How intra-party conflict, ethnicity will shape Kogi guber poll

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9AQDvuE7EI1jd-lA-VFGm3qy4-IKVlO0u78FGaYmJZ8vVCb-6b4jl9fTAPkidxETk08oIYgXcc5D9EqwO57JtPKmH6DZopmQ6cNcA4clAdOkY2Xmaauq0Hr5QEEKeyWfFkEVD8lvVd4/s1600/how-intra-party-conflict-ethnicity-will-shape-kogi-guber-poll-1170287995838259200.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1280" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9AQDvuE7EI1jd-lA-VFGm3qy4-IKVlO0u78FGaYmJZ8vVCb-6b4jl9fTAPkidxETk08oIYgXcc5D9EqwO57JtPKmH6DZopmQ6cNcA4clAdOkY2Xmaauq0Hr5QEEKeyWfFkEVD8lvVd4/s400/how-intra-party-conflict-ethnicity-will-shape-kogi-guber-poll-1170287995838259200.webp" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> In this piece, ADELANI ADEPEGBA and GBENGA ODOGUN write that intra-party conflict, ethnic rivalry, among others, will determine the next occupant of the Lord Lugard Government House in Kogi State<br /> <br /> The political tension in Kogi State is steadily rising as preparations for the governorship election increase at a frenetic pace. Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed November 16 for the poll in the state prompting a beehive of political activities.<br /> <br /> Many candidates have thrown their hats into the ring as the fever to unseat the incumbent governor, Yahaya Bello, sweeps across the various political camps like an epidemic.<br /> <br /> No fewer than eight political parties are presenting notable contenders for the top job. They include the ruling All Progressives Congress, the main opposition People’s Democratic Party, Young Progressives Party, Social Democratic Party, Accord Party, African Democratic Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance and the People’s Redemption Party.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The general consensus, however, is that the election will be a straight fight between the APC and the PDP.<br /> <br /> The incumbent, Bello, emerged the standard-bearer of the APC last Thursday.<br /> <br /> He polled 3,224 votes to emerge the winner in a primary contested by 10 aspirants.<br /> <br /> The governor was followed by Dr Babatunde Irukera who polled 109 votes to come second, while Hassan Bewa polled 44 votes.<br /> <br /> Other results as announced by the returning officer are: Yahaya Audu, 10 votes; Sani Abdulahi, 7 votes; Bashir Gegu , 4 votes; Blessing Ekele, 0; Iyoma  Hadiza, 0; Yakuba Muhammed, 0; and Dalami Muhammed, 0.<br /> <br /> Announcing the results, Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, who was the returning officer, urged delegates to accept the result of the election in good faith. He put the total number of delegates at 3,500.<br /> <br /> However, two of the contestants expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the poll.<br /> <br /> Irukera said that the election was fraught with irregularities, noting that the exercise fell short of acceptable norms.<br /> <br /> Bewa, who staged a walkout from the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, the venue of the primary, alleged that the primary had been compromised.<br /> <br /> Bewa, a serving member of the House of Representatives representing the Dekina /Bassa Federal Constituency, said he could not cope with the high level of manipulation at the primary election venue.<br /> <br /> The lawmaker said he was taken aback when nearly all the delegates claimed to be illiterates, a situation he alleged forced electoral officials to issue them customised ballot paper with Bello’s name on them.<br /> <br /> He said that all efforts to complain to the officials fell on deaf ears while security officials chased him away.<br /> <br /> Bewa said he had started a consultation with his supporters and would communicate his decision in due course.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Mustapha Audu, one of the aspirants who was disqualified at the screening stage, said his disqualification was a “fraud” by the party authority in connivance with some members.<br /> <br /> He accused the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, of doing the bidding of Bello instead of ensuring a level playing field for the aspirants.<br /> <br /> He said what happened in Rivers State would repeat itself in Kogi State as he was set to challenge the party’s decision in court.<br /> <br /> For the PDP, the younger brother of ex-governor Idris Wada, Musa Wada, emerged as its standard-bearer during a primary that held in the state on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> Over 20 candidates of the PDP had indicated interest in the race. The main opposition party later cleared 13 contestants.<br /> <br /> They included a former banker, Dr Victor Adoji; Abubakar Suleiman; Joseph Ameh; Senator Dino Melaye and retired Air Vice Marshall Salihu Atawodi.<br /> <br /> Others were the immediate past governor, Captain Idris Wada; his brother, Musa Wada; Bayo Averehi, Mohammed Tetes, Kabiru Saraha, and Grace Adejoh.<br /> <br /> The PDP on Wednesday accused Bello of being behind a major gun attack that occurred during its Tuesday primary.<br /> <br /> Following this development, however, Idris who is the son of a former governor, is expected to contest the governorship of the state with the incumbent, Bello, on November 16 this year.<br /> <br /> According to keen observers, the contest is going to be fierce between both candidates.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, political analysts have hinged the smooth conduct of the November 16 governorship poll on certain factors which every savvy politician in the state cannot take for granted.<br /> <br /> Findings show that violence and money will have a big impact on the poll. There are speculations that some top candidates are banking on thugs to intimidate voters and make it easy for the rigging of the election.<br /> <br /> This may be dismissed with a wave of the hand, but elections in Kogi State have always been characterised by violence and there is little evidence that the situation will be different this time round .<br /> <br /> Opinion leaders in the state say vote-buying may to a large extent determine the outcome of the poll in certain senatorial districts.<br /> <br /> Citing the incidents of vote-buying during the last general elections in the state and other parts of the country, analysts say citizens who have become more impoverished in the last four years may not pass up the opportunity to line their pockets if offered money for votes.<br /> <br /> Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Kogi State official says, “Four factors will determine the outcome of the election; the first is the supernatural factor which no one could explain, but which has characterised the election of the past three or four governors. If you go through the political history of the state, you can easily trace the curious and strange ways the past governors, including the incumbent, emerged.”<br /> <br /> The official also notes that huge amounts of money will be released by the major contenders, stressing that “without huge financial muscle, it is difficult to win elections in Kogi State.”<br /> <br /> The other factors, he says, include the ethnic affiliation of the candidates.<br /> <br /> It is widely believed that the age-long distrust and cleavages between the different ethnic groups in the state may be further widened and exploited by candidates desperate for votes.<br /> <br /> The majority Igala, Ebira and Okun ethnic groups have been angling to have their son or daughter in the Government House. While the Ebira are hoping their son, Bello, will retain his seat, the Igala would support any Igala native who emerged as a party candidate.<br /> <br /> Melaye would have banked on the support of his Okun people and the Kogi West senatorial zone to cruise to electoral victory if he won the PDP ticket.<br /> <br /> Being the only contestant from Kogi West, analysts believe this would have given the controversial senator the upper hand as he might have had block votes from the zone. However, he is expected to garner these votes for the party’s standard-bearer, Idris.<br /> <br /> For Bello who became governor by a whim of fate about four years ago, his inability to manage the crisis in the ruling APC in the state may become his Achilles heel.<br /> <br /> The governor was said to have alienated his erstwhile supporters in the APC and across the state by his alleged poor performance. The division in the party is expected to play a major role in the outcome of the poll, which is just about nine weeks away.<br /> <br /> Although he has positioned himself as President Muhammadu Buhari’s “boy” by consistently defending the policies and programmes of the government at the centre, no matter how controversial or ludicrous, the changing political scenarios show that the governor may have lost his acclaimed supporter in the Presidential Villa.<br /> <br /> Bello received a reality check recently when his ministerial nominee reportedly failed to get the President’s nod.<br /> <br /> This, political watchers say, indicate that the young governor may have been abandoned to fight his battle alone without federal support.<br /> <br /> Though he successfully corralled the state traditional rulers led by the Attah Igala, Dr Michael Oboni, to woo Buhari to endorse his candidacy for another term in office, the gambit apparently failed to achieve its intended objective.<br /> <br /> The spokesperson for the Kogi State Traditional Rulers, Solomon Owoniyi, told State House correspondents that their meeting with the President was to seek his support for Bello’s second term bid and to plead for a substantive minister for Kogi State.<br /> <br /> But the monarchs returned to Lokoja empty-handed as they did not secure any commitment from Buhari.<br /> <br /> To further compound his problem, Bello had been engaged in a tug of war with his deputy, Simon Achuba .<br /> <br /> The deputy governor has accused Bello of planning to assassinate him, but the governor has denied the allegation.<br /> <br /> Following the alarm by Achuba, Bello’s loyalists in the state House of Assembly said they had commenced impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor.<br /> <br /> Findings indicate that the deputy governor may have joined forces with those working to thwart Bello’s second term ambition.<br /> <br /> Achuba reportedly visited the Audus about two weeks ago where strategies and synergies about the looming political war were discussed.<br /> <br /> Against the backdrop of the Kogi monarchs’ visit to the Presidential Villa, an Igala socio-cultural organisation, “Ukomu Igala”, rejected the ambition of the governor and also flayed him for dragging the traditional rulers into politics.<br /> <br /> The leader of the group, Mr Samuel Salifu, knocked Bello for failing to meet the people’s expectations.<br /> <br /> Also, the Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, Abdul Miliki, has said that party candidates have to fight to win the coming election.<br /> <br /> “Kogi doesn’t have power brokers and that is why politics is interesting in this state. Everybody is on his own. If you look at Kogi Central, where the governor is from, he is also a contestant. If you go to the West, there is nobody that can also dictate the pace and even in Kogi East, there is no clear power broker,” Miliki notes.<br /> <br /> The CHRCR director emphasises the influence of money and violence in the forthcoming elections, adding that his organisation is monitoring the situation as the political temperature heats up.<br /> <br /> He explains, “The outcome of the primaries will influence the election. The coast will be clear by the end of September when all primaries would have held, and court cases settled. Money would play a prominent role than individuals. Kogi election is always violent; we have our flashpoints and we have a template to monitor electoral violence.”<br /> <br /> Speaking on the number of candidates, a political analyst, Prof. Abubakar Ali, notes that the situation is not new, hinting that it may, however, impact negatively on the outcome of the election particularly in Kogi East.<br /> <br /> “A similar scenario played out in 2015 and the outcome of the election is now history,” he submits.<br /> <br /> The November 16 poll is just at the corner and Kogi residents can only witness intense politicking ahead of this date.  Political analysts insist it is too early to tell who the winner will be.

Latest-News How intra-party conflict, ethnicity will shape Kogi guber poll

In this piece, ADELANI ADEPEGBA and GBENGA ODOGUN write that intra-party conflict, ethnic rivalry, among others, will determine the next o...

