You’ll mistake Bama for Saudi Arabia, Algeria or Tunisia today – Lai Mohammed

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nvjIsrK4ln8c4gqn_eMdM-TkkYc7udOG8f7ipsUr9oy7oTLi__jKcoKEn-TPb7dNDOAt0l7g5yV6BcslA_pCRtUEIS3c9GWSGsL1P2NLSKvkrzh6NmCWANlZUTsaXv6PjpwKwvrk2GjO/s1600/lai+mohammed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nvjIsrK4ln8c4gqn_eMdM-TkkYc7udOG8f7ipsUr9oy7oTLi__jKcoKEn-TPb7dNDOAt0l7g5yV6BcslA_pCRtUEIS3c9GWSGsL1P2NLSKvkrzh6NmCWANlZUTsaXv6PjpwKwvrk2GjO/s400/lai+mohammed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br />  he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed was recently interviewed by <i>Vanguard Newspapers.</i><br /> <br />  Excerps:<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> T he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed is going round the newsrooms to interact with the media. On Tuesday, he was our guest at Canal Road, Apapa, Lagos where he spoke extensively on a number of issues. Excerps:<br /> <br /> The President’s deadline to the Military on Boko Haram<br /> <br /> Lai-MohammedThis has been largely misunderstood by the people. I think that we have met the deadline. This is because the understanding of our December deadline was that by the end of December 31, we would have reclaimed from Boko Haram the areas that were in their control, and we would have decimated their capacities and that they will not have a unified force. I want to say that, to a large extent, we have met that deadline. I have also said that meeting the deadline will not be the same as that there will no longer be any attack on the soft targets, or it will mean the end of suicide bombing or any surprise attack from the insurgents.<br /> <br /> The nature of insurgency, the world over is that it is not a conventional war. It is an asymmetrical war in which there are no rules of engagement. But we will continue to mop-up and increase our surveillance and intelligence gathering, so also with the attack on soft targets. There is no where in the world where anyone can secure soft targets like markets, mosques, churches, cinema houses, restaurants. Again, what is missing in this fight is civilian complements.<br /> <br /> For a very long time, many of us saw Boko Haram as an alien war. For some people, it was a war that concerned only the Northern part of the country and to others, it was a war between the military and the insurgents. We have never treated it the same way we treated the civil war. As a child in those days, we were thought how to detect saboteurs, how we should not lurk around after darkness, we came to know about the curfew among other things.<br /> <br /> Then, every Nigerian had a role to play. For us as kids, it was a war that must be won by Nigeria. Contrastingly, for more than five years, the Boko Haram was politicised to the extent that whether it was APC or PDP, we saw it more as the race for 2015 and because of that we never saw it as a war that concerned all of us. We as civilians must own it now. We have started the security awareness campaign. We also need a lot of de-radicalisation. Islam which has been used as a vehicle to perpetrate this evil has been bastardized. Islam does not stand for violence. Anybody who reads the Holy Quran knows that if you kill one person unjustly, it is as though you have killed a whole nation.<br /> <br /> Again, nobody will get away with unjust killing in Islam. Unfortunately, what has been lacking is that there is no counter narrative. We have allowed the radical ones to have the upper hand. We have not even sufficiently protected the moderate clerics. At the beginning of the Boko Haram, there were attempts by the moderate clerics to actually tell people that it was not about Islam, but again, a couple of them were assassinated.<br /> <br /> They were not protected and others just went underground. Unfortunately, many of the young boys and girls being used do not know what they are fighting for. Many of them used for suicide bombing did not know they were carrying bombs. They would simply tell them to go and deliver a parcel which is usually detonated remotely far away from where they are. The modus operandi is that they are always three in number. There is the guard who will take the innocent boy or girl through the route and will tell him or her: ‘tomorrow you are going to this market’ they will take him or her through that road, two or three times in order to be familiar with the route.<br /> <br /> The guard will be in front, he will follow and there is a third person behind who makes sure the bomber does not develop a cold feet. This is the kind of thing we are trying to highlight in our awareness campaign. The truth is that the army has met the deadline. Yes, there were some deadly attacks in Borno a few days ago, and in line with our warnings, the insurgents will spike up their attacks on soft targets just to prove a point that they are still relevant or that the Nigeria Military has not met the deadline. We have met the deadline because they are so decimated that they can not, as a force, attack a village or a town and sack the whole place like they did before. What we cannot rule out now are some of these attacks on soft targets.<br /> <br /> . I was in Bama, Kauri, Konduga some weeks ago, and I can tell you that the entire 89 kilometers between Maiduguri and Bama is secured. Before now, Boko Haram controlled 20 out of 27 local governments in Borno State, six local governments in Yobe and four in Adamawa. Today, I believe they are lurking in just one or two local governments which border around Sambisa. So, the army has really met the deadline.