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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Prominent Nigerian Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, said Tuesday he has been threatened for not supporting Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The Kaduna-based cleric raised the alarm on Tuesday in a Facebook post titled, “PDP v APC: It’s Not about Religion.” He said his children have also been receiving calls from persons who use unknown telephone numbers to threaten them. “People like me who had all along been critical about the government can longer speak or express personal opinion if it is not in support of Gen. Buhari,” said Shiekh Gumi. Complete Message by…
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Minister of State for petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has announced the reduction of pump price of PMS to 85 – 86 Naira per litre. THE SUMMARY gathered that this is a fall out of new price modulation approach deviced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. More details later.
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The trial of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, over a 3.3 Billion Naira arms scam, will begin on February 2nd 2016. The High Court at Abuja sat today, Monday 21st December 2016 to hear bail arguments on the armsgate scandal involving Dasuki and other accused persons. Justice Peter Afem of the FCT High Court, granted Dasuki and the former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; and four others bail in the sum of N250m each. Dasuki, alongside Yuguda; Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser; Attahiru Dalhatu Bafawara, a…
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Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God, as Pope Francis and suspended Wheaton College professor Larycia Hawkins affirm? Or are Allah and the Christian deity two different things, as the Wheaton administration believes? The debate is a throwback to the days when evangelical Protestants and Catholics were deeply at odds on a range of theological questions. It only seems surprising because Roe v. Wade began a process of political rapprochement between American evangelicals and Catholics that makes them appear closer than they really are. But the debate is also a major issue for Jewish-Christian relations. If Christians and…
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Senior advocate of Nigeria Mr Femi Falana today on Channel’s Tv described the Appeal Court Judgement of Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election as a fraud, against the integrity of the Judiciary. The Legal luminary and human rights activist said that the judgement contradicted both the Supreme Court Precedents and the Constitution, he warned the All Progressive Congress to stop the wanton destruction of the Country’s Judiciary over what he termed as greedy political agitation, which is capable of dividing the country. Mr Falana wondered how the same Appeal Court which delivered Judgement on the Lagos Governorship Election , on…
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Before my grandmother died in 2010, she gave each of her 17 grandchildren a crisp one-pound note. It was an unceremonious gift, without lectures or reminiscing. She opened my hands and firmly pressed the bill into my palm. “You must keep this,” she said, before following up in Igbo: “Inugo?” Do you hear me? “Yes, Grandma,” I responded. “Thank you.” Later, in another room, I looked at the note more closely. The bill was beautiful, with its antiquated font and soft, mint-green coloring with brown highlights.One side had a palm tree standing tall in the center, bordered by intricate…
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Chief Victor Umeh of the APGA has been irked by the continued detention of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu by the Department of State Services (DSS). The immediate-past National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and senatorial candidate of APGA in the forthcoming re-run election in the Anambra Central Senatorial zone, has blamed all the National Assembly members from the South-East geo-political zone for keeping silent. “Our National Assembly members should have advised the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu first and then intervene in the dispute to ensure that frayed nerves are calmed on the issue, instead of…
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GDP growth. 3.5% GDP per head. $2,750 (PPP; $6,120) Inflation. 9.4% Budget balance(% GDP). -1.4 Population. 187.0m Forecast: The new president, Muhammadu Buhari will attempt to use his political capital to try to address entrenched problems of corruption, insecurity, and low living standards, but the patience of an electorate with high expectations will be short. Clashing vested interests within the ruling party will limit the efforts to improve management of the oil sector. Economic growth will be grossly uninspiring.
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has alerted security agencies that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was illegally retrieving permanent voters cards (PVCs) from members of the public in preparation for re-run elections in the state. The state Chairman of PDP, Felix Obuah, through a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Jerry Needam, alleged that the APC had been dispossessing members of the public their PVCs under the guise of conducting the party’s membership registration in the state. It therefore called on the police and other security agencies in the state to take urgent steps to arrest…
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Reno Omokri, former Special Assistant on New Media to President Goodluck Jonathan writes to LAI MOHAMMED… – Before you confuse Nigerians further!!-. Dear Honourable Minister Lai Mohammed, Greetings and congratulations on your recent and well deserved appointment as Nigeria’s Minister of Information. You may recall that we met on the set of ‘Politics Today’ in May of 2011 soon after I was interviewed by Deji Bademosi and just before you were interviewed. The purpose of my letter to you today is in response to your statement made on Monday the 21st of December, 2015 in which you accused former…
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With about $21 billion sent home by Nigerians in diaspora in 2015, the country is the sixth largest receiver of remittances in the world, the Migration of Remittance Factbook 2016 has shown. The country is also by far the largest receiver of remittances in sub-Saharan Africa, receiving a total of $34.8 billion this year. The report, which relied on data gathered from January to December 1, 2015, was compiled by the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development with support from the World Bank, German, Swedish and Swiss governments. An analysis of the report also shows that the United…
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Analysts at CSL Stockbrokers Limited, have advised the federal government to end the fuel subsidy, which currently makes up a significant proportion of Nigeria’s import bill. They reasoned that removal of the subbing will help reduce demand for dollars and reduce pressure in the foreign exchange market. Besides’ they argued that ending the fuel subsidy regime would save the government about N1.2 trillion in expenditure in 2016, the analysts also revealed. The naira has been under pressure in the past few weeks as low crude oil prices continue to hit Nigeria’s external reserves. Presently, the nation’s currency goes…
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The calculation is based on a production assumption of 2.2 million barrels per day (b/d) and a benchmark price of $38/barrel. This compares to this year’s projected oil earnings of N3.9 trillion ($19 billion) which was predicated on output of 2.28 million b/d and a price assumption of $53/b which was not realised, as global oil prices plummeted to a multi-year low while Nigeria’s production suffered from theft and the lack of new investment. Presenting the 2016 budget proposal of N6.08 trillion ($30.1 billion) to the National Assembly, President Muhammadu Buhari, said the sharp decline in oil earnings meant the…
