Monday, August 20, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT

‘You will have to kill me’ – Tonto Dike alleges planned Police arrest

Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has raised an alarm over a purported plan by the police to invade her home in Abuja to arrest her.
Although she didn’t reveal who was behind the arrest plot, the mother-of-one threatened that she would rather die than allow any negative thing happen to her son.
The actress wrote: “I guess I am now a criminal. My stomach oh and they are even coming with Press to record my arrest’ she wrote
“If the hair on my son’s body is touched, oga police you will have to bury me, you will have to kill me. Haaa, Oga police there is no fear bone in my system.
“I am a mother and nothing in this life can intimidate me. Oga police if you need me you have my number. Like I said going to my home if anything happens to my son, Please have a spare of whatever you did to him to do to me once I land Abuja.”

Youths to FG: Implement plans that will revive moribund industries

Youths to FG: Implement plans that will revive moribund industries

he Nigerian Youth Parliament has called for a proper economic plan by the Federal Government to revive moribund industries in the country.
Speaker of the Parliament, Obe Ayodele, made the call at an event organised by his office to mark the 2018 international youth day in Abuja.
It had: “Creating safe spaces for Nigeria youths:The responsibility of all,” as its theme.
Ayodele, while lamenting the high unemployment rate in the country, urged the government to create an enabling environment for the creation of more industries.
He said: “It is on this premise that as representative of the Nigerian youth, we renew our clamour for a proper, concise and unambiguous economic plan by the Federal Government capable of reawakening the moribund industries in our dear nation.

Read Also: Abia youths endorse Orji for second term

“We need an economic plan that is capable of creating an enabling environment for the establishment of more industries which will constructively engage the rising population of unemployed youths and making the nation self-sustaining.
“Government should also be honest in harnessing the benefits of an effective partnership between state and non state actors in improving every facets of our national life.”
He said any nation or society that failed to place youth development as a priority would live to fight endless internal battles.
According to him, the non-utilization of youths’ potentials had led to increase in crimes in the society.
“No doubt, these times represent a challenging time for our national life as we are aware that this is as a result of the attendant consequences of lack of articulate and implementable plans for the youth, lack of social incentives, as well as dearth of necessary infrastructures particularly in the educational sector required to enhance skills and talents by past governments and concerned stakeholders.
“These bulging population and creative energies that were not properly harnessed and channeled into productive ventures have constituted majorly the crux of vices and crimes.
“The youth constituency have lost faith and succor in government and loyalty have been significantly reduced,” he said.

PDP and APC


TRANSLATE SELECT LANGUAGE​▼ Will defections be the beginning of party politics reform in Nigeria?
 
PARTY politics in Nigeria has been turned into a game: beyond analysis of R-APC, nPDP battles and defections, very few people have bothered to ask how any of these political games and schemes benefit Nigerians. I am yet to read any analysis which details the ideological leanings of any of the main contenders: politics in Nigeria is a game of survival, not of loyalty or conviction

