WOMEN SHOULD BE TREATED AS THOSE WITH “PENIS” – CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE
Biafra: Secession not solution to your problems – Catholic Bishop tells agitators
The Catholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, Bishop Charles Harmawa, has asserted that breaking out of Nigeria is never the solution to marginalisation cry by some regions.
According to him, there was no guarantee that if the agitators finally got their country, the issue of marginalisation would not still crop up.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) have been clamouring for the Biafra Republic.
The groups said they were no longer comfortable to be part of Nigeria, which they always described as a zoo.
Speaking with Sun, however, the cleric opined that Nigerian leaders should find a way of addressing the issues of injustices and discrimination.
Harmawa said, “In the first place, people have the right to self-determination but there is a procedure towards attaining that.
“Again, I find the argument that Nigerians are group of strange fellows, flimsy because this is not peculiar to Nigeria. There are so many countries in the world that are divided along these lines as Nigeria.
“Why do we still seek international relations while we are so different in our cultural, political and religious affiliations? It is because we are a race and cannot live without one another. So we need to have a rethink on this issue.
“I am well aware of the injustices in all its forms and the level of marginalization in the country and strongly suggest that these issues should be addressed and urgently too, but the solution is not in going our separate ways.
“In any case, there is no guarantee whatsoever that if you are granted independence, you would not have problems in your own country based on differences of clan and other variables.
“The same mismanagement of funds that has crippled the country today is also prevalent at the regional, state and local government levels.”
On the way forward, the Catholic cleric suggested that, “it is not about secession. It shouldn’t be.
“We should be more concerned with how to address the injustices and discrimination, the uneven distribution of resources and others and think more on how we can live together as a country because, like it or not, we are one country and a there is beauty in our diversity.”
Osinbajo has ‘outshined’ Buhari, Nigerians don’t want him back as President – Reno Omokri
Former Special Assistant on New Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has asserted that Nigerians are against Muhammadu Buhari’s return to his position as President because the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo has “out-shined him.”
Buhari is currently on medical vacation in London, United Kingdom, UK.
Following his departure, Nigerians had continued to commend the performance of the acting President for performance.
In a tweet on his social media handle@renoomokri, the former Presidential aide wrote: “Osinbajo has so outshined PMB that I honestly dont know if Nigerians will want to go back to PMB’s type of governance when he comes back!”
This is coming at the heels of commendation from the All Progressives Congress, APC, attributing Federal Government’s recent achievements in spite of President’s absence, to Osinbajo’s commitment and loyalty.
In a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, he said Osinbajo’s wisdom, vigour and innovativeness had been essential to the numerous achievements recorded by this administration.
“At 60, Prof. Osinbajo has recorded several landmark achievements as a man of God and a man of the law,” it said.
APC said that the acting president had visited crisis-prone areas, stabilised the economy and promoted good governance.
The ruling party commended Buhari for the vision and wisdom in choosing Osinbajo as his running mate.
Arsene Wenger apologizes to Arsenal fans after Bayern hammering
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has blamed the referee and match officials, after his team were drubbed 5-1 in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League.
The Bundesliga champions came into the second leg of the round-of-16 tie with a 5-1 win.
The Gunners needed four unreplied goals to pull off a miracle. They opened scoring through Theo Walcott’s emphatic finish.
However, the match turned quickly on its head, after captain Laurent Koscielny was sent off and a penalty was awarded to the visitors. Robert Lewandowski stepped up and equalized.
Arsenal collapsed once again and further goals from Arjen Robben, Douglas Costa and Arturo Vidal (twice) completed a miserable night for Wenger’s team.
“The second half of the game has been ruined by the referee,” Wenger told BT Sport.
“Lewandowski is offside, then a yellow card, on top of that he gives a red card. It’s not serious. It’s revolting.
“My team has produced a huge effort tonight. It’s difficult to understand what’s happened tonight.
“I’m sorry for people coming paying their money to see this sort of game.”
Refugees are not criminals – UN tells Trump
The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi has said that refugees were not criminals and should not be treated as such. The UNHCR in its reaction to the new travel ban by U.S. President, Donald Trump, said that the decision would worsen the woes of refugees around the World.
“Refugees are ordinary people forced to flee war, violence and persecution in their home countries and who remain in urgent need of life-saving assistance and protection.
“The imperative remains to provide protection for people fleeing deadly violence, and we are concerned that this decision, though temporary, may compound the anguish for those it affects.
“The UNHCR has long been a partner for the U.S. in finding solutions to refugee problems, and we look forward to continuing this partnership,” he said. In the wake of the new order, the head of the UN refugee agency reiterated its readiness to engage constructively with Trump’s orders to ensure all refugee programmes meet the highest standards for safety and security.