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A federal High Court judge has excused himself from hearing treason charges brought by the government against Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Justice Ahmed Mohammed announced the decision on Wednesday in Abuja after Mr. Kanu objected to the case, saying it was needless, as the federal government has repeatedly disobeyed previous court rulings. The government is accusing Mr. Kanu of plotting to split Nigeria, by creating a Biafra Republic with south east, south south states, and parts of Kogi and Benue states, as component units. Mr. Kanu, who was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Wednesday,…
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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said the main focus of his ministry is to reposition mining activities in the country and ensure that the sector contributes immense growth to the economy within a decade. Fayemi, who stated these yesterday during his inaugural press briefing on the activities of the ministry, said opportunities abound in the solid minerals sector to actualise President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision of using the sector to diversify the economy and create jobs. He also declared that the federal government was determined to make the Ajaokuta Steel complex work in spite of the…
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In a bid to eradicate queues at fuel stations across the country, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has ordered the deployment of personnel of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in filling stations across the country for effective monitoring of the distribution system. Speaking at an emergency meeting with the senior staff of the corporation at the NNPC headquarters in Abuja yesterday, Kachikwu said though there were a number of challenges in the supply and distribution system that hamper efficient distribution of products across the country, it was time for NNPC to rise above…
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Export of Nigeria’s gas has suffered setback as Italian energy giant, ENI has declared force majeure on loadings from Nigeria’s LNG export plant due to pipeline sabotage, a spokesman said monday. Reuters quoted the company’s spokesman as saying that the declaration was because of an “act of sabotage” on the Ogoda-Brass transport line. Ogoda-Brass and Tebidaba-Brass are the two main onshore pipelines in Bayelsa State operated by ENI’s subsidiary, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), which feed the offshore Brass oil export terminal Previous sabotage of Ogoda-Brass and Tebidaba-Brass, had led to shut down of production at its Akri and Oshi…
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The Presidency and the embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA) to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), have begun negotiations over a possible out-of-court settlement in the $2 billion arms procurement scandal. It was learnt that the negotiation is at the instance of high level personalities, including retired Generals, with the assurance to get the beneficiaries return the security fund to government’s coffers. A source in the know said the peace initiative was as a result of damning evidence that indicted prominent Nigerians and officials of the Muhammad Buhari administration who were beneficiaries of the security fund. “Discussions…
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FABU” is a Yoruba slang denoting an exaggerated lie. It points to a tall tale; a gross distortion of the truth. “Fabu” is a shortened form of the English word “fabulate,” which refers to the composition of fables or stories featuring a strong element of fantasy and lies. Without a doubt, within the Nigerian political stratosphere, APC is a party that lives in “fabuland.” Art of fabulation: The chief exponent of APC fabulation is Lai Mohammed. He was formerly the party’s National Publicity Secretary, a post in which he distinguished himself. This has now earned him promotion to the post…
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Nigerians have taken to twitter to react to the statement made by Lai Mohammed yesterday where he blamed former President Jonathan’s administration for the current 58 days old fuel scarcity. “One of the reasons for the fuel scarcity was the inability of the last government to make adequate provision for fuel subsidy. We do face some other logistic problems but majorly, we are paying for the sins of the last administration. What I will be telling Nigerians is that what we met on ground is such that we are paying for the sins of the last administration. I am being…
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What happens to society’s as the Muslim population grows in percentage of the total? In the book, Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat, written by Dr. Peter Hammond, he explores the topic of the impact that an increasing Muslim population has on that society. The lists below illustrate the Muslim population status of countries around the world, and exactly what changes to the societies can be expected according to Hammond. The book as well as the author are controversial, but the topic is definitely something that needs to be explored and understood. From the book: As…
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Minister of culture described Islam as a ‘sect’ which is banned as counter to Angolan customs and culture Nation’s president said: ‘This is the final end of Islamic influence in our country’ Angola has reportedly declared Islam illegal and ordered for all of the country’s mosques to be closed down. Minister of culture Rosa Cruz e Silva said that mosques in the largely Christian country would be closed until further notice. She described Islam as a ‘sect’ that would be banned as counter to Angolan customs and culture. Angola (capital, Luanda, pictured) has reportedly declared Islam illegal and ordered for…
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THE PLAYBOY PLAINTIFF From left, the Sultan of Brunei (No. 1) and his brother Prince Jefri after a polo match in England in 1994; a fleet of Rolls-Royce sedans parked outside the Dorchester, the London hotel owned by the sultan; Prince Jefri at the Peninsula hotel in New York during the trial, last year; leaving the State Supreme Court in Manhattan with some of his lawyers. By Muhammad Basil (sedans), Barry Batchelor/PA Archive/Press Association Images (Sultan). When two British lawyers, Faith Zaman and Thomas Derbyshire, signed on in 2004 to manage the affairs of Prince Jefri Bolkiah, notorious playboy brother…
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Brunei’s (Muda) Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah addresses the 69th United Nations General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Brunei has officially declared public celebrations of Christmas illegal in the country. The nation of Brunei in Southeast Asia has officially banned all future public celebrations of Christmas, in accordance with its conservative Islamic law Shariah. The country’s Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Thursday that the ban was instituted for fear of Muslims being led “astray” by Christmas festivities. Last month, when local children and adults were seen wearing Santa outfits, officials reacted by asking businesses to take down…
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President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked Bassey Dan Abia (pictured, middle), managing director and chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and appointed Ibim Seminitari as acting head of the commission. Ibim Seminitari served as commissioner of information and a close lackey in the administration of Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state. Abia, an indigene of Akwa Ibom state, was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013. There was strong opposition to the choice of Abia, who was believed to have enjoyed the backing of Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom state and the then chairman of…