Will defections be the beginning of party politics reform in Nigeria? ON AUGUST 1, 20186:10 AMIN NEWS, TIP OF A NEW DAWN2 COMMENTS By Tabia Princewill PARTY politics in Nigeria has been turned into a game: beyond analysis of R-APC, nPDP battles and defections, very few people have bothered to ask how any of these political games and schemes benefit Nigerians. I am yet to read any analysis which details the ideological leanings of any of the main contenders: politics in Nigeria is a game of survival, not of loyalty or convictions. APC & PDP As for service, or any desire to improve the lives of constituents, this features least of all. The same people, give or take a few names, who defected in 2015 from the PDP, are the same people who have defected from the APC. Why are Nigerians celebrating? Such behaviour hints at a fair weather friends mentality of people who are only interested in the self-aggrandizement and patronage which they can only get from being present wherever they believe the national cake will be shared, in the ruling party of the day. Allegedly, and to Buhari’s credit, they are leaving because their demands (one can only imagine what those are knowing the nature of Nigerian politics) were not satisfied. If that is the case, shouldn’t Nigerians be happy that for once, some people found it a little bit more difficult to cheat the system? Why are some people celebrating a small group of people defecting reportedly because they believe their demands for “subsidized living” (that is, state sponsored contracts, patronage, opportunities etc. at the expense of the rest of society) will be better accepted in their new home or rather their true home? The Minister of Information and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, reportedly asked defectors and their associates to resign from government positions. He is right. One cannot win an election or come to a position through the efforts, campaigns, fundraising, networks, strategies and brand of a party then hope to retain said position after leaving the party. How many of them could have won any contest without the potency of the Buhari/APC brand in 2015? As our democracy evolves and we continue to reflect on ways to get the best out of those who govern us, we will need to thoroughly review party conduct and the laws governing political parties in Nigeria, not to curtail freedom of association but to tackle the problematic way of doing things which hinders true progress in Nigeria. Pyramid of loyalists Party politics in our country is basically a pyramid of loyalists reaching up to a supreme leader. This Soviet-style politics easily constitutes an oligarchy, i.e. a small group of people who control the entire society and dish out patronage based on their whims: this characterized the PDP created by the military and their civilian partners. This organisational design naturally and inherently breeds corruption because it encourages each rung of the ladder to look to the next for patronage and it breeds thousands of often unqualified people whom the executive must find positions for in government. I’ve often said that recruitment into political party positions needs to follow private sector norms of competence and service delivery. But beyond that, political parties in Nigeria will continue to face defections and instability so long as members are allowed to progress in importance or to become power brokers without a real, tangible ideology binding people together: on the basis of this ideology, members should compete internally and prove they have a plan for governance beyond achieving power itself. The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena, has urged the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to state where he stands. What an unbelievable situation: how many Senate presidents in the US, the UK or any of the countries where Mr. Saraki was educated would allow a conduct as curious as his? To quote Mr. Nabena: “How can it be that all the senators and members of the House of Representatives from his state defect and he says he is still in the party?” True these are internal party dynamics and whether Mr. Saraki is in APC or PDP truly has no incidence on the life of the average Nigerian, as this undoubtedly won’t make defectors sponsor more bills, etc. but the thing about integrity at home or behind closed doors is that it is a prelude to integrity “outside” or when dealing with others; that is, Nigerians without any political clout, money or power. It has always puzzled many Nigerians why some people were allowed to be members of the APC in the first place given its stance on “change”. Barring some people entry from any association might appear undemocratic on a surface level, but so many politicians are saboteurs and not team players. Why is it that action is rarely taken against those whose rascality is suspected or even proven? Leadership, it seems, has a lot to do with that. Team players Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has promised to get the APC working again and to sanction those whose anti-party activities have been detrimental to the order of things. Speaking on Governor Ortom’s defection and Benue in general, he said: “Some of those that have been arrested as a result of the killings are people who have been associated with him (Governor Ortom), including people in his employment, especially a guy known to have been involved with Boko Haram, whom he recruited to manage what they called forest guards. These people have been arrested and are in police custody. “If an appointee of a governor is involved in a heinous crime, including killing, that will be enough for a governor to worry about”. If these allegations are true, then one must really worry about the system that allows such individuals to play leading roles in state party systems and to assume leadership positions. Can you imagine the consequences or the public outcry if an aide of an American governor, for example, was suspected of having terrorist links? The scandal of infidelity alone is enough to tarnish or even end political careers in America. Nigerians don’t seem to realise the gravity of what keeps happening in Nigeria, a country where dysfunctionality has been so normalised we expect our politicians to have a background in thuggery. Until more well-meaning Nigerians join political parties and stop seeing politics as the domain of only a few rich or well-connected Nigerians, we will keep on recycling the same problematic individuals who hop from one party to another based on personal and not national interest or ideas. El-Rufai THE Governor of Kaduna State, Nasiru El-Rufai, called the defectors from the APC “corrupt” senators who’re afraid they’ll be arrested if President Muhammadu Buhari wins his second term bid. It is no longer news that the Senate has in many ways acted as if it were the opposition to this government. To quote El-Rufai: “If the senators were honestly supporting the president, he would have achieved more, they sabotaged his effort. “He gave them budget (2018), they sat over it for seven-eight months without passage. We wish them (defectors) well because we know those who cannot win election in their homes among them. They were only elected into the Senate based on Buhari’s popularity. Majority of them were elected because their election was conducted same day with President Buhari”. The list of defectors in the Senate mirrors earlier lists of senators  allegedly at “war” with their state governors, who probably wouldn’t have gotten a return ticket back to power in the APC under its current configuration. Nigerians must critically analyse facts to inform their thoughts and beliefs so as not to be taken in by battles which are not to their benefit. Dino Melaye SOME reports have questioned his alleged “kidnapping” which curiously happened the same day he was to be arraigned before a magistrate court for charges relating to alleged gunrunning. Only the combined efforts of everyday Nigerians will rescue this country. One can’t emphasize enough how important it is for us all to familiarise ourselves with politics and policy. 


Tabia Princewill is a strategic communications consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the co-host and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV. 

BREAKING NEWS

BREAKING: Tambuwal Announces ‘Sack' Of All His Special Assistants

According to Tambuwal, the termination of appointments is to "enable the appointees engage in partisan activities without ethical or moral dilemmas".
Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, has announced the termination of the appointments of all his special assistants.
A tweet by Abubakar Shekara, the Director-General, Media and Public Affairs to the Governor, said the termination was to enable the affected aides “engage in partisan activities without ethical or moral dilemmas".
Tambuwal also thanked them for their service and wished them all the best.
A tweet via the handle of the Sokoto State Government House, @SokotoGovtHouse, on Sunday evening, read: The @GovSokoto, Rt Hon @AWTambuwal has directed the termination of the appointment of all Special Assistants from the service of the state. This is to enable the appointees engage in partisan activities without ethical or