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Merkel seeks greater China role on climate, other global challenges

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXuldrlZvDmqgDonwHdd2R2dh7PI-e2MXEDmpttkfMNALiSDiCv_1t2NCQijseafhlHFMp9nbpjlNRLSD70rThOCabxQdl8GzWOUyHdzjfplxM8rYRNymsjUZdgPLboZqwuja9_IPj5I/s1600/Angela-Merkel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1200" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXuldrlZvDmqgDonwHdd2R2dh7PI-e2MXEDmpttkfMNALiSDiCv_1t2NCQijseafhlHFMp9nbpjlNRLSD70rThOCabxQdl8GzWOUyHdzjfplxM8rYRNymsjUZdgPLboZqwuja9_IPj5I/s400/Angela-Merkel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, in China on Saturday called climate protection a global problem and urged the Asian power to take up more responsibility for challenges facing the international community.<br /> <br /> Speaking to Chinese students at Huazhong University in the city of Wuhan, Merkel emphasised that climate change is caused by all, and that is why everyone should take care of it.<br /> <br /> “Climate protection is everyone’s responsibility,’’ she added.<br /> <br /> Given the size and economic power of China, the international community needs an important contribution from it, Merkel asserted.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> She questioned whether China remains a developing country, given the pace of its modernisation, and said it will be expected to take on greater international responsibilities in the coming years.<br /> <br /> In the face of globalisation, Merkel stressed that joint rules are indispensable.<br /> <br /> Multilateral action, not protectionism, for example in trade, was needed.<br /> <br /> “After all, protectionism harms us all,’’ the German chancellor said.<br /> <br /> Merkel also emphasised China’s role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, telling the students that this means China has a responsibility to work towards a peaceful solution of global flashpoints, including the Iran nuclear conflict and China’s own territorial dispute with neighbours over the South China Sea.<br /> <br /> The German chancellor also spoke critically of China’s social credit system.<br /> <br /> In Europe, this was viewed as a bad idea because people had sovereignty over their private data, she told the students.<br /> <br /> The topic would remain a key ethical discussion in coming years, she said.<br /> <br /> The social credit system, currently being implemented by China, is a means of systematically evaluating the economic and social creditworthiness – including social and political views – of individuals and businesses.<br /> <br /> Johannes Vogel, a parliamentarian from the Free Democrats and deputy head of a parliamentary committee on Germany-China relations, warned that the social credit system could also lead to China gathering information on employees of German companies in the country.<br /> <br /> Merkel, who is in China with a large business delegation, also planned to visit a car supply company, which is partly German-owned later Saturday.<br /> <br /> On Friday, Merkel held talks in Beijing with Prime Minister Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping.<br /> <br /> Topics included the trade dispute between China and the U.S. and the unrest in Hong Kong.<br /> <br /> Li also played down the controversy over China’s social credit system, saying it would be used to uncover criminal behaviour.<br /> <br /> The chancellor expressed her hope that the trade dispute can be ended quickly because it was spreading to other parts of the global market.<br /> <br /> Merkel also campaigned for the “rights and freedoms” of the Hong Kong people during her visit to China.<br /> <br /> Li said that Beijing supports the Hong Kong government in ending the “chaos” within the framework of the law.<br /> <br /> Li added that Chinese people had the wisdom to handle the protests on the basis of law.<br /> <br /> Li said that Beijing adheres to the principle of “one country, two systems’’ governing Hong Kong, which as a Special Administrative Region, enjoys a high degree of autonomy under a deal signed with former colonial power Britain.<br /> <br /> He did not respond directly to a question about possible Chinese military intervention in Hong Kong.<br /> <br /> Merkel is on her 12th trip to China, which wraps up Saturday.<br /> <br /> She is due to fly back to Berlin late in the day.<br />

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BBNaija: Why Big Brother punished Khafi, Tacha, others

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkN1jooLwUw5a4v8WeyhtWQ5sgC0NAG6WKENVrKvmLlkzU4HW69bvcE2PC_08Xym0jbBv1HW9t69jMz3StqMHMHDjhMxlcq4FODFC9r-03jAykbIBYqQkVOMaupCrVrJVg953u7iqqsI/s1600/VENNbb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="678" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkN1jooLwUw5a4v8WeyhtWQ5sgC0NAG6WKENVrKvmLlkzU4HW69bvcE2PC_08Xym0jbBv1HW9t69jMz3StqMHMHDjhMxlcq4FODFC9r-03jAykbIBYqQkVOMaupCrVrJVg953u7iqqsI/s400/VENNbb.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Five Big Brother Naija, BBNaija, housemates were on Friday morning punished by Biggie.<br /> <br /> The housemates; Khafi, Tacha, Frodd, Omashola, and Venita were penalized for having failed their week’s wager.<br /> <br /> Biggie had given the housemates a Task Challenge to show love to the elderly ones by developing five presentations, which included painting, sculpture, knitting, a poem, and a unique special piece.<br /> <br /> After all performances, team legend lost while team Enigma won.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Team legend afterwards was given punishment to clean the house thoroughly and scrub the Jacuzzi.<br /> <br /> In the process, Khafi shed tears as the housemates cleaned and mobbed the BBnaija house.<br /> <br /> Although the Legends lost, Biggie awarded them a bonus point for their costume but they do not get to shop this week.<br /> <br /> Nigwrianeye reports that Khafi, Elozonam, Frodd, Omashola, and Venita have been Nominated for possible eviction on Sunday.

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We’ll fund xenophobic victims’ suit against South Africa –Reps

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLv0bxxI_LUl765EORi_nvT1lu5rY7wbbh1qX1B810bubDjMCQmhJ1-czzsi3hOnD2ynXlEUh-u-WVHwifXk0MXHU3-Wj0XUuaxEBE4vwSokEJWaAqNwKu0tzp_Uf4OWzJPjoqEGCwvc/s1600/Senate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1600" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLv0bxxI_LUl765EORi_nvT1lu5rY7wbbh1qX1B810bubDjMCQmhJ1-czzsi3hOnD2ynXlEUh-u-WVHwifXk0MXHU3-Wj0XUuaxEBE4vwSokEJWaAqNwKu0tzp_Uf4OWzJPjoqEGCwvc/s400/Senate.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> In response to the losses incurred by Nigerians, the House of Representatives has said it will approve funds for victims of the attacks who wish to take legal action against the country.<br /> <br /> It also said it was considering compensation for those affected by the attacks.<br /> <br /> The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, said these while addressing journalists at a ‘world press conference’ held in Abuja on Friday.<br /> <br /> He was accompanied by some principal officers of the Lower chamber, including the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase; Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; Deputy Leader, Peter Akpatason; Deputy Chief Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; and Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Buba Yakub.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The Speaker warned South Africa against labelling Nigerians in their country as criminals, asking it not to add insult to Nigeria’s grief.<br /> <br /> He also noted that for South Africa not to be seen as encouraging and justifying the xenophobic attacks by its citizens, the government should openly dismiss the narrative that the attacks were provoked by the alleged criminal activities of Nigerians in the country.<br /> <br /> While commending the actions so far taken by the Federal Government, he said the President should direct the Ministry of Health to assist the bereaved families in expediting the return of their loved ones who had lost their lives in the unfortunate events.<br /> <br /> He said, “The time for speaking has long passed and the time for action has come to us with a fierce urgency demanding nothing less than our total commitment to revoking the old arrangements that have made such abominations against our people possible.”<br /> <br /> “Too many a time, we are called to stand as pallbearers, bringing home to bury the bodies of our brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, our children, savaged and decimated. What is their offence? That they dared to dream of glory and profit beyond our borders; and having dreamt, they endeavoured to make real the visions of their heart.<br /> <br /> “We reject entirely the obvious attempt to change the true narrative of events by casting the recently organised acts of violence as a merely internecine conflict between gangs fighting for turf.<br /> <br /> Gbajabiamila stressed that the House was ready to authorise funding “for those citizens who wish to take legal action against identified perpetrators of the violence as well as those who sponsored them or permitted their actions to occur and to continue.”<br /> <br /> He pointed out that the House would work with all the stakeholders within and outside government to evolve and implement a plan to evacuate Nigerians from where internal crises and conflicts have made the terrain unsafe for them.<br /> <br /> He added, “We expect that the Government of South Africa will conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations and make public their findings, whatever they may be. Where any of these claims are determined to be true, we expect also that the individuals responsible will be held accountable to the highest degree allowed by law.”<br /> <br /> Gbajabiamila announced the plan of the House to suspend its two-month annual recess to discuss the crisis, adding that the lower chamber would invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Geoffrey Onyeama); the Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa (Kabiru Bala); the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Abike Dabiri-Erewa) and other stakeholders to review the issue.<br /> <br /> A member of the House, Mr Kingsley Chinda, had in a message to our correspondent on Tuesday called on the National Assembly to reconvene for two days and condemn the alleged refusal by the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa to protect citizens running to it for safety.

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Zimbabwe begins national mourning for Mugabe

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIbZrHjZdP0K4fIFwCgOyPws40oikCQMOp1-Wk96sFyX6SJ2gAmkm8n6plSa_QD-qxL9OybZp2doqWqwuokXC4gGXeyMqDzyayn5XGbkWRLC93tzlSJu-Y63JEkFb3Tykn7pYm8B1jWc/s1600/robert+mugabe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIbZrHjZdP0K4fIFwCgOyPws40oikCQMOp1-Wk96sFyX6SJ2gAmkm8n6plSa_QD-qxL9OybZp2doqWqwuokXC4gGXeyMqDzyayn5XGbkWRLC93tzlSJu-Y63JEkFb3Tykn7pYm8B1jWc/s400/robert+mugabe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Zimbabwe was on Saturday due to begin a period of national mourning following the death of Robert Mugabe, the former guerrilla hero turned despot who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years.<br /> <br /> As Zimbabweans expressed sharply divided opinions about Mugabe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said his predecessor had been declared a “national hero” and that Zimbabwe would mourn him until the burial.<br /> <br /> “The late departed icon will be eternally remembered and honoured for the bold and historic land reform programme which he undertook,” said Mnangagwa during a national address broadcast on television.<br /> <br /> Mugabe, 95, passed away on Friday at 0240 GMT in Singapore, where he had been hospitalised in April.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> First heralded as a liberator who rid the former British colony Rhodesia of white minority rule, Mugabe used repression and fear to govern until he was finally ousted by his previously loyal generals in November 2017.<br /> <br /> His increasingly tyrannical leadership and economic mismanagement prompted millions to leave the country.<br /> <br /> He had been battling ill health, and after a humiliating fall from office, his stamina seeped away rapidly.<br /> <br /> Some Zimbabweans hailed him as a “true African” and a “revolutionary icon”. For others, however, his named evoked only “evil”, “destruction” and “suffering”.<br /> <br /> “Mugabe was an educated man but he used his education for evil,” said Baster Magwizi, a war veteran in the southwestern city of Bulawayo.<br /> <br /> “He manipulated everyone around him and fooled the world, only Zimbabweans can testify to this as we lived in hell under his leadership,” he said.<br /> <br /> But Harare schoolteacher Tatenda Musoni was forgiving.<br /> <br /> “To be honest I thought I would celebrate when he died but… I’m actually sad because he was an embodiment of what a true African should be.<br /> <br /> “He had his flaws but he did a lot of positive things for us which I doubt we will ever see again in this country.”<br /> <br /> Adam Molai, Mugabe’s nephew, said the former president died of old age “surrounded by family”.<br /> <br /> “We are pained by his loss. But we also celebrate the life of a legend. He was a living legend. He was a pan-Africanist. He brought the country of Zimbabwe from colonialism to the freedom that we had,” Molai told reporters outside the funeral parlour in Singapore.<br /> <br /> He said the president was likely to announce when the body would move “sometime next week”, adding that he could give no further details on the “state funeral”.<br /> <br /> In Zvimba, Mugabe’s rural homestead, another nephew Leo Mugabe told reporters the family had “not yet deliberated on where he is going to be buried”.

