Resurgence Of Hate Speech, Racism Frighten Vice President Osinbajo

April 8, 2019

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the resurgence of hate speech, racism, nationalism and all of the identity type problems that is going on around the world today is frightening.

He said that such hate speech was a compelling reason to reflect on what happened in Rwanda 25 years ago.

Professor Osinbajo spoke in an interview with news men shortly after participating in the activities of the 25th Commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide held in Kigali yesterday, Sunday, said: “the resurgence of hate speech is frightening for everyone we see in different countries not just in Africa and but also in Europe.
“So, I think that there are many leaders today who want to ensure that we do not ever see a repeat of what happened, the genocide that happened here in Rwanda or any where else in the world for that matter.”
The Vice President said that leaders across different sections of society must caution against acts that incite and cause disorder, saying: “the only way is for us to recognize that experience, that is why the President Muhammadu Buhari has emphasized repeatedly that we must contain ourselves, especially in terms of speech that could incite; inciting hate speech and all that.
“I think that it is important; that we recognize especially for the people, religious leaders, politicians, it is important that we recognize sometimes that it is easy to push things to the tipping point to create a situation just by inciting words that we can actually create a situation that can completely go out of control.
“I think we have learnt, a lot of us, a lot of African countries do not want to see a repeat of what happened in Rwanda and if you listened to some of the speeches here today, it is very obvious that the wounds for Rwanda were very deep and they are still healing. So, at 25 years on, you can still feel the pain, you can still hear in their speeches, in their voices and in their experiences; this is still a very deep wound.”
Vice President Osinbajo prayed that the world should never experience such a thing anywhere, but noted that, “it depends again on leadership and on how our leadership behave themselves.”

Maikawuwa, A Detribalized Leader, By Ibrahim Biu

Greenbarge Reporters

April 8, 2019

Alhaji Dr. Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa was the immediate past Clerk of the National Assembly, who I happened to interact with for 27 years, including the years he got to the topmost position at the legislative level. As a matter of fact, I knew him since 1998 when I relocated from New Nigerian Newspaper (NNN) Kaduna to the then MFCT/FCDA in Abuja

From what I know of him, he loves his job as a career administrator and an experienced career civil servant. In other words, Maikasuwa has a unique way of tackling issues that used to come up at any given time.

As an experienced civil servant, he used to handle issues in a most remarkable way that satisfies his seniors, his subordinates and even those opposed to him in ideology and methodology.

After he retired I have the opportunity and privilege of working and relating very close with him, taking instructions directly from him as one of his Media advisers. Since then, I have come to realize that the former CNA is a very straight forward and humble individual who always want to do his best in whatever situation he found himself. He is also an optimist who believes in being meticulous in whatever he does as destined by God.

Though an attempt was made by a cabal to frustrate him at a certain stage of his career, Maikasuwa fought the battle with grit and subsequently reached to the topmost of his career as a CNA which is equivalent to the position of a federal permanent secretary.He has also held sensitive positions of responsibilities in the presidency and the FCDA after his NYSC in Kano which brought him recognition and several awards especially due to his sincerity of purpose and dedication to duties . He doesn’t have failure in his dictionary.

Maikasuwa who is now a Doctorate Degree holder and one of the senior lecturers at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, is also a religious individual and loyal to a fault.

He likes people and assists them as much as he can. He loves to help the less privilege persons. He has a special relationship with the youth who are his special project. They believe in him and he is very fond of them. They trust each other. They are drawn to him due to his patriotism and passion for impacting positively on people’s quality of lives.

He is a bridge builder and a detribalized leader. It was precisely because of these and other issues that the youth in their thousands from different tribal and religious background like the Mada, Gwandara, Fulani, Hausa, Kamberi and Gade have rallied around him as their leader in the build up to the general elections which ended recently in the country. The youth from all over Nasarawa state trust him just like he trust them in a spirit of give and take. They are mutually drawn to each other.

Dr. Maikasuwa is an embodiment of patience just as he is also an epitome of wisdom and integrity. Not once did I see him get angry in my many years of acquaintance with him. And he does not bear grudge against people. If he is not happy with you or your actions he will tell you straight to your face. He will never allow the day to end with any bitterness in his heart. Though at most times smiling he is a disciplined individual who suffer no fools gladly.

He is a very simple person who believes in hard work and dedication to whatever a person is engaged in doing honourably to improve himself or the entire community. It is through great determination and guts that he climbed to the highest pedestal in his career. He is an experienced civil servant who is always being guided by honesty of purpose and transparency in his interactions with the public. It these attitudes more than anything else that have endured him to his people and even to his political bosses who have commended him publically on many occasions.