I won’t surrender to corruption, Buhari vows

I won’t surrender to corruption, Buhari vows

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday promised Nigerians that he would never surrender to corruption.
He said fighting corruption was a task that must be done in order to protect the larger interests of the ordinary Nigerians whom he said were the worst victims of diseases, poverty, malnutrition and other afflictions.
Buhari spoke in his Eid-el Kabir message to Nigerians made available to journalists by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
The President said surrendering to corruption was not an option because it destroyed society and progress of nations.
“Even if some people hate you for fighting corruption, you should not chicken out from the task as a leader because doing so is a betrayal of public trust,” he said.
The President explained that religion was a major factor in influencing human behaviour towards good conduct and action.
He, however, regretted that selfishness, greed and corruption had overwhelmed human beings to the extent that people abandoned their religious beliefs in pursuit of their greed.
On the current economic challenges facing Nigerians, the President reassured Nigerians that such were temporary because the welfare of the people was the main thrust of the change agenda of his administration.
To buttress this point, Buhari cited the many initiatives unfolded by the administration under the Social Investment Programme among which was the recent decision to distribute recovered looted funds to the poor against the past practices of re-looting such funds by some people in authority.
Buhari urged Nigerians to rise above personal, group, sectarian and other interests, and promote harmony and tolerance in dealing with one another at all times.
He urged all Muslims to use the Eid-el Kabir for sober reflection and self-examination, and strive to be good ambassadors of their religion by upholding high moral values
He reminded Muslims that this occasion of Eid-ul-Adha is a remembrance of the submission of Prophet Ibrahim Allaihis-Salam to Allah, his Creator, by which he taught the world the value of sacrifice in relating with one another, and when it comes to nation-building.
“We must sacrifice for others and remember always those who are less fortunate than ourselves,” the President declared.
Meanwhile, President Buhari is billed to celebrate this year’s Eid-el Kabir with his kinsmen in his home town, Daura, Katsina State on Tuesday.
The President on Monday left Abuja for the purpose.
His convoy left the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 3.06pm.
Some top government officials saw Buhari off as he left for his home town.
The government officials included his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; the National Security Officer, Babagana Monguno; and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
The President is expected back in Abuja after the Sallah break.

