OBLONG MEDIA GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE is where independent minds meet to dissect politics, society, power, and global affairs without fear or filters. This is not mainstream media.
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“We lost a packet in 1963-64 to a building project in Enugu in Nigeria, which was later to become Biafra. It was Ernest Shinwell, the son of the Labour peer Manny Shinwell, who got Reggie and me interested in this one… He’d been approached, he said, by the government there, who wanted him to form a company to develop and build housing estates and factories and schools. Shinwell said there was a fortune to be made for those who invested in the scheme. We stuck in £25,000 straightaway and a lot more money from the Kray coffers followed that…
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Take the story of Argentina. Background: The country has had many economic troubles in the recent past, including stagnant growth, rising inflation, and exchange rate troubles. It became a pariah state of international capital markets after defaulting twice on its sovereign debt. It sought to finance government spending through money printing. And so on. The typical economic basket case. Enter Mauricio Macri, who assumed office in December 2015 and immediately started implementing reforms. He got rid of the exchange rate controls and allowed the currency adjust itself. He scrapped a variety of export taxes and quotas: Not reinventing the…
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THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the Director of Finance of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Senator Nenadi Usman, for allegedly receiving N2.5bn from the Central Bank of Nigeria. A top official of the EFCC, who confided in The PUNCH, said the former minister was arrested on Thursday in Abuja. All funds that came from the Presidency during the campaign were believed to have come through Usman. Usman, who is also a former Minister of State for Finance, had been on the radar of the EFCC for several weeks but she travelled out of the country on…
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The attempt to tarnish my name, paint me as a common criminal and convict me of wrongdoing in the court of public opinion without even hearing my side of the story is petty, shameful and nauseating. “The truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it. Let it lose and it will defend itself” – St. Augustine. For the last few weeks I have been the subject of absurd and outlandish headline stories in various newspapers that have accused me of being a fraudster and that have claimed that funds were transferred into my bank account by…
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There are uncertainties about the availability of petrol, as most depots are without stock, while marketers have reportedly not been importing due to scarcity of foreign exchange. According to a major marketer, who chose to remain anonymous, “we cannot be talking about stock level because there is no stock at all. No depot has up to 5,000 metric tonnes of petrol, which is about 200 trucks. Once there is supply, it is distributed immediately.” This was corroborated by sources at Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, who told Vanguard that the nation cannot boast of any stock level now, as…
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The president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has requested the National Assembly Service Commission to reverse the appointment of Mohammed Sani-Omolori, as the Clerk to the Assembly, to allow further consultations. Mr. Sani-Omolori was named the acting Clerk to the National Assembly on Wednesday in a letter by the Executive Chairman of the NASC. He was until his appointment the Clerk of the House of Representatives. In a letter dated April 21 by his Chief of Staff, Isa Galaudu, to Mr. Fika, the senate president, who is the chairman of the National Assembly, said the appointment did not follow…
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Officials of the Nigerian Army made concerted efforts to cover up the mass slaughter of over 350 Nigerian citizens, including women and children, between December 12-14, 2015, in Zaria, Amnesty International has said. In a newly-released report about the killing, which involved members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, Amnesty International said it was able to uncover evidence of a possible mass grave in Zaria neighbourhood of Mando with the aid of satellite imaging. The report, titled: “Unearthing the truth: Unlawful killings and mass cover-up in Zaria”, is based on interviews with 92 people, including victims, witnesses from…
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Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the crisis rocking the Bayelsa chapter of the party was being resolved.Reports reveal that the two factions of the party in Bayelsa met at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday to resolve their differences. It is recalled that the Chairman of the party in the state, Tiwei Orunimighe, had accused former governor of the state, Chief Timipreye Sylva, of not consulting the party in Bayelsa before nominating Mr Heineken Lokpobiri who it is alleged paid 600 million for ministerial appointment. It also recalls that at the height of accusations and…
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It’s official: Nigeria’s central pot, the federation account, has hit one of its lowest balances in the history of the country. Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, disclosed this on Thursday after the national economic council meeting in Abuja. As a result, deductions will not be made before April allocations are shared by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). Usually, debts incurred by various tiers of government are deducted as first-line charges and remitted to the creditors before the sharing of allocations. Osun state recently got only N10 million as monthly allocation after the deduction of its obligations to banks…
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The collapsed price of oil is putting pressure on oil exporters around the world, from Canada to Kuwait. But perhaps no country is less prepared to survive prices at about $30 a barrel than Nigeria, which until a few years ago relied heavily on petroleum exports for its revenue. While countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia have saved past oil profits for rainy days, Nigeria has no such insulation. What’s worse is that Nigeria is especially dependent on imports of basic goods. The cracks are starting to show: While the official rate doesn’t reflect it, Nigeria’s currency, the naira,…
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There was mild drama at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Thursday, as the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, refused to hear the motion filed by counsel of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on his (Umar) alleged bias. Umar dismissed the application asking him to disqualify himself from the case. “That motion as far as the tribunal is concerned is of no consequence; not worthy to be entertained and is hereby thrown away,” said Mr. Umar. Mr. Raphael Oluyede, Saraki’s lawyer, brought to the attention of the court, a motion filed on Wednesday, April 20th, 2016, seeking the CCT boss…
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As Nigerian army continues to comb Borno forests in search of the female students abducted recently by Boko Haram sect, a group on Monday accused some northern elders of being the brain behind the incident. The group, under the umbrella of United Alliance, in a statement by its northern co-ordinator, Bashir Ado, accused some northern elders of using the abduction to distract and embarrass President Goodluck Jonathan. Speaking ahead of the protest, which is slated for Wednesday by women in the Federal Capital Territory over the kidnap of the Chibok girls, Ado said the protesters should not direct their…
