Saki indigenes defend Shittu’s ministerial nomination

Indigenes of Saki and Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State under the aegis of the National Association of Saki Elite have asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Senate to ignore the petition written by the Oyo State leadership of the All Progressives Congress against the ministerial nominee from the state, Mr. Bayo Shittu.

The call was contained in a statement jointly by both the National President and General Secretary of the association, Dele Togunde and Abraham Ogunkanmbi, respectively.

Shortly after the Senate President Bukola Saraki unveiled Buhari’s ministerial list on Tuesday, the leadership of the APC in Oyo State petitioned the President to reconsider Barrister Shittu’s nomination due to his alleged anti-party activities.

However, NASE argued that the APC leadership in the state was only trying to marginalise the people of Oke-Ogun.

The statement read in part, “Such opposition is a calculated attempt by the enemies of Saki in particular and Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State in general to continue with the marginalisation process that has been on-going for many years”.

NASE, which described Shittu as an illustrious son of Saki, pledged its unalloyed support for him for a ministerial position based on his antecedent.

According to the association, Shittu was a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly during the Second Republic, a former Oyo State Commissioner for Justice and a governorship candidate of the Buhari-led Congress for Progressive Change in 2011.

“We are calling on President Buhari and the National Assembly to please go ahead to ratify the appointment of Shittu as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this political dispensation”, the association stated.

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1G7Tm30
via IFTTT

Read More

Alamieyeseigha is in heaven, says Okupe

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, says he is sure that the late former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, is in heaven and is now wearing, “a crown of glory”.

Okupe said this in a tribute he posted on his official Facebook page on Sunday.

He said the deceased was a good Christian as he forgave his jailer, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, under whose administration, Alamieyeseigha was convicted for embezzling state funds

He said, “Also like a good Christian he openly, publicly and sincerely forgave President Obasanjo who was his jailer.

“DSP you have run a good race and fought a good fight. A sure crown awaits you with our Lord, your maker. As the crown prince of the Ijaw nation bows out May the God of Almighty who till this day still stands with His people, stand by and bless your people you have left behind.”

However, soon after Okupe had posted the comment, several comments began to filter in against his stance.

A commentator, Angela Olunloyo, wrote, “‘Like a good Christian he openly, publicly and sincerely forgave President Obasanjo who was his jailer?’ If this is what is meant to be a good Christian I would rather remain a pagan.

“Somebody was found guilty for corruption and jailed and then he forgave his supposed jailer as if his jailer wronged him. Okupe, no one is saying you shouldn’t pay tribute to your friend, but please do not say things that are irritating and are anything but the truth. Nowhere in your tribute did you mention that DSP apologised to Bayelsans for looting the resources that would have benefitted the poor masses if judiciously used. May he rest in peace.”

Another commentator, Edwin Ochojila, wrote, “Alams was jailed by a court of competent jurisdiction based on facts before it. Why are you sounding like Obasanjo put Alams in jail? Nigerians must change this mentality. If you are jailed for an offence it is not because of your enemies but you chose to be an enemy to yourself by committing a crime against the state. May God Grant Alams eternal rest.”

However, Okupe, who was not happy with some of the comments, said he never claimed that Alamieyeseigha was saint.

He, however, slammed Nigerians for passing judgement on their leaders, insisting that only God can judge.

He said, “I am amazed at the degree of disrespect, lack of etiquette, and complete loss of decorum among our people. This is my Facebook page where as a free citizen I freely express my feelings.

“What I feel is real and personal. Some may like it, some may not but why the abuse and insult? Not even the dead is spared!

“Alamieyeseigha was my friend till he died. He was not a saint and neither am I. He is dead and gone. He has nothing to prove, justify or defend anymore. All is now between him and his creator who knows the hearts of men and will judge us all in spite of our pretences and hypocrisy.”

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1R6iZS2
via IFTTT

Read More

Police summon Wasiu Ayinde over shooting of varsity student

A female Business Education student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Azeez Koforola, was reportedly shot in the early hours of Sunday at a musical show in the same town.

A bullet from a gun, said to have fired by a member of fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde’s band, was said to have hit the victim.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the victim was hit by a stray bullet where she sat inside a Honda car beside the NASFAT building opposite Limelite Hotel in the town, where K1 had performed from Saturday night till dawn.