The supernaturalism in Buharimatics

The supernaturalism in Buharimatics

As the topic of this write-up sounds, I want to be a bit analytically numinous in order to drive home my massage. There is a very extraordinary mathematical equation in Nigerian politics of today which I wished the Anambra-born Professor Chike Edozien Umezi Obi was alive to resolve for my compatriots, not really all Nigerians but a sizeable number of them. Luckily, Obi was a profound politician cum mathematician who died on March 13, 2008, that is barely seven years before the geometric enigma sprout out in Nigeria’s politics; seven years because it actually started in 2015. Many citizens, especially from the elite, have tried in vain to comprehend this new arithmetic; some merely detest it because of the originator while others out of curiosity took up the challenge to break its shield. To be able to appreciate it, one must think out of the box. It is not algebra or theorem or even further math. It is known as Buharimatics.
Buharimatics is a mathematical forecast by this writer in relation to President Muhammadu Buhari and the numerical mysticism upon which his enigmatic colossus and celestial accessory superimpose parochial liturgy in a manner that transcends the bounded grasp of foes and fiends. It is a barometric apparatus that has imploded the devilish conglomeration of diatribes on an earthy piece known as Nigeria. Buharimatics, in the simplest term, is the multiplication of numbers to equal a comfortable number of years within which Buhari should lead Nigeria for socio-political and economic stability.
While I attempted to explore the qualities the next president of Nigeria between 2019 and 2023 should possess, I was able to rediscover the unlimited epithets in a name that is quite uncommon in Nigerian politics. And people of mental acme believe in the effects of names. And while in high spirit dissecting the unique name, I found William Shakespeare with a clue in Romeo and Juliet, that: ““What’s in a name? that which we call a rose; By any other name would smell as sweet.”
I derived joy in the name, no doubt, and believed that God has chosen it. Therefore, I summed up an equation which I finally put up before my colleagues. The equation was this: B²+U²+H²+A²+R²+I²=BUHARI²=2²=8. My results were that bravery and brilliance were equal to B²; unbending but understanding equal to U²; humility yet hardworking equal to H²; accountability and accessibility equal to A²; resistance yet recollecting equal to R²; while invaluableness yet illustriousness were equal to I². One of my friends and a diehard supporter of President Buhari from Ebonyi state, Mr. Otah Ibiam quickly named it Buharimatics. I was very enthused with this that I decided to expatiate it. This equation is absolutely much easier to solve than the one where 1+1+1 is equated to 1, though the latter is engraved in unorthodox mysticism. But the irony of this is that majority of the students who unanimously agree that three ones is one are the ones defiantly rejecting the Buharimatics of 4+4=8.
The supernaturalism in Buharimatics is simple. A man who was believed by the proponents of “three in one” theory to have died, suddenly resurrected to discharge the responsibilities placed on his shoulders by the Supreme Order. Having reached the land of uncommon existences and seen how good mankind should be beyond the comprehension of special people like Nigerians, he was fortified by divine presence to face all oddities and challenges preordained for him to conquer. They wish him death, but he has conquered it against their wish. Buhari, like any other mortal, will go at the time scheduled for him by the Supreme Order, not by the mere wishes of the mortals who cannot assure themselves of their own lives. So, I am not afraid to say that Buhari is a superman. If not, he would have become a history told to his lovers even by his haters.
Buhari is simply a new mathematics in Nigerian contemporary politics. Buhari does not need a political party to win election in Nigeria. I have severally repeated that if not that he was rigged out in 2003, 2007 and 2011, the development of Nigeria would have superseded its present stage. So, it is better for those opposing this simple arithmetic to identify with it. This is because Buharimatics or otherwise has its consequences. My fear is not for the success of Buhari in 2019. My fear is who takes over in 2023. Can the person wear the big shoe Buhari will leave behind?
Since Buhari came into power monies hidden in unimaginable places by politicians have been discovered and returned back to the government but the national lawmakers have refused to pass the law for its utilization for national development. Vehicles loaded with millions of foreign currencies kept in forests have been discovered by the anti-graft agencies. The lavish life style of Nigerians has changed. There are now few or no private jets littering Nigerian airports. A colleague asked if jets are not sold in markets any more. In ceremonies, Nigerians no more compete in wasting money.
Therefore, the Buharimatics magnify its supernaturalism when its local and international underpin are juxtaposed. At home, some groups are not comfortable with Buhari’s second term bid. Some politicians have deserted sleep, regrouping and even dining with old political foes all in an attempt to stop Buhari’s second coming in 2019. But the devils know their limits. Voodoo masters know their boundaries. God’s power supersedes every other power. Imagine Atiku who was begged by Obasanjo in 2003 and who had a very bad treatment as vice president, now begging the same old “wicked” boss for support. The homes of Obasanjo, IBB and by extension TY Danjuma have become Makkah for PDP presidential aspirants. I do not know if other living past Presidents: Gowon, Shagari, Abdulsalami and Jonathan are no more relevant in Nigerian politics.
Their opposition is not that Buhari is not performing. It is because there is very little or nothing to share as the old conceived “national cake”. They are angry that Buhari has abolished “national cake” and replaced it with “national service”. And the new trend of “national service” refers to the recognition of individual performance and positive contributions to the nation building. Anything out of that, the individual is on his/her own. However, a huge percentage of the citizenry is in terms with the new system of governance and is ever ready to defend continuity for stability.
While that is the situation locally, the international scenes are apparently different. Just a few references, the United States of America are all praises for Buhari. Donald Trump proudly pointed at Buhari and eulogized him in front of American top government functionaries. Britain has expressed joy with him. Even Morocco adores him and wishes the Africa continent was united for Buhari to rule because of his sincerity and honesty which were seriously lacking in Nigerian politics. Mauritian President described Buhari as the best President that Africa has so far witnessed. Of recent, the Netherlands hosted him out of the whole presidents in Africa. All African and world countries which Buhari has visited look at him with admiration.
The man who turned round Ghanaian politics and set the country on the path of development, Jerry Rawlings, is overwhelmed by the personality in Buhari. Rawlings was the former President of Ghana when the country witnessed the political mess that Nigeria was plunged into since independence. He stepped on the toes of those who were destroying the fortunes of Ghana, thereby revolutionized his country to a glorious position the country is enjoying today. How many African leaders have taken up such great step to change the fortunes of their countries? Corruption is still ravaging African countries. Many African leaders with a few of their cabinet members are living in luxury, while the masses live in abject poverty and squalor. Look at Nigeria today, a great number of people are parading themselves as presidential hopefuls, promising Nigerians of what they will do for them if voted into Aso Rock. But my happiness is that Nigerians are growing fast in political awareness.
Hear what Rawlings said about Buhari “President Muhammadu Buhari is fighting for your sake, he is stepping on toes for your sake, he is dying to create a new Nigeria, he is raising the bar for future leaders, he is laying the foundation for a brand new Nigeria, he is teaching both the young and the old that we can do better than this. He is teaching the youths accountability, probity, honesty, integrity, honour, trust, attitude, character, selfless leadership, common sense and commitment. Encourage him, support him and pray for him. It is for your own good”. I have no explanation to the above assertion, suggestion and pontification. These are words from one who practically did it for his country the way Buhari is doing in Nigeria today.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has made Buhari their leader. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has honoured him; Buhari was invited to deliver speech on corruption. The United Nations wishes Buhari well. Who else at the African and international levels that is not happy with Buhari? Certainly, only in Nigeria that the political criminals are wailing because Buhari wants all Nigerians to own their country and not the tiny few who have held Nigeria in bondage. They do not want Buhari for fighting corruption, for not complying with the past system of political Godfatherism and for entrenching democratic norms and civility. But whatever they plan, President Buhari will surely succeed.
As the chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole puts it: If not for our President today, there would have been no Nigeria. The money voted for the police, they put it in their pockets. The money earmarked to fight Boko Haram, they put in their pockets. The money voted for security, they used to secure their pockets. All of a sudden, if you produced two barrels of crude, one barrel was missing.”
Muhammad Ajah is an advocate of humanity, peace and good governance in Abuja. E-mail mobahawwah@yahoo.co.uk.