Latest-News Zimbabwe begins national mourning for Mugabe

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Xenophobia: Nigerians are not chickens that can be slaughtered- Gordons

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAP0E-vFqU9eto5jnzOoiq2A1s1YGZRx9WhbQJaSX4RcmTgym1-QqfKvLPzzFZbnK8TGuuQgcc2s_In97G_ZkBlrd8NZIyvnzMlUNZZIGOB9uESxSTnEU7dxoxak9mpTsWMPfklGAV4Xg/s1600/gordons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="750" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAP0E-vFqU9eto5jnzOoiq2A1s1YGZRx9WhbQJaSX4RcmTgym1-QqfKvLPzzFZbnK8TGuuQgcc2s_In97G_ZkBlrd8NZIyvnzMlUNZZIGOB9uESxSTnEU7dxoxak9mpTsWMPfklGAV4Xg/s400/gordons.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Nigerian comedian, Godwin Komone a.k.a Gordons has reacted over the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa.<br /> <br /> Speaking on the deadly attacks, the outspoken comic said Nigerians are not chickens that can be slaughtered.<br /> <br /> He made this known in a chat with newsmen.<br /> <br /> “Nigerians are not chickens that you think you can just slaughter. If I were the president of this country, the measures I would have taken will make the world pay attention to Nigeria. You can’t just be killing people like that. These are human beings you are killing”.<br /> <br /> Speaking further, Gordons added that the xenophobic attacks may have been pre-planned.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “I feel this issue has been premediated. I was in PortHarcout last week and there is this hotel that South Africans manage. I was there and prior to the xenophobia attack, I went to the hotel and they told me they were not all around that they have gone to South Africa. They must have been aware of what is to happen. When Nigerians kill Nigerians in our country and nothing happens, the world feels we don’t care about ourselves”

Latest-News Xenophobia: Nigerians are not chickens that can be slaughtered- Gordons

Nigerian comedian, Godwin Komone a.k.a Gordons has reacted over the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other nationals in South Af...

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Ex-Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o retires after glittering 22-year career

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG20sUSRE1rc9bmE0OMiFbdhTJGza69_A-ip1gSvWyXvvnoTljCrf_9OA_n1v3z5AHo6bMIdiDNfz3zTUntgLqDcwSfzSaZZxjNP-s_yEZYuXhECIM4Avk3zq8bpORK5orE5a9N_q4qc/s1600/samuel-etoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG20sUSRE1rc9bmE0OMiFbdhTJGza69_A-ip1gSvWyXvvnoTljCrf_9OA_n1v3z5AHo6bMIdiDNfz3zTUntgLqDcwSfzSaZZxjNP-s_yEZYuXhECIM4Avk3zq8bpORK5orE5a9N_q4qc/s400/samuel-etoo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Ex-Barcelona and Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o has announced his retirement from football at the age of 38.<br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that after a trophy-laden 22-year playing career, Eto’o has decided to hang up his boots.<br /> <br /> Widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest-ever players, Eto’o will be most fondly remembered for his time at Barcelona, where he won four La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies.<br /> <br /> After five years at Barca, he joined Inter Milan in 2009. While at Inter Milan, Eto’o won the treble under the guidance of Jose Mourinho that included a third European Cup win.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Short spells in the Premier League soon followed, with Chelsea and Everton among the 13 professional teams Eto’o represented during his memorable playing career.<br /> <br /> On the international scene, he was the youngest player at the 1998 World Cup after making Cameroon squad at the age of 17.<br /> <br /> Eto’o claimed gold at the 2000 Olympics as well as two Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002 with four African Player of the Year crowns – a record he shares with Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure.<br /> <br /> Eto’o also represented Cameroon at four World Cups, ending up with 56 goals in 118 appearances for his country.<br /> <br /> In a short Instagram message on Friday night though, he announced that he would be hanging up his boots.<br /> <br /> He wrote: “The End. Towards a new challenge. Thank you all, big love.”<br /> <br /> Having spent his youth career at Kadji Sports Academy, Eto’o joined Real Madrid where he was loaned to Leganes, Espanyol, and Mallorca.<br /> <br /> From then his career really took off and started to blossom.<br /> <br /> Overall, Eto’o bagged himself 359 goals in 718 club games.<br /> <br /> His best return came at Barcelona, where he scored 130 goals in 199 appearances in all competitions.

Latest-News Ex-Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o retires after glittering 22-year career

Ex-Barcelona and Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o has announced his retirement from football at the age of 38. The News Agency of Nigeria (N...

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EFCC releases names, picture of 58 suspected oil thieves

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDx6tkvssKHusLd9pCULiVr4PlN4sns9GVTPxRd4hUipjG1CzgFvyVwkethnG7RT69kEGyASEhSArwyNynGbLBH7cphWGtSxhuBIgBmP6Pc-at_VMmEggKP5FBC3UCLknl1VeAucHYsQ/s1600/EFCC-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDx6tkvssKHusLd9pCULiVr4PlN4sns9GVTPxRd4hUipjG1CzgFvyVwkethnG7RT69kEGyASEhSArwyNynGbLBH7cphWGtSxhuBIgBmP6Pc-at_VMmEggKP5FBC3UCLknl1VeAucHYsQ/s400/EFCC-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office, has commenced investigation of 58 suspected oil thieves; four Vessels, one Barge and two wooden Boats allegedly involved in illegal oil bunkering.<br /> <br /> The suspects and Vessels were handed over to the EFCC by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder for further investigation and possible prosecution.<br /> <br /> The suspects are: Daniel Faviel Flores, a Mexican; Khrstoliubov Victor, an Ukranian and 56 Nigerian suspects: Umoh Emmanuel Etim; Aliu Dominic; Okwong Effiong Ukpong; Talick Uche Epuk; Okon Emmanuel Sunday; Ebenezer Marshal; Awuletey Okon; George Obomate; Johnbull Uroro; Alphonomsus Augustine Ufot; Jerome Adele-ekun; Mathew Jacob; Okoye Kachi Fred; Johnwill Austin Omubo; Utibe Peter George; Dickson Amadi; Uzi Chibueze Benard; Israel Essien; Job Wilfred; Emmanuel Joseph Ohwimu; Chinedu Nwachukwu Opara; Pascal Chinedu Nnaji; Okechukwu Chukwueke; Peter Ogar; Olatunji Julius Adedokun; Alabede Maruf Olakunle and Origbo Tekevwe Godwill.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS49HBQK18rAE7tvy_p_gDNI_9s8IHvBCEz7UUE_JTNEKWWuljYTnJDAYoGFi5cDydk3Q6WasRufHgOmSn7pibXypjn9hm3-fDxGkgHB2HxEsqlb8cKYUHDgBhbp9viF2NzceJe-NUiQs/s1600/Oil-bunkers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS49HBQK18rAE7tvy_p_gDNI_9s8IHvBCEz7UUE_JTNEKWWuljYTnJDAYoGFi5cDydk3Q6WasRufHgOmSn7pibXypjn9hm3-fDxGkgHB2HxEsqlb8cKYUHDgBhbp9viF2NzceJe-NUiQs/s400/Oil-bunkers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Others are: Evakpo David; Mbachu Kelvin Okechukwu; Nebeire Onyekachi Philip; Akanbi Oluwaseun Moses; Wonodi Chisom Wisdom; Prince Austine Anyor; Anjorin Rasheed Babatunde and Iffi Francis Chuka,<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The rest are: Tom Wisdom Udo; Fasina Isaac Kehinde; Edo Nsongurua; Cookey Fubara; Ayoka Joseph; Benson Nwaya; Akinfenwa Mike; Ahmed A Shehu; Okojie Favour Osahon: John Flash; Edward Modunwa; Eyione Alex; Onyeneke Wisdom Udoka; Nwokeke Wisdom Udoka; Nwokeke Michael S.U; Anyasi Joshua Ikechukwu; Edward Atorkemo Harrison; Ekpeno Benjamin; Rafi Nura Sani, Thompson Deezua and Edwin Ekpoto Omaretshogunwa.<br /> <br /> It was alleged that the suspects were on board the Vessels when they were intercepted at different dates and locations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for alleged illegal oil bunkering activities.<br /> <br /> The Vessels: MV Western Orient; MV Temile, AHT Ajemisan and AHT Jascon 23 together with two wooden Boats were intercepted around Onne Anchorage while Barge Hannamarine was intercepted at Okorochiri Creek in Okrika, all in Rivers State.<br /> <br /> Taking over the suspects and the accompanying Vessels, Barge and wooden Boats, Samuel Umezuirike of the EFCC assured the Nigerian Navy of further investigation and possible prosecution.

Latest-News EFCC releases names, picture of 58 suspected oil thieves

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office, has commenced investigation of 58 suspected oil thieves;...

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FG to Borrow N1.003trn from T-Bills Investors in Q4’19

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9u1rWGnZ-ERsdyeHDQX8diIWOwIbraMpUUS1Q5ERNiX27aRQ7OOVSOOJVHDy8-SJL7KzMIZD0NANsLRz3QQcUVjnq7QrOztF2csTpYfmFAIRGY7_X8PbtGrgAp3m8eMgyiNnRvtSmxU0/s1600/Ahmed-Finance.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="700" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9u1rWGnZ-ERsdyeHDQX8diIWOwIbraMpUUS1Q5ERNiX27aRQ7OOVSOOJVHDy8-SJL7KzMIZD0NANsLRz3QQcUVjnq7QrOztF2csTpYfmFAIRGY7_X8PbtGrgAp3m8eMgyiNnRvtSmxU0/s400/Ahmed-Finance.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The federal government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is looking to borrow the sum of N1.003 trillion from investors in the treasury bills market in the fourth quarter of 2019.<br /> <br /> The apex bank, in its Nigerian Treasury Bills Issue Programme for Fourth Quarter 2019 released this week, said it would source for the money via the primary market auction.<br /> <br /> According to the circular, the central bank would offer the T-bills in three maturities; 91-day, 182-day and 364-day.<br /> <br /> A total of N90.625 billion of the 3-month debt instrument would be auctioned in the period, N90.182 billion worth of the 6-month bill would be sold and N821.845 billion worth of the 12-month tenor would be offered for sale to investors.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> A further breakdown of the proposed exercise indicated that on September 11, the apex bank will conduct the first auction of the quarter, selling N15 billion, N14 billion and N129.7 billion worth of the 91-day, 182-day and 364-day treasury bills respectively.<br /> <br /> The next week, it would offer for sale N3 billion worth of the 91-day instrument, N8.4 billion worth of the 182-day instrument and N168.4 billion worth of the 364-day instrument.<br /> <br /> On October 2, the CBN would sell N10 billion worth of the 91-day bill, N17.6 billion worth of the 182-day bill and N106.4 billion worth of the 364-day bill and two weeks later, it would auction N5.9 billion worth of the 91-day bill, N3.5 billion worth of the 182-day bill and N112.5 billion worth of the 364-day bill and then on October 30, the bank would offer for sale N28.0 billion worth of the 91-day bill, N10.6 billion worth of the 182-day bill and N93.9 billion worth of the 364-day bill.<br /> <br /> On November 13, the central will conduct another PMA for the sale of N4.4 billion worth of the 91-day bill, N12.9 billion worth of the 182-day bill and N107.9 billion worth of the 364-day bill and two weeks later, it would sell N24.4 billion worth of the 91-day bill, N23.2 billion worth of the 182-day bill, while N103.1 billion worth of the 364-day bill would be offered.