He said, “At about 1am on Sunday, beside NASFAT building, opposite Limelite Hotel, Ago Iwoye, Azeez Koforola, while sitting inside an unregistered Honda Accord car, was reportedly hit by a bullet shot by King Wasiu Ayinde’s entourage.

“The car belongs to one Hassan Afeez, a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“The bullet entered through the right hand side of rear door of the car and hit the victim on her right bottom.”

Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the victim had been admitted into the State General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, where she was currently receiving treatment.

He added that the state Commissioner of Police,  Abdulmajid Ali, had directed that Wasiu Ayinde should be invited for interrogation.

He said, “We got the report of the incident and we have taken the victim to the hospital. The bullet has been removed from the victim’s body.

“Before  the Policemen got to the scene,  the musician and his team have left the place.

“The Commissioner of Police has instructed that K1 should be invited to tell the Police how it happened and who among his band members  pulled the trigger.

“We have written the letter  and we are going to  summon the musician to give us the account of what happened. He is expected to come with the guy that fired the gun.

“The Police want him to explain what happened so as to assist the Police to do proper  investigation.”

However, the owner of Limelite Hotel, Mr. Sesan Rufai, who said he invited K1, other musicians and comedians to perform at his hotel, denied that anyone was shot at the musical show.

He said the show was hitch-free, stating that eminent personalities attended the show.

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1N7pZ0r
via IFTTT

Read More

Navy destroys 50 illegal refining camps in Delta

The Central Naval Command in Yenagoa on Sunday destroyed 50 illegal oil refining camps and 150 drums of locally-refined diesel at Asiagbene in Delta State.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that CNC conducted the operation in collaboration with Nigeria Navy Ship in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State

Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Yenagoa, Real Admiral Apochi Suleiman, accompanied by Commodore Sule Aliyu, NNS chief in Delta State, said the largest illegal refinery in the region was discovered during the raid.

He added that the camps, numbering about 50, as well as a boat used to convey the stolen crude for refining, were destroyed during the raid on the oil thieves.

The FOC said no arrest was made as the oil thieves fled on sighting the ship.

He explained that the oil thieves capitalised on the difficult terrain, adding that the journey to the creek took about three hours.

“There is no room for criminals on the waterways any more; we are flushing them out,” he said.

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1LeP1I9
via IFTTT

Read More

Super Eagles thrash Cameroon Lions 3-0 in friendly

Super Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday bounced back from their disgraceful 0-2 defeat in the hands of Congo DR on Thursday to record an impressive 3-0 win over the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in a friendly in Belgium.

Details later…

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1P916Va
via IFTTT

Read More

Police release lover of murdered NYSC member

The Oyo State Police Command has released Mr. Olusola Babalola, lover of the late Miss Omolola Abogunrin, who was raped and murdered in Ibadan last week.

Babalola was arrested after the killing of Abogunrin.

Abogunrin was said to have been on her way to Babalola’s place from a church service last Sunday when some assailants seized her beside a stream located inside the National Cereal Research Institute, Moor Plantation, Apata, Ibadan.

She was raped and strangled to death while her body was found by passers-by.

The 29-year-old former student of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, and who until her death, was undergoing her National Youth Service Corps assignment in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, was looking forward to her wedding on October 17 when she met her death.

Sources said she had already completed the traditional marriage rites with Babalola four months ago and that proper wedding would have taken place at the Christ Apostolic Church in Ibadan on Saturday.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed the release of Babalola after spending four nights in the police custody.

Call logs on the deceased phone number showed that Babalola was the last person to speak with the deceased before her death less than 1,000 metres from Babalola’s home.

Ajisebutu however said investigation was still going on to determine the killers, while calling on the public to volunteer information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1N7o4Jh
via IFTTT

Read More

Security agents arrest Falae’s kidnappers in Niger

Five of the abductors of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, have been arrested.

Falae, also a former Minister of Finance, was kidnapped three weeks ago on his farm at Ilado Village in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State by some suspected Fulani herdsmen and was later released three days later in Owo after the bandits allegedly collected a ransom.