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When you create a conflict which has its roots in religion, ethnicity, land rights, the attempt to marginalise, dominate, subjugate and conquer others and the quest for liberation and freedom from slavery and bondage all mixed into one, you are toying with a conflagration that will not only be simply horrendous and that will not only affect the whole of Africa but will also last for the next fifty years. On April 18th 2016, Mr. Okonkwo Afamefuna wrote the following on his Facebook wall: “I decided to read a copy of the National Grazing Reserve Bill and I was…
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This is a document that records and states the areas the government has willingly given to the family and community to sell and that the government will not acquire it for what so ever reason except it duly notifies the world. The major characteristics of a gazette on provide 2 things. 1. The Area e.g Ilupeju 2. The coordinates e.g the Beacon Numbers that separates where the Land given to the family starts and stops. This is Known as an Excision. That means in a whole portion of land lets say 10 PLOTS, Government has excised 4…
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Let’s face it, Buhari is a modern high powered almajiri. He flies around begging for loans, getting none! But he does not understand that he is the problem. Buhari flew to China, cap in hand to beg for a $2 billion dollar loan. He did not get it. Instead the Chinese bamboozled him with a $6billion credit line. Emefiele immediately saw the opportiunity and seized it with both hands. The APC Yorubas and normal economists are celebrating the break through, but they may be shocked because like all APC promises, this may come to nothing – because of Buhari. Please note…
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The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) says its chairman, Danladi Umar, has been cleared of a N10m-bribe allegation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ibrahim Alhassan, spokesman of the tribunal, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. He said that the EFCC sent a letter to the tribunal on Wednesday clearing the CCT chairman of the allegation. “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has today conveyed a letter to the chairman Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Hon Danladi Yakubu Umar, exonerating him on the alleged N10 million bribe by one AbdulRashid Owolabi, in his petition to…
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A housing expert, Mr Festus Adebayo, has urged the Federal Government to demerge the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing for effective administration and development. According to Adebayo, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, the merger of the three ministries will not augur well for the economic and social development of the country. The housing expert, a television producer of housing programmes, said that the housing sector deserved to have a ministry to oversee its affairs. “Abuja Housing Show will like to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari, since he is working…
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The Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta, has disclosed that the commission was investigating a state governor for alleged diversion of bailout funds meant for the payment of workers’ salaries.He spoke when he hosted students of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS in Abuja. Nta said: “Last year, 27 states got bailout funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. We decided to go into collaboration with the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, to monitor the movement of the funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria to the final destination. “One state,…
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It was an action-packed court session on Wednesday, April 20, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, as several interesting revelations came to light on the trial of the embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki. Saraki is standing trial on a 13-count charge of false asset declaration, slammed against him by the Federal Government. The CCT Chairman had on Tuesday held that in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Saraki’s trial will continue on a daily basis. However, the trial of the former Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, had earlier been moved from April…
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Few days ago, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it’s Vice Presidential candidate come 2019 general election, will come from South-East, reacting on such zoning, The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha chides the party’s claim, stressing that for over 16 years the party never remembered South-Eastern region. The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, on Monday, said it was unfortunate that the South-East was never remembered by the PDP during the party’s 16 years in power. He said, “For the 16 years the PDP was in power, it never considered the South-East as being fit…
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The Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday ordered the Department of State Services to pay a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Afolabi Akanni, N5m damages for his illegal arrest. The court condemned his arrest and “continued detention for 18 harrowing, excruciating and brain cudgeling days, without access to his lawyers and family.” Akanni, representing Efon Constituency 1 at the Ekiti State House of Assembly, was arrested on March 4 by the DSS and detained for 18 days over alleged sundry allegations. The Commissioner for Information, Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi, had at…
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The PUNCH can authoritatively report that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has filed another application before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, to stall his ongoing trial on charges of false asset declaration. Saraki whose numerous applications seeking to stall the trial had been dismissed by the CCT itself and others including the Supreme Court, through his fresh motion, is asking the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, to disqualify himself. Our correspondent learnt that Saraki, through his fresh motion filed before the CCT on Tuesday, asked Umar to disqualify himself from the trial on the basis that the tribunal chairman…
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It’s almost one year since Dr Jonathan left Nigeria’s Presidency; but his name remains fixed to the mouths of the present administration, their supporters and APC. While in office, he had his share of criticism, at a time, he became the most abused President in the world. Now that he has left power for those who desperately need it, they have taken the power but passed its responsibilities to Dr Jonathan, thus, he or his party is responsible for the present administration’s irresponsibility, ineptitude, indolence and failure. This wicked behaviour should be discontinued. Dr Jonathan’s supporters must avoid this…
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They came in trickles first, elements that toyed with the idea of a mega party to challenge the then ruling party, the PDP. Just Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Major General Muhammadu Buhari Rtd., and a few others… Then the merger talks between the then ACN and the then CPC. The fall out of some major stakeholders in the PDP, with included seven Governors, with the National leadership of the then chairman, Alj Bamangar Tukur, was what the newly emerging conflagration of the elements to later berth the new mega party needed to launch their new party with these dissenting…