Latest-News FG to Borrow N1.003trn from T-Bills Investors in Q4’19

The federal government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is looking to borrow the sum of N1.003 trillion from investors in the t...

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Streetlights’ll help Oyo to fight crime – Governor Makinde

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhityEo4KpbANmrrbApMLPSavRGDcB38612hFDfd3MynVoCoQid-WYwueOti8fcWQ-5kwF19c5LMwSV6R5b12A2Ct1s8ZeHecMfp_MO72dpKi8YkVFKOm-DzHK7TufI2FYJZHKZ2BzIYnHr/s1600/seyi+makinde+oyo+govenor.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhityEo4KpbANmrrbApMLPSavRGDcB38612hFDfd3MynVoCoQid-WYwueOti8fcWQ-5kwF19c5LMwSV6R5b12A2Ct1s8ZeHecMfp_MO72dpKi8YkVFKOm-DzHK7TufI2FYJZHKZ2BzIYnHr/s320/seyi+makinde+oyo+govenor.png" width="320" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /> Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, on Friday, inaugurated the ‘Light Up Ibadan’ project, noting that the state embarked on the deployment of smart LED street lighting technology to fight crime.<br /> <br /> Makinde said the project would improve the security of lives and position the state for socio-economic development.<br /> <br /> He stated these during the ceremony at the Challenge interchange near the old Ibadan Toll Gate of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> According to the statement, the project is one of the activities lined up for the commemoration of the governor’s 100 days in office.<br /> <br /> Makinde was quoted to have said, “The benefits accruable from the provision of standard and adequate infrastructure, particularly smart streetlights, cannot be overemphasised. It is indeed an essential component of our face-lifting and industrialisation programme.<br /> <br /> “Let me use the medium to reiterate our administration’s unflinching commitment to the uplifting of the welfare of our people and we shall always endeavour to bring to fruition our great dreams of better life for our citizens, be it in the rural or urban centres.<br /> <br /> The governor, therefore, appealed to all persons, irrespective of political and religious affiliations, to cooperate with his administration in steering the ship of the state to greater heights.<br /> <br /> He also directed the contractor of the project to be prompt in its execution within a 45-day window, while warning against compromise on functionality and quality.<br /> <br /> Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Prof Raphael Afonja, had stated that the delivery of the smart LED streetlights infrastructure across some strategic routes within the Ibadan metropolis was one of the achievements of Makinde administration towards improving security and infrastructure in the state.

Latest-News Streetlights’ll help Oyo to fight crime – Governor Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, on Friday, inaugurated the ‘Light Up Ibadan’ project, no...

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Sanwo-Olu rolls out new policies for Okada riders in Lagos

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLucIA7BLSJNKjEC1xZ3EMdjVrwZ7VKq3Ih8JVoISm8NXxSkuXXclgefsL-4DbjVPQnF8EIAl9VOvQialjTioj3g3N0A2wS0xI8nQuicfn-FCcAcZt-8UhOtn81yUMbwhRMVeAVGyjcpLn/s400/sanwo+olu+laugh.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> <br /> Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said new policies that will regulate the operations of motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, in the state are being formulated.<br /> <br /> Sanwo-Olu, who made this known on Friday while giving an account of his stewardship in the first 100 days in office in Ikeja, the state capital, said the polices would assist the state to address the spate of accidents and irresponsible use of motorcycles.<br /> <br /> He said, “It has become imperative for us as a government to map out new policies that would guide how Okada riders operate in Lagos State. This would further stem the tide of accidents and indiscriminate use of Okadas on Lagos roads.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “When these are eventually put in place, we expect strict compliance from all concerned in our quest to achieving a greater Lagos for all, in line with our ‘THEMES’ policy trust.”<br /> <br /> He said his administration’s strategy to manage traffic and transportation across the state had been yielding the desired results.<br /> <br /> Sanwo-Olu said, “Within 24 hours in office, I signed my first executive order on Sanitation and traffic management; LASTMA now operates two daily shifts to ease the free flow of traffic in the state. I have also visited the Apapa corridor four times in the last 100 days; as a government.”

Latest-News Sanwo-Olu rolls out new policies for Okada riders in Lagos

Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said new policies that will regulate the operations of motorcycles, popularly known as O...

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Sultan condemns alleged demolition of mosque by Governor Wike

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcnvh2Szlk6oqzP-5IrEeCpFBr76e8egabPtUIXZhu7NETT0DSKpGpXB0QieQLBwQG7lr-ts8zvuaDzEu7xtSocy93u05SsDxOoRLV6xg6mhXlJxX_2Wj1X9LvcYq6dIJCv3xJMXaAXNo/s1600/sultan-of-sokoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcnvh2Szlk6oqzP-5IrEeCpFBr76e8egabPtUIXZhu7NETT0DSKpGpXB0QieQLBwQG7lr-ts8zvuaDzEu7xtSocy93u05SsDxOoRLV6xg6mhXlJxX_2Wj1X9LvcYq6dIJCv3xJMXaAXNo/s320/sultan-of-sokoto.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll-led Jama’atu Nasril Islam on Friday expressed pain, anger over Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s alleged demolition of mosque at the Trans -Amadi area of Port Harcourt.<br /> <br /> The Sultan of Sokoto is the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The JNI’s Secretary – General, Dr Khalid Abubakar-Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of the Sultan in a statement in Kaduna, said under whatever guise the mosque was demolished, the act remained painful and unfortunate.<br /> <br /> The Sultan, however, cautioned the Muslim community across the country, to remain calm pending the resolution of the crisis.<br /> <br /> He said the religious body was working round the clock to address the act and forestall the occurrence of such an “abominable act in Rivers State and anywhere in the country.”<br /> <br /> The statement read, “Jama’tu Nasril Islam under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, as the custodian of the Islamic Religion in Nigeria, whose revered symbol is inherent in the Masjid, the mosque, described by our revered Prophet, on whom peace and benediction of Allah will be upon, as Baitullah, (the house of Allah), is without any doubt pained by the act of demolition of Trans-Amadi mosque under whatever guise.<br /> <br /> “However, at trying moments such as this, Muslims should be guided by the Qur’anic teaching of introspection and perseverance, truthfulness and sincerity. Such stand fetches for them Allah’s guidance on how the situation would be approached and solved.<br /> <br /> “Muslims are therefore called upon to be calm and be prayerful, while the leadership seeks for concordant and accordant redress, within the shortest possible time-frame.”

Latest-News Sultan condemns alleged demolition of mosque by Governor Wike

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll-led Jama’atu Nasril Islam on Friday expressed pain, anger over Rivers State Governor, Nyes...

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How SARS officials robbed a Lagos businessman of ₦200,000

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="653" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYSMgIWmBgG4HlfbjPnFYJSFD7q2eFMoOi-KudrQTwBcE0giGIxgQZ69NjptFsZRIwobbhlG9puRXnEWtn7Yxk6QWZXUnKuNeCLJpbn9Z9PP6cwhgp5HQcxKMlKl7JQBhn6NXmJfJ30OF/s640/SARS+LAGOS+2019.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> <br /> They were shouting ‘don’t move, don’t move, come out.’ I thought they were armed robbers because they did not look like policemen.” That was the impression Osaretin Erins had when he and his friend, Raymond, were ambushed at a suya joint in Abule Egba, along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway around 10pm on Thursday.<br /> <br /> The 35-year-old native of Edo State and his friend, a serving corps member in Lagos State, had gone to buy suya (roasted meat) in a Hyundai Sonata driven by Erins.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> As they made to enter the car after buying the suya, armed policemen reportedly wearing shirts with the inscriptions FSARS and Anti-Cultism, waylaid them with a danfo bus – a commercial vehicle.<br /> <br /> Pronto, they put Raymond in the bus while three of them were inside Erins’ car.<br /> <br /> Erins, who narrated the harrowing experience on Instagram, said the operatives led him to an Automated Teller Machine point and forced him to withdraw N200,000 from his account.<br /> <br /> He also posted debit alerts of several batches of N15,000 withdrawals running into N200,000<br /> <br /> He wrote, “My name is Osaretin Erins. FSARS arrested me and my friend around 10pm at University of Suya in front of Jendol Supermarket along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. As we entered the vehicle, about eight heavily armed men came out of a danfo bus with assault rifles and started to harass us and forcefully dragged my friend into their bus stationed in front of the supermarket making passersby to run for fear of being arrested too.<br /> <br /> “After collecting our phones, they took us to an ATM and forced (asked) us to pay a ransom of N500,000. After much pleading, I realised two of the officers were from my state, Edo State. I pleaded with them but they put on deaf ears and insisted we follow them to Alagbon (annex of the Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department), that we are cultists and fraudsters, depriving me the access to contact my family for assistance. After much interrogation, they took me to an FCMB ATM and I was forced to empty my account balance. This is Nigeria where police have turned to midnight thieves.<br /> <br /> “It’s really heart-breaking considering the fact that we are law-abiding citizens. Nigeria is heading towards a state of anarchy and turmoil if all this continues by FSARS and police. I am really heart-broken. Please use this medium to share this till it gets to the authority. The FSARS are from Area M in Idimu.”<br /> <br /> In an interview with newsmen on Friday, Erins confirmed the details in the post and gave further revelation on how the policemen took them round different areas and turned down his request to call his parents on the phone.<br /> <br /> He said the men tagged him a cult member and frustrated his attempts to convince them that he was not one.<br /> <br /> He recalled, “They kept on saying I am a cultist; I said no. I told them I finished from the university nine years ago without joining cultism. When they insisted, I asked them for evidence. They said I was arguing with them and threatened to deal with me.<br /> <br /> “I requested that they give me my phone so that I could call my parents, but they refused. They drove us to Agege, from there down to Iyana Ipaja; then to Egbeda and from there down to Idimu. From Idimu, they took us to Ikotun Egbe. They asked us to pay N500,000. My friend is a corps member in Lagos. He came to stay with me because he was ill.<br /> <br /> “We were afraid that they might take us to a police station and fabricate all sorts of allegations against us. After a while, they agreed to collect N200,000. They took us to an FCMB ATM point. One of them monitored me as I made several withdrawals.”<br /> <br /> He said he withdrew N100,000 before 12am and withdrew another N100,000 after 12am, adding that were later freed around 1.30am.<br /> <br /> “Some of them wore shirts bearing Anti-Cultism others wore shirts with the inscription FSARS. All of them were holding guns, except their driver. I can identify them, but my father said I should not expose them so that they would not go after me later. I leave them to God. I posted it to create awareness and warn people to be careful of how they move around. I think they were attracted to my car,” he stated.<br /> <br /> Erins, who is into rental service and manages his father’s poultry, said his parents didn’t know he went out to buy suya and didn’t bother to call him throughout the time he was being held captive.<br /> <br /> He added, “They thought I was in my room. They were surprised when I returned home around 2am. When people were saying end SARS, the government said criminals would be everywhere. I am telling you categorically that those people are actually those aiding criminality.”<br /> <br /> When our source demanded to speak with Raymond, Erins said the corps member was traumatised.<br /> <br /> The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, urged Erins to see him so that the command could investigate the incident.<br /> <br /> Recall that a rapper, Ikechukwu Onunaku, had taken to the social media on Thursday to call out some SARS men whom he accused of kidnapping him on Lagos Island and extorting money from him.