A close source to the family of the elder statesman  confirmed to our correspondent on Sunday that three of the hoodlums were arrested in Niger State last Sunday while the other two were apprehended during the week.

The source said all the suspects were in the custody of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the State Police Command, Akure, adding that the police were still on the trail of the other fleeing suspects.

“Five of them have been arrested; three were arrested in Niger State on Sunday while two others were arrested somewhere I can not say for now but all the suspects arrested are now in the custody of SARS.

“The police are still searching for the other seven suspects and I am sure they too  will be arrested very very soon,” he stated.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, said the issue of the kidnap of Falae, a former presidential candidate, was being handled by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase.

“I don’t know anything about the issue again; it is the IG that has taken over the issue of Chief Falae because it is a national issue.  The IG is likely to brief the press about the development the tomorrow (Monday ),” Joseph stated.

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1Osq3Lk
via IFTTT

Read More

We know your hideouts, surrender now, Army tells B’Haram

The Nigerian Army has said security forces are aware of the hideouts and strongholds of terror group, Boko Haram, in the country.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, urged the insurgents to embrace the peace option and surrender as the troops were already closing in a statement on Sunday.

Usman called on Nigerians to persuade the insurgents to renounce their membership of the deadly sect.

He said, “This is to once again warn all Boko Haram terrorists, wherever they are, to desist from all acts of terrorism, surrender themselves and face the law now. We wish to inform them that we are aware of all their hideouts, camps and enclaves.

“They should follow their colleagues, who have so far surrendered. Failure to surrender will result in serious consequences as our troops are fast closing up on them.

“We equally appeal to all Nigerians to kindly persuade them to desist and renounce their membership of the terrorist organisation forthwith.”

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1K2kNGx
via IFTTT

Read More

Dangote to build cement plants in 18 African countries

The Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has said the firm would build cement plants in 18 African countries, including Nepal in Asia to make the continent import-dependent free.

A statement by the company on Sunday said Dangote made the announcement at the commissioning of 3.0 million metric tonne per annum cement plant at Mgao Village, Mtwara, Tanzania.

He said the entire Africa firms, which would produce more than 80MTPA of cement, was to make Africa an export continent rather than import-dependent .

He said the cement plant, which was the largest in Africa after Nigeria, was to stimulate the continent’s growth and create more jobs for its huge population.

According to him, it is time Africans took their destiny in their hands by investing their huge resources in their fatherland.

Dangote said the firm was located in Tanzania because of abundant natural raw material that would keep the firm on for more than 49 years and the country’s steady economic growth.

For the host communities, he said the company had given out a 500,000 dollar grant to the active poor to start business of their own while schools and markets would be built in the various communities.

He lauded President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete for providing the enabling environment that made the project possible.

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1G7gWwL
via IFTTT

Read More

Screening: Rivers APC seeks special consideration for Amaechi

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called on the Senate to give the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, a special consideration during the screening of ministerial nominees.

State Chairman of the APC, Dr. Davies Ikanya, commended the Senate for its decision to be thorough in the forthcoming screening, but appealed to it not to totally discard the tradition of asking deserving ones to take a bow and go.

Ikanya’s appeal followed the Senate’s insistence that each ministerial nominee must get the support of at least two senators from his or her state.

Amaechi is the leader of the APC in Rivers State and may not get the support of the senators representing Rivers State, who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“We wish to respectfully appeal to the Senate to put Rt. Hon. Amaechi on the list of nominees to be honoured with the ‘bow and go’ tradition because he is a distinguished former lawmaker and, indeed, the only Nigerian, who, apart from being the Speaker of a State House of Assembly for eight years, from 1999 to 2007, but also meritoriously served as Chairman of the Nigerian Speakers Forum, thereby greatly contributing to the legislative evolution of Nigeria,” the Rivers APC said.

The party described Amaechi as one of the few Nigerians, who had enjoyed the privilege of being elected the governor of a state for two consecutive terms and the only Nigerian, who had served for two terms as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

“Based on the above facts coupled with the revolutionary leadership of Amaechi, we appeal to the Senate to ignore the ranting and ramblings of the drowning Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, whose frustration stems from the fact that Amaechi led the battle that ousted the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan,” the party said.