Dr. Maikasuwa’s relationship with the youths did not come as a surprise to many people who are close to him because of his antecedent and various involvements in the academic activities of the Nasarawa state university and his proximity to student’s affairs generally over the years. For a long time now, Maikasuwa had been involved in doing one thing or the other, to students which has endeared him to them and which subsequently earned for him not less than fifteen awards from the University alone in the past few years, out of the 63 awards so far conferred on him by various groups within the past few years.

The enduring relationship between the two stemmed from the fact that Maikasuwa believes in helping his people. He does many things for the benefit of the people without waiting for government’s action once a worthy project has been identified in his community. He supports many worthy projects that comes his way and he has given out scholarships to many students quietly apart from engaging in many other communal activities towards nation building.

A detribalized and apolitical individual, Dr. Maikasuwa has a long history of relationship with the youths and the students which started as far back as the 1980s.Dr. Maikasuwa has his ways with the youths and he is easily connected to them. This writer believes that he enjoys their company as the youths also rally around him. They like to listen to his advises and admonitions not to allow themselves to be misused and to be good citizens usually contained in the lectures he often delivers whenever they invite him. This explains why the youths always like to interact with him and confer on him various awards. No wonder, he has a deeply rooted rapport and understanding with the youths.

Beyond his commitment to the upliftment of the youth generally at all times the former CNA is passionate about improving the status of the less privilege people around him. He as a soft spot for these type of people in the society. Maikasuwa has an unwritten law and an unspoken bond and a way with youth as demonstrated at many events held at Lafia, Nasarawa, Akwanga and many other places in the past few years. Humility and loyalty are part of his greatest attributes which have all endeared him to the people.

Maikasuwa believes that Leadership is a trust. He is a unique leader and handles assignments diligently. He doesn’t believe in failures. He also believes in destiny. He believes in allowing people to rise to the highest position by delegating appropriate responsibilities to them accordingly and also insist in implementing capacity building programmes for those working with him. He detest God-fatherism and the way they usually mislead the youth.

Biu wrote this from Kuje, Abuja.

New Islamic Sports Federation President Pledges To Promote Tolerance, Creativity

Greenbarge Reporters

April 8, 2019

The newly elected President of the Islamic Solidarity Sport Federation (ISSF), Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al Faisal has pledged to promote tolerance and creativity amongst the member countries.

Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al Faisal, who was elected today, Monday, at the General Assembly of the organization in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by delegates from 57 Muslim Countries, promised that he would exhaust his energy in promoting ISSF’s activities within Muslim countries.

“We will combine our efforts to improve the value of Sports for the achievement of our goals and objectives.

He stressed the need for ISSF to be active, effective and charismatic in its approach and in its programs and tournaments.

The new leader said that he will restructure the body for the purpose of improving its international sport outings, saying that enough financial resources would be provided for the purpose.

He made it clear that besides forging partnership that he would seek after with specialized centres, efforts would be intensified to qualify talented youth through productive creativity.

“We in ISSF will work strongly in enhancing tolerance, moderation and creation of peaceful co existence among the youth of Umma.”

Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al Faisal who will hold the presidency of ISSF till l 2021, is also the president of Saudi Sport Authority. He replaced Turki Al-Sheikh who resigned recently.

The Islamic Solidarity Sport Federation is aimed at supervising the organizing of a multi-sport event, called the Islamic Solidarity Games, being held once every four years.

It is also responsible for organizing tournaments and championships among (OIC) member states’ sporting teams.

It was established in 1985 with its permanent headquarters in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia and it is actively engaged in preparation for the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games which will be held in 2021, in Istanbul,Turkey.

Everton Dim Arsenal’s Hope With Un-Replied 1 Goal

Editorial staff

April 7, 2019

Everton dim the hope of Arsenal of getting to top-four finish in the English Premier League (EPL) with a last minute goal by Everton’s captain, Phil Jagielka.

The veteran defender scored the winner in a dominant 1-0 victory at Goodison Park today, Sunday.

Jagielka, who was brought into the team for a rare appearance after Michael Keane had to withdraw in the warm-up through illness, scored after 10 minutes. His goal earned his side well-deserved third straight league win.

It marked a significant setback for a disappointing Arsenal, who remain fourth in the table but missed an opportunity to leap ahead of their third-placed north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Unai Emery’s side stay on 63 points, one behind Spurs, level with fifth-placed Chelsea and two clear of Manchester United in an increasingly tight battle for the UEFA Champions League berths.