“Americans have long played a crucial role in promoting global stability while simultaneously exemplifying the highest humanitarian ideals, from support for refugee emergencies overseas, to welcoming some of the most vulnerable refugee families in the United States to rebuild their lives in safety, freedom and dignity.
“This is the gold standard in refugee protection and a powerful model for all countries that at a time of record-high levels of forced human displacement, this kind of humane leadership is needed more than ever.”
Grandi’s statement followed the signing of the Executive Order that would, among other things, suspend the country’s refugee programme for 120 days.
However, under the old order, Syrian refugees were barred indefinitely.
It would also bar for 90 days, travel to the U.S. by citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The measure followed a similar order signed by Trump on Jan. 27, which barred all nationals from the countries, including Iraq.
However, Iraq was removed from the new order following what the U.S. Government said was the country’s cooperation in ensuring effective vetting of immigrants to the U.S.
Focus on your goals, not your enemies, by Ben Murray Bruce
I have just returned from President Olusegun Obasanjo’s 80th birthday celebrations in Abeokuta, Ogun state (actually I’m still in the car driving back to Lagos) and I am very proud that Nigeria is blessed to have had a man like Obasanjo as a citizen.
Let me say that the event, including the unveiling of his Presidential library, the first of its kind in Africa, was a gathering of The Who-is-who in Nigeria and Africa.
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was there as was Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone. Also there was US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s grand daughter with a delegation of prominent American visitors.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan was there as were multiple Governors crossing across party lines (Obasanjo has transcended partisanship).
The attendance of both friend and foe and admirers and detractors reaffirms why I love President Obasanjo. I love and respect him for a trait that he and I share – patriotism. The venue of the celebration was filled with both people who supported him and those who fought him.
One thing I believe in is focus. In life, one has to be focused on a goal and not on a person. If you focus on a goal, you must be willing to work with even an enemy to achieve that goal.
To me, I believe that the height of maturity is to be able to work with even those you do not like. Obviously that will include enemies.
But the thing about enemies is that they bring out the best in you. They challenge you more than your friends because you want to prove them wrong.
But most importantly, the best way to defeat an enemy is to make him your friend. This is something I learnt from President Obasanjo in the years that I worked and lived with him in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
Perhaps one big expectation of mine that was not met at the event is the absence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
No matter what both men may think of each other, together, they both ushered in a period of unprecedented economic growth and stability in Nigeria. The stability they ushered in was both political and economical.
The institutions they jointly built are the reason why our democracy stood the test during the absence of then President Umaru Musa Yar’adua between 2009 and 2010 without collapsing and why it is standing the test today, in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari, and instead of collapsing, it is doing even better.
So, in the midst of all that felicity and joyfulness, I was rather sad that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was not in attendance.
President Obasanjo and Atiku share a lot in common. They both governed Nigeria together as seasoned politicians with strong personalities. They both have a passion for education which they actualized by founding private universities that are thriving today. They both have the Midas touch in business as their private businesses are booming (Atiku is the second largest employer of labour in Adamawa state with only the state government employing more than him while Obasanjo Farms is the largest poultry farm in Nigeria – if you have eaten KFC chicken, you have eaten Obasanjo chicken).
So I would really see it as a dream come true for me if they both can overcome their differences and reunite in the interest of Nigeria’s goal of becoming the beacon of hope for the Black world.
If these two men, who have successfully created wealth for themselves, collaborate, imagine how much wealth they can create for Nigeria.
Look at what they achieved together: from less than one million telephone lines in Nigeria pre-1999, today we have over one hundred million telephone lines due almost exclusively to the brilliant work that both of them did through the telecoms industry deregulation.
Today, the institutional framework for fighting corruption (the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Anti Corrupt Practices Commission) is the brainchild of their administration.
That administration proved to be adept at putting round pegs in round holes by sourcing for brilliant Nigerians. People like Dora Akinyuli, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Charles Soludo, Oby Ezekwesili, Frank Nweke Jr, Mukhtar Shagari and many other brilliant whizkids to whom they delegated power and authority that helped revolutionize Nigeria and lifted her to displace both Egypt and South Africa as Africa’s most prominent voice.
Looking back at how much they achieved together, I want to appeal to them to once again take their eyes off whatever animosity might exist between them and focus instead on the goal of realizing the achievable great future for Nigeria in their lifetimes. They must remember that nations grow best when old men plant trees whose shades they know they may never enjoy.