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I read an interesting article recently in which the author, objecting to President Muhammadu Buhari’s frequent travels abroad pointed out that Presidential spokespersons since 1999, including this writer, have always justified such trips using essentially the same arguments. The fellow quoted copiously and derisively from my State House press statements and an article by me titled “The Gains of Jonathan’s Diplomacy”. Those who object to Presidential travels abroad do so for a number of reasons: (a) the cost on the grounds of frequency and size of estacode-collecting delegation, with multiple officers performing the same function tagging along on every…
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-Chief Mbazulike Amechi accuses President Buhari of not showing enough capacity that he can change Nigeria -He makes a revelation that there are at least 8 powerful men within the Buhari government who could crush the president if he fails to do according to their request President Muhammadu Buhari may have serious problems as he is reportedly caged by eight powerful men. Chief Mbazulike Amechi, a frontline nationalist, revealed this in the interview granted to the Daily Sun Newspaper in Ukpor, Anambra state. The elder statesman said that there are eight powerful men within Buhari’s cabinet and his…
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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can Island Command, had a revenue shortfall of N2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2016, compared with the corresponding period of 2015. The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Chris Osunkwo, made the disclosure in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos. Osunkwo, in a breakdown, said that the command generated N58.9 billion in the first quarter of 2016, adding that it generated N61.6 billion in the corresponding period of 2015. NAN reports that the Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Retired Col. Hameed Ali, on April 4, at a Consultative Forum between Customs…
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Is cattle rearing by Fulani herdsmen a Federal Government project? Why this question, someone may ask? Let us look at this scenario. If I need to set up a factory to make soaps or motor spare parts, or a farm for yam or rice, or a poultry farm, or a fish pond, or a school, or a newspaper house, I look for land/property to buy or lease or rent. Even if I want to sell clothes or meat or books or beans, I look for a shop to rent for my business. If I make a loss or profit,…
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President Muhammadu Buhari has continued his foreign trips in a bid to repair Nigeria’s reputation which was severely damaged by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said on Monday. Fashola, in an article titled, “PMB’s foreign trips — My takeaway,” also stated that Buhari’s intervention in the global oil and gas sector led to the recent stability in crude oil prices. The minister further stressed that Nigeria currently has the support of the world’s seven most powerful countries. He attributed this to the visit the President made during a…
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Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, was on Tuesday alleged to have kept Senate President Saraki waiting for an hour and 40 minutes without tendering apologies. Reports said that Saraki, who had briefly presided over the plenary at the Senate, arrived at the CCT at 12pm, the time the CCT chairman wanted him to be at the tribunal. Umar had on Monday stated that the trial of the Senate President for false declaration of assets would continue at 12pm on Tuesday, but he arrived at 1:40pm, keeping Saraki, senators, lawyers, journalists and some guests waiting…
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In early April, South Africa issued its first sovereign bond in over two years. The ten-year, $1.25 billion bond was oversubscribed by a factor of two. This is the first international bond issued by a sub-Saharan African nation in 2016. It is likely to be followed by Kenyan, Nigerian, and Ghanaian issuances. The past two years were the most active in the history of sub-Saharan Africa’s sovereign bond issuances. But, due to the state of international markets in 2016, the price of issuing bonds has been too high (near and above 10 percent) for most African countries. These sub-Saharan…
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The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie Oyegun has blamed the ongoing hardship in Nigeria on evil forces which, he said , is responsible for President Buhari’s inability to solve the country’s myriad of problems. While fielding questions from newsmen in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Chief Oyegun took a swipe at evil forces and saboteurs calling to mind Gov. Ayodele’s stance on the frequent trips of the president abroad. The APC chieftain said President Buhari won the election owing to the respect he commands both at home and abroad adding that he…
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The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions on Monday summoned Danladi Umar, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), who is presiding over Bukola Saraki’s corruption trial. Mr. Saraki, the Senate President, is facing 13 counts of false assets declaration and fraud before the CCT. According to reports, Justice Umar was asked to appear before the Committee “unfailingly” by 2 p.m. on Thursday. The invitation came hours after the judge ruled that Mr. Saraki’s trial would sit daily between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., with a one hour break in between. The Senate president’s lawyer had…
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The Netherlands-based Royal Dutch Shell Plc on Monday said the economic contribution from Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited joint venture partners to the Federal Government was $42bn from 2011 to 2015. The oil giant said it paid the sum of $4.95bn to the Nigerian government last year as production entitlement, taxes, royalties and fees. Shell’s ‘Report on Payments to Governments for 2015’ showed that Nigeria received the biggest share of payments from the company out of 24 countries. It was followed by Malaysia, which received $4.41bn; Norway, $4.16bn; Philippines, $2.11bn, and Iraq, $1.36bn. According to Shell, the…
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Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), human rights lawyer, has advised the Federal Government to shelve its plan to obtain $2bn loan from China. According to him, “plunging the nation into more indebtedness” the Federal Government should intensify efforts to recover some funds totalling about $200bn which were either not remitted to the Federation Account or stolen from the nation’s treasury. Falana revealed this in a letter dated April 8, 2016, addressed to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, threatening to sue the Federal Government if his request was not taken seriously. He said, “In the light of…
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As the defence team to senate president, Bukola Saraki, begins cross examination of witnesses in the trial of Saraki over alleged false declaration of asset, a principal Prosecution witness has admitted before the court that charges were filed against Saraki, one month before he made his statement. The witness, Micheal Wetkas, made the admission when he was asked by Saraki’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, whether he was aware that that his statement was made over one month after the prosecution had filed charges against the defendant. Wetkas who initially said he was not aware, admitted after he was…