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The ancient divide has become the biggest fault line in the battle for dominance in the Middle East The conflict raging between Sunnis and Shiites across the Muslim world is easy to view as eternal hatred that is destined to keep claiming lives for the foreseeable future. Yet despite its ancient roots, the divide hasn’t been this deep or bloody for centuries. And it is only in recent years that it has emerged as the biggest fault line in the battle for dominance in the Middle East and beyond. People age 40 and over in countries such as…
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The ancient Kingdom of Benin was described in glowing terms by early European visitors. When the British came to Benin kingdom, they were shocked and awed to find a very well planned capital city. Already well described both in writing and in sketches by earlier portuguese and other early European travellers, historians and visitors alike; and acclaimed by all as a world class city. Thus the use of the term BENIN CITY by the Europeans to describe Benin Kingdom’s geo-political headquaters as far back as the 15th century. In preparing this piece, I have chosen to reproduce materials, direct…
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Ibrahim El-Zakzaky started propagating Shiite Islam in 1979, during the Iranian revolution which led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the enthronement of an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran. Also known as Islamic Movement in Nigeria, the sect doubles as both a religious and political organisation believed to be backed by the Iran government. The movement is noted for introducing Shiite ideology to Nigeria in the 1980s. The headquarters of the movement is in Zaria, Kaduna State, where most of its spiritual activities are conducted at its Husainiyya Baqiyatullah Centre. According to historians, the division between…
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A recent post by an online community has stirred panic, as the message suggests that the Iranian military might be planning an assault on Nigeria, in revenge for the Shiites who were killed in Zaria, Kaduna state. An unverified post by Iran Military suggests that Nigeria might soon be a target. According the post by a Facebook community called the “Iran Military”, the Iranian forces are apparently preparing to “pay a visit” to Nigeria, to avenge the souls of Shiite faithfuls killed in clashes between the Nigerian army and Shia Muslims last week. The threatening post dated December…
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Another malicious insinuation of Emir Sanusi is equating Shia Islam with murderous terrorist cults like Maitatsine and Boko Haram that are offshoots of Sunni Islam. These terrorist groups, from day one were hell bent in killing innocent civilians; they are murderous entities that only know how to kill people and they are not offshoots of Shia Islam. There is no where in the world where Shia Muslims are terrorists, terrorism has no place in Shia Islam because the Shia religious references will never approve it. Sheikh Zakzaky started his call more than 37 years ago, and no single innocent person…
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Every team serious about ‘change’ starts with a clear identification of the baseline from which it measures deviations/progress. Nigeria has had 16 uninterrupted years of democracy with the PDP controlling the federal government as well as majority of the states. APC is now in charge at both the centre and majority of the states. A minimum standard for measuring ‘change’ is the extent to which APC government beats the record of the PDP in measurable terms. As the saying goes, if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve/change it! Government must strengthen the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)…
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A major crack appeared to have hit the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of General Mohamadu Buhari as Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), who is heading the President’s advisory committee on anti-corruption has said the federal government was not sincere with fight against corruption. He also alluded that top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are on the payroll of Tinubu, saying; “All the INEC officials in Lagos are on the payroll of someone who will ask you what it takes to win. Someone who is ready to give you more than you ask for.” Prof.-Itse-SagaySagay, an ally…
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Deposit Money Banks have commenced a process to stop all customers from using their payment cards, popularly known as Automated Teller Machine cards, for dollar-denominated transactions when they travel abroad with effect from January 1, 2016. Investigation also revealed the banks would not allow their customers to use naira-denominated ATM cards locally for transactions denominated in forex. This means bank customers will not be able to use their cards to buy products from foreign e-commerce sites like e-bay and amazon.com in which payments are made in forex. The development follows the lingering scarcity of foreign exchange, especially the dollar,…
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One week after the deadly carnage in Zaria, Kaduna State, involving the Nigerian Army and members of the Shi’ite Community, President Muhammadu Buhari remains silent. For a President whose preferred method of public communication has been widely described as “body language”, the message telegraphed by his silence is less than eloquent, unsettling and disquieting. The exact sequence of events leading to the encounter between the Shi’ites and the Army will, hopefully, be unraveled by the judicial commission of inquiry to be established by the government of Kaduna State. Some things are already quite clear however. Many people were killed…
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That the violent confrontation in Zaria last weekend between members of the Sheikh Ibraheem Yaquob El Zakzaky Islamic Movement of Nigeria sect and the military ended with several fatalities is no longer news. But with the propaganda machine of the two parties to the crisis into overdrive, it is difficult to ascertain what is true or false, especially regarding the number of casualties. It is therefore my hope that the authorities at the federal level as well as in Kaduna State will move in quickly not only to investigate what happened and why but also to ensure that there…
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■ Say those denying are lying A new twist to the ongoing investigation of the $2.1bn arms contract scandal may soon unfold as associates of the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki have threatened to make public a proof that those denying to have benefitted from the money actually collected the amounts ticked against their names. They said it was shocking that some politicians would deny ever having anything to do with the ex- NSA and his office when there is a record to show that they received the money. Addressing some newsmen yesterday, three of Dasuki’s…
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*Govt under pressure from labour unions, backtracks on subsidy removal plans *Says over N4trn expended as subsidy in six years The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, has said removal of the subsidy will free over N700 billion annually which can be channeled to provision of infrastructure like roads, education, health service, power, security, creation of jobs and basic benefits for the poor in the society. The Acting Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonanya Orji, stated this while addressing a Policy Roundtable on Subsidy Removal Debate organized by the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, in Abuja. He noted that, “From…