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1K2kQlr
via IFTTT

Read More

Tambuwal, Yari visit Ugwuanyi, rue economic downturn

Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, has described the governors who emerged in the 2015 elections as “unlucky”.

Yari, who spoke in Enugu, where he attended a burial ceremony, noted that although the governors were lucky to win elections, they were unlucky to hold the office at a time the economy was “down”.

Yari spoke to journalists after a courtesy call on Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Sunday.

He was in company with Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who also attended the burial.

The NGF chairman admitted that the current “harsh” economic situation in the country, which was occasioned by the decline in the price of crude oil, was particularly tough on the first-term governors.

Yari said, “Each and every nation has its own problems, especially on the issue of the economy.

“We were discussing with our brother here (Ugwuanyi). We came in as governors and we can say we are not lucky but in reality, we are lucky because we won our elections.  We came in at a time when the economy is down but we are managing.”

However, there is still hope, according to the governor.

“You can see we have hope for Nigeria. When we have security settled and we have the economy gradually working to ensure that all the leakages are blocked, we can enhance the revenue generation to the betterment of our nation. So far, I can say, is so good.

“We are making progress, more especially on the issue of security,” he said.

Tambuwal, who was initially approached by journalists for an interview, but declined, said Yari should speak in his capacity as the chairman of the NGF.

Yari, a former member of the House of Representatives like Tambuwal and Ugwuanyi, explained that they were at the Enugu State Government House because of the “good working relationship” they had with the Enugu State governor during their days in the National Assembly.

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1MpZJjh
via IFTTT

Read More

Chibok girls not pregnant for Boko Haram fighters – Military

The Defence Headquarters has refuted media reports that many of the over 200 schoolgirls, who were kidnapped in April, 2014 from the Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, have been impregnated by members of the Boko Haram sect.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said the publication by a national newspaper (not The PUNCH) that one of the girls, who escaped from the insurgents and handed over to the military at Baga, made the claim, was misleading and spurious.

 

He urged members of the public to discountenance the reports, describing it as false.

 

He said while the security agencies would continue to sustain the search for the Chibok girls and others being held captive by the insurgents, they would not give credence to misleading reports with no genuine source of information.

Abubakar argued that there was no moral justification for the false publication.

He said, “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to the above-captioned published in a national daily of Saturday, October 10, 2015 in which it claimed one of the Chibok girls, who escaped from terrorists’ captivity, was handed to the military post in Baga. 

 

“The spurious report by the national daily is not only misleading but is once again another unconscionable outing, as there is no iota of truth in its entirety, hence should be disregarded.  

“In as much as the Nigerian military and other security agencies are working round the clock to secure the release of not only the Chibok girls but also other innocent citizens, who are held hostage by the terrorists, it will not give credence to misleading reports, which have no true source as we have repeatedly pledged to inform Nigerians on the true situation in our ongoing operations.”  

 

He pledged that the security forces, like all Nigerians and the friends of the country, were determined to bring the insurgency to an end.

 

The Acting Defence spokesman added that the recent release of hundreds of women and children from the captivity of the Boko Haram showed clearly that the security agencies had not relented on the search for the abducted schoolgirls.

 

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1PokbC3
via IFTTT

Read More

Buhari won’t stop probe against nominees – APC

The All Progressives Congress has said President Muhammadu Buhari will not interfere in the on-going probe of some of his ministerial nominees.

It also said the President will not spare any of them found guilty of corruption by a court of competent jurisdiction, even after they have been confirmed by the Senate.

Deputy National Chairman (North) of the party, Senator Lawali Shuaibu, said this in an interview with reporters in Abuja, on Sunday.

He explained that the President’s commitment to the anti-graft war is such that, he would not shield anyone even members of the party who were proven to be corrupt.

Shuaibu said, “You see the president has said several times that he believes in the rule of law, that he respects the rule of the law. Anything that is not in line with the constitution and the extant laws of this country, he would not go for it.

“When it comes to the issue of the choice of people who will serve as ministers in his administration, I believe that until one is convicted in the law court, we will be chasing shadows on the basis of suspicions and assumptions.

“I think, quite frankly, that he is not going to stop any investigation against any member of his cabinet.