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They were shouting ‘don’t move, don’t move, come out.’ I thought they were armed robbers because they did not look like policemen.” That ...

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Photo: Major link bridge to ex-president Jonathan’s community collapses

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgLeX11eO2OSrbW-zN-GIb_uaMMbOg3WYlBplm_UM8boC5gqtEwAtRxkadXXjvyA-bVWW7EyGo9QDS03Oll7IRRSn3t22BCQLf_S17DZM-HWKF3J_clKvc0Zm4ecpjGjBGrR4mtj2EBQ/s1600/jonathann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="1024" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgLeX11eO2OSrbW-zN-GIb_uaMMbOg3WYlBplm_UM8boC5gqtEwAtRxkadXXjvyA-bVWW7EyGo9QDS03Oll7IRRSn3t22BCQLf_S17DZM-HWKF3J_clKvc0Zm4ecpjGjBGrR4mtj2EBQ/s400/jonathann.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Residents in some communities in Ogbia, the Local Government Area of former President Goodluck Jonathan, have been rendered stranded following the collapse of a major bridge in their area.<br /> <br /> It was gathered that the only bridge connecting Emeyal and Kolo and Jonathan’s Otuoke community collapsed and cut off the area.<br /> <br /> Residents, who were in shock, said the bridge was constructed over 33 years ago explaining that it caved in under the weight of a heavy truck.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MRtUDzXymCUDaHrSOQN_SDphMb2Rbibo56KfMPxCg4eH-K83mYjhG2R2t6S1B7Undyck2I40BoeB0fDXJc5wNkfW5zXpi6WA9yiIofxtiuw0VdcRQ4EVEOtHo7iR3QzXtaFKpV570p4/s1600/Link-Bridge-Jonathan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="712" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MRtUDzXymCUDaHrSOQN_SDphMb2Rbibo56KfMPxCg4eH-K83mYjhG2R2t6S1B7Undyck2I40BoeB0fDXJc5wNkfW5zXpi6WA9yiIofxtiuw0VdcRQ4EVEOtHo7iR3QzXtaFKpV570p4/s400/Link-Bridge-Jonathan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> It was gathered that the truck laden with chipping tried to cross the bridge unsuccessfully as the concrete columns and pillars holding the bridge gave way.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Giving an account of the incident, Precious Okala, who is the clan President-elect of Obahn Emeyal Youth Council, said the bridge had depreciated over time and was due for maintenance.<br /> <br /> He said it has not been maintained since it was constructed in 1986.<br /> <br /> The Youth President-elect, Elebele community, Okala Azibola, described the incident as tragic and called on the government and other relevant authorities including the oil multinationals operating in the area to come to their aid.<br /> <br /> Residents and travellers were seen patronising canoe paddlers to cross to other communities for their daily activities.<br /> <br /> It was gathered that no life was lost as the driver of the truck and three other passengers were rescued alive with minor injuries.

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How Fela inspired Tiwa Savage’s new single “49-99”

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGNNalRROwW_JUg9mdxOouZaahvBBI2PajF_Oe1ZHXkbjPyHZwcaTxAhstIz6uYKATT6O27tfGfyZGizEF7OwBqNR4N2sZd6coQkXUceC2JZZkNOy7BW-2iXvrsclzIAdCvkCxitT6Ss/s1600/Tiwa-Savage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGNNalRROwW_JUg9mdxOouZaahvBBI2PajF_Oe1ZHXkbjPyHZwcaTxAhstIz6uYKATT6O27tfGfyZGizEF7OwBqNR4N2sZd6coQkXUceC2JZZkNOy7BW-2iXvrsclzIAdCvkCxitT6Ss/s400/Tiwa-Savage.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Tiwa Savage has released the first single after her exit from Mavin Records. The song is titled “49-99”.<br /> <br /> Tiwa whose music has been tilting towards Afrobeat in recent times, noted that the title was inspired by the legendary Afrobeat king, Fela Kuti.<br /> <br /> During the listening party, she had a Q&A session during which she revealed what “49-99” means. According to her, ’49-99′ stands for ‘Forty nine, ninety-nine’ and not ‘Four thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine’ or ‘Four nine nine nine.’<br /> <br /> Explaining the reasoning behind it, she says, “It’s a phrase that was coined by the godfather of Afro-beats, Fela Kuti. It means, ‘49 sitting, 99 standing.Suffering and smiling. For those who are not Nigerian, we have these transit buses which we call a ‘molue’ and it has 49 seats.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “So instead of it to have 49 people to commute to work and back, you have 49 people sitting and double that standing, hanging… That’s just a reflection of the economy and the imbalance with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. So the song, even when you first listen to it – it’s a great record (laughs) – it’s one you can zanku to and dance to.<br /> <br /> “But I wanted something; I wanted my first global single to have a message that we are suffering and smiling and music is a powerful tool. And I wanted a title which could be a conversation starter like 49 people sitting and 99 people standing… like we’re suffering and smiling.<br /> <br /> On how the song was made, Tiwa said she was in her room and got a call from Pheelz and Olamide who told her, “We created something and we think you should come and listen to it.”<br /> <br /> On getting to the studio, she thought Olamide was trying to feature her on a song. But then, when she heard the beat, she thought, “A spaceship (lift off). So I said, ‘let me sit down .”

Latest-News How Fela inspired Tiwa Savage’s new single “49-99”

Tiwa Savage has released the first single after her exit from Mavin Records. The song is titled “49-99”. Tiwa whose music has been tilti...

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NUC plans industrial attachment for lecturers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_Pgmoiilomt-JLlwh1q08ue7rGGdVX9Da1jnkZrTqmoWzy6aaUQS6AHThPzNx4UaluwXPQlWQ65JqjZlD6lYl0VLUrOyxwsf9AztRzjjc3cq6QLwv7UHHsjziT5Ph4lNoH-zlXbQ1rk/s1600/NUC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="583" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_Pgmoiilomt-JLlwh1q08ue7rGGdVX9Da1jnkZrTqmoWzy6aaUQS6AHThPzNx4UaluwXPQlWQ65JqjZlD6lYl0VLUrOyxwsf9AztRzjjc3cq6QLwv7UHHsjziT5Ph4lNoH-zlXbQ1rk/s400/NUC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The National Universities Commission is planning to establish an ‘industrial attachment’ programme for university lecturers in a bid to improve the quality of graduates from the country’s universities.<br /> <br /> It is widely believed that, in recent times, majority of the graduates produced by the country’s higher institutions are ‘unemployable.’<br /> <br /> Deputy Executive Secretary of the NUC, Dr Suleman Yusuf, who spoke in an interview on the sidelines of a stakeholders’ forum with the academia organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission in Abuja, said there was a need for Nigerian lecturers to acquire ‘hands-on’ industry experience, similar to the sort of knowledge students gain from participating in the industrial training attachment scheme.<br /> <br /> One of the themes of the NCC ‘Stakeholders’ Forum with the Academia’ was the production of ‘industry-ready’ graduates.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Yusuf explained that through improved collaboration with the private sector, the NUC now involved employers of labour in various industries in the review and formulation of the academic curriculum in the universities.<br /> <br /> But Yusuf added that the NUC intended to go further by getting lecturers to undergo industrial attachments.<br /> <br /> “We are taking concrete steps beyond curriculum review; we are looking at a situation now where lecturers themselves would be attached to industries for some short time attachment so that when they go back to the classroom, they will not be talking about theory, they will also have some hands-on experience. That is where we are going,” he said.<br /> <br /> Yusuf observed that industrial experience was vital because some knowledge could not be obtained inside the classroom.

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If not for our approach, some corps members would have remained as local champions -NYSC DG

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Violence: Lagos Assembly threatens to proscribe NURTW

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iPkvcUvTqnH5hMMcJ3BK2wWFYxcMpsFNW5TyVFLDjG_dgXs_zhOmAftUGCaEkMJikCArHGnYOhXERIx8KUzvCsjR8ymHDpZnvvIUH5vdlDPMiENu-ilqolMWwZCUxhQ1lLhvaoOKlpg/s1600/nurtw-logo-1024x499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1024" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iPkvcUvTqnH5hMMcJ3BK2wWFYxcMpsFNW5TyVFLDjG_dgXs_zhOmAftUGCaEkMJikCArHGnYOhXERIx8KUzvCsjR8ymHDpZnvvIUH5vdlDPMiENu-ilqolMWwZCUxhQ1lLhvaoOKlpg/s400/nurtw-logo-1024x499.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The  Lagos State House of Assembly has warned the members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state to desist from all forms of violence.<br /> <br /> LAHA said that the union risked being proscribed from operating in the state if its members persist in making trouble in the state.<br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some members of the union had on Wednesday staged a protest to the assembly, rejecting the emergence of Musiliu Akinsanya,  a.k.a. M.C Oluomo, as the union’s caretaker committee chairman.<br /> <br /> The resolution of the house followed a motion moved by Mr Victor Akande, representing Ojo I Constituency, during plenary on Thursday.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Akande said that some members of the NURTW in the state had staged a protest to the assembly complex where they alleged that Akinsanya was imposed on them as the caretaker committee’s chairman.<br /> <br /> Akande said that the protesters alleged that Akinsanya and his supporters were working against the constitution of the union.<br /> <br /> He said the protesters believed that being one of the contenders for the position of the union chairman, he should not have been given the caretaker committee’s chairman.<br /> <br /> Akande said that the protesters allegedly threatened that there would be bloodshed in the state if the government did not intervene in the issue.<br /> <br /> Contributing, Mr Olawale Olayiwola representing Mushin Constituency II, urged his colleagues to, as a matter of urgency,  look into the matter.<br /> <br /> According to Olayiwola, the NURTW issue is a case we should quickly intervene in and we should also critically look at it because their matter is always a delicate one.<br /> <br /> He said: “The union members have had transitions in times past and some of them had not been violent.”<br /> <br /> “We should ensure adequate security whenever they want to conduct their election and we should counsel them to accept whatever the outcome of their election is,” he said.<br /> <br /> On his part, Mr Rotimi Olowo representing Shomolu I, said it was high time the union members were cautioned on their activities.<br /> <br /> Olowo said: “We should let them know that we will not continue to condone violence from their end. They cannot continue to kill themselves in the name of electing a chairman.<br /> <br /> “We should let them know that if they engage in any other form of violence again, we will proscribe their union,” he said.<br /> <br /> On his part, Mr Abiodun Tobun, representing Epe 1, said that the union members had been killing themselves because of the money they were making in the state.<br /> <br /> “They are making too much money from the union and that is why they are engaging in violence and killing one another every time.<br /> <br /> “It is wrong to have imposed someone on them. They should get a neutral person to be the chairman so that there will not be crisis,” he said.<br /> <br /> The Deputy Speaker of the House, Wasiu Sanni-Eshinlokun, said his constituency, Lagos Island has been in chaos in the past few days because of the clashes between members of the  NURTW.<br /> <br /> “Lagos Island has been in chaos in the past few days and three persons were killed in the process. Some hoodlums have taken advantage of the crisis within the NURTW  to rob and loot traders’ shops.<br /> <br /> “They should try and embrace the spirit of sportsmanship. We should send warnings to them to stop the  violence,” he said.<br /> <br /> In his ruling, the Speaker of the house, Mr Mudashiru Obasa,  said that if they were earning a living from the motor parks, they should be able to maintain peace and orderliness there.<br /> <br /> “Their election should not cause crisis and whenever they start their crises, innocent people are always the ones to suffer.<br /> <br /> “If they should continue to engage in any crisis, we will not hesitate to place a ban on them. We will write Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to warn them not to engage in violence, else we will place a ban on them,” he said.