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The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has warned the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation against the plan to sack about 1,100 employees of the corporation. The oil workers’ union, in a statement on Friday, said it would resist the impending job losses, which according to it, is contrary to the job creation mantra of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. NUPENG expressed surprise that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, had made a statement regarding the proposed action without any consultation with it and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff…
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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced that it will award new crude for oil products swap agreements to Total , Varo Energy, Cepsa and ENI, the head of its crude marketing unit said on Friday. Despite exporting some 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, Nigeria is almost wholly reliant on imported petrol, kerosene and other petroleum products. The deals, which are expected to begin in February, differ from the former “offshore processing” agreements as they are directly with refineries who can use the crude to produce the oil products the country needs. NNPC cancelled…
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The choice for Nigeria is not between removal of fuel subsidy and retention of the subsidy, but between fuel subsidy removal and accelerated economic liquidation, writes Vincent Obia A fuel subsidy debate has broken out in Nigeria for the umpteenth time. What is at issue is whether or not to end a subsidy regime that has been a drag on the country’s economic prospects. The federal government, more than ever before, seems minded to remove the subsidy. And it does seem there are few critical voices at President Muhammadu Buhari’s elbow warning him not to touch it. But the…
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There are indications that the Nigerian anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, may offer a plea bargain to suspects in the ongoing $2.1 Billion Arms Deals scam trial. It was learnt on Friday that if the EFCC succeeded in establishing that the suspects were guilty, it would not oppose a plea bargaining from them. According to the Black’s Law Dictionary, 9th Edition (2009), plea bargaining, is “ a negotiated agreement between a prosecutor and a criminal defendant whereby the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser offence or to one of multiple charges in exchange for some concession…
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A former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, has urged the Federal Government to immediately remove fuel subsidy. Mr. Tinubu, a senior member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, said Nigeria should rather commit available resources to social programmes and infrastructure that would impact on the people. Mr. Tinubu made the suggestion on Friday while speaking in Kaduna at the 10th memorial anniversary of Bala Usman, a left-wing politician, scholar and historian. In 2012, Mr. Tinubu was one of the well-known critics of then Jonathan administration’s attempt to remove fuel subsidy. The former governor said subsidy on…
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The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as Shiites, on Saturday blasted the Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, for allegedly making indicting pronouncements against the sect following recent conflicts between the sect members and the Nigerian army in Zaria. They declared that they have no confidence in the judicial panel of inquiry to be set up by the state government to investigate the incident which led to the killing of many people and the arrest of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. El-Rufai had in a radio and television broadcast to the people of the state on Thursday to…
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The Buhari administration is indulging in wickedness and the abuse of power, violating the civil liberties and human rights of its own citizens, murdering its own people, dividing the country, witchunting and intimidating its perceived enemies, making a mockery of justice and the fight against corruption, rejecting peace and all that is wholesome and true and, like the biblical Pharoah, they are provoking the wrath of the Lord and playing with fire. On the night of December 12, 2015 in the city of Zaria, Kaduna state, Sheikh El Zakzaky, the leader of the 10 million-strong Shia muslim community in…
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Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministries based in Enugu on Friday declared that Nigeria will definitely succeed. Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he assured that Nigeria will overcome the challenges presently facing it. He said: “We have come to commit the nation into the hands of God and pray for peace and God should establish His blessings in our country. “We wish to pray for the revamping of the economy. We are committing Aso Rock into the hands of God. We are also here to commit…
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No fewer than three million Nigerians are living illegally in the United Kingdom (UK), the Senate said yesterday through its Committee on Foreign Affairs. Committee Chairman Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu made the statement after a meeting with officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service at the upper chamber of the National Assembly. She said an Assistant Deputy Comptroller–General, Investigations, Intelligence and Enforcement of the NIS, Mr. T. A Hundeyin, also confirmed that the 48 Nigerians recently deported from the UK committed various types of crimes and had served prison terms. Her words: “The deputy comptroller just confirmed to us that it…
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MAKING COMMON SENSE By BenMurrayBruce. One of the best policies I have ever come across in Nigeria’s electioneering history is the promised policy of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to pay the sum of N5,000 monthly as Job Seekers Allowance for unemployed Nigerian youths. It is a policy with the proverbial human face and whoever suggested it to the APC probably won the election for them and must be commended. The fact that Nigeria has no social security system is one of the reasons why there is so much desperation in our nation with the consequence that crime and…
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The courts are not answerable to the president. However, the president is answerable to the courts. There can be no questions about President Buhari’s military credentials. The president is a retired major-general of the Nigerian army, celebrated for his many successes in the field of battle. One of the first moves he made on his inauguration was to direct that the command-and-control centre for battling Boko Haram be moved nearer to the epicentre of the insurgency in Maiduguri. Although the insurgency has increased rather than abated since then, no right-thinking person can fault that judicious move. However, in civil matters,…
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President Barack Obama has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately probe the clash between the Nigerian Army and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in Zaria on Saturday. In a statement through its Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, the United States government said it was deeply concerned about the clash, which resulted in the loss of several civilian lives. The statement reads: “The United States is deeply concerned by reports of violent clashes between members of the Nigerian Army and the Shiite group Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Zaria, Kaduna State over the past several days. “While many details of…
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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the splitting of NNPC into the following: The upstream company, the downstream company, midstream company which is the gas and power company and then of course, the refining group holding company. All of them would operate autonomously with Managing Directors and remit profits and taxes to the coffers of the government.