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Some concerned chieftains of the All Progressives Congress are not hiding their misgivings against what they consider as the party’s poor performance. The ruling All Progressives Congress came to power with a load of promises. The party had pledged to fix all the problems it inherited from the Peoples Democratic Party – the party the APC accused of lacking focus and bereft of idea on how to run purposeful governance. With its description of the then ruling PDP as clueless and corrupt, the APC had used every available platform to tell Nigerians that its emergence in the…
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In the beginning; you fall in love with your partner. You anticipate their calls, want their touch, and like their idiosyncrasies. Falling in love wasn’t hard. In fact, it was a completely natural and spontaneous experience. You didn’t have to DO anything. That’s why it’s called “falling” in love. People in love sometimes say, “I was swept of my feet.”Picture the expression. It implies that you were just standing there; doing nothing, and then something happened TO YOU. Falling in love is a passive and spontaneous experience. But after a few months or years of being together, the euphoria…
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Even though his whereabouts is still yet unknown to the federal government, Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a Tompolo celebrated his 45th birthday yesterday in Warri, Delta State. President, Ijaw Peoples’ Development Initiative, Com. Austin Ozobo(3rd left), President, Niger Delta Security Watch Organisation of Nigeria, Barr. Dickson Bekederemo (4th from left), Mr. Alapal Ebitonma (4th from right) and others cutting the 45th Birthday cake of Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo in absentia Popular Nigerian militant commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, who…
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The opposition party has already chosen a politician to replace Saraki if he resigns – The Unity Forum promised to work with PDP’s candidate for Senate president. There are indications that the next Senate president may be chosen by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Daily Sun reports that some members of the opposition party are thinking of Ike Ekweremadu as a likely replacement if there is vacancy in the Senate. Members of both camps disclosed that they are considering Ekweremadu as a probable substitution for Saraki based on his experience and the fact that he has been Senate…
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*Fayose said Oyegun, Oni and Prof Itse Sagay lack moral rights to complain about criticism of President Mohammadu Buhari – *Fayose said Buhari’s non-signing of any direct loan agreement with the Chinese government is a vindication of the his position Special assistant to the Ekiti state governor on public communications and new media, Lere Olayinka has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun, deputy national chairman, Chief Segun Oni and others’ criticism of governor Ayodele Fayose’s letter to the Chinese government on the $2 billion loan sought by the federal government as brazen display of…
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A Senator, Isah Misau, who represents Bauchi Central district, came under attack by irate youth on Saturday in Ningi, part of his constituency, two persons who claimed to have witnessed the incident disclosed. The two sources said Mr. Misau was in Ningi for a social function when he came under attack. According to reports, “it was at the social function that the Senator was pelted with stones and bottles, the witnesses said.” One of them, Isa Sa’ad said Mr. Misau was attacked because of his support for the embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is under public pressure to…
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One of the arguments against #TrueFederalism in Nigeria is that ‘given the fact that our state governors are corrupt, giving them more money will only make them more corrupt, so therefore we must fight corruption first while we maintain the status quo’. People who use such argument as their attack on true federalism are ignorant of how true federalism works. Let me explain. First, it is true that under a restructured Nigeria, the states will have more money than they currently have. They will have more money simply based on the fact that they will also have more fiscal…
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Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress APC, Timi Frank has berated the national chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun for attempting to influence the outcome of the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Frank said the recent pronouncement of the chairman that the party was prepared to lose the senate presidency implies that the party has already decided Saraki’s fate even before the commencement of the trial. According to him, Mr Oyegun is only acting out a script by such pronouncements, adding that no organ of the party…
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Kano State, closely followed by Kaduna, Katsina, Borno and more recently, Niger State are among states in the North with the highest cases of constant drug abuse in the country, it has been revealed. Disclosing this in an interview with THISDAY on Saturday, former Director General, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Otunba Olarewaju Ipinmisho, said the upsurge in substance abuse in Kano and Kaduna States particularly, was frightening and if not quickly tackled, may get out of control. According to him, “If you take an estimate of 10 boys particularly in Kano, seven will be on drugs.…
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has found over N675.1m in the bank accounts of different Independent National Electoral Commission officials in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Delta states. According to the anti-graft agency, the money was received and shared by the officials during the last governorship elections. Our correspondents gathered that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the 2015 election in Rivers State, Mrs. Gesila Khan, and other officials of INEC are already in EFCC custody. Khan was quizzed by the Department of State Services in July last year but was never charged. However, It was learnt that…
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Escravos Attack: Nigerian govt. losing N471 million daily in gas, electricity disruptions EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria’s revenue woes worsen as major trouble hit Forcados, oil lifting suspended The damaged Forcados Export Plant, which is the main cause of the worsening power outage being experienced by Nigerians, will not be completely repaired till May, the office of the Vice President has indicated. According to a statement on Sunday by his spokesperson, Laolu Akande, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited the plant in Delta State where he sought expedited action on the repairs. “The damage done to Forcados affects our oil earnings but also…
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Details of the $6 billion dollars investments deal reached with the Chinese Government during President Muhammadu Buhari’s state visit to China last week emerged at the weekend showing that a conditional stipulation that Nigeria must not deal with Taiwan was attached to the deal. The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) has continued to proclaim the One China policy, insisting it is the sole legal government of China and that Taiwan is a province of China, a development that has made Taiwan, also known as Republic of China (ROC), not to be recognised as a sovereign state by most countries.…