The experienced Jagielka proved Everton’s unlikely hero after his late call-up.

He became the oldest goalscorer in the league this season at 36 years 233 days when he poked home his finish after Arsenal failed to clear Lucas Digne’s long throw.

The ball had fallen kindly after Dominic Calvert-Lewin got the final touch on to him in the aerial battle, allowing Jagielka to score his first league goal in two years.

He also became Everton’s second-oldest marksman in the Premier League era.

“I’m not normally a match-winner, full stop,” laughed the former England defender. “They’re the best goals, the little tap-ins from two or three yards.”

His goal signalled a hungry and aggressive display from Everton who, while moving up to ninth on 46 points, could have won far more convincingly.

That is if Gylfi Sigurdsson and Richarlison had converted any of the side’s 23 attempts on goal.

“We got one goal but could have scored a few more,” added Jagielka.

He earned special praise from delighted Everton manager Marco Silva, who said: “He was to start on the bench, but showed how he is a good professional and prepares himself for what the coach and team needs.

“He is always ready to help the team.”

Arsenal, who have conceded at least one goal in every league away match this season, came closest with one curling second-half effort from Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

But they were outplayed and outfought by Silva’s team.

They had only two attempts on target in the whole match.

And, with Mesut Ozil failing to offer much inspiration as captain for the day, they endured one of their more frustrating lack lustre away days.

Arsenal’s frustration became obvious when the two managers were involved in a brief confrontation in the second half.

“The football is emotional. He wants the best for his team. I want the best for mine. At the end we spoke together and everything is normal,” said Silva.

Arsenal boss Emery felt his team would have to rebound swiftly as they prepared to face Napoli in a UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday.

“It was not a good result today but we are still fourth,” said the Spaniard. “We lost and we need to get up quickly and find the next step.”

Source: Reuters/NAN.

Nigeria Suspends Mining Activities In Zamfara, As Security Launches Offensive On Bandits, Criminals

Greenbarge Reporters

April 7, 2019

The Nigeria government has suspended mining activities in Zamfara State and ordered foreigners operating in the area to vacate immediately as the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the Nigerian Military and other Security Services launch offensive to eliminate armed banditry and other criminal activities.

Addressing news men today, Sunday, in Abuja, the nation’s Federal Capital, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu said that with the suspension of the mining activities, the security agents would now move in to fully commence “Operation PUFF- ADDER” which is a full scale security offensive against the bandits.

“The operation is aimed at reclaiming every public space under the control of the bandits, arrest and bring to book all perpetrators of violence in the area and their collaborators, achieve a total destruction of all criminal camps and hideouts, mop up all illicit weapons fueling the violence and attain a full restoration of law and order in the affected communities.

“Our commitment at protecting the sanctity of life and property is irrevocable, and we will not scale-down the pressure on the armed bandits until they are totally flushed-out.

“Meanwhile, in the face of intelligence report that has clearly established a strong and glaring nexus between the activities of armed bandits and illicit miners -with both mutually re-enforcing each other, the Federal Government of Nigeria has directed as follows:

“Mining activities in Zamfara and other affected States are hereby suspended with immediate effect. . Consequently, any mining operator who engages in mining activities in the affected locations henceforth will have his licence revoked. . All foreigners operating in the mining fields should close and leave within 48 hours e want to assure the general public, especially in the affected areas that the security services are doing their best to address the situation.”

The police boss appealed for the cooperation of the local communities, especially the traditional and religious leaders within the community.

The IGP frowned at the use of social media by sponsors of criminals to spread fake news, falsehood and deliberate misinformation.

He advised the media practitioners and Nigerians to exercise restraint in circulating unconfirmed information capable of doing more damage to us all. “Let us not allow the social media to hijack our sense of judgment and capture our minds negatively.”