<br /> <br /> For anybody who understands Sambisa Forest, it is not a football field. It has a stretch of over 300 kilometers of road from Gombe through Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba up to Cameroun Republic. It is not a district, that is why it is a bit difficult to completely take over Sambisa forest. Even when we were there we saw them still bombarding the place. We believe the Chibok girls are still there. We can’t take the approach some of our neighbours are taking because, the collateral damage could be more.<br /> <br /> One of our neighbours has started setting fire along that area but if we do that, the collateral damage will be more than what we want to achieve. These are some of the constrains the Military is facing. But apart from that, we must start thinking about reconstruction, rehabilitation and settlement of the people. In Bama, there were about 6000 houses, but none is standing today. That means we need a lot of resources to plough in the area.<br /> <br /> If you go to Bama today, you will not believe you are in Nigeria. Every signboard and notice is in Arabic, you will think you are in Saudi Arabia, Algeria or Tunisia. There is no single notice in English left. There, we have Morrocans, Tunisians, Malians living there and they turned that place into an Arabic town. That convinces me more that this is not just a local war. Just some months ago, Boko Haram was using Bama as headquarters of their caliphate, appointing emirs from there, and collecting taxes. They had their own government. It is from this perspective I want you to appreciate what this government has achieved.<br /> <br /> What do you think of the position of Femi Fani Kayode and Aribisala who have taken you on, alleging that you have misled this government?<br /> <br /> I read them, they are shallow. Whatever they are saying, is from their arm-chairs. I have been to Bama, Kauri, Konduga, I have held meetings with the chief of Defence staff, I have held meetings with the commander of war front. With all sense of modesty, I am better equipped to understand Boko Haram than they are. Now, how have I misled the country? I have said that the Army has largely met the deadline. And I talk with facts and figures. I said, this time last year, 20 out of 27 local governments were in the hands of Boko Haram and today as we are speaking only one or two are in their control; and you say I am misleading the country.<br /> <br /> I asked the question when we got to Bama that when was this place liberated and they told me only four months ago. The world is watching what is happening. If I said this has happened, the US and others have their own teams. Whatever that is happening today, is not only being covered by Nigerian media, other world bodies are also there. It is not true that only a few local governments were left when Jonathan handed over government. Bama itself was still in the hands of Boko Haram.<br /> <br /> I am not here to say this is what Jonathan did wrong, we have passed that stage. Everything I have said on Boko Haram is either what I have seen first hand, what I have been briefed by the Military or what is actually going on. They can sit in Lagos or Abuja and write their columns.<br /> <br /> The government is planning to pay N5000 to poor and vulnerable Nigerians as indicated in the budget presentation, how do you intend to sustain this unproductive programme?<br /> <br /> What we want to achieve by our social intervention is to move out millions of Nigerians from poverty.<br /> <br /> Part of what we intend to do with the half a trillion naira is to train market women, artisans and unemployed graduates in the art of management and also give them loans to start their own businesses. Part of our social intervention also includes this conditional transfer of N5,000 to the most vulnerable people. And we are being partnered in this by the World Bank and other multilateral organisations. It has been done in many countries before and we believe that it can be done here. Many people have written ridiculously about the N5,000 and claimed that it is not up to what they spend on recharge cards. And we said yes, those who are writing such things are not the average Nigerians we are seeking to help.<br /> <br /> If you look at the lady who is selling water melon or pawpaw, she does not have up to N5,000 capital. People don’t know that N5,000 can be meaningful for many Nigerians because they are too comfortable in their corners. They do not know that N5,000 can make the difference between life and death for 50 million Nigerians. Many people have died because they could not afford transportation to the health centres. We are grappling with the reality on ground and we know that this conditional cash transfer is working in some states and it is being piloted by DIFID.<br /> <br /> In Jigawa, Yobe, and Kano, a British group is trying the conditional N5,000 transfer on a pilot scheme. When we say conditional transfer, it means that you must show evidence that you have enrolled your children in school and immunised them. It is not just that we are giving you money free, you must also show evidence that you have complied with some obligations. We know it works because it has increased school enrollment, led to a drop in mortality rate and decline in stunted growth.<br /> <br /> As to where we want to get the money from, I was involved in the planning of the budget and we came to the conclusion that apart from blockages and savings, there are many government institutions today, who ought to be returning certain money to the treasury but they are not doing so. We know that some organisations made over N20 billion profit last year but returned less than N100 million to the treasury.<br /> <br /> This is why the idea of the Treasury Single Account is so important to us. We are going back to the basics. We believe that the money for this project will come from savings, budget and prudent management. Also, we are going to have support from multilateral organisations, especially in the area of cash transfer.