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The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, says Nigeria must not take loan facility from the International Monetary Fund to overcome its economic challenges. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday at the ongoing Spring Meetings of the IMF-World Bank in Washington DC while responding to why the government has refused to apply for IMF loans. The Minister was quoted as saying that Nigeria was absorbing its new realities by implementing fiscal policies to steer the country back on track for stable growth with a diversified economy. Signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister…
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The United States yesterday released a damming report on human rights abuses by security agencies in Nigeria. It also accused officials of the Nigeria Prisons Service of routinely extorting money from inmates as fees for food, prison maintenance, and sometimes to secure their release from prison. The officials have also been accused of various other abuses, including rape of female prisoners under their custody. The report also accused the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) of human rights abuses in their operations in different parts of Nigeria. The allegations were contained in a…
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President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that his trip to China yielded about $6 billion investment for Nigeria. The Punch reports that this was contained in a statement released by Garba Shehu who is the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity on Friday, April 15. In the statement, Buhari said the one-week trip to China would have a positively huge impact on key sectors of the Nigerian economy including power, solid minerals, agriculture, housing and rail transportation. He said: “In the power sector, North South Power Company Limited and Sinohydro Corporation Limited signed an agreement valued…
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During the Jonathan administration, an outspoken opposition spokesperson had argued that Nigeria was on auto-pilot, a phrase that was gleefully even if ignorantly echoed by an excitable opposition crowd. Deeper reflection should have made it clear even to the unthinking that there is no way any country can ever be on auto-pilot, for there are many levels of governance, all working together and cross-influencing each other to determine the structure of inputs and outcomes in society. To say that a country is on auto-pilot is to assume wrongly that the only centre of governance that exists is the official…
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Rivers State is one state that had her resources recklessly plundered by officials and friends of the immediate past administration of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to the extent that no funds were left for the then incoming Nyesom-Wike led administration to effectively take off. To cover up this ungodly deliberate squandering of State resources, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi refused to write a handover note. He chose to play the Ostrich. However, Amaechi gave Nigerians an insight into the ugly financial condition of Rivers State on May 18, 2015 during a post election meeting. Amaechi said : I’m not joking, we have…
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It was in the early 1970s. The Nigerian Civil War had just ended. The music group Peacocks International released one of their popular hits in which they praised among others John Anyaehie, Toyola Crown and Mike Merchandise Electronics dealer. That was the first time the name of this Aba based industrialist, the business entrepreneur, the philanthropist extraordinary, the socialite par excellence and the exemplary humanist came to public consciousness. Chief Mike Nkwoji, the Okpataozuora I of Enugwu Ukwu na Umunri in Anambra State was a man among men. Young at heart, he was only 73 when he passed on,…
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Many mothers now bathe their children several times a day due to the heat You could hear her shrill cry from meters away. The sound of her tender heart pounding in desperate search for relief draws pity and utmost sympathy. Like the many that walked past that morning, watching her wriggle in discomfort, the milk from her mother’s full breast could do only little to assuage the agony of eight-month-old Bolatito Adeoti whose cry grew louder as the rashes all over her body itched bitterly. The daughter of a commercial bus driver and a mother who trades in petty items,…
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Your Excellency, I’m convinced the time has come to write you this letter despite the fact that I have some measure of access to you. I decided to do this in order to tackle the mischief makers who believe I’m your very close friend and as such must be a rabid supporter of yours. I have been accused of all sorts of garbage including being paid heavy sums of money from your bottomless pocket. I’m aware that most of these guys can never believe that anyone could stand up for principle without pecuniary gains. But before I go…
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Report April 13, 2016 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Nigeria is a federal republic composed of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). During the year citizens elected President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Peoples Congress (APC) party to a four-year term in the first successful democratic transfer of power from a sitting president in the country’s history. He replaced President Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on May 29. International and domestic election observers considered the elections the most credible and transparent in the country’s history. Civilian authorities did not always maintain effective control over the security services.…
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Read full text: For years and perhaps out of deep frustration, Nigerians have raised up messiahs, hoping and praying that they would take away their sins and sufferings and usher in a new dawn. But, in almost all instances, our joys have turned into ashes. For over fifty years, we have celebrated every military or civilian regime only to lose patience and fall into depression. Under the civilian administrations, we have often summoned the military to come to our rescue. Some years back, while I was in Oxford and working on my book, a friend of mine, a retired…
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The Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday, said the decision by the Federal Government to inaugurate the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) contradicted the constitution of Nigeria. “The 1999 Constitution does not allow us to do what we are doing,” Fashola said during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) management led by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Mahey Rasheed, at the Lagos House, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja. The governor said that the idea was hampering the contributors, especially the state governments in improving the infrastructure in their states. According to him: “I have…
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The Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has ordered the arrest of his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Curtis Ugbo for allegedly posting a statement against his government statement on Facebook. It was gathered that Ugbo, after a ground-breaking ceremony of the Okpella Cement Factory, took to Facebook to say that the governor didn’t involve the state’s stakeholders, House of Assembly members or National Assembly members in the project. Ugbo is said to be a strong supporter of Deputy Governor Dr Pius Odubu’s governorship aspiration. It was also learnt that Ugbo was picked up by a team…