Why Saraki, Tambuwal left APC, Bola Tinubu opens up


Why Saraki, Tambuwal left APC, Bola Tinubu opens up

APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has opened up on the recent defections in the polity, saying Senate President Bukola Saraki and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal among others left the APC because the party could not offer them what they wanted.
Asiwaju said on Sunday in Lagos that the defectors wanted automatic tickets and sharing of the national wealth which the APC could not guarantee.The APC leader unfolded his mind in a lengthy statement he personally signed, entitled “They Go Away Because We Go the Right Way”.
According to him, the defectors “left the party to return to a motley agglomeration that would promise them what true democracy could not: automatic tickets, sharing of the national wealth and other offices and privileges”.
Asiwaju Tinubu asked the people to go beyond the debate on the numbers in the Senate of House of Representatives, saying “we must pull back from the shallow headlines to recognize that something fundamental is at stake.
“Nigeria is undergoing a historic transition. Sometimes awkwardly, tentatively, yet inexorably, we nurture political and governance reform. We steadily close the door on the old malpractices that have caused a rich nation to reside in the tenement of the global poor”.
Speaking specifically on the Sokoto governor’s defection, the APC leader said: “Governor Tambuwal’s exit can be distilled to one cause. He covets the presidency.
However, he had not the stomach to challenge President Buhari in a primary. Tambuwal felt further insulted that he would be compelled to face a direct primary just to retain the governorship nomination.
“But for the promise made by PDP headliners like Rivers State Governor Wike that he would have the PDP presidential nomination, Tambuwal would not have left.
His exit had nothing to do with governance of the nation. It was about forging a personal ambition predicated on the defeat of progressive reform not the advancement of it”.
On Senate President, he said: “Much the same for Senate President Saraki. Returning to the PDP, he harbors dreams of the presidency but Tambuwal’s ambition will dwarf Saraki’s when the two collide.
If Saraki had remained in the APC, he would be unable to reclaim his Senate seat let alone the Senate Presidency. He thus bolted because he lusts for the presidency but was promised by the PDP, at least, a return to his position in the Senate”.
He added: “For Saraki to talk about lack of governance is for him to deny who he is and the position he holds. This man stands as Nigeria’s Number 3 citizen.
”Clothed is he in ample power and influence. If he saw areas where government and the nation needed help, he could have easily applied his energies to these areas. He could have drafted legislation and easily got laws passed.
“However, no progressive enactment bears his name for he cared not for progress. He has been more focused on changing the rules of the Senate to favour himself and changing the order of elections so as to coincide with his selfish designs”.

Bribery and Corruption in Nigeria

EFCC begins trial of Senator Bassey Akpan over N254m car bribes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday filed a 14-count charge at an Ikeja High Court against another serving senator, Bassey Albert Akpan, for allegedly receiving 12 cars worth N254 million as bribes.
Akpan, 45, who is representing Akwa-Ibom North-East, received the vehicles between 2010 and 2014 from Olajide Omokore, a businessman and oil mogul, when he (Bassey) served as the Akwa-Ibom Commissioner for Finance.
Akpan is to face a seven-count corruption charge as a public officer and for inviting bribes as a result of his own action.
On his part, Omokore is also facing a seven-count charge bordering on offering gratification to a public officer and giving bribe on account of the action of a public officer.
However, the duo as well as their counsel were absent in court on Monday when the case was announced for mention at 4.05 pm on Monday.
Mrs Zainab Ettu, the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, requested a new court date to enable the anti-graft commission arraign the senator and the businessman.
“We do not have the defendants in court today, though we had earlier anticipated that we would have them in court at a later date.
The judge ordered that the case file should be sent to the Registry of the High Court for assignment to a judge, who will hear it.
According to the charge sheet, Bassey received the vehicles from Omokore over a five-year period (2010-2014) in Lagos.
Akpan received the bribes while serving as the Akwa-Ibom Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Akwa-Ibom State Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee (IMDLCC).
On May 10, 2010, Bassey Akpan also allegedly corruptly received a BMW X5 BP worth N50 million from Omokore in December 2012 and another Infinity QX 56 BP worth N45 million from him.
On November 2013, the serving senator received a Toyota Landcruiser V8 BP valued at N40 million and in March 2014, he received a Range Rover, also valued at N40 million from the businessman as well as in September 2014, another Toyota Hiace High Roof car valued at N27 million.
Others are Toyota Hiace High Roof car valued at N16 million and six units of Toyota Hilux vehicles valued at N36 million.
The anti-graft commission claimed that the car gifts were given to Bassey by Omokore in exchange for contracts from the Akwa-Ibom Government.
The offences, according to the EFCC, contravene Sections 63 (1)(a), 64 (1)(a) and 98(1), (a), (i) of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011.