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1Lpu2G3
via IFTTT

Read More

Yoruba leaders’ threat against Fulani herdsmen diversionary – Falana

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), on Sunday picked holes in the threat by some Yoruba elders to banish Fulani herdsmen from the South-West following a recent kidnap of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, in a suburb of Akure, the Ondo State capital.

He described the directive of the Yoruba elders as diversionary and escapist solution.

Falana said in a statement on Sunday, “This is not the time to resort to diversionary or escapist solutions to manmade problems.  The ruling class should be compelled to address the challenges of establishing livestock, grazing reserves, ranching and modernisation of pastoralist or nomadic livelihood in line with the aforesaid recommendations.”

Falae was released four days after his kidnap upon payment of a ransom by his family to the kidnappers, who the ex-SGF was sure were Fulani herdsmen.

Barely two weeks after he was released, the herdsmen again led their cattle into his farm, destroying his crops.

Falana argued that the recent kidnap of Falae only added “a new dimension to the kidnap saga in the region” as he tried to situate the criminality in the same context of the October 2010  kidnap of a traditional ruler and a college provost in Ekiti State and the abduction of the wife of Osun State Speaker in Osogbo about the same time.

He recalled that the wife of Osun State Speaker was later found by a vigilance group in Ogun State and that shortly after that, the then Chairman of Ejigbo Local Government Area of Lagos, was kidnapped and was only released upon th payment of N15m ransom.

He said, “Instead of calling on the security agencies to enforce the law by arresting and prosecuting the group, some Yoruba leaders threatened that the South-West region would secede from Nigeria if Fulani nomads were not banned from entering the region!

“It is unfortunate that the senior citizens, who issued the threat, did not address the legal implications of their demand. It ought to be pointed out that every Nigerian has a constitutional right not be expelled from any part of the country.”

Falana said the threat against the Fulani herdsmen in the South-West would not solve the problem until far-reaching measures, such as proactive intervention by the police as well as establishment of modern livestock production by state governments, were adopted.

He added, “It is on record that not less than 10,000 heads of cattle are consumed in the South-West daily. Majority of the heads of cattle are brought in malnourished, having been made to walk hundreds of kilometres from the northern part of the country.

“Instead of issuing threats, the Yoruba leaders  ought to have mobilised the South-West state governors to set up ranches and abattoirs for the production and distribution of meat in the region.”

 He said Falae was part of the 2014 National Conference where it was recommended that long term cattle routes and grazing reserves be phased out to lay emphasis on ranching and that states which have large livestock populations should “endeavor to maintain grazing reserves.”

He added, “For instance, through a PPP arrangement a modern abattoir, the largest in Africa, was built in Ibadan, Oyo State in 2011.

“But due to some inexplicable reasons the state government has refused to allow the abattoir to function.

“The Ekiti state government once had a ranch. It was established by the Adekunle Ajasin government in the second republic. But it has since collapsed due to lack of maintenance.”

He called on the police to “move speedily to dislodge the bandits, who have seized Chief Falae’s farm”.

Falana stated, “The Yoruba leaders should consult with the South-West state governors  with a view to addressing the increasing wave of insecurity of life and property in the region.

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1K27FB3
via IFTTT

Read More

FG deploys ICPC officials in airports

The Federal Government has deployed officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission to major airports across the country in a bid to check corruption at the various facilities.

It specifically stated that it had installed the agency’s CCTV cameras at the airports to help detect corrupt officers.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Mrs. Binta Bello, stated that the initiative was to engender growth, confidence and transparency in the aviation industry, as it was imperative to collaborate with the ICPC to effectively reduce the incidents of corruption in the sector.

Bello, in a statement issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority on Sunday, said the Federal Ministry of Aviation, ICPC and the United Nations Development Programme had unanimously agreed to take concerted efforts to exterminate corruption from the aviation industry.

According to her, the fight against corrupt practices at the airport was made possible by signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the ministry and anti-corruption agency in 2014.

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1Lekmuv
via IFTTT

Read More

Ignore petition against Kaduna nominee, Bent begs senate

A former Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Grace Bent, on Sunday, urged the members of the eight senate to dismiss the petition against President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominee from Kaduna State, Mrs Amina Muhammed.