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Erstwhile Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Friday, debunked media reports which quoted her as blaming the country’s present economic situation on the zero political will of the immediate past government, to save for the rainy day. Okonjo-Iweala Okonjo-Iweala, who served under the immediate-past administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, said some media organisations distorted her comments, regarding how lack of political will negatively impacted national savings over the past few years. A statement by her Media Adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu, said: “Contrary to the slant given by these loud headlines, Dr Okonjo-Iweala did not indict the Jonathan administration in…
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Very few Nigerians saw the deals Nigeria entered into with China coming but it is true, Nigeria has signed a currency deal with China allowing the free flow of the Chinese Yuan amongst Nigerian banks. The deal is arguably one of the best or worst policies so far of the Buhari Administration – depending on who you are listening to or following. With the agreement, Nigerian banks would now be able to settle payments directly from Naira to Yuan, rather than from Naira to black market Dollar and then to Yuan. In fact, an extension of this is that…
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Twelve years after men of the Nigerian Army sacked Odi community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, destroying lives and property, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt Tuesday ordered the Federal Government to pay N37.6 billion as compensation to the victims of the invasion. Delivering judgment in the suit filed by Prof. Kobina Keme-Ebi Imananagha, Chief Ndu Gwagha, Chief Shadrack Agadah, Mr. Idoni Ingezi and Mr. Nwaka Echomgbe,on behalf of the Odi community presiding judge, Justice Lambo Akanbi ordered that the payment be made within the next three…
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Former governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, yesterday, lampooned Dino Melaye and other leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) insisting that they cashed in on the abduction of the 219 Chibok school girls. The sponsor of the motion, Senator Melaye while lamenting the plight of the girls and their parents, said the federal government cannot be said to have succeeded until the girls are rescued. He said: “We cannot succeed as a government until those girls are released. Getting back the over 200 Chibok school girls into the society is important and…
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My people, it is high time the youths of the south east wake up, stand up and straighten up the Igbo political class and the so called Igbo leaders. in my candid opinion, the unfortunate document from US government described by many as gory is nothing but “TRASH” I say this without any regrets nor doubts. I am so ashamed of the so called Igbo leaders, who even in the heat of a criminal, obnoxious and animalistic Fulani grazing reserve bill are still with their tiny tails tucked in between their legs and scampering away for these vermins to…
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“In the name of God the Great we shall kill, slaughter and drain the blood of every single unbeliever, every apostate and every traitor that supports them until we establish our new world Caliphate. We will wash our hands with the blood of the infidels”- Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, the leader of The Islamic State of Iraq and The Levant (ISIL). These are the words of a monstrous vampire that desires to swim in an ocean of innocent blood. These are the thoughts and satanic vision of the indisputable leader of the dreaded terrorist movement known as Daesh. These…
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Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Fulani herdsmen operating in parts of the state, under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, South East zone yesterday initiated moves aimed at ending the lingering violent clashes between the herdsmen and members of their host communities in the state. Specifically, the herdsmen and the state government after a closed-door meeting at the Government House, Enugu agreed to set up a joint standing committee so as to entrench a lasting peace and harmony between the host communities and the herdsmen and also to curb criminalities suspected to be…
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The Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Emene, Enugu State, has been approved for international flight operations to and from Atlanta, United States of America; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Johannesburg, South Africa; Mubia, India and Gwuanzuo, China. This revelation was made yesterday at the closing ceremony of Enugu State maiden investment summit by the Chairman, Air Peace, Allen Onyema, who equally announced that Air Peace had been approved as national carrier into the five countries by the Federal Government. Also, delegates at the investment summit stood still when Chairman, Peace Mass Transit, Dr. Samuel Onyishi, announced plans to build a mega…
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That China has offered Nigeria a $6 billion loan to fund infrastructure projects is no longer news, loans of this nature are expected to be taken by Nigeria as it has a 2016 budget deficit of N2.2 trillion ($11.1 billion) which it plans to fund through borrowing. What surprised me and warranted a second look is a quote about the loan credited to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Geoffrey Onyema. The Minister was said to have told reporters travelling with President Muhammadu Buhari that “It is a credit that is on the table as soon as we identify…
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1: Lagos State: 268,224,782,435 2: Rivers State: 82,101,298,408 3: Delta State: 40,805,656,911 4: Ogun State: 34,596,446,519 5: Edo State: 19,117,468,369 6: Enugu State: 18,081,014,527 7: Oyo State: 15,663,514,824 8: A/Ibom State: 14,791,175,253 9: Anambra State: 14,791,175,253 10: Kano State: 13,611,853,935 11: Cross River State: 13,567,122,507 12: Abia State: 13,349,444,263 13: Kaduna State: 11,536,729,988 14: Ondo State: 10,098,000,000 15: Bayelsa State: 8,713,516,526 16: Osun State: 8,072,966,446 17: Benue State: 7,631,789,841 18: Kwara State: 7,178,922,182 19: Plateau State: 6,937,349,802 20: Kogi State: 6,776,580,756 21: Sokoto State: 6,224,448,122 22: Niger State: 5,975,149,921 23: Katsina State: 5,791,008,741 24: Imo State: 5,472,581,634 25:…
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A founding member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje has warned that the worst will happen if the Senate President, Bukola Saraki is removed from office, as the All Progressives Congress, APC, may “have the PDP taking over the Senate presidency and deputy.” The former acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, made this assertion in an interview with some journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. He observed that no other Senate president has suffered “dry, blatant, political tyrannical and open persecution” as Bukola Saraki, since the return of democracy in 1999.…
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The federal government on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to cater for vulnerable people in Nigeria, mostly comprising of displaced persons affected by the insurgency in the north as well as poor and unemployed citizens. At a ’roundtable meeting on vulnerable people in insurgency and other conflicts in Nigeria’ organised by the office of the national security adviser which held in Abuja, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo promised that the current administration would intervene in the lives of those who cannot help themselves. Osinbajo reiterated the administration’s commitment to spend N500 billion on the social investnents programme, for which provision…