Embassy announces resumption date

NEWS

US Embassy announces resumption date

The US embassy has announced that it will reopen its Abuja consular section on August 24 for full services for both visas and American Citizen Services (ACS).
The embassy said this in a message on its website.The embassy had in a statement on August 15, announced temporary suspension of its regular services for visas and American Citizen Services in Abuja.
The Embassy in its message urged Visa applicants with appointment scheduled for August 24 to report to its office.
The message read: “The US embassy in Abuja’s consular section will reopen on August 24th for full services for both visas and ACS. Please, note that consular functions at the US consulate Lagos were never affected and will continue as usual.
“We regret the inconvenience this interruption of service in Abuja has caused.”
Visa and ACS applicants with scheduled appointments for August 24 should come to Abuja, as usual.
“Visa and ACS applicants with cancelled appointments between August 13 and August 23 will be contacted by the embassy for rescheduling.
“Visa and ACS applicants, who were requested by an officer to appear again for follow-up questions on existing applications should contact our office to arrange a new date (ConsularAbuja@state.gov for visas or AbujaACS@state.gov for ACS.
“Visa applicants, who submitted passports through the Interview Waiver Programme for visa renewal, that such would be processed as soon as possible.
“If your application was already approved, it will be mailed out as normal on the next available DHL shipment to your listed address
“Abuja ACS applicants, who wish to pick-up their already-printed U.S. passports, may come on Friday between 9:30a.m and 11:00a.m.
“If you are uncertain if your US passport has arrived yet, please contact us first at AbujaACS@state.gov.

APC saga


Direct primary tears Ondo APC apart
THE crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, deepened weekend, over the opposition of the faction of the party aligned to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to the introduction of the direct primary mode of electing candidates of the party in the forthcoming elections.
Akeredolu and Boroffice While associates of Senator Ajayi Boroffice have vowed to enthrone the direct primary method, their move is being seriously challenged by the branch of the party associated with the governor. Senator Ajayi Boroffice had raised the issue in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kayode Fakuyi, where he endorsed the use of the direct primary method. “The party has adopted the direct primary as the only means of electing party candidates in Ondo State and other APC- governed states for the 2019 general elections. “The adoption of direct primary is a settled matter because the National leadership of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other prominent leaders of the party have declared firm support for it. “The position of APC on direct primary is clear. It states that direct primary will hold in APC-governed states while indirect primary/delegate primary will hold in states where the state governments are not governed by APC. “The adoption of direct primary by the APC will deepen democracy and ensure popular participation.” You can’t dictate to the party — Ondo APC Reacting in a separate statement, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Alex Kalejaye, and Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said: “It is inappropriate for Senator Ajayi Boroffice to speak on behalf of the State chapter, especially where there is a vibrant Working Committee, led by Engr. Ade Adetimehin, in place. “It is the responsibility of the leadership of the APC to brainstorm, as it has been done elsewhere, and come up with a position that would be announced through the right channels. “The said statement casts him as evolving the rules in a contest he is going to be a contestant. Such uncharitable statement possibly arose out of jealousy for his co-contestants who are more entrenched in the party than he is among the delegates


Politics of hatred

Niyi Odebode, John Alechenu and Eniola Akinkuotu
The All Progressives Congress has accused Saraki of always putting his personal interest above that of the nation.
The accusation is contained in a statement signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, in Abuja, on Monday.
The party levelled the allegation against the Senate President in response to a hint by Saraki that he was considering a presidential run in 2019.
Nabena said Saraki would rather rule in hell than serve in paradise. He urged Nigerians to be weary of Saraki because his ambition would always supersede that of the country.
The statement read in part, “Nigerians should be wary of a man whose personal ambition will always supersede the interest of the majority and national interest as currently displayed in the National Assembly.
While Saraki refuses to reconvene the National Assembly, the 2019 election budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission is dangerously delayed, an action deliberately taken to sabotage INEC’s ability to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2019.
“While Saraki refuses to step down as Senate president as rightly demanded by the APC-dominated Senate, he is bent on foisting a PDP-minority in the upper legislative house.”
He added, “The only politics that Bukola Saraki plays is self, himself only and only himself. The interest and welfare of the people of Nigeria do not mean anything to him.
“Now it is the presidency Saraki wants. And we ask with what antecedents is he doing this? Conspiracy, blackmail, treachery and vaulting ambition which overleaps itself and falls on the other, as rightly captured by William Shakespeare. Bukola Saraki will rather rule in hell than serve in paradise.”
The APC reiterated its call on anti-graft agencies to check the use of stolen public funds to finance elections.
Nabena said, “We reiterate our position that the Nigerian electorate must have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and anti-corruption test.
“Let us refresh our memory on some of Saraki’s corruption allegations: allegations of fraud which led to the collapse of the Saraki family-owned Société Générale Bank (Bukola Saraki who was director of the defunct bank was indicted over N1bn alleged to have been looted from the bank’s treasury).
“Misappropriation of Kwara State funds, disregard of government due process and conversion of state government assets into his and his cronies when he served as two-term governor of Kwara State.”
The statement further accused the Senate President of having a history of “betrayals; treachery and sabotage – family, political party (PDP, APC), Senate, and government.”
It further said Saraki was questioned by the police Special Fraud Unit over a N11bn financial scandal at the defunct Intercontinental Bank.