<br /> <br /> Again some of these projects are not just recurrent, they are also capital in a way. You can imagine what is going to happen if we start by just giving one egg a day to every primary school student. You need an extra one million eggs a day. That will boost poultry farming. But we are not too ambitious in our plans but we are very focused.<br /> <br /> There is a report that Chibok local government is still under the control of the insurgents, why didn’t you go to Chibok?<br /> <br /> No, it is not true. There is a lot of ignorance about Chibok. If you are talking about Chibok town or local government, it is not under the control of the insurgents.<br /> <br /> The feeling by some people is that this government has not done enough since it assumed power, how will you react to this?<br /> <br /> With all sense of modesty, if we have not been doing something today, this country would have gone down. There is no way you meet the kind of rot we met and think you can turn things around overnight. We had petrol shortage a few weeks ago, we went to National Assembly to ask for supplementary budget of N674billion. N522billion out of it was for back payment of subsidy. Marketers stopped importing fuel since September because they said we were owing a backlog of N522billion and they would not bring fuel. We did not say we are not going to pay, and the refineries are not working.<br /> <br /> We have 445,000 barrel of crude dedicated to local refineries but we could not refine 1000. I say if we have not been doing anything, there would be no single fuel in Nigeria today. What did we do? Before, the marketers used to import about 70 percent of the refined product, today we have 5,120kilometers of pipelines, we have 24 depots and 21 pump stations. With these alone, the amount of refined product in the country should not create scarcity.<br /> <br /> But because the pipelines have been vandalised, the Atlas Cove- Mosinmi pipeline which is responsible for depots in Satellite Mosinmi, Ibadan, Ore and Ilorin have been vandalised. So the trucks which ought to stay in those areas are here in Apapa. Now, we have worked assiduously with Army Corps of Engineers to secure that line and that is why we have some improvement. Again, it is bad time for us because it is winter period and most refineries in Europe are not refining PMS, they are refining FPFO even with the unreliable statistics of what they say we consume daily. If we had not been working round the clock, it would have been worse than this.<br /> <br /> This is a non-oil budget and you have said there is going to be a lot of borrowing, what is the implication of that for inflation?<br /> <br /> There is no implication for inflation whatsoever. During planning, many options were examined, we invited experts to air their views. But essentially about N90billion will be sourced locally through bonds while the other will come from international bodies. Our budget has encouraged most of international bodies for the fact that we are not borrowing for re-current but mostly for capital expenditure.<br /> <br /> What are the challenges this government is facing in the area of security, power generation and socio-economic development?<br /> <br /> On the economy, yes we have challenges and it is a worldwide thing. There is global decline in the cost of commodity and as long as you rely on one product, there will be problem. When you have a mono-economy like ours and you do not add value to it, when there is volatility like it happened, you are going to suffer. That is the bane of our problem today. While we use $53 as a benchmark for 2015 budget, we used $63 for 2014 and sold at $114 for part of the year.<br /> <br /> Today, we are using $38 as benchmark and we will be lucky if we can have it between $40 – $45 for the next two years. What that means is that if you are making $100 and hour before, now you are making $38 and cost of production remains the same, that remains a challenge to us. So, our economy is one we have not diversified; we have suffered from the crash in crude prices; thirdly,our buyers have now become our competitors. US can now sell its oil, Iran has now been re-admitted and we have to diversify which is what the budget seeks to do – focus on infrastructure, stimulate the economy and encourage diversification.<br /> <br /> I have spent time to explain the challenges on security. It is also a global thing. Insecurity and terrorism are not local. But what the government had done was to relocate the command and control to Maiduguri, there were regional meetings and of course we have really improved on the morale of the Army.<br /> <br /> What have we gained from these regional meetings in terms of hardware, intelligence gathering?<br /> <br /> We have gained a lot. For the visits, Buhari is held in high regards today. This has translated to the way Nigeria is being held in the comity of nations. We have not been getting any support from any country. We were reduced to buying arms from roads in South Africa and others. Some of these achievements are so subtle but we would not have been where we are today. So, in concrete terms, those visits have really paid off. If we had remained a pariah nation, it would have degenerated more than where we are today.<br /> <br /> Have we deregulated, have we removed subsidy and what is the basis of saying fuel will sell at N86 per liter?<br /> <br /> NNPC is exchanging the 445,000 barrels of crude meant for local consumption for refined products at no fuel exchange cost. But whether we have removed subsidy or not is a tricky question. Tricky in the sense that with the price of crude today, there is no subsidy element at all. Actually, the landing cost even by PPRA template is N81. So, with all the bridging cost, Petroleum Equalisation Fund and others, we can still afford to sell petroleum at N87 or less. That is what informed the Minister to say by January, he would have cleaned up the template further and sell fuel at N85 or N86.