Bent in a statement in Abuja, asked the senate to ignore the issue of non-indigeneship of Kaduna raised by Muhammed’s political opponents as mere allegation borne out of bitterness.

She noted that disqualifying such a woman of substance based on frivolous petition, would be unholy, impious and debasing for women in Nigeria whose contributions to national growth and development, have been unequalled.

She said, “Nigerians should stop this absurdity of humiliating and debasing their women with the slightest opportunity.

“It is an aberration as well as barbaric for anyone to begin to discriminate and fight a woman on the basis of marital affiliation. I feel our Senators should not entertain that.”

Bent identified those behind the plot to deny the Kaduna State’s nominee of ministerial appointment as high-handed, mischievous and ignorant political elites who did not wish Nigeria well.

The former member of the senate said Nigerians should at all times be ready to tap from the intellectual property which, according to her, “Muhammed is imbued with and should jettison cheap blackmail and sentiment so far raised to deprive the nominee of her constitutional right as a Nigerian.”

She said the constitution of Nigeria accords every right to any Nigerian woman to serve the country in any capacity notwithstanding her marital affiliation or state of origin, and quoted section 42 (2) to buttress her argument.

She said, “I ran through the constitution and discover that it rather supports inter-ethnic marriage, whereas section 42 (2) states specifically that no ‘citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his or her birth.

“What the ill-informed opponents of Muhammed were trying to do is to deprive this hard working, intelligent and committed woman of an opportunity to extend her service to Nigeria.

“I reckoned that as a former Presidential Adviser on Millennium Development Goals, Mohammed was excellent in dedicated service, making great impacts, which were reckoned with internationally.

“Nigeria should continue to tap from her intellectual property rather than willfully deciding to dump her like a used pack.

“I served in the Senate and represented Adamawa State by marital affiliation. I had lived in Adamawa and had claimed no other place as my home. The people recognised my worth and supported me to be a Senator.

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1FZ3TOd
via IFTTT

Read More

Cameroon occupying 16 A’Ibom islands – A’Ibom lawmaker

A member representing Mbo State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Samuel Ufuo, has warned Nigerians on the illegal annexation and occupation of 16 Mbo Mangrove Islands by the Republic of Cameroon.

Presenting the issue before the House as a matter of urgent public importance on Friday, Ufuo stated that the 16 Mbo Local Government Area villages were currently under the administrative control of the Republic of Cameroon.

He revealed that the islands were blessed with different types of mineral resources beside being hosts to about 350 oil wells.

According to him, it is pathetic that Akwa Ibom people, who are still living in their villages, established before there was Nigeria or Cameroon, were being terrorised, dehumanised, maltreated and deprived of their rights and privileges by Cameroon government security agencies.

He added that the people were still buying and selling in Mbo and other Akwa Ibom markets, paying their taxes, boat licences and other levies to the Akwa Ibom State Government.

The lawmaker noted that should the annexation by Cameroon be allowed, the country would not only lose mineral resources, but also thousands of its coastal water miles.

Ufuo added, “Sadly to note that as a result of the illegal occupation of the islands by the Republic of Cameroon, oil and gas revenues that should accrue to the state and the Nigerian government, employment opportunities to our teeming youths are lost to the Republic of Cameroon.

“Cognizant of the March 11, 1913 Anglo-German treaties that lay this island firmly within Nigerian Territory as the island lays west of the Rio Del Ray estuary which serves as the official border line between Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon as re-affirmed by the International Court of Justice judgement on October 10, 2002.

“Also cognizant of the fact that ICJ had ordered both Nigeria and Cameroon to withdraw sovereignty over areas they were not entitled to under the 1913 Anglo-German treaties.

“This result in Nigeria ceding over to the Republic of Cameroon 32 villages from Adamawa to the Lake Chad area while Cameroon is holding tight to Akwa Ibom State 16 villages of Effiat clan in Mbo LGA, of the Mangrove Island.”

 

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1FZ3Vpl
via IFTTT

Read More

Israel accused of ‘deliberately killing’ Palestinians

Israel’s government is facing serious questions over its use of force in the latest outbreak of violence with protesters after a number of videos appeared online showing soldiers shooting at Palestinians.