APC lists corruption allegations against Saraki

  2019 Presidency: APC lists corruption allegations against Saraki
 By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA— All Progressives Congress, APC, said, yesterday, that Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, would not pass integrity test to contest the 2019 presidential election because of the litany of corruption allegations against him.
Oshiomhole-Saraki The party’s reaction came against the backdrop of reports that the Senate president was nursing presidential ambition in 2019. Saraki had told Bloomberg, an international news organisation, in an interview that he would take a shot at the presidential election next year. But the ruling party in a statement signed by the spokesman, Yekini Nabena, said:  “Saraki’s declaration brings to the fore our earlier call to anti-graft agencies to check the use of stolen public funds to finance elections in this country. ‘’We reiterate our position that the Nigerian electorate must have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and anti-corruption test. “Let us refresh our memory on some of Saraki’s corruption allegations:  Allegations of fraud, which led to the collapse of the Saraki family-owned Société Générale Bank. “Misappropriation of Kwara State funds, disregard of government due process and conversion of state government assets into his and cronies when he served as two-term governor of Kwara State. “History of betrayals, treachery and sabotage – family, political party (PDP, APC), Senate, government. “Gluttonous property acquisitions and hidden multi-billion dollar assets spread across the world as disclosed by the Panama Papers revelations. “The multi-million dollar white elephant Shonga Agricultural Project in Kwara State when Saraki served as two-term governor. “Falsification of Senate standing order; Saraki’s link to the N298m armoured Range Rover SUV seized by Nigeria Customs Service. “Saraki’s link to $19.5 billion Paris Club loan refund scandal; Oversaw budget padding in the National Assembly, among other numerous corruption scandals.” APC said Nigerians should be wary of a man whose personal ambition would always supersede the interests of the majority and national interest as currently displayed in the National Assembly.

A from Nigeria to Horncastle

Ejiro Efekodo with new work colleagues Roly Freeman and Emma Blow . Chatterton's Horncastle office Published: 06:00 Tuesday 21 August 2018


A leading chain of Lincolnshire solicitors has welcomed the talents of an experienced legal expert to its commercial property department.

Chattertons, which has eight branches across the county and in Nottinghamshire, has appointed Ejiro Efekodo to its Horncastle office.
She is looking forward to navigating the law of the land by offering her expertise in the fast-changing Commercial and Agricultural properties department.
Specialising in property and company law, the dual-qualified solicitor graduated with a Masters Degree in environmental law at the University of Benin, Nigeria, before furthering her career in the UK.
She said: “I am delighted to join the experienced team in Horncastle and look forward to sharing my skills with clients.
“Since qualifying, I have practised actively in my home country and now look forward to sharing my knowledge in property law, civil litigation and landlord and tenant matters.”
Roly Freeman, partner and head of department, said: “The breadth of Ejiro’s knowledge is a valuable asset within the department.
“Whether buying or selling a business including company share sales and purchases or partnership and shareholder agreements, the team here are on hand to offer a personal service to customers.”
Chattertons Solicitors & Wealth Management has offices in Boston, Bourne, Grantham, Horncastle, Lincoln, Newark, Sleaford, Spalding and Stamford.
They provide legal and wealth management services with a focus on professionalism, efficiency and building great relationships with their clients.
•To contact Ejiro please visit www.chattertons.com or call 01507 522456.