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Xenophobia: Buhari’s special envoy arrives South Africa

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EC-gzi2vFCgbqTcmJ2RGF-Rroua0fxdORSz-py0V3UIp8I2STLLz5UAfFjS-WgkDK21tUMPCV97SdmjNOItsJpUSh1nJAixPGLHRJC3X4x7NdH1POSQG6Sv5iJqhHVm7aYxxM7r-5GY/s1600/Buhari-Ramaphosa-I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="695" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EC-gzi2vFCgbqTcmJ2RGF-Rroua0fxdORSz-py0V3UIp8I2STLLz5UAfFjS-WgkDK21tUMPCV97SdmjNOItsJpUSh1nJAixPGLHRJC3X4x7NdH1POSQG6Sv5iJqhHVm7aYxxM7r-5GY/s400/Buhari-Ramaphosa-I.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> President Muhammadu Buhari’s special envoy has arrived in Johannesburg, for a meeting with South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa.<br /> <br /> The special representative of the President is the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar.<br /> <br /> Ambassador Abubakar was received at the O.R. Tambo International Airport by the Nigerian High Commissioner and other mission officials.<br /> <br /> He is expected to meet the host President in Pretoria on Friday.<br /> <br /> Prior to the arrival of the special envoy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said Ambassador Abubakar would attend crucial meetings with high-level South African officials on all aspects of the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The spokesperson for the ministry, Ferdinand Nwonye, explained in a statement that the special envoy and the High Commissioner would provide President Buhari with a comprehensive briefing on the situation in South Africa and on the outcome of their meetings.<br /> <br /> According to the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was informed that the Nigerian Mission in South Africa has “authoritatively informed that no Nigerian life was lost during the latest crisis”.<br /> <br /> The ministry urged the Nigerians to disregard the purported videos claiming otherwise on the social media.

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What I will do to Amosun, his uncompleted projects in Ogun – Gov Dapo Abiodun

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq0IQlZ9F7HZqiPLWIg5vlq66YMR4Qg55iYAS_gRIerj0GKjoBxxap324s1mOGf3OSEFIdndYiFADUltfN4jxw2onndOKwYHrXjergevT__H9xNlEhULJ3rAx54_VlGNGVjv4BhdJ0Kk/s1600/dapo+abiodun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq0IQlZ9F7HZqiPLWIg5vlq66YMR4Qg55iYAS_gRIerj0GKjoBxxap324s1mOGf3OSEFIdndYiFADUltfN4jxw2onndOKwYHrXjergevT__H9xNlEhULJ3rAx54_VlGNGVjv4BhdJ0Kk/s400/dapo+abiodun.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, says all uncompleted project started by the immediate past administration led by Senator Ibikunle Amosun, that has direct impact on the socio-economic well-being of the people, will be completed, as his government is not out for vendetta.<br /> <br /> Abiodun, who gave this indication at the launch of Ogun TechHUB along Kobape Road, Abeokuta, said his administration could not afford to abandon the projects as they were executed with public fund.<br /> <br /> “I want to use this opportunity to assure our people that we will not abandon any project that has direct benefit to the people. Those projects were done with the people’s money. We will ensure their completion because we are not interested in vendetta,” he said.<br /> <br /> He said the TechHUB underscored his administration resolve to digitally transform the State, just as the centre would form a platform for incubating ideas that would proffer solutions to human problems.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The Governor said similar centres would be established in the other two Senatorial Districts, expressing the hope that technology development at the centre would attract foreign exchange to the State and nation.<br /> <br /> Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser on Information Technology, Mr. Dayo Abiodun said the centre would serve as a place where technologists, government, impact investors and others in and around Ogun State would use information technology to find new solutions to various social problems in Nigeria.

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Davido’s babymamas react to his statement, declare their daughters special too

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrmrCpPeQnPA-y7YEy7OEect3KQEJyCs57GcUyK6oIyRfHWnKqPNAoC96047OHHf85OEDOID1zoe-xe8u03yXAdIDW7yZmM8WA3VTLUQJLeT9TT3wIuNHJvBHRtiIogVW6RyuDt1PADU/s1600/Davido-Chioma4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="565" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrmrCpPeQnPA-y7YEy7OEect3KQEJyCs57GcUyK6oIyRfHWnKqPNAoC96047OHHf85OEDOID1zoe-xe8u03yXAdIDW7yZmM8WA3VTLUQJLeT9TT3wIuNHJvBHRtiIogVW6RyuDt1PADU/s400/Davido-Chioma4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> After Davido described Chioma’s pregnancy as special because she is expecting a boy, however, the comment did not go down well with his previous babymamas, Sophia and Amanda.<br /> <br /> Responding to the statement, the babymamas shared new photos of their baby girls with the caption “You are the most special baby” “you are so special”<br /> <br /> On Tuesday, Davido announced that he and girlfriend, Chioma Rowland, have held an introduction ahead of marriage.<br /> <br /> On photos he shared on his social media handles, the celebrity said 2020 was the anticipated year for the big events, calling on friends and family to get ready.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Chioma was missing from the photos as she is reportedly heavily pregnant and staying off the social media until their baby boy arrives……

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Nigeria tragically living on borrowed time - World Bank

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieo5EsyAFlwnFkiaoeqFQSi9Xh-j2Fd5FRlNSbEQWgek-ziAzvmK37Mrgoc-B8gBolQbGgGeRFedqtZXaVBA7Guf3_xWJCMwB13D9ZpG-e-0SOpi9Udaz-OPBaJQMdPD3V4GKY5SftTo-o/s1600/world-bank-1-500x470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieo5EsyAFlwnFkiaoeqFQSi9Xh-j2Fd5FRlNSbEQWgek-ziAzvmK37Mrgoc-B8gBolQbGgGeRFedqtZXaVBA7Guf3_xWJCMwB13D9ZpG-e-0SOpi9Udaz-OPBaJQMdPD3V4GKY5SftTo-o/s320/world-bank-1-500x470.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> The Senior Agriculture Economist, World Bank, Dr Adetunji Oredipe, on Thursday said the neglect of the agricultural sector when Nigeria’s economy became increasingly dependent on oil has proved to be a “disaster”.<br /> <br /> He said if Nigeria had held to its market share in palm oil, cocoa, groundnut and cotton, the country would be earning at least $10bn annually from these commodities.<br /> <br /> Oredipe said this while delivering a keynote address at the agriculture summit Africa in Abuja, sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The event was attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo who was represented by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Shehuri; Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Paulen Talen; Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu; Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, Asue Ighodalo; and the Managing Director of Sterling Bank Plc, Abubakar Suleiman.<br /> <br /> Painting a picture of the country’s agricultural sector, the World Bank agric economist said Nigeria was now one of the largest food importers in the world.<br /> <br /> He said in 2016 alone, Nigeria spent $965m on the importation of wheat, $39.7m to import rice and $100.2m on sugar importation.<br /> <br /> Oredipe said the decision to spend $655m on fish importation seemed financially irresponsible given all the marine resources, rivers, lakes, and creeks in Nigeria.<br /> <br /> He said, “None of the above transactions (importation of rice, fish, sugar) is fiscally, economically or politically sustainable.<br /> <br /> “Nigeria is tragically living on borrowed time, a typical case of robbing Peter to pay.<br /> <br /> “For instance, each time we spend money to import rice, Nigerian local rice farmers are negatively affected in terms of morale, sales, and realisable income.”<br /> <br /> He lamented that despite the huge agricultural potential, Nigeria which used to be the major player in agriculture in the world has lost its place in the global community.<br /> <br /> He said, “In the 1960s, we had glory. That glory was visible and significant for the global community to recognise and applaud.<br /> <br /> “Nigeria accounted for 42 per cent of the world’s exports of shelled groundnuts. Our total export volume was 502, 000 MT.<br /> <br /> “This declined to 356 MT by 2016. Nigeria lost her leadership position and was overtaken by the USA, China, and Argentina.<br /> <br /> “Nigeria was also the largest exporter of palm oil in the world and accounted for 27 per cent of the global export volume for palm oil.<br /> <br /> “Indonesia alone recorded US$16.5bn, 54.5 per cent of total palm oil exports. Unfortunately, Nigeria is not listed among the first 15 as at this moment.”<br /> <br /> He said the huge taste of Nigerians for imported food items had also contributed to high levels of unemployment for the youths.<br /> <br /> Oredipe said, “Food producing factories in Western world, Far East Asia and other countries employ millions of young people to produce and export food. “This is a source of livelihood and it helps the workers to live well and go to school.<br /> <br /> To reverse this trend, he said the government must articulate a clear vision to achieve a hunger-free Nigeria, through an agricultural sector that drives income growth.<br /> <br /> In doing this, he said the vision of the government should be to revive the rural economy by transforming Nigeria into an agriculturally industrialised economy, create wealth, jobs, and markets for farmers.<br /> <br /> He added, “We also need to realise that it is extremely difficult to produce, process and market at the same time. It is better to specialise and pick a certain aspect to focus on.”<br /> <br /> He also said government should rigorously and transparently evaluate all major policies and initiatives aimed at boosting agricultural development.<br /> <br /> The economist said a closer focus on agricultural finance schemes could boost its potential to foster an enabling environment to crowd-in private investment.<br /> <br /> “The most fundamental cause of low investment in agriculture is the low expected profitability, which stems from low productivity. Additional factors contributing to this situation include an unfavourable business climate; infrastructural deficiencies; limited access and use of long-term business credit; and the high risk of investment,” he added.<br /> <br /> He also said there was need to address the issue of high post-harvest losses, especially for perishables such as horticulture produce.<br /> <br /> Oredipe said Nigeria produces 1.8 million MT of tomatoes per year, accounting for 68 per cent of the total production of West Africa.<br /> <br /> However, he added, over 45 per cent of this is lost annually due to postharvest losses.<br /> <br /> Despite this, he said, Nigeria continued to spend over N16bn annually on tomato paste importation making the country the largest importer of tomato paste from China and Italy.<br /> <br /> He said, “We need to find better ways to link farmers with off-takers and processers. Our off-takers imports food items being produced by our farmers because they are not aware of the products in the local market.”

Latest-News Nigeria tragically living on borrowed time - World Bank

The Senior Agriculture Economist, World Bank, Dr Adetunji Oredipe, on Thursday said the neglect of the agricultural sector when Nigeria’s...