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Reports have emerged as to how the controversial judgement of the Court of Appeal on the National Assembly Elections Petitions of Rivers State which nullified all elected National Representatives of the PDP in Rivers State was procured by the Minister of Transport and former Governor of the State, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Based on available evidence, between the 9th and 10th of December, 2015, prior to the delivery of the controversial judgment, the Abuja home of the former Governor repeatedly hosted the Chairman of the Court of Appeal Panel on Rivers State National Assembly Election, Hon. Justice A. B.…
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The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of pretending to be tackling corruption while in a essence it is merely engaging in a well-designed media trial. In a statement issued by Metuh’s Special Assistant, Richard Ihediwa, the PDP spokesman chided the anti- graft agency for flouting the principles of rule of law and due process. “Our attention has been drawn to a publication in a national daily wherein the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly stated that the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief…
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Ahead of a widely-anticipated U.S. interest rate increase next week and worries over economic growth, the naira yesterday sank to N260 to a dollar at the black markets, the worst-ever fall in history. The downward trend also affected most stock markets worldwide as they tumbled on Friday, Reuters reported that all three major U.S. indexes sank over 1.5 percent, while crude prices plunged amid global oversupply. The International Energy Agency said it sees the oil glut worsening in 2016 as demand slows and OPEC shows no signs of slowing production. Brent crude was set for its biggest weekly percentage…
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One of the assurances given by President Muhammadu Buhari during the electioneering campaign was that the value of the naira was going to be firmed up as soon as he gets on board. But that promise is far from being achieved as the naira has been on a free fall in recent months, especially in the last few days. Specifically, at the weekend, the naira fell to its lowest, from N245 to N260 to the dollar, the worst since its introduction in 42 years. In December 1980, exactly 35 years ago, the naira went for one dollar and…
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Recently, one of the leading lights of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, took to his Facebook page, alleging that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan spent N64 billion to celebrate independence anniversaries between 2011 and 2014. According to el-Rufai, Jonathan’s administration spent N13 billion in 2011, N15 billion in 2012, N14 billion in 2013 and N22 billion in 2014. His post followed the announcement that President Muhammadu Buhari earmarked only N70 million for the 2015 Independence Day anniversary. No doubt the motive was to draw attention to Buhari’s much hyped frugality…
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) meets Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari in Tehran, Iran, November 23, 2015. Africa watchers have been focused of late on Burundi. On December 12, however, their attention was drawn back to Nigeria. The Nigerian army killed a number of Shia Muslims in Zaria, Kaduna state. This has resulted in representations from Tehran, Iran, which regards itself as the protector of the Shia everywhere, including Nigeria. As of now, reports from Shia sources are more credible than the lame denials from the military. Amnesty International is demanding an urgent investigation. Yet again, the Nigerian…
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Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday visited Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) government to fulfill all campaign promises made to the people during the campaigns. The elder statesman however, explained that his visit to Benue State was propelled by the development initiatives of the Ortom administration geared towards ensuring industrialisation of the state. Obasanjo stated this at a dinner organised for him by Governor Ortom at the new Banquet Hall of the Benue Peoples’ House, Makurdi. He further appealed to the people of the state to support the governor to deliver…
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President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected a N750,000 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) package for each player of the Golden Eaglets squad, that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. According to reports, the presidency claimed the budget was “too much”. This week, Buhari’s government warned that next year will be rough for the country, as the economy is expected to get worse. In trying to contain that, government spendings will be cut down drastically. “The proposal has been reviewed after the first rejection. We wait for the green light from the presidency on the date for the reception…
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The high rate of illiteracy partly accounts for the low level of development. The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education (NMEC), said recently that 35 per cent of the nation’s adult population was illiterate, and it has remained high because efforts being made to address the situation has never yielded the expected result. Considering the funds and efforts that the country has devoted to various mass literacy programmes, including the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Scheme that was launched with fanfare about 33 years ago, in 1976, it is indeed worrying that a high number of the nation’s…
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With 65 million Nigerians illiterate, it is time for government, schools and individuals to take action. UNESCO’s National Programme Advisor on Education, Dr Mohammed Alkali recently revealed the results of a UNESCO survey that showed that despite improvements to the country’s education system, 65 million Nigerians remain illiterate. This statistic is alarming for a number of reasons. Illiteracy has adverse impacts at both an individual and societal level. People who are illiterate are far more likely to live in poverty, facing a lifetime marred by poor health and social vulnerability. Economically, the impacts of illiteracy are also sizeable; workplace productivity,…
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Properties running into billions of Naira have cumulatively been consumed by fire, following the reported inability of Imo State Fire Service to promptly deal with such emergencies. Only recently, all the occupants of a building along Royce Road, Owerri, lost their hard-earned properties, including certificates, historical artifacts, jewelries and other precious personal effects, to a raging fire. Only last Tuesday, some inhabitants of Owerri watched with shock, as the Fire Service personnel battled a mysterious fire that engulfed the grassy sections of the premises, which is close to the Owerri Urban Police Division. Not long after this incident, another family…
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Popular Nigerian lawyer, Festus Keyamo has expressed his legal opinion on the admission by the presidency that President Muhammadu Buhari received two bullet proof jeeps from embattled Sambo Dasuki. Shortly after reports that Buhari got two cars and $300,000 cash from Dasuki, went viral. his spokesman, Femi Adesina admitted his boss received only cars but no cash. Some had argued that since Buhari’s official car was not due for replacement after the Boko Haram attack, it was illegal for Dasuki to purchase new ones for him. Replacement for his official vehicle is due in 2016, since he got one in…
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As investigation into the looting of funds meant for the acquisition of arms for the Nigerian armed forces continues, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), not to hesitate inviting the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and present Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to explain how the looted funds escaped his scrutiny; adding that the Commission should not be in a dilemma over what to do with the Emir if eventually found guilty since nobody is above the law. Obasanjo, who said that Sanusi accused the Nigerian National…
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Nigerians are currently worried over the continued nose-diving of the naira. A bureau de change agent, Ibrahim Adamu, said the dollar now exchanged for the naira at N290. He said marketers now buy dollar at N273 and sell at N290. According to him, there is scarcity of the dollar at the parallel market, especially blackmarket. He called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to come up with some measures to curb the ugly financial trend.