Amnesty International told Al Jazeera on Sunday that some of the recorded incidents amounted to “extrajudicial killings”, while Human rights Watch was “strongly concerned” by Israel’s “indiscriminate and even deliberate” use of fire on demonstrators.

“These are extrajudicial killings against unarmed civilians,” Mariam Farah, the spokesperson for Amnesty International in Israel, said.

On Friday, a video emerged showing a number of Israeli soldiers surrounding a young Palestinian woman allegedly holding a knife before they shot her with live bullets multiple times. Israa Ayed, 29, was critically injured.

“There is no proof whatsoever that Israa was holding a knife. The same goes for Alloun. They did not appear to have posed enough threat to the soldiers to use deliberate lethal force [on them],” Amnesty’s Farah told Al Jazeera.

Since the beginning of the latest wave of violence in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, 23 Palestinians were killed and 1,991 injured by Israeli security forces, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

On the Israeli side, four Israelis were stabbed to death by Palestinians, while 63 others were injured.

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1PoconK
via IFTTT

Read More

El-Rufai suspends Kaduna LG chairman over demolition

The Interim Chairman, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Alhaji Garba Kurfi, has been suspended from office with immediate effect by the State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.

It was alleged that the chairman ordered the indiscriminate marking and demolition of buildings in the ongoing recovery of government land.

It was gathered that most of the buildings on Muri Road, occupied by commercial printers, were demolished on the order of the council, contrary to the directive of the state governor.

The suspension, which took effect from Thursday, was conveyed in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government.

According to el-Rufai’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, the suspended chairman  is being investigated for unauthorised demolition of houses in Kaduna North Local Government.

The statement read, “The Kaduna State Government has announced the suspension of the interim committee chairman of Kaduna North Local Government Area.

“This action is taken to enable the government to thoroughly investigate the circumstances around the involvement of the suspended chairman in unauthorised activities in the land recovery process.”

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1GCYruX
via IFTTT

Read More

Alamieyeseigha was like God in his hometown – Monarch

The Acting Paramount Ruler of Amassomma Kingdom, Bayelsa State, Chief Sharp Nengi Sogo, said on Sunday that the late former governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was like a God to his people.

Alamieyeseigha, who died on Saturday of high blood pressure-related ailment at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, hailed from Amassomma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The monarch, who spoke with our correspondent in his palace, said the news of Alamiyeseigha’s demise shocked every resident of the University Town.

Sogo said, “When we heard the news of the death, every person in the community was shocked and sad. There was wailing and weeping all over the place. Alamieyeseigha was one of the best leaders we have had in Ijaw land.  He was like a father and grandfather to the people of Ammassoma.

“I cannot enumerate all the things that he did for the community because they are indeed too many. But the landmark projects he attracted to the community are the Niger Delta University, highway from Tombia to Amassomma, construction of many internal roads, health facilities and others.

“For many of us in Ammassoma, he was like a God. We will indeed miss him. We pray that God Almighty will give his soul eternal peace.”

The monarch said Alamieyeseigha was hale and hearty two weeks ago when he came to the community with his political associates in connection with the upcoming state’s governorship election.

He said they did not have any inkling that the man they saw bubbling with life a fortnight ago could die just like that.

Sogo added, “He affected many lives in the community positively that the gap created by his exit will be difficult to fill. Without him, Amassomma would have been desolate. To everybody in the community, Alamiyeseigha’s death has dealt a devastating blow to them.

“He had promised when he came last time that he and his political friends were coming this week. We have been waiting for them anxiously, now we have received the shockest news of all time. We are in real pains and anguish.”

Also, Alamiyeseigha’s nephew, Chief Yeritimi Femo, said his uncle’s death had left him devastated since Saturday.

Femo said, “I was devastated when I got the information that my uncle was dead. I was more devastated because I did not hear that he was sick before getting the information that he died.

“I learnt that he was on life support for three days at UPTH before he finally gave up the ghost. He was everything to us. Up till now, I have yet to come to terms that he has died.”

from The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper http://ift.tt/1G6UDY5
via IFTTT

Read More