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South Africa blames Nigerian drug dealers for xenophobic attacks

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbYPI8jJmr-eQewO-DfwIIgEH62BTNYxFJlnqz_sGRdPlxra40UfWKvBZ12gIyyLjcNsprZX7pkb1q2U4APH_ZnMMIm9GbV-zYnu5Jpus1q2snbmJOCQgPDqaakiST7VerVu8Azn6bp_d/s1600/Xenophobia3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="412" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbYPI8jJmr-eQewO-DfwIIgEH62BTNYxFJlnqz_sGRdPlxra40UfWKvBZ12gIyyLjcNsprZX7pkb1q2U4APH_ZnMMIm9GbV-zYnu5Jpus1q2snbmJOCQgPDqaakiST7VerVu8Azn6bp_d/s320/Xenophobia3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b>South Africa’s Minister of International Relation and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor has blamed drug dealers for xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and pleaded with the Federal Government of Nigeria to assist her country by preventing Nigerians dealing in narcotics from coming to South Africa.</b><br /> <br /> Pandor, who spoke with an interview with an online news platform, enca.com, on the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum on Africa on Thursday, said there was a widely held belief that many Nigerians in South Africa dealt in drugs, adding that the Federal Government should help to address this issue.<br /> <br /> Pandor in the interview with enca.com said the South Africa authorities were aware that the attacks against foreigners were driven by what she called “Afrophobia.”<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The minister said, ”I would appreciate them (Nigerian government) in helping us as well to address the belief our people have, the reality that there are many persons from Nigeria who are dealing in drugs in our country, who are harming our young people by making drugs easily available to them.<br /> “I believe Nigerian nationals are involved in human trafficking and other abusive practices. This kind of assistance of ensuring such persons don’t come to our country would be of great assistance to our nation.”<br /> <br /> The minister cast doubts on the proposal suggesting that Nigerian police officers should be embedded with the South Africa Police Service to assist them in preventing xenophobic attacks against Nigerians.<br /> <br /> Pandor said she was not aware of any South African law that permitted the implementation of the idea.<br /> <br /> She added, “I had an interview and one of the interviewers, a journalist from Nigeria; he was repeating some of the statements that Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister (Geoffrey Onyeama) had made.<br /> <br /> “Part of it being that their security forces should come to South Africa to somewhat work alongside with our police and I indicated that I don’t know any provision in the constitution or our law which would allow that.”<br /> <br /> The minister described the attacks as a complex phenomenon “whose root causes were not easy to define.”

Latest-News South Africa blames Nigerian drug dealers for xenophobic attacks

South Africa’s Minister of International Relation and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor has blamed drug dealers for xenophobic attacks on Nig...

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Nigeria needs a complete takeover of Shoprite, MTN - APC

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIvoUMgrnnl9YTyvGRDBaDkw5TFDS_Sm6XEtSN30-X_whweypX-iJa-wT5YJJSlROg9j5MsGvS75PYIyrNc3olFVbYwo2JfSh9NY76g9CcU7KUJ9pEjw-2FZKCtWqrCj32fq_C6uYd-6Q/s1600/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIvoUMgrnnl9YTyvGRDBaDkw5TFDS_Sm6XEtSN30-X_whweypX-iJa-wT5YJJSlROg9j5MsGvS75PYIyrNc3olFVbYwo2JfSh9NY76g9CcU7KUJ9pEjw-2FZKCtWqrCj32fq_C6uYd-6Q/s320/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <b><br /></b><b>The Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, called on the Federal Government to ensure a complete takeover of Shoprite, the MTN and other South African businesses in the country by Nigerians.</b><br /> <br /> The party also called for the revocation of licences of banks owned by the South Africans in Nigeria including Stanbic IBTC and Standard Chartered banks.<br /> <br /> The party made the calls after an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee in Abuja on Thursday presided over by the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Addressing journalists after the meeting, Oshiomhole said the attitude of the ruling African National Congress and that of the South African government indicated approval of the unwarranted attacks on black immigrants and wanton destruction of their property.<br /> <br /> He said, “Having listened to all the explanations from the authorities in South Africa, these people are neither being accused of being irregular migrants nor were they involved in any illegal activities. Those who have business permit to set up businesses, whether they are pretty traders or small manufacturers, are operating within the letters of the law of the South African nation.<br /> <br /> “Over the past one year and virtually every other week, Nigerians are being wasted in one part of South Africa or the other. We know that the Federal Government has had conversations with the South African authorities drawing their attention to these abuses but the escalation of the attacks on foreigners – many of who are Nigerians – has reached a level that is no longer tolerable.<br /> <br /> “At some point, people wonder whether these attacks had the backing of the South African government. What has been clear over the period is that the South African authorities have not demonstrated sufficient commitment to bring these attacks to an end. For example, in spite of the fact that many peoples’ lives have been wasted, not one South African is known to have been convicted and sentenced to prison.<br /> <br /> “South African companies are making billions of dollars from the Nigerian economy year in year out and repatriate same out of Nigeria. The MTN was recently in the stock market and some Nigerians bought shares in the MTN but in a moment like this and in order to send a very strong message to the South African authorities and the South African people, Nigeria government must take steps to take over the remaining shares of the MTN that are owned by South African so that the MTN become fully Nigeria owned.”<br /> <br /> The former Edo State governor said South Africans had not reciprocated the kind gestures extended them by Nigerians in the past.<br /> <br /> He asked them to look inward for the cause of their problems instead of attacking Africans who accounted for only two per cent of their gross domestic product.<br /> <br /> Oshiomhole urged Nigerians to protest against the killing of their brothers and sisters and other nationals by boycotting South African businesses and goods.<br /> <br /> “I think right away, Nigerians in our individual capacities, this is the moment to show our commitment by boycotting South African good and beginning with Nigerians refusing from today to use MTN services. If Nigeria decides at least for the next 30 days to stop using the MTN, they would have sent a clear message.<br /> <br /> “We should reflect on why we should continue to allow the DSTV to repatriate millions of dollars to South Africa arising from their activities in Nigeria. We have reviewed all of those things that give South Africans monopoly such that they make money with very little value addition.<br /> <br /> “To show that we mean business and in a practical step, the South African Airways, landing right in Nigeria should be stopped until these issues are sorted out.<br /> <br /> “Many Nigerians believed that Shoprite is owned by South Africans. They are repatriating money purely from franchise, but the capital with which these shopping malls were built were Nigeria’s. The shop owners are Nigerians. This poses an obligation on the government to review any agreement that gives South Africans power to develop monopoly in our commercial lives.<br /> <br /> “We have a duty to encourage the government to do what we believe is right. Happily, the government has already taken the initiative. This resolution we have reached will be communicated to Mr President and to the Federal Government. And, it will be up to the government to decide how to respond to them.<br /> <br /> “But, we need the government to recognise that Nigerians wants a more firm action because the MTN cannot be carting away money, the DSTV carting away so much money; Shoprite making so much money from their franchise and Stanbic dealing with corporate Nigerians patronising the oil companies making fabulous billions of dollars and South Africans are wasting away our young men and women people – who are struggling to manage small businesses.<br /> <br /> “This is meant to give the government the support base it needs to proceed with further direct measures. And, I think on this issue, Nigerians are united across all the divides. We must protect Nigeria’s image and protect its citizens and businesses wherever they are. And, any country that attacks our businesses, an injury to one is an injury many. That must be the philosophy. Nigeria first.<br /> <br /> “We also know that Standard Chartered Bank and Stanbic Bank, are South African banks, Nigerians may have more shares there, if any. It is time to ask them to wind up so that Nigerian banks will take advantage of their departure and expand their operation. We have enough to save by transferring these businesses to Nigerians.”

Latest-News Nigeria needs a complete takeover of Shoprite, MTN - APC

The Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, called on the Federal Government to ensure a complete takeover of Shoprite, the ...

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Oshiomhole asks FG to take over MTN

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCkQVlTg7Dt9mCZ1snlAU2VDJZFJWHK81898CiAci9l_ux-qklqpyPxBnTQhCo6GIs4i9kEhmY_6D8wRiP6MEoJzMRmdj-wzvihCFoZLohuVstfIuRTPG6Avj22bXNE4GiUoCy5redLsr/s1600/oshio2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="640" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCkQVlTg7Dt9mCZ1snlAU2VDJZFJWHK81898CiAci9l_ux-qklqpyPxBnTQhCo6GIs4i9kEhmY_6D8wRiP6MEoJzMRmdj-wzvihCFoZLohuVstfIuRTPG6Avj22bXNE4GiUoCy5redLsr/s400/oshio2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked the federal government to take over MTN in order to send a strong message to South Africa over the attacks on Nigerians based in the country.<br /> <br /> On Monday, shops and properties of Nigerians were looted and destroyed in different parts of South Africa.<br /> <br /> Speaking with journalists on Thursday in Abuja, Oshiomhole said Nigeria should not sacrifice its interest because it wants to play the big brother role.<br /> <br /> “In order to send a very strong message to South African authorities and the South African people, it is worth it for the Nigerian government to take steps to take over the remaining shares of MTN that are owned by South Africans so that MTN becomes fully Nigeria-owned,” the APC chairman said.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “If Nigeria decides at least for the next 30 days to stop using MTN, they would have sent a clear message.<br /> <br /> “We should no longer sacrifice our own national interest just because we want to be the big brother of a people that do not recognise the role, the enormous and the huge sacrifices that our country has made over the years to protect and defend the interest of the African continent.<br /> <br /> “While South African government is envious of the small businesses which Nigerians are involved in South Africa, South African companies are making billions of dollars from the Nigerian economy year in year out and repatriating same out of Nigeria.”<br /> <div><br /></div>

Latest-News Oshiomhole asks FG to take over MTN

Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked the federal government to take over MTN in order to ...

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Boko Haram attacks convoy of Borno governor

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-yyU2ENBrXInxTvOFybX6tplsoP1XgoCR5hPHOp0ZgBqqpbelGedjJbe_0xH5t8_nGWBakD7HORNeLvVBhUJ3rAjXoXlb9HMf750VAQImnZHqgVar23H9fhorodaHj2ju3KKPkUNZ47E/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="625" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-yyU2ENBrXInxTvOFybX6tplsoP1XgoCR5hPHOp0ZgBqqpbelGedjJbe_0xH5t8_nGWBakD7HORNeLvVBhUJ3rAjXoXlb9HMf750VAQImnZHqgVar23H9fhorodaHj2ju3KKPkUNZ47E/s400/Capture.PNG" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Boko Haram fighters opened fire on the convoy of Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, on Thursday night.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Security sources revealed that the insurgents attacked the convoy at Konduga while Zulum was returning from a trip to Bama local government area.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The incident was said to have happened around 9pm.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Zulum had visited Bayo, Kwaya Kusar, Askira Uba and Gwoza as part of his “familiarity and need assessment tour” of the 27 LGAs in the state.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"></div> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;">“Luckily the governor, his commissioners and other vehicle in the convoy escaped unhurt but the last vehicle which is an army gun truck was pelted with bullets,” the source said.</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://f5p3e9e4.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Zulum-3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Zulum before the attack</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /> “Immediately after they fired at us, our men in collaboration with the armed personnel from the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad(FSARS), quickly retaliated and thwarted the ambush.”<br /> <br /> Konduga, an area near Sambisa forest, has come under many attacks from the faction of Boko Haram under the control of Abubakar Shekau.<br /> <br /> The attack comes seven months after Kashim Shettima, Zulum’s successor was attacked by the sect on his way to  Gamboru Ngala, still in Borno.<br /> <br /> At least 60 persons were reportedly killed in the incident while over 100 were kidnapped.<br /> <br /> Before Thursday’s attack, Zulum had visited Bayo where he directed the enrollment of 112 members of the civilian joint task force and a monthly payment roll, starting from next month.<br /> <br /> He also directed the provision of furniture to the local government secretariat and immediate return of staffs to their offices.<br /> <br /> He had also also visited Government Day Secondary School, Biryel, where he ordered immediate restoration of water that had been cut off.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://f5p3e9e4.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/zulum-2-1024x768.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The governor at a prayer session at government hosue, Maiduguri, after the trip</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /> At Wuyo also in Bayo local government, Zulum visited Central Primary School Wuyo and ordered the rehabilitation and fencing of the school, and also the rehabilitation of Wuyo ward head palace.<br /> <br /> In addition, Zulum directed the provision of portable water facility to the town and the establishment of new secondary school. He also inspected Kwaya Kusar divisional police headquarters and directed immediate rehabilitation.<br /> <br /> Zulum rounded off his tour of the two local governments by inaugurating a shopping complex named after Shettima.<br /> <div><br /></div>

Latest-News Boko Haram attacks convoy of Borno governor

Boko Haram fighters opened fire on the convoy of Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, on Thursday night. Security sources revealed t...