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British lawyer facilitated bribes through secret Swiss HSBC accounts in his name and names of family members; revelations may place Nigerian government under pressure “There is no day when I do not regret my weakness of character,” said a contrite British lawyer in a Houston courtroom. “I allowed myself to accept standards of behavior in a business culture which can never be justified. I accepted the system of corruption that existed in Nigeria. I turned a blind eye to what was happening, and I am guilty of the offenses charged.” The lawyer, Jeffrey Tesler, was speaking at the end…
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Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor PZ Cussons Plc says it is paying as much as 70 per cent more than the official rate for dollars as the Central Bank of Nigeria trading restrictions reduce availability of foreign currency in Africa’s biggest economy. “Whilst the official naira exchange rate continues to be stable, a lack of availability at that rate is resulting in the majority of dollars being purchased at a premium of 50 per cent to 70 per cent,” the Manchester-based maker of Imperial Leather soap said in a trading update on Thursday. “The resultant cost impact is being managed…
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A group of news organizations this week published a trove of leaked documents, known as the “Panama Papers,” that show how political leaders around the world have secretly used companies in the Caribbean and elsewhere to avoid paying taxes. While the disclosures have already led to the temporary resignation of the Icelandic prime minister, in the United States they have come at a time when the Obama administration is attempting to limit corporate offshoring to low-tax jurisdictions. U.S. corporations have been able to avoid paying taxes on more than $2 trillion in profits, says CFR Senior Fellow Edward Alden, author…
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The tenuous relationship between the Senate and the Presidency assumed a new dimension on Monday as Senate President Bukola Saraki refused to cooperate with efforts by the Presidency to doctor the 2016 budget which has been a subject of several scandals and controversies. Informed sources about the development who did not want to be named disclosed the details on Thursday, April 14, 2016. According to reports, President Buhari, shortly before embarking on his trip to China on Sunday directed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday to convene a meeting with Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House…
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Eric Mayoraz, left, is Switzerland’s ambassador to Nigeria, shown here with Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter (centre) (Keystone) Nigeria’s foreign minister has condemned a newspaper article that quotes an official threatening the Swiss ambassador for alleged homosexuality. The Swiss foreign minister said the affair will not impact future diplomatic assignments. Eric Mayoraz, Switzerland’s ambassador to Nigeria, was accused of being homosexual in a Nigerian newspaper last week. Homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria and severely punishable with prison terms or, in some regions, even death. The article, in the “Daily Trust” newspaper, included a comment from a Nigerian foreign ministry spokesperson quoted…
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RAED KHADER, a Jordanian driver, has an alarming habit of thumbing his mobile phone while at the wheel—albeit on a straight road cutting across the desert. But after scrolling back through almost two years of photos, he finds a picture that tickles him: of camels against a sandy backdrop. Today that same spot outside Ma’an, a poverty-stricken city in south Jordan, is crawling with workers in the final stages of installing five square kilometres (almost two square miles) of solar panels. He is enraptured by the photovoltaic (PV) modules that shimmer in the desert sunshine. “It’s amazing. I love…
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Accuses police, army of unbriddled bribery, brutality, extra judicial killing Says 69 percent of inmates await trial ‘Boko Haram committed pogrom’ The United States has released yet another gory and nauseating detailed report on Nigeria, accusing the government at all levels of injustice, brutality and inflicting pain on poor Nigerians. The report, which was released by the United States Department of States, accused the Nigerian police, DSS and the military of gross abuse of power which include citizens brutality, arbitrary detention,bribery among other scandals. It also revealed that 69 percent of persons in prison across the country are awaiting…
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The Russian economy is in a bad way, but Elvira Nabiullina has saved it from worse ELVIRA NABIULLINA’S first encounter with capitalism came during her university days, when she enrolled in a course called “Critique of Western Economic Theory”. It was an unusual start for a modern central banker. These days she embodies another contradiction. Russia’s economy has been held back for years by corruption and rent-seeking, and more recently by Western sanctions and the low price of oil and gas, the country’s main exports. Yet the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) is a model of competent, technocratic policymaking.…
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Section 20 of the CBN Act of 2007 clearly states that the Naira “shall be legal tender in Nigeria at their face value for the payment of any amount.” Yet this law has meant nothing to many Nigerian businesses which commonly reject the Naira in preference to the US Dollar. But these businesses are not alone. The Nigerian government is also guilty of the same charge. Perhaps this practice is not new by any stretch and far predates the current Buhari government, but an eye-witness account below exposes a specious dynamic. Ikenga, a fellow Nigerian citizen resident in…
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Oby Ezekwesili, coordinator of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement, has described the prevention of the group from accessing the presidential villa as a reminder of the military era. Addressing journalists shortly after the police stopped the protesters, Ezekwesili said the presidency had been notified of its procession to the villa gate, where the citizen movement was to deliver a message to the government. She expressed surprise that the group was stopped, saying BBOG would deliver its message on the road notwithstanding the barricade. The campaigners held a commemorative session on the busy secretariat road, with no government…
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What more evidence do you need to confirm that Chibok was arraigned by buhari and APC to make Jonathan’s administration ungovernable? Two years on, new Boko Haram video ‘shows missing Chibok girls’ Three mothers of schoolgirls abducted from Chibok in northeast Nigeria two years ago said they had identified their daughters in a video released by Islamist group Boko Haram, the first possible sighting of the girls since a video in May 2014. About 15 girls featured in the video released to local officials on Tuesday, saying they were from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok and pleading…
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Governor Ayo Fayose Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has written to the Chinese government, seeking the stoppage of the $2 billion loan being sought by the federal government of Nigeria. He wrote that “the government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government annual budget.” In the letter dated April 12, 2016, with reference number EK/GOV/28/10, addressed to President Xi Jinping of China and delivered by Chief…