Latest-News You’ll mistake Bama for Saudi Arabia, Algeria or Tunisia today – Lai Mohammed

 he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed was recently interviewed by Vanguard Newspapers.  Excerps: T he Ministe...

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Father Mbaka drops 2016 prophesy - 'People who benefitted from stolen funds during Jonathan’s administration would plot to kill Buhari'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqp46x-0azc2ukZYI3qWZH4QcqGiNWll48ZM59I3XzbiMZAp4rVRRQXJWvLTlPtSqJNbCfPZl5-H9U3kJXkBoZzzLVKzyIxp2bTAnlthkzOiRiNeOvvoe0Nia75W-NfYpev0b_FWDNl1f/s1600/father+mbaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqp46x-0azc2ukZYI3qWZH4QcqGiNWll48ZM59I3XzbiMZAp4rVRRQXJWvLTlPtSqJNbCfPZl5-H9U3kJXkBoZzzLVKzyIxp2bTAnlthkzOiRiNeOvvoe0Nia75W-NfYpev0b_FWDNl1f/s400/father+mbaka.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Popular Catholic Priest and Founder, Adoration Ministries Enugu Nigeria, AMEN, Reverend Fr. Ejike Mbaka,Friday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be on his guards, prophesying that alleged beneficiaries of massive corruption perpetrated during ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration would plot to kill him.</b><br /> <br /> Mbaka made the revelations Friday morning during his New Year Prophetic Message at Adoration Ground, where thousands of faithful converged for supplication.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> This is even as the Enugu- based cleric lashed out to ex-President Jonathan, governors and National Assembly members under his administration some of whom were allegedly involved in the squandering of the country’s resources during the oil boom to detriment of critical infrastructure that could have alleviated the sufferings of the masses.<br /> <br /> ‘Many people are planning, as it is revealed , to kill Buhari. There are many plans on how to eliminate his life so that corruption, embezzlement will continue.<br /> <br /> But the Lord says, God who put you there, will not forsake you. Be firm, resolute, focused, unbiased and refuse to be intimidated and distracted. Go ahead and war against evil.<br /> <br /> Buhari, go ahead and war against corruption. God and His people are behind you. You are the answer of the prayers of the people.<br /> <br /> More details on his prophesies soon.

Latest-News Father Mbaka drops 2016 prophesy - 'People who benefitted from stolen funds during Jonathan’s administration would plot to kill Buhari'

Popular Catholic Priest and Founder, Adoration Ministries Enugu Nigeria, AMEN, Reverend Fr. Ejike Mbaka,Friday, urged President Muhammadu B...