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The NSCIA has moved to pacify all sides involved in the fracas between the Islamic Movement of Nigeria and the Nigerian Army. This is contained in a press release. Excerpt.
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Recall that days ago, the leader of Iran Shiite group condemned the Nigerian military attack on the Shiite Muslims in Zaria, during their religious procession. Al Sadr called on all shiite Muslims all over the world to protest tomorrow, Friday 18/12/2015 against the attack and to stand in solidarity with their group in Nigeria.
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It is possible to oppress a people, … but the truth can never be suppressed. A flourishing generation can never, at any cost, be dissuaded from the path it has discovered and embraced. ~Ayatollah Khamenei, 25/10/2000 There was an effort by the enemies of Islam to suppress this Awakening – and they managed to suppress it in some areas – but Islamic Awakening is not suppressible. The flag of Islam has been raised and hoisted and the feeling of Islamic identity has been strengthened in Muslims all over the world and it will continue to be strengthened. ~Ayatollah Khamenei,…
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Amaechi yesterday expressed ignorance of the multi-billion naira pipeline protection and waterways security contract awarded to ex-Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo. Tompolo was one of the Niger Delta militants who accepted the Nigerian government’s amnesty in 2010. Amaechi who made the denial while appearing before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport chaired by Senator Ahmed Rufai Sani, said he only heard about the contract through the newspapers, adding that he was yet to be properly briefed by officials of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on the matter since his appointment as transport minister. Amaechi…
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In a bizarre twist, the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, On Tuesday announced that he never knew the railways as a means of transport efficiently existed in Nigeria. The minister who stated this when he and other officials of the ministry toured the facilities of the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) in Lagos, added that the government would concentrate on building standard gauge railway lines that would befit Nigeria status as a developing economy as well as compliment it. Amaechi said: “In fact, I think we have a problem; most people don’t believe that the railway transport is functioning in…
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President Barack Obama has tapped Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo, who served in top roles at the Treasury Department, to succeed Caroline Atkinson as his deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs. Ms. Atkinson has served in her current post since June 2013, a position that includes coordinating U.S. participation in the annual summits of the Group of 20 and Group of Seven countries. Ms. Atkinson also played key roles in the recently concluded climate negotiations in Paris and in pushing the White House’s trade agenda, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Mr. Adeyemo, 34, joined the White House’s National…
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Muslims students carry placards and shout slogans against the Nigerian government against the killings of hundreds of Shiite Muslims and detaining their leader Ibraheem Zakzaky in Nigeria, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) LAGOS, Nigeria – Activists on Tuesday accused Nigeria’s military of killing hundreds upon hundreds, perhaps as many as 1,000, Shiite Muslims in just three days in what the country’s top human rights protector is calling “a massacre,”. The Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria said soldiers on Monday carried away about 200 bodies from around the home of leader Ibraheem Zakzaky, and demanded…
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Nigerian troops on Monday evacuated the bodies of Shiite Muslims killed in two days of clashes with the army in northern Zaria, home base of the pro-Iranian group, its spokesman and residents said. The army carried out crackdowns on Saturday and early Sunday against the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and have arrested its leader Ibrahim Zakzaky. “We have reports that bodies of our members killed outside the house of our leader are being evacuated in trucks by soldiers,” IMN spokesman Ibrahim Musa told AFP. Musa also said Zakzaky had been arrested. “Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky was arrested this morning…
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Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado — The Colorado Democrat endorsed Clinton when he agreed to be a top member of her Colorado leadership team. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin — Signed a letter with all other female senators backing a Clinton run. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut — Told CNN at a 2014 University of Connecticut event that he “would support her when and if she” runs. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey — Booker gushed about Clinton’s qualifications in an NBC News interview. “There are few candidates in history who are as qualified or ready for the job of…
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Senior Iraqi Shiite cleric and the Leader of the Sadrist Movement, Moqtada al-Sadr on Monday criticized strongly the Nigerian security authorities attack on the house of a Nigerian Shiite cleric, Ibrahim al-Zakzaky as called for his followers to go out in protest demonstrations on the incident next Friday. Sadr said in a statement posted on his official website, that the Buhari government has become like ISIS, killing shiites unprovoked. “What happened today from terrorism and state terrorism in Nigeria is serious and dangerous,” adding that “the government turned to ISIS terrorism at is the first approach and the way…
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President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday revealed how many Nigerians and some media outfits tried to scuttle his march to Aso Rock. He described the postponement barely 10 days to the poll as one of the many plots by former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his agents against him. The election which was originally scheduled for February 14, was shifted to March 28 ostensibly to give the Army enough time to tackle the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east and for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the opportunity to distribute the Permanent Voters Card (PVC). But Garba Shehu said the…
