack churches, mosques, markets'

The Department of State Services, DSS, has alerted Abuja residents over plots by Boko Haram to attack churches, mosques and markets, usin...

Fuel tanker explodes in Minna

18:53 Unknown 0

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A tanker carrying petroleum products exploded in Minna, Niger, on Friday.<br />
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The tanker was owned by a major oil marketer, Conoil Plc and the incident occurred along Tunga town, Minna.<br />
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Fire fighters from the state fire service were later deployed to the scene to quell the raging inferno.

Latest-News Fuel tanker explodes in Minna

A tanker carrying petroleum products exploded in Minna, Niger, on Friday. The tanker was owned by a major oil marketer, Conoil Plc an...

I’m distracted by my mom’s abduction - Siasia laments

17:19 Unknown 0

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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chief Coach of Nigeria’s U-23 Dream Team, Samson Siasia has cried out to Nigerians that the abduction of his aged mother, Mrs Ogere Siasia, is distracting his attention as the country begins its campaign in the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal 2015 which kicks off this weekend.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 72-year-old woman was abducted recently in the village of Odoni, southern Bayelsa state, by three men on a motorbike.</span></div>
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<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since then efforts to rescue the woman by a combined team of security operatives in the state have been futile.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Siasia, whose team arrived Senegal on Thursday ahead of their first match of the tournament on Sunday against Mali, said that it was so sad that this was happening at a time he was saddled with a national responsibility of leading Nigeria to African qualifying championship for Rio 2016 Olympic Games.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He disclosed in an interview on a Lagos-based radio station Friday that the psychological trauma he was passing through was a complete distraction.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The former Nigerian international said that he felt sad that the search for his mother who was abducted two weeks ago was taking too long, adding that the reality was that nobody in his family knows if the woman was still alive.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking on the issue on Friday, Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Police Police Command, Anisim Butswat said investigation is ongoing, but disclosed a not too good news, saying that he could not confirm whether Mrs. Siasia was alive or dead.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“We are hoping that she is alive. We’ll not relent in our efforts to see that we rescue her alive, ” Butswat said.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile, Siasia’s younger brother, Dennis said the security agents in Bayelsa were intensifying efforts to rescue their mother.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He added that the family had been negotiating with the kidnappers on the ransom they demanded.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dennis said the kidnappers had reduced their demand from N150 million to N32m million which the family could still not afford.</span></div>

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Boko Haram: Buhari’s December deadline not feasible – CCC

17:19 Unknown 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XaTYnqBLVfDRc72zMd8c-qarA8eGBBI5brPdUsgq_4cKC5BWH5Ys-PgFi_gEy049_mHX_jh6pBukehuTJlkKLlJXXV0h1gd1RqE41n5VBX6vRveL8Xok8kMz9VR2riB6Xr_46jdmJxLT/s1600/buhari+new+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XaTYnqBLVfDRc72zMd8c-qarA8eGBBI5brPdUsgq_4cKC5BWH5Ys-PgFi_gEy049_mHX_jh6pBukehuTJlkKLlJXXV0h1gd1RqE41n5VBX6vRveL8Xok8kMz9VR2riB6Xr_46jdmJxLT/s640/buhari+new+2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) has observed that the December 2015 deadline for the defeat of the insurgents by President Muhammadu Buhari is not feasible notwithstanding the great strides being recorded by Nigerian military in the fight against insurgency.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Executive Secretary of CCC, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (Rtd) while briefing the press in Abuja on Thursday that “the time line on when to stop the insurgents from activating sleeper cells and detonating bombs into soft targets in any part of the country, especially in the frontline states is therefore, no tenable in the current efforts by the armed forces of Nigeria.</span></div>
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<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While agreeing that it might not be wrong to set targets for military operations as was done by President Muhammadu Buhari when he tasked the military to wrap up the fight against Boko Haram by December 2015,</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“It must also be stated that this target date might be unrealistic. This submission is predicated on the fact that asymmetric warfare which the Boko Haram is prosecuting against the Nigeria is not such that can be easily be stamped out by the Armed Forces.”</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quoting the just concluded United Nations General Assembly, Anas said “that terrorism as an ideology is largely emotive because it has to do with the mind. Force has never been known to combat, in a precise manner, any issue that has to do with the mind.”</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Centre therefore urged Nigerians not to see the December target as sacrosanct date when all suicide bombings will end.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Similarly, we should also not trade blame with the military over the issue. Nigerians should rather continue to cooperate with the government and support the security forces to ensure that the enemies do not continue to have an opportunity to unleash terror in our country.”</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Concerning the millions already displaced by the insurgency especially in the north eastern [parts of the country, the Centre expressed concern about their plight, which it described as precarious and needing urgent attention.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“The Centre is strongly suggesting the establishment of a lead government agency that will develop a Marshall plan for the rehabilitation of all the displaced people in the North East.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“This could also be in the form of Inter- Ministerial Plan with an administrative office with a similar scope as the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the Niger Delta Youths.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“This will oversee the data capturing, profiling and rehabilitation of all the displaced people in the frontline states and other affected states of Nigeria. The plan will identify the priority areas of needs, skills and challenges with a view to settling them productively to avoid recourse to crimes or antisocial behaviour.”</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Centre for Crisis Communication equally noted the serious threats of secession in the past several months by a few individuals and groups in parts of Nigeria including some Yoruba elders and other Igbo groups.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“The Centre views this development as not only grossly uncharitable to the entire nation but unwarranted coming at a time the country is not only consolidating its nascent democracy but also celebrated its 100 years centenary and its fifty-first anniversary.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“These unfortunate secessionist agitations are also coming on the heels of the widely acclaimed free and fair elections that brought about a new government in Nigeria.”</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Buttressing his point with video clips of leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Daniel Kanu on his radio broadcast threatening to burn down Nigeria which he described as “Zoo”, Anas declared recent disruptive protests in some South East and South- South as condemnable.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He said “the Centre strongly believes that the issue of the State of Biafra was historically rested in 1970 following the end of the civil war.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Therefore, secession should not be an option for any individual or group in Nigeria especially after the 30 months war that killed, maimed millions of lives and destroyed unquantifiable property and infrastructure.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Unguarded statements and violent demonstrations are therefore unhelpful and capable of escalating unnecessary crisis.”</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After monitoring activities of Radio Biafra, “it is the Centre’s conclusion that several contents broadcasted were seditious and even bordering on treason against the Nigerian state.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“This is akin to similar hate messages by a radio station during the Rwandan genocide against sections of the country and the government.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Indeed, at an earlier media briefing in August, the Centre highlighted the menacing broadcast of the pirate Radio Biafra which no doubt could be described as being on a mission to orchestrate disunity in Nigeria.”</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He then urged the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and IPOB to seek legitimate avenues of channelling their grievances or injustices on any perceived socio-economic and political issues in their region within the current democratic space.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Centre then commended efforts of the governors of the South East and other leaders in the region to broker peace and observed that “true leaders in any society always quickly wade into a crisis before it get out of hand.”</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">CCC however, asked the Federal government to engage the MASSOB, IPOB and indeed any group in a meaningful dialogue within the laws of Nigeria with a view to resolving current or emerging crisis.<br />
This is no time to stroke new crisis in the country, but rather a period to cement our unity as one, strong, indivisible and progressive nation.</span></div>