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Why I am slow – Buhari

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJftATFJfqJQkXFX4ol34Rg9Fe3j23HJHHos4pKgfhPdo6MocATUYNS5uoOsn1nsXzJxWaaHx8Spje8CHclpucopqBsz8l8BtJIaJo8zzpaGYK0KM4XXqffGBnuZ3w1rrINH7G2mDDEtN/s1600/buhari+ww.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJftATFJfqJQkXFX4ol34Rg9Fe3j23HJHHos4pKgfhPdo6MocATUYNS5uoOsn1nsXzJxWaaHx8Spje8CHclpucopqBsz8l8BtJIaJo8zzpaGYK0KM4XXqffGBnuZ3w1rrINH7G2mDDEtN/s400/buhari+ww.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday responded to criticisms on the alleged slow nature of his administration, saying he adopted the style deliberately so that he would not make mistakes.<br /> <br /> According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President gave the explanation while receiving a delegation of Women In Politics Forum at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> While defending the records of the administration in response to criticism that it is slow, Buhari was quoted as arguing that steps must be taken with caution to avoid mistakes.<br /> <br /> He said any mistake by his administration would be a disaster for the country.<br /> <br /> “People say we are slow. We are trying to change structures put in place by our predecessors in office for 16 years. If we hurry it, we will make mistakes. That will be a disaster,” the President said.<br /> <br /> While decrying the spate of terrorism in the North East, Buhari told his guests that a committee to rehabilitate infrastructure and resettle Internally Displaced Persons in that part of the country would soon be inaugurated.<br /> <br /> He said the committee which will be led by Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.) will also include Alhaji Aliko Dangote.<br /> <br /> He added that all forms of assistance in this respect generated locally and from foreign countries as promised by the G-7 will be channeled through the committee when it is inaugurated.<br /> <br /> He said that he had compiled a list of damaged infrastructure, including schools and bridges and handed it to the leaders of the G7 and the United States, adding that “I didn’t ask for a Kobo (in cash). It is up to them to choose what they will undertake. Already, some of them have sent teams to verify our assertions.”<br /> <br /> Buhari regretted that women and children are the worst victims of the Boko Haram sect.<br /> <br /> He said, “In the North-East, what I saw for myself and on those clips is a source of concern for people with conscience.<br /> <br /> “They are mostly women, and children who are orphaned. Some of them don’t even know where they come from. This is the pathetic situation in which the country has found itself.”<br /> <br /> The President also said that the fight for the return of the Chibok girls is ongoing and “continues to be a most worrying issue” to his government.<br /> <br /> He promised that his administration will do all within its powers in making the best efforts to secure their freedom.<br /> <br /> The President acknowledged the case made by the WIPF for better representation of women in his government and assured that women would fare well in the composition of parastatals and their boards in the first quarter of the year.<br /> <br /> He also assured them that the country has a budget proposal for the new year that is good for employment and manufacturing.<br /> <br /> “By the end of the second quarter, the full impact of these positive measures will be felt,” he told the visiting women.<br /> <br /> The WIPF, made up of women leaders from 26 registered political parties led by Ebere Ifendu of the Labour Party expressed their full support for the government’s war on corruption and insecurity.

Latest-News Why I am slow – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday responded to criticisms on the alleged slow nature of his administration, saying he adopted the styl...

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Danjuma, Dangote to lead committee on rehabilitation of IDP’s in North-East – Buhari

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFICvxUJvBORSsWocm12VxIe0kJoavGo3aynXlMBmXxOgU4NrJZIvmckAWB3yhMjM5fXXCsy0N88lHqyQd6x_-DbF8YJoOffr-G4Hg19-zetTxTwHe1ejODmSqt2_oaR_iBvIwB2en7YYp/s1600/BUhari-600x336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFICvxUJvBORSsWocm12VxIe0kJoavGo3aynXlMBmXxOgU4NrJZIvmckAWB3yhMjM5fXXCsy0N88lHqyQd6x_-DbF8YJoOffr-G4Hg19-zetTxTwHe1ejODmSqt2_oaR_iBvIwB2en7YYp/s400/BUhari-600x336.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Former minister of defence, Theophilus Danjuma, and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to lead the presidential committee to rehabilitate infrastructure and resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the north-east.<br /> <br /> According to Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, the committee would be inaugurated soon.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> Speaking on Friday at the state house, Abuja, in response to a goodwill message delivered to him by Women In Politics Forum (WIPF), President Muhammadu Buhari announced that all forms of assistance and aid in this respect generated locally and from foreign countries as promised by the group of seven of industrialised countries,G7 will be channeled through the committee when it is inaugurated.<br /> <br /> He said that he had compiled a list of damaged infrastructure,including schools and bridges and handed it to the leaders of the G7 and the United States.<br /> <br /> He furthers, “I didn’t ask for a Kobo (in cash). It is up to them to choose what they will undertake. Already,some of them have sent teams to verify our assertions.” The president decried the impact of the Boko Haram violence on women and children declaring that they are its worst victims.<br /> <br /> “In the northeast, what I saw for myself and on those clips is a source of concern for people with conscience. They are mostly women, and children who are orphaned. Some of them don’t even know where they come from. This is the pathetic situation in which the country has found itself, ” he said.<br /> <br /> He said that the fight for the return of the Chibok girls is ongoing and “continues to be a most worrying issue” to his government, emphasising that the administration will do all within its powers in making the best efforts to secure their freedom.<br /> <br /> The president acknowledged the case made by the WIPF for better representation of women in his government and assured that women would fare very well in the composition of parastatals and their boards in the first quarter of this year. He also defended the records of the administration in response to criticism that it is slow, arguing that steps must taken with caution to avoid mistakes.<br /> <br /> “People say we are slow. We are trying to change structures put in place by our predecessors in office for 16 years. If we hurry it, we will make mistakes. That will be a disaster, ” Buhari said.