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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS SECTION 1. Remuneration of former Presidents and Heads of State, etc. Allowances to members of families of deceased former Presidents, Heads of State, etc. Revision of remuneration. Annual budget to provide for the remuneration. Interpretation. Short title. SCHEDULE PART I Perquisites of office offormer Heads of State PART II Perquisites of office offormer Vice-Presidents An Act to provide, among other things, for the remuneration and perquisites of of-fice of former Heads of State and former Vice-Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. [1999 No. 32.] [1st January, 1999J [Commencement.] Remuneration of former Presidents and Heads of…
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The point is that the Nigerian state must seek the moral consent of the people openly through a complete restructure of the polity to devolve political and economic governance to the people themselves at state, local, city and village levels. The temporary lull in the protest by IPOB for Biafra’s secession from Nigeria has given space for national reflection. The onus now rests on the APC-controlled Nigerian government to lead and come up with a plan. But does the APC have a clue? A deeper look at the legal, political and coercive powers of state show that where you…
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For interpreters of Nigerian affairs, scholars, members of the middle class-both progressive and conservative-who might have missed the point on Boko Haram, IPOB Biafra secession, the question is: is a Nigerian military which engages in local traffic duties in a local city, Zaria not sufficient illustration of the fact that what we have is a unitary system and that the permanent solution which will not tie the fate of the country to an individual is a complete restructuring of the country along truly federalist lines? On November 27, 2015, members of the Nigerian Islamic Movement, the Shiites were on…
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To date, there is little evidence that the government’s anti-corruption intentions go beyond the witch-hunting of the Jonathan administration. I walked into the east wing of The Palms shopping mall in Lekki, Lagos (popularly referred to as Shoprite) only to be buttoned-holed by a man trying to sell me a Honda Civic parked inside the hall. His sales pitch was that it was the first totally assembled Honda in Nigeria; built completely to Nigerian specifications. For example, unlike the classic Honda, the Nigeria model has a high clearance, being mindful of the potholes in Nigerian roads. I had no…
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The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under the leadership of retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki procured bullet proof vehicles for all former heads of state and presidents of Nigeria. Daily Trust reports that a source who does not want to be named said, the embattled NSA who is facing corruption charges for extra budgetary expenditure under the Goodluck Jonathan administration in the alleged arms purchase deal, also purchased bullet proof cars for all former presidents and heads of states.
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The 28 feet statue, Jesus the Greatest, will be unveiled at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Abajah, Nwangele local government area of Imo state, on January 1, 2016. The idea of the statue was conceived, funded, offered and donated to the church by Mr Obinna Onuoha, an illustrious Abajah son and MD/CEO of Premier Petroleum Limited. According to a statement signed by Onuoha’s assistant, the statue weighs a staggering 40 tons and is made of concrete and marble. The Igwugwucheremba of Abajah, is a devout Catholic, whose immidiete elder brother is a Roman Catholic reverend father and who obviously has…
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Nigerians who knew Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega have taken to the social media to react to news of his death alongside dozens who were feared dead after Nigerian troops launched an attack on members of the Shi’te Islamic sect in Zaria, Kaduna State. The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a Shi’te Islamic group in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-zakzaky was arrested on Sunday by Nigerian troops, following a siege on his Zaria residence. The Nigerian Army and members of the sect have accused each other of instigating attacks that led to the death of members of the movement on Saturday.…
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As at press time, no slush funds had been traced to Dasuki’s personal accounts, it was learnt. Dasuki, who protested that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had subjected him to “media trial”, said such a treatment might jeopardise his defence. Also yesterday, it was gathered that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) confirmed that the N10 billion was sourced from the Signature Bonus Account (oil block Account). He said he had no foreign account and his local accounts are in Skye bank Plc, GTB and Standard Chartered Bank. Dasuki’s Statement of Witness/Accused Person has been filed in the…
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded an inquest into the funding of the election of President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing him of embarking on selective anti-corruption war. But the Federal Government, yesterday, charged officials of the immediate past PDP government involved in the looting of the treasury to urgently return all stolen funds to government coffers. Several top officials of the Goodluck Jonathan government and PDP stalwarts have been named in the $2 billion arms deal. They include the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda. The…
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Security operatives whisked away the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, from the Federal High Court, Ikoyi on Monday. One of the counsel to the embattled former NIMASA boss, Wilson Ajuwa, made this known to PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview. Mr. Ajuwa said he feared for Mr. Akpobolokemi’s life. The legal practitioner said the ordeal of the former NIMASA boss started shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari took over power. “For some reasons, he has been under investigation for the last six months since President Muhammadu Buhari came into power,” Mr. Ajuwa…
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More than 48 hours after a deadly encounter between troops of the Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria led to several deaths in Zaria, Kaduna State, the Nigerian government has yet to comment on, or condemn, the killings. Details of what transpired Saturday remain unclear with the army and the Shiites giving different accounts of the clash. Both sides however agree there were “loss of lives”. The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, a Shia Muslim group led by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, says hundreds, if not thousands, of its members were killed when soldiers stormed its base in Zaria…