HEALTH

   Most African children without birth certificates are Nigerians
 For every 10 Nigerian children that are at least five years old, there are no records about the birth of seven. Even though these children have names, their birth is not registered by the relevant authorities and their identity is therefore questionable. According the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, in Africa, Nigeria is ranked highest for the number of children whose births were not registered.
A UNICEF report entitled:  Generation 2030  which did the ranking also revealed that among the 10 countries contributing significantly to the region’s immense population increase in absolute terms between 2015 and 2050, Nigeria will have additional 257 million inhabitants followed closely by Ethiopia with 89 million and Democratic Republic of the Congo with 84 million. Already, according to the report, the greatest number of births in Africa takes place in Nigeria and by the end of 2015, one fifth of the continent’s births were in Nigeria alone, accounting for  five per cent of all global births. From 2015 to 2030, 136 million births are estimated to take place in Nigeria, which is 19 per cent of all African babies and 6 per cent of the global total. Birth registration is defined as the continuous, permanent, compulsory and universal recording of the occurrence and characteristics of births, as provided by decree or regulation in accordance with the legal requirements in each country. However, despite numerous developmental benefits of birth registration, little or no attention is accorded it in Nigeria. Statistics from the country’s Birth Registration Dashboard show that in 2016, in 24,890 health centres across the country,  birth registration activities took place in only 30 per cent or 7,499 of the health facilities. Thus, millions of children are consistently missed in this most important exercise, constituting a major reason for very low registration rates of newborn and under-1 birth. In 2017, statistics also showed slight reduction in the number of health facilities basically due to the country’s situation and limitations within the health sector. Unlike the 24,890 in 2016, in 2017, there were 24,705 health centres with birth registration services available in only 29 per cent or 7,029 health facilities with 71 per cent of the total health facilities not conducting routine birth registration services across the country. The reduction in the number of health facilities further reduced the coverage of the number of under-1 children registered in 2017. Also, the dashboard showed that in 2017, only 32 per cent  under-1 and 8 per cent under-5 births were registered. Revealing the situation on birth registration in Nigeria, a UNICEF Child Specialist, Mrs Sharon Oladiji, in her presentation entitled: UNICEF African Generation Report: Implication for birth and death registration in Nigeria and Africa, explained that the profile of children whose births were not registered, by implication, have no official record of their full names, parents, place of birth, date of birth and their nationality. Oladiji said such children’s access to basic services was under threat and that their official ‘invisibility’ increases their vulnerability to abuse and exploitation. “In legal terms, they do not exist and violations of their rights are going unnoticed,” she said. Oladiji who spoke during a media dialogue in Kano State organised by UNICEF and the Federal Ministry of Information, noted that urgent and concerted efforts are needed through integrating birth registration services at the health care delivery points across the country. Oladiji who noted that 70 per cent of children in Nigeria still do not have their births registered, according to the National Demographic Health Survey, NDHS,  2013, also said the recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, MICS, indicates that 46.8 per cent of under-5 were registered between 2016/2017 following support from UNICEF. The UNICEF scribe, however, explained that birth registration data, when correctly collected, plays an important role in the planning of a country’s economic and social development. She added that disaggregated population data can help identify geographic, social and economic and gender disparities within national boundaries. “Registering the child will enable government plan and implement basic social services (health, education, employment, etc.) monitor, evaluate and report on the impact of its social and economic policies. “It will also ensure that resources are allocated to where they are really needed within different geographical areas or different groups in society,” she added. She further traced the poor birth registration on internal institutional challenges of the National Population Commission, NpopC. She identified some internal institutional challenges on the part of NpopC to include; attitude of staff, low morale of staff, insufficient workforce and resources, too few registrars covering very large areas or populations including hard-to-reach areas, operation of two parallel and competing systems for birth registration and slow digitalisation process, among others. In her presentation entitled: Historical Perspectives of Birth Registration in Nigeria, the Assistant Director at the National Population Commission, NpopC, Hapsatu Husaini Isiyaku said birth registration of under-5 children in Nigeria is approximately 30 per cent while the remaining 70 per cent remain unregistered and in legal terms, do not exist. Isiyaku said the major reason why the children were not registered was either due to ignorance of parents and care givers or the very rural communities have no knowledge of birth registration. According to her, about 62 per cent of birth occurred at home, only 35 per cent of births in Nigeria are delivered in health facilities. Recalling that the first conscious effort to have a universal system of registration of births and deaths began in 1988 when the Federal Government promulgated the “Birth and Deaths Compulsory Registration Decree 39 of 1979,” she said the decree was aimed at establishing a uniform national and state level registration hierarchy including the appointment of a Registrar-General for the country. The NpopC Director noted that the lack of completeness of civil registration was impacting on the availability of complete data, the quality of the information therein and the use of these data for reliable decision-making processes. She disclosed that birth registrations are manually collected and there was inadequate office accommodation for the registrars. Other challenges she identified include; inadequate storage facilities for the working materials, many localities sparsely distributed in the area hence the need for logistics become apparent to allow registrars navigate catchment areas with less difficulties. Further lamenting the numerous challenges facing the commission, she said there was the urgent need to capture birth registration data in the facility level data tools and in the national DHIS and HMIS tools, “Promote documentation of birth registration services and strengthen integration efforts with the health sector and other convergent programmes. “There is insufficient workforce to adequately provide birth registration services across the country.” Isiyaku said as part of efforts of Child Protection Section to strengthen community level approach, birth registration efforts in the first half of the year focused on community, wards and LGA intervention during the NPopC EAD process in 15 states. “The approach and process enabled birth registration of at least 680,657 under-5 children in 15 LGAs, 150 wards and 1,041 communities, whose births would never have been registered. Currently, 3,411,419 (females/1,652,248 and males/1,759,171) children in different age bands have been registered in the first half of 2018. She said NpopC has produced IEC materials in six languages (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin, Kanuri and English) to promote countrywide birth registration campaign. Isiyaku said there is the need for the commission to take full responsibility to make necessary demand to government. “The NpopC collaboration with UNICEF should be sustained. The Commission should provide adequate office accommodation and storage facilities. There is urgent need to migrate from analogue to digital registration,” she stated.

Crime


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