And that is the spirit I took to Abeokuta. While there, I met the minister of transport, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Many may remember that Amaechi had been crossed with me for a difference in opinion we had last year and I am sure they never expected me to be so happy seeing him and start talking with him at the event.
I literally prevented him from leaving the venue without my permission (jocularly of course) until we had taken a picture and hugged each other.
It is very important for all Nigerians to understand that we are all brothers and sisters with the same father (God) and the same mother (Nigeria).
If we fight each other to the grave then it is our neighbors like Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin Republic, that will inherit our estate. God forbid.
When we fight each other over our ports, our importers import instead through Benin Republic. When we fight each other in business, foreign investors go instead to Cameroon. When we fight each other in building refineries, refineries get built in Niger Republic instead and when we do not unite to fight terrorists, Chad unites and fights them even on our own soil. All these detract from us being the Giant of Africa.
And this is the same philosophy I want the Peoples Democratic Party to adopt. Enough of the back and forth fight.
Sheriff may not be the best choice but since the court has spoken, let us obey the court and accept him and then follow our Constitution to hold a new National Convention to chose a new executive and once this is done we would have permanently put an end to division and schisms within the party.
Look at the All Progressive Congress; they need the PDP more than the PDP needs itself. For the lack of effective opposition, the APC led federal government is faltering. They are not just faltering alone, they are taking Nigeria down with them.
Was it not Edward R Murrow who said that ‘when the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.’
Well, if you juxtapose Nigeria in that quote, you will begin to see why Nigerian businesses are dying and our economy is contracting. The PDP, by not getting our acts together to focus on providing effective opposition, is vicariously to blame for the dismal performance of the inexperienced APC led federal government.
But now back to President Obasanjo. Sir, even if you do not know when you were born, I at least know why you were born. You were born to make Nigeria great again and as the man who in one fell swoop paid up Nigeria’s debt and restored Nigeria’s standing in the international community, my prayer for you is that God would likewise forgive your debts to Him and restore you to a pride of place in His kingdom whenever that time comes (hopefully a long, long time from now).
Happy eightieth birthday to the father of modern Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.
– Murray-Bruce is the founder of the Silverbird Group and Senator representing Bayelsa East in the National Assembly
Cross River demotes 11 teachers to security guards
Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has demoted no fewer than eleven primary school teachers in Biase Local Government Area of the State to security guards.
The development is following their failure to present the requisite qualification to work as class teachers before the board.
Accordingh to Daily Post, the demotion, which was announced by the board’s chairman, Dr. Steven Odey, was sequel to the ongoing teachers’ verification and promotion exercise in the state by SUBEB.
While addressing the affected teachers, Odey said “You have no business being in the teaching profession without the requisite qualification; you cannot give what you do not have.
“If you want to become a teacher, do the right thing by going to school to read and qualify for the job.
“Your services will henceforth be needed in the area of tackling insecurity challenges being faced by the school.”
Reacting to a question on the issue of irregular payment of salary to primary school teachers in the state, Odey said “SUBEB has not taken over payment of salaries yet, the Ministry of Local Government is still responsible for that. When we eventually take over payment of your salaries, you will not have any cause to complain."
Federal Government releases much-awaited economic recovery plan
The federal government has finally released its economic recovery and growth plan (ERGP), which has been in the works since 2016.
The document seen by newsmen is a medium term plan aimed at revamping the economy between 2017 and 2020.
“The ERGP differs from previous plans in several ways. First, focused implementation is at the core of the delivery strategy of the plan over the next four years,” the document read.
“More than ever before, there is a strong political determination, commitment and will at the highest level. Whilst all the MDAs will have their different roles in implementing the plan, a delivery unit is being established in the presidency to drive the implementation of key ERGP priorities.
“The ministry of budget and national planning will coordinate plan-implementation and for this purpose will, amongst other things, build up its capability for robust monitoring and evaluation.”
More details soon..
Return to work or face sanctions – Sheriff warns PDP staff
Worried by the refusal of the members of staff of the Peoples Democratic Party to resume work at the party national secretariat, its National Chairman, Sen Ali Modu Sheriff, has warned that any of them that failed to resume work would face sanctions.
Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Bernard Mikko, who issued the warning on behalf of the party, scolded the workers for taking sides in the leadership crisis in the party.
He said the action of the workers was against their conditions of employment which he said mandated them to be apolitical.
The workers had on Monday, said they would continue to stay off work at the national secretariat because they were afraid they could be attacked by hoodlums.
But Mikko said that all members of staff must return to work immediately.
He said, “All staff of the PDP National Secretariat that have not resumed duties should immediately go back to work.