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Robert Mugabe is dead

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKVdi6ieaOkJCK33vcOupiWVi28Yk3N4epNAey6nNuZLskypkehinirEwfrzLtYoMgvUdpOjMwd2hplSjLOontXzihyphenhyphenU3iFzwZS-6v5YgW48CWKyqHNHWU9syS25HaarQk3-y75EgvGPq/s1600/Mugabe.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1200" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKVdi6ieaOkJCK33vcOupiWVi28Yk3N4epNAey6nNuZLskypkehinirEwfrzLtYoMgvUdpOjMwd2hplSjLOontXzihyphenhyphenU3iFzwZS-6v5YgW48CWKyqHNHWU9syS25HaarQk3-y75EgvGPq/s400/Mugabe.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Robert Mugabe, former president of Zimbabwe, has died.<br /> <br /> He died in Singapore aged 95 after battling ill health.<br /> <br /> Emmerson Mnangagwa, president of Zimbabwe, tweeted about the demise of Mugabe on Friday morning.<br /> <br /> “It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe’s founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe,” he tweeted.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Cde Mugabe was an icon of liberation, a pan-Africanist who dedicated his life to the emancipation and empowerment of his people. His contribution to the history of our nation and continent will never be forgotten. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”<br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe's founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe (1/2)</div> — President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) <a href="https://twitter.com/edmnangagwa/status/1169839308406054912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2019</a></blockquote> Mugabe had been president of the southern country since 1980 before being ousted from power after a military coup in 2017.<br /> <br /> More to follow…<br /> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"> </script>

Latest-News Robert Mugabe is dead

Robert Mugabe, former president of Zimbabwe, has died. He died in Singapore aged 95 after battling ill health. Emmerson Mnangagwa, pre...

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UN Chief breaks silence on attacks against foreigners in South Africa

Latest-News UN Chief breaks silence on attacks against foreigners in South Africa

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Xenophobia: Jim Ovia withdraws from WEF in South Africa

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKyS5BFH2H5OfCaU9WSQjxWcERNaq2fBQ51r6bd4BhY-LErnzA5HkrXydeK5u_Uvxhbt0RaXr6iGTM5PqoJSa8yQ2IdysZnj1LhwYuzBptsDn1fV2xxHFA4xt-I9OLysRV9lnsQJmaVA/s1600/JIM+OVIA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="245" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKyS5BFH2H5OfCaU9WSQjxWcERNaq2fBQ51r6bd4BhY-LErnzA5HkrXydeK5u_Uvxhbt0RaXr6iGTM5PqoJSa8yQ2IdysZnj1LhwYuzBptsDn1fV2xxHFA4xt-I9OLysRV9lnsQJmaVA/s400/JIM+OVIA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia, has announced his withdrawal from the ongoing World Economic Forum holding in Cape Town, South Africa.<br /> <br /> In a statement signed by Ayoola Kusimo of Zenith Bank’s Corporate Communications, Ovia said his decision to withdraw from activities at the WEF was hinged xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa.<br /> <br /> The statement read, “Following the hypersensitivity of the issues surrounding the lives and well-being of Nigerian citizens living in South Africa and to contribute his voice against the poor state of security regarding foreign nationals living in Africa, the Founder/Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia has withdrawn from further activities at the World Economic Forum Africa 2019, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa.<br /> <br /> “Before taking his exit, Mr. Ovia stressed the need for youth empowerment and better government policies to curb continual attacks on persons living within and outside Africa. He belaboured that until positive change towards collective growth happens on this front, the continent would not reach its potential.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Mr. Ovia added that full support should be rendered in vocational education of the young persons living in not just Nigeria but Africa. According to him, the Jim Ovia Foundation has taken up a stance on this issue, having empowered over 3,500 students and entrepreneurs since its inception. He called on other members of the private sector to join hands and solve this menace plaguing the African continent.”

Latest-News Xenophobia: Jim Ovia withdraws from WEF in South Africa

The Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia, has announced his withdrawal from the ongoing World Economic Forum holding in Cape Town, So...

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NNPC, Navy collaborate to curb crude oil theft

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjVpcrexTI79JCSGvqbqCc0K21QxgJ-scKoQxEBHigwUEi9VdB-bPUiKa5yhAn3gPuCrJwT-VSvkMdI9mD2Y6ls13blJybVtweVG1ynKKHqBE_bBKrF3267E1JI3LXtbJDY8p_GEu95U/s1600/nnnc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjVpcrexTI79JCSGvqbqCc0K21QxgJ-scKoQxEBHigwUEi9VdB-bPUiKa5yhAn3gPuCrJwT-VSvkMdI9mD2Y6ls13blJybVtweVG1ynKKHqBE_bBKrF3267E1JI3LXtbJDY8p_GEu95U/s400/nnnc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Nigerian Navy have pledged deeper collaboration to tackle crude oil theft and attacks on oil and gas facilities.<br /> <br /> The two organisations came to the resolution when the NNPC GMD, Malam Mele Kyari paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.<br /> <br /> A statement by the corporation’s spokesman, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, noted that Kyari expressed gratitude to the Navy for its efforts at securing the nation’s oil and gas facilities in the creeks and deepwater.<br /> <br /> He said while the intervention of the Navy had restored sanity to the system, there was a need to do more as crude oil theft was still a potent reality in the nation’s oil and gas industry.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He added that NNPC was ready to support the Navy in any initiative it could come up with to further check the menace.<br /> <br /> Ekwe-Ibas said the Navy was currently working at integrating its system with those of other maritime operators such as the Nigeria Ports Authority and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to facilitate efficient operation.<br /> <br /> He said the Navy had over 130 impounded vessels, some of which were laden with stolen crude oil and petroleum products.<br /> <br /> Ekwe-Ibas assured that the Navy would live up to its mandate and work towards ending all forms of criminality in the nation’s territorial waters.<br /> <br /> He said the government was addressing some of Navy’s operational challenges, adding that the NNPC’s intervention would also be invaluable.

Latest-News NNPC, Navy collaborate to curb crude oil theft

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Nigerian Navy have pledged deeper collaboration to tackle crude oil theft and attacks ...

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Soldier bets on credit, threatens to kill agent

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3BdUN5uBsFaWKvJmsAO1caC_m8IWsQZCHcm8JcfXbIyulEQvU5snuACPeBZr0YS2y_VPGBeFIRL1A03M-O_goZTexLub8eJaReKKu5_haD6XeRNnL7n2wIGPxXzd2g7aSCryUPpvEGw/s1600/Matthew-Okoro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="1200" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3BdUN5uBsFaWKvJmsAO1caC_m8IWsQZCHcm8JcfXbIyulEQvU5snuACPeBZr0YS2y_VPGBeFIRL1A03M-O_goZTexLub8eJaReKKu5_haD6XeRNnL7n2wIGPxXzd2g7aSCryUPpvEGw/s400/Matthew-Okoro.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> A soldier, Chidera Okoro, has absconded after allegedly tricking the owner of a betting shop, Agbai Matthew, into staking the sum of N146,000 on some games for him on credit in his shop at No. 51 Efians-Okereke Road, Aba, in the Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State.<br /> <br /> It was gathered that Okoro, who visited Matthew’s shop, promised to refund the money that same day, but refused to fulfil his promise after he lost the entire amount to gambling.<br /> <br /> When Okoro was done staking on the games, our correspondent learnt that Matthew and his friend, Samuel Ajike, followed the soldier to his parent’s house in the hope of getting paid, but he reportedly escaped through the back door.<br /> <br /> Matthew said, “I run a Bet9ja shop and Okoro came to my shop to stake money on some games on credit. When I asked for the money, he promised to transfer it to my account immediately and so we proceeded. He tricked me into funding the account so that he could stake money on the games. At first, I funded the account with N40,000, but when he lost the money, he asked me to fund the account again and I declined.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “I demanded that he transferred the amount he borrowed from me and he asked for my account number. After I gave him, he made an attempt to transfer the money but it wasn’t successful. It was at that point that he suggested that I should follow him home to get my money. I was still contemplating whether to follow him or not when he asked for additional funding of N50,000. Since I would be following him home, I funded the account.<br /> <br /> “Later, he demanded more funding of N20,000 and N36,000, which I obliged. I became heartbroken when he ran away through the back door after Ajike and I had followed him to his parent’s house in Umule to get my money as agreed. I have not seen him since then.”<br /> <br /> The 31-year-old said efforts to get back his money had proved abortive.<br /> <br /> The case, however, took another dimension as Okoro allegedly threatened to kill Matthew because of his persistent demand for his money.<br /> <br /> Matthew stated, “Ajike and I waited for hours but we did not see him; but when we saw his mother, she said I had to settle the matter with Okoro. The most painful thing is that whenever I call him to demand my money, he usually threatens to torture and kill me. If anything happens to me, people should hold Okoro liable.<br /> <br /> “I want those in authority to please caution him and intervene so that he can refund my money, because the betting company I trade with has blocked my account as a result of the transaction. I have been suffering in silence and have no one to give me money to start all over again.”<br /> <br /> Ajike told our correspondent that he was surprised that Okoro decided to run away.<br /> <br /> The 25-year-old said, “When we got to his parents’ house, Okoro asked us to wait in the parlour and ran away through the back door. We went back the next day but didn’t see him, but we saw his brother, who told us that Okoro owed another person. I was there when he was staking money on some games on credit at Matthew’s shop.”<br /> <br /> When contacted, Okoro, said he left Aba after spending six months there on special duty, adding that he did not owe anybody.<br /> <br /> “I don’t owe anybody. How do you think somebody can willingly play a game on credit for somebody else? Does that make any sense? I don’t know the person you are talking about; I do not owe anybody and I don’t have any business with anybody. I spent six months in Aba, because I was on special duty there, and when I was done, I went back to my base in Port Harcourt,” he said.<br /> <br /> However, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, said Okoro was not from the division, adding that efforts were being made to fish him out.<br /> <br /> Iliyasu stated, “We have done a thorough search in the 6 Division consisting of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states for the name, Chidera Okoro, which you provided, and I can authoritatively confirm to you that he is not from the 6 Division.<br /> <br /> “Despite this, we are determined to fish out this man (Okoro), who has given you information that is wrong. We have a clue and we are determined to fish him out.”

Latest-News Soldier bets on credit, threatens to kill agent

A soldier, Chidera Okoro, has absconded after allegedly tricking the owner of a betting shop, Agbai Matthew, into staking the sum of N146,...

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