Latest-News Danjuma, Dangote to lead committee on rehabilitation of IDP’s in North-East – Buhari

Former minister of defence, Theophilus Danjuma, and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to lead the presidential committee to rehabilitat...

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We will not ban Hijabs – Presidency

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzcekhx8idV0u1zruPGIf1NysfE0XpYDXYNv1xc3TdoTwjgbDlLJZrlv5gdDoUfvulHQ5UWGLLMYP87Oo1C7UY_eQpSCdFvu_QSWxveyv99YBfpHDf02fo3zmFVNEsGm8VFhDS3g3v1O3/s1600/hijab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzcekhx8idV0u1zruPGIf1NysfE0XpYDXYNv1xc3TdoTwjgbDlLJZrlv5gdDoUfvulHQ5UWGLLMYP87Oo1C7UY_eQpSCdFvu_QSWxveyv99YBfpHDf02fo3zmFVNEsGm8VFhDS3g3v1O3/s400/hijab.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Presidency has dismissed the insinuations that the Federal Government had banned the use of Hijab, the Muslim women’s dressing symbol of modesty.<br /> <br /> This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Malam Garba Shehu.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> Giving a clarification on the pronouncement of the President on the issue during last Wednesday’s Presidential Media Chat, Shehu said that the speculations were unfounded.<br /> <br /> He said that the Buhari-led Federal Government would always respect the rights of Muslims to protect their modesty and allow religious freedom.<br /> Shehu said that the Hijab was being abused by terrorists to carry out suicide attacks on innocent people, which violated the teachings of Islam.<br /> <br /> He, however, said that Buhari would not take any decision on the issue without due consultation with all the stakeholders.<br /> <br /> He said that the government would address the security challenge in consultations with Muslim leaders with a view to finding a workable solution.<br /> “Everything will be done to balance national security requirements with the rights and obligations of citizens under their religions as protected by the constitution,’’ he said.

Latest-News We will not ban Hijabs – Presidency

The Presidency has dismissed the insinuations that the Federal Government had banned the use of Hijab, the Muslim women’s dressing symbol ...

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I’ll continue to prosecute meaningful programmes for Ekiti People – Fayose