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In 2016, business and politics will be reshaped by a phenomenon common to both: insurgency. In both worlds, the established order is being challenged by disruptive forces that appear rapidly, upset the status quo and wrong-foot the powers that be. Our RiskMap for 2016 charts and categorizes all of these trends and more. GUERRILLA CAPITALISM The business headlines are dominated by companies like Uber and Airbnb – usurpers in stodgy sectors unused to change and reeling from these new companies now fulfilling the promise and hype of the original dotcom boom. Harnessing extraordinary advances in computer processing power, they…
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Nigeria’s Boko Haram is now officially the deadliest terror group in the world. That they have reached this position is a direct consequence of Cameron and Co’s war on Libya – and one that was perhaps not entirely unintended. According to a report just released by Global Terrorism Index, Boko Haram were responsible for 6,644 deaths in 2014, compared to 6,073 attributed to ISIS, representing a quadrupling of their total killings in 2013. In the past week alone, bombings conducted by the group have killed eight people on a bus in Maiduguri; a family of five in Fotokol, Cameroon;…
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The current clouds of hot and noxious gas being huffed and puffed about by the U.S. governing elite, media, academy, and the immigrant-worshiping Christian churches regarding Donald Trump’s suggestion that the national government temporarily ban the entry of non-U.S.-citizen Muslims into the United States can only build the American public’s confidence in Mr. Trump. All of America’s domestic enemies are ganging up on Trump on this issue, as are almost all the other mantra-mumbling, dwarfed-by-Trump presidential candidates in both parties. Trump has the added good fortune of being angrily abused by the spineless European media and peoples, as well as…
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Renowned law scholar, Professor Ben Nwabueze, in this interview with LEKE BAIYEWU, bares his mind on President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade and probes Q- With what you have seen pertaining to government officials and public funds, do you think it should be called stealing and not corruption, as former President Goodluck Jonathan once posited? A- We must not allow ourselves to be hamstrung by legal technicalities. Stealing is a form of corruption and it is more blatant because corruption has some kind of restraints. The corruption that we have in Nigeria goes beyond that of 10 per cent or 20…
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With the pressure from the Western powers, especially the United States of America, it is one’s hope that President Buhari would be able to develop the necessary backbone to go through with this. This is a task that calls for courage and fearlessness on his part. This is a case that would make and confirm his reputation as a genuine anti-corruption crusader, who truly wants to save Nigeria from the fangs of corruption. Or it may turn out to be the case that would demystify him and expose him as a lily-livered paper tiger. But first, let us quickly peruse…
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As investigation into the looting of funds meant for the acquisition of arms for the Nigerian armed forces continues, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, are in a dilemma over what to do with the former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Sanusi, who was removed from the bank by former President Goodluck Jonathan for accusing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, of not remitting $20 billion of oil proceeds into the national treasury, later become the Emir of Kano, an influential traditional and religious post that carried more weight in the northern…
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Following last Saturday’s violent clash between the Nigerian Army and members of the Muslim sect, Shiite, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Iran has called on Nigerian authorities to respect religious figures and sites. “Nigeria… is now dealing with problems arising from extremism and Takfiri terrorism and we hope that in these conditions preservation of calm and national unity in battling terrorism is prioritized while rash and unconstructive measures are avoided,” IRNA quoted Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaber-Ansari as saying on Sunday. Jaber-Ansari expressed sorrow over the recent bloody clashes, which broke out between Muslim worshipers and government troops,…
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Reports have emerged as to how the controversial judgement of the Court of Appeal on the National Assembly Elections Petitions of Rivers State which nullified all elected National Representatives of the PDP in Rivers State was procured by the Minister of Transport and former Governor of the State, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Based on available evidence, between the 9th and 10th of December, 2015, prior to the delivery of the controversial judgment, the Abuja home of the former Governor repeatedly hosted the Chairman of the Court of Appeal Panel on Rivers State National Assembly Election, Hon. Justice A. B.…
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National Christian Elders Forum says: Give Biafran agitators fair hearing, judiciary has been garrisoned by one religious, ethnic group. Christians should defend themselves against Boko Haram. STATE OF THE CHURCH AND THE NATION: NATIONAL CHRISTIAN ELDERS FORUM (NCEF) The National Christian Elders Forum at its meeting in Jos, Plateau State, on Monday November 29th 2015, expressed concern over the state of the Nigerian Church and the nation. The Elders observe that critical indices in the nation point to the need that all stakeholders in Nigeria should take stock and review the evolving situation in the country. Amongst others, the National Christian…
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Rev. Father Peter Miqueli A Catholic priest who is facing a lawsuit after being accused of stealing over $1million in donations to pay for sex with a homosexual S&M master has resigned from his church. Rev Peter Miqueli was a pastor at St. Frances de Chantal in Throggs Neck in the Bronx. The 53-year-old is accused of taking from the donation plate at St. Frances de Chantal and also stealing from his former church, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini on Roosevelt Island. Miqueli resigned from his position on Saturday, just days after a lawsuit was filed against him in Manhattan…
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“Dasuki lists ex-governors, PDP chiefs in $2b deals.” Yusuf Alli, NATION, December 3, 2015, page 1. “Quote me anywhere, Dasuki has not done anything like that. It is absolutely untrue [underlining mine].. It is the figment of the imagination of the authors aimed at creating falsehood for reasons best known to them and Nigerians should disregard them.” Mr A. Raji, SAN, Dasuki’s lawyer. Seldom has a front page report written by a veteran journalist, like Yusuf Alli, been so quickly disclaimed by a party close to the matter as this one. Of the two disputants, Alli and Raji, Alli has…
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