“This notice serves as another opportunity for the staff of the to take advantage of the magnanimity of the leadership of Sheriff and resume duties in line with the press statement issued after the meeting of the National Working Committee of Wednesday March 1, 2017 and signed by the National Secretary, Prof Wale Adewale.
“Failure to heed the call by the National Secretary will attract disciplinary procedures as the staff is deemed to be conversant with their terms and conditions of employment, particularly the PDP Establishment Manual that stipulates that they remain apolitical.”
He said that recent events and pronouncements of some members of staff under the aegis of PDP Welfare Association, had shown that they had breached their terms of employment and conditions of service.
He said that the workers were now engaging in the selection, determination and emergence of their bosses who he said remain the bosses of the workers, adding that “this gross abuse of office and totally unacceptable.”
Court to hear ex-NNPC boss Yakubu’s rights enforcement suit March 9
Justice Ahmed R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed March 9, 2017, for hearing on fundamental right enforcement suit filed by Andrew Yakubu, former Group Managing Director, GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In the suit filed through his counsel, Adeola Adedipe, Yakubu is praying the court to shield him from further investigation by the EFCC. He is also urging the court to award the sum of N1 billion against EFCC and Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, who is the second respondent, as damages and compensation, while asking the respondents to tender public apology in two widely published national dailies, for the violation of his aforementioned rights.
At the sitting on Tuesday, the counsel to the first respondent (EFCC), J. A. Ojogbane, told the court that he had filed necessary responses and ready to take the preliminary objections and counter affidavit, while counsel to the second respondent (AGF), T. A. Kazali, told the court that they just filed their processes shortly before the court sitting, but were yet to be registered in the court record.
Justice Mohammed, thereafter, adjourned for hearing on the motion.
It would be recalled that, on February 3, 2017, operatives of the Commission stormed a building belonging to the former NNPC boss and recovered a staggering sum of $9.7m and £74,000 stashed in a huge fire proof safe.
On February 8, 2017, Yakubu reported to the Commission’s Kano Zonal Office where he admitted being the owner of both the house and the money recovered.
Reps to take inventory of items seized by anti-graft agency
The House of Representatives has resolved to take inventory of assets seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) so as to ascertain their conditions and current values.
The resolution was sequel to a motion presented by Rep. Benson Babajimi (Lagos-APC) on Tuesday in Abuja.
The motion is entitled: Need to ascertain the dumps and take an inventory of the forfeited assets in possession of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC)
While moving the motion, Babajimi noted that “pursuant to Section 20(1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004, a person convicted of an offence shall forfeit to the Federal Government, all the assets and properties which may or are the subject of interim order of the court’’.
He also reminded the lawmakers that Section 26 of the Act provided that the commission might seize any property subject to forfeiture after an attachment of such property.
According to him, acting under these provisions, the EFCC, since its establishment in 2003, had seized several movable and immovable properties and assets under interim orders of courts.
He argued that this was in order to preserve the properties/assets and prevent them from being disposed of by the suspects while cases were being investigated or tried.
“Also, be aware that the EFCC maintains dump sites in various parts of the country, where it keeps the movable assets while immovable assets are sealed off.
“Many of these assets have been there for several years while some are already at various stages of decay.
“I am convinced of the need to avoid this needless waste of recovered properties which would otherwise have yielded some much needed revenues to the national treasury,’’ Babajimi moved.
The House, therefore, mandated its Committee on Financial Crimes to carry out an audit of car dumps and inventory of other movable and immovable assets seized by the EFCC to ascertain their conditions and current values.
The committee would make recommendations to the House within six weeks on how to prevent further decay and waste.
The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.
Ex-militants accuse Osinbajo of snubbing them, threaten to resume attacks
A group of ex-militants in Ondo state have alleged that the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has refused to come and visit them.
The group also called on the Federal Government to appoint an indigene of Ondo state to the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
According to Daily Post, the ex-militants wondered why Ondo had no representative on the NDDC board, despite being an oil producing state.
The ex-militants also said that they want the Federal Government to include them in any peace deal it is making with militants.
According to them, “We understood the unalloyed efforts been exerted by the current APC led government in the country and ultimately salute particularly the courage and doggedness of our Acting President in the recent times to ensure that Niger Delta areas do not get eluded of benefits due them for better peace and tranquility in the region.
“However, we are sincerely embarrassed at the gross neglect of Ilaje Local Government- the only oil producing Local Government that qualifies Ondo State and indeed the Southwest zone to be part of Niger Delta.”
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has been on a tour of the Niger Delta to feel the heartbeat of people of the oil rich region who have been reportedly marginalised over the years.
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