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yCUDtt7m8YLqwpYujjPt0U8aDh1VMHspAGwQPxoyw2HHyV55ospycA-Fhf9a9ATBrhHnH3kr1PMWVRO86oM4cDMua0kWm5fznluIBjAQad3VgqDdiXAivk_qsXOVPzKdb74tPTxMxlla/s1600/APC-slams-Fayose-over-delayed-salary-distribution-of-rice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yCUDtt7m8YLqwpYujjPt0U8aDh1VMHspAGwQPxoyw2HHyV55ospycA-Fhf9a9ATBrhHnH3kr1PMWVRO86oM4cDMua0kWm5fznluIBjAQad3VgqDdiXAivk_qsXOVPzKdb74tPTxMxlla/s400/APC-slams-Fayose-over-delayed-salary-distribution-of-rice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Despite the economic downturn caused by the drop in global oil prices, as well as the steep reduction in monthly allocation to states from the federation account, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has promised to continue to prosecute programmes that will make life more meaningful for Ekiti people, within the ambits of his administration’s six-point development programmes.<br /> <br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> Fayose in his new year message said, although the implication of the adverse economic situation threatened the implementation of the state’s 2015 budget, but his government has kept faith with its promises to the Ekiti people.<br /> <br /> According to Governor Fayose, despite the grappling challenges, his administration was able to off-set part of the arrears of salaries and other fringe benefits that we inherited from the previous administration to our workers, as well as also off-set unremitted deductions.<br /> <br /> He also said, his government commenced the payment of the gross of workers entitlements since October 2014 and was able to pay workers salaries up till October 2015.<br /> <br /> His words: “I congratulate and rejoice with you for the opportunity the good Lord has given us to witness the beginning of another year. May His divine grace sustain us all throughout the New Year and the ones ahead.<br /> <br /> “Fellow citizens, year 2015 was full of its challenges. As a government, it came with all turbulence against the desperation of a few political rejects and their collaborators’ to return to power through the backdoor after their defeat in a free and fair election.<br /> <br /> “They went as far as rallying powerful forces and hiring external aggressors to wage war against their own father-land. They held the State to ransom for a while before they were scattered by the determined will and unity of our people. I thank the Almighty God and security agencies for the reign of peace in our State after the menaces of abductions, kidnappings and inter-ethnic discords.<br /> I thank the good people of Ekiti State for their steadfastness with me and their government. As a people, we were not spared the pains and deprivations of the downturn in the national economy.<br /> <br /> “During 2015, the international pricing of oil, which is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, went abysmally down. This negatively and drastically affected our earnings from the federation account.<br /> The implication of the adverse economic situation threatened the implementation of the 2015 budget. This notwithstanding, Government kept faith with its promises to the people.<br /> <br /> “We were able to off-set part of the arrears of salaries and other fringe benefits that we inherited from the previous administration to our workers. We also off-set unremitted deductions. My government commenced the payment of the gross of workers entitlements since October 2014 and we were able to pay workers salaries up till October 2015.<br /> <br /> “Furthermore, despite the economic challenges that we face, this administration completed works on the following capital projects:-<br /> (a) The Petim- Housing Estate Road, Ado-Ekiti;<br /> (b) The Awedele- Secretariat- Road, Ado-Ekiti;<br /> (c) Construction of VIP reception hall at Ewi’s palace;<br /> (d) The Palace Gallery of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti;<br /> (e) The Irode Matthew street road, Ado-Ekiti;<br /> (f) Asphalting of Fayose market, Ado-Ekiti;<br /> (g) Dualisation and illumination of 1km Afao township road;<br /> (h) Construction of 74 lock-up shops at Elegberun market, Ikere-Ekiti;<br /> (i) Construction of 40 lock-up shops at the Bisi Egbeyemi market,<br /> Ado-Ekiti; and<br /> (j) Construction of an ultra modern lecture theatre at the college of<br /> Education, Ikere-Ekiti.<br /> In addition to these completed projects, works are on-going on the<br /> following capital Projects:-<br /> (a) Extension of the dualisation of Ado-Ikere road;<br /> (b) Construction of an ultra-modern market in Ado-Ekiti;<br /> (c) The Ekiti Airstrip project;<br /> (d) The Fajuyi-Okesha flyover project.<br /> <br /> “Aside these tangible projects, this Government held an Education Summit last year and its objective manifestations are already being felt.<br /> <br /> “Similarly, Government was able to achieve the accreditation of programmes in our tertiary education and health facilities.<br /> <br /> “My good people, I have christened the 2016 budget which was passed by the Ekiti State House of Assembly last month a “Budget of Reality”.<br /> <br /> “This is to reflect the current economic situation in our country. We must cut our cloth according to our sizes. We shall be realistic in our projections and government expenditure.<br /> <br /> “My administration shall continue to prosecute programmes that will make life more meaningful for the people within the ambits of its six-point development programmes.”<br /> <br /> Continuing, Fayose said: “In addition to paying attention to the welfare of our workers, Government shall within the first quarter of 2016 commence the payment of N5,000 per head to selected persons within the vulnerable group under its Social Security Programme. Suffices for me to reiterate that the major objective of this government is to alleviate poverty in our State and not to compound it.<br /> <br /> “Consequently, this administration will not retrench its workers under any guise nor effect a pay cut. We shall continue to involve the leadership of labour in decisions concerning our incomes and<br /> expenditure.<br /> <br /> “Government shall also strive to ensure the realization of the following capital projects as outlined in the 2016 budget as the realities of our finances may allow:<br /> (a) Dualisation and asphalt over-lay and Led Light illumination of 1km<br /> road in Local Government Headquarters commencing with Efon-Alaaye,<br /> Ise, Emure, Omuo and Ikole-Ekiti;<br /> (b) Rehabilitation of Awo-Ara-Ijero road;<br /> (c) Rehabilitation of Iropora-Araromi-Ijero road;<br /> (d) Rehabilitation of Osi-Epe road;<br /> (e) Completion of structures at the Secretariat Complex;<br /> (f) Construction of a new Governor’s Office.<br /> <br /> “Fellow citizens, as we go into the New Year, I wish to enjoin you to join hands with this government more than ever before, to enable us combat the challenges confronting us. We must improve on our<br /> internally generated revenue to augment our earnings from the federation account, through payment of taxes, rates and levies.<br /> <br /> “We must also go back to the land to guarantee for ourselves and our children, food security and other benefits of agriculture. Government shall under its Agriculture Rebirth Programme secure Land Banks in each of the sixteen Local Government areas of the State for onward lease to interested farmers to guarantee unfettered access to land. An agricultural summit shall hold within the first quarter of 2016 where the Agriculture Revolution Programme of this government shall be unveiled. A Summit of Landlords shall also be held within the same period.<br /> <br /> “Once again, my good people of Ekiti State, I enjoin us to keep hope alive. The present challenges that we face shall strengthen and bring out the best in us. I believe and very strongly too, that our State shall emerge greater than ever before and that our people shall have reasons to be grateful to God for this austere times at the end of the day.”