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Determined to pass the Bill for an Act to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act in a record time, the Senate Thursday unanimously endorsed the crucial second reading of the bill. The sponsor of the controversial bill, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, (Delta North) appeared radiant in his red cap as he presented his lead debate. Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, presided in the absence of the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki. Debate of the proposed amendment was done in a jiffy with only one Senator, Yahaya Abbdullahi, (Kebbi North) managing to chip in some words of…
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Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has begun moves to consolidate his hold on power as he reaches out to key stakeholders to support his continuation in office after the party’s convention in May. Alimodu-Sheriff It was gathered that following the opposition to his emergence as national chairman of the party, Sheriff had been reaching out to outspoken opponents of his emergence with a view to wooing them. A source close to Sheriff said: “The chairman has been doing a lot since he emerged as a chairman. We hardly sleep in the night as the chairman…
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1. ABIA SEN. MAO OHUABUNWA NORTH PDP NEW 08033138916 2. ABIA SEN. THEODORE ORJI ABIA CENTRAL PDP NEW 07082800000 3. ABIA SEN.ENYINN’AYA ABARIBE ABIA SOUTH PDP RETURNED 08033129452 07055090282 4. A/IBOM SEN.BASSEY ALBERT AKPAN AKWA IBOM NORTH PDP NEW 08093083312 5. A/IBOM SEN.GODSWILL AKPABIO AKWA IBOM WEST PDP NEW 09029999909 6. A/1BOM SEN.NELSON EFFIONG SOUTH PDP NEW 08023572605 7. ANAMBRA UCHE EKWUNIFE CENTRAL PDP NEW 08037620002 8. ANAMBRA SEN.ANDY UBA SOUTH PDP RETURNED 08057733333 07056000600 08070705050 9. ANAMBRA SEN.STELLA ODUAH NORTH PDP NEW 10. BAYELSA BEN MURRAY-BRUCE EAST PDP NEW 08027750605 11. BAYELSA EMANUEL CENTRAL PDP RETURNED 08058493599 12.…
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It is very piquant and poignant to see both govenors of Abia and Imo states to give such swift response to speak about death concenring Fulani herdsmen, but both went mute over killings by security forces of unarmed Biafrans on numerous occassions and several mayhem by the Fulanis across Igboland. What has gone wrong with Igbo leaders and why do they still wonder why Igbo youths no longer regard them as their representative in every strata of leaderships in the country? None of these Igbo leaders has broken ranks to speak out about the murders, rapings, and arson and destruction…
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Dele Momodu Following his second Open Memo to the President titled: “A Second Desperate Memo to President Buhari” on matters arising in the country, Ovation International Publisher, Dele Momodu has taken to his social media account on Twitter to show support for the embattled Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki. In his tweets, Dele Momodu maintained that the trials of the Senate President, especially his case at the Code Of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, against the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, over false declaration of asset was a Politically motivated one. He added that the case was purely a witch hunt…
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The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi said that Igbos had no option in Nigeria than to work together for the good of the Igbos and Nigerians at large. Obi said this today at the 16th anniversary of the movement of Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA) from Idumuta to the International Trade Fair Complex, Lagos. Obi who was honoured as the Grand Patron of the group for his commitment and evident achievements, said that one of the ways for the Igbos to get their due in Nigeria was by their sending their bests…
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As the Kaduna state government has finally confessed the level of atrocities perpetuated in the bloody days of last December, there are more uneasy and quite painful questions that are prompted. According to the narration of events in Monday’s “panel” revelations, 191 bodies were picked up from the military and added to 156 bodies allegedly picked up from ABU Teaching hospital. There had been reports of over 300 bodies deposited at the teaching hospital’s four wards, though where the remaining bodies are is not yet revealed and is still queried. The bodies were allegedly loaded in six Mercedes tippers…
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*Calls for reduction of trade imbalance between Nigeria, China * Orders establishment of c’ttees on new China, Nigeria projects *China releases $15m for 50 agric farms in Nigeria Nigeria must not be seen as a consumer market alone, but an investment destination where goods can also be manufactured and consumed locally, President Muhammadu Buhari, has said. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare to shake hands during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 12, 2016. Muhammadu Buhari is on a visit to China from April 11 to…
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President Muhammadu Buhari and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele moved closer to actualizing their promise to strengthen the naira against the United States dollars by signing a landmark currency deal with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd on Tuesday in Beijing, China. The agreement will allow Nigerian traders and businesses, which imports mainly from China conclude their transactions in the Chinese currency, the Renminbi (Yuan), instead of the dollar. It was further gathered that the new agreement would see Nigeria-China trades, which accounts for over 70 percent of imports into Nigeria, concluded in…
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Some Igbo traders in Bayelsa State have protested the killings of prominent Igbo businessmen in Yenagoa, the state capital, by unidentified gunmen suspected to be armed robbers and hired assassins. The traders, joined by other Igbo indigenes in the state capital on Monday staged a peaceful protest and marched to the state police command headquarters to express their apprehension on the wave of killings. They were particularly angry over the gruesome murder of Martins Agodo by gunmen at his Yenagoa residence in the early hours of Monday. The gunmen were said to have broken into the house of…
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In what appears to be a rebuttal to the National Assembly’s submission, Monday, that the N60 billion Calabar-Lagos railway project was not captured in the 2016 budget, the Federal Government has insisted that the project was duly submitted and accepted by the lawmakers for approval. This came on a day the Senate said the protest of the executive would not make it revisit the budget passed two weeks ago, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to submit a supplementary budget. Members of the House of Representatives, however, kept sealed lips on the matter, yesterday, But in a statement by the Media…
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China has offered Nigeria a loan worth $6bn to fund infrastructure projects, the Nigerian foreign minister said on Tuesday. The announcement came as both countries signed a currency swap deal to boost trade. Nigeria has been in talks with China on an infrastructure loan for months. Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and its top oil producer. But its public finances have suffered as the price of crude oil dropped around the world. Although President Muhammadu Buhari wants to triple capital spending in 2016, he also needs to plug a projected deficit of $11.1bn. “It is a credit that is…
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