Latest-News I’ll continue to prosecute meaningful programmes for Ekiti People – Fayose

Despite the economic downturn caused by the drop in global oil prices, as well as the steep reduction in monthly allocation to states from...

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MASSOB accuses Buhari of playing games with Ndigbo

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwftrya6ioalj4wdCdWVxenZ-cBei4eenjGfhu85LitPu4IDKIBQBnGZzX_hqnqVdjecIkVKlRbejOQzDHnZeDKmhKw2WOi1ELi5mtQuna61FUt9K0tFY0xvpSTKRnPA-ulhDkkAoGuXX9/s1600/buhari-igbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwftrya6ioalj4wdCdWVxenZ-cBei4eenjGfhu85LitPu4IDKIBQBnGZzX_hqnqVdjecIkVKlRbejOQzDHnZeDKmhKw2WOi1ELi5mtQuna61FUt9K0tFY0xvpSTKRnPA-ulhDkkAoGuXX9/s640/buhari-igbo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign States of Biafra, MASSOB, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of playing games with Ndigbo with his claims that he is not marginalizing the bloc.<br /> <br /> Recall that Buhari had during the presidential media chat denied marginalizing Ndigbo, stressing that they hold strategic positions in his cabinet including the Petroleum and Labour ministries and the Governor of the Central Bank.<br /> <a id="more" name="more"></a><br /> <br /> The group which reacted to Buhari’s claims that Ndigbo are not marginalized , but occupy strategic offices in his cabinet, insisted that despite Buhari’s denials, there has been deliberate attempts by the federal government to scheme out Ndigbo in the top echelon of power in Nigeria.<br /> <br /> In statement made by the National Director of Information, Sunny Okereafor, queried the basis of Buhari’s claims of not marginalizing Ndigbo when he ensured that key position in his administration went only to the core North.<br /> <br /> “President Buhari’s is being economical with the truth with his claim that Ndigbo are not marginalized in Nigeria. How can Buhari ask who is marginalizing Ndigbo and to what extent? Does he want us to remind him that all the key and strategic position in his administration are being held by the core North? If not that the Constitution guarantees that a ministerial nominee must be appointed from each state, no Igbo man would have been appointed a minister. In Buhari’s Nigeria, there are now certain positions which are no go areas for Ndigbo.<br /> <br /> “We have always said it that Ndigbo have no future in Nigeria and have been made second class citizens in a country that they are major stakeholders. This is why we want Biafra. Biafra is the answer to the marginalization of Ndigbo in Nigeria.”<br /> <br /> MASSOB insisted that the cries of marginalization of Ndigbo and the struggle to actualize an independent state of Biafra has heightened during Buhari’s administration due to what it described as hatred for Ndigbo.

Latest-News MASSOB accuses Buhari of playing games with Ndigbo

Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign States of Biafra, MASSOB, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of playing games with Ndi...

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