Lawyer Ozekhome Blames ‘Cabal’ For Justice Onnoghen’s Fate

Greenbarge Reporters

April 6, 2019

Legal practitioner, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has blamed ‘cabal’ for the battle of survival which Justice Walter Onnoghen went through, leading to his final resignation as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Thursday.
In a piece he wrote on the travails of the former CJN, the senior lawyer said Onnoghen was a victim of politics, saying: “I knew it would come sooner than later. When Justice Walter Onnoghen’s travails started in January, I predicted that the cabal was out to rubbish him. They desired to bespatter him with the paintbrush of shame, odium and obloquy in such a way as to make him visibly unfit for the position of the CJN. They went after his jugular, using the CCB/CCT,” Ozekhome said.
“The CCT was unrelenting: it discarded its earlier precedents; ignored court rulings barring it from trying Onnoghen. It was the case of the falcon not hearing the falconer.
“The Court of Appeal became complicit. It refused to deliver judgments in Onnoghen’s cases argued before it over six weeks ago. Nigerians watched Onnoghen being mob-lynched. Onnoghen was tried in the media, criminalized, humiliated.
“So, Onnoghen, faced with the reality of the situation, knew that his faith had been pre-determined by the cabal, signed, sealed and delivered.”
Ozekhome also accused the NJC of jumping into conclusion over the case, adding that the council acted on unproven allegations and that any attempt to harass and humiliate the judiciary is setting a stage for bidding democracy farewell.
“Otherwise, how can NJC hold that it decided not to delve into the allegations, relating to assets declaration leveled against Onnoghen because they were subjudice, yet convicted him on the petitions written by EFCC and others, when the said petitions remained in the realm of mere unproven allegations?”

I’m The Most Unhappy Leader In The World Today, Buhari Confesses

Editorial staff

April 6, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has confessed that he is the most unhappy leader in the world today because of spate of killings resulting from kidnapping, banditry, robbery, insurgency and others.

A statement by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu quoted Buhari as saying that he cannot be a happy leader in a situation where criminals have made life so fearful for the citizenry.

“How can I be happy and indifferent to the senseless killings of my fellow citizens by bandits? I am human and I understand the pains of the victims and their families who have been traumatized and impoverished by constant ransom demands by bandits”, the President said empathetically.

The President, who was reacting to recent spate of banditry and kidnappings in some parts of the country, regretted that some Nigerian politicians are playing what he called ‘primitive politics’ by politicizing the spate of criminalities and killings.

“The politicization of tragedy reveals the darkest sides of our primitive politics. Almost every week, I summon my security chiefs to get an update on the strategies being devised to defeat these mass murderers.”

President Buhari, who condoled all those that have been affected by the unfortunate incidents, reassured Nigerians that ending banditry remains a key priority of his administration and that he would do whatever it takes to ensure the country’s security system confronts these public enemies with merciless determination.

“There is no issue that dominates my mind every 24 hours like security because, as an elected President, protecting the citizens of my country is one of the primary functions of my administration.

“I constantly listen to our security personnel in order to understand their problems and needs, and I have never hesitated to attend to those needs in terms of motivating and equipping them to respond effectively to our security challenges.

“It is therefore ridiculous to suggest that I am indifferent to these killings.

“I have ordered rapid and robust deployment of troops to all the areas currently under attack from bandits and we are determined to tackle this challenge ferociously until these remorseless killers are crushed and utterly defeated,” the President said.

President Buhari called on communities where banditry is active to support and cooperate with the security agencies, particularly the recently launched Operation Puff Adder to battle bandits and kidnappers.

The President said that it is regrettable that bandits have informants within some communities and utterly reprehensible that certain communities have signed protection deals with bandits at the expense of other communities, thereby creating complications and frustrating government’s intervention

He appealed to communities to report suspicious movements of the bandits into their areas within the shortest available opportunity, especially considering the fact that intelligence is critical to detecting, frustrating, neutralising and defeating the criminals.

EFCC Boss Accuses Some Banks Of Funding Terrorists

Editorial staff

April 6, 2019

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has accused some banks in Nigeria, of funding terrorists as well as helping politically exposed persons to steal and launder public funds.

Ibrahim Magu, who spoke at a meeting with compliance officers of various banks in Port Harcourt yesterday, Friday, said that apart from colluding with corrupt politicians and terrorists, some banks also help internet fraudsters to commit financial crimes using money transfer services.

“The banks also help the politically exposed persons to steal and launder public funds. Money is being laundered and money is being used to fund terrorism in the country. There are more terrorists in the country. There are more terrorist activities in the country, so it is good business for them.

“You will agree with me that the banks give lifelines to internet fraudsters, the ones we call Yahoo boys. So this is the reason we must come here. We have to talk. Unfortunately, we have fraudsters working in the banks, working right inside the banks.

“We want to put in our machinery to deal with such fraudulent activities of the bankers and some law enforcement agencies,” he said adding that not even the agency he presides over is free of the bad eggs.

“There are bad eggs among us, even in the EFCC; there seems to be readily available partnership with some fraudulent elements within the bank to perpetrate certain fraudulent activities and money laundering. I think this basically the reason we called this meeting.

Buhari Worries Over Rebuilding Of Countries Ravaged By Terrorist Insurgency

Editorial staff

April 6, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed worry over the rebuilding of nations that have been ravaged by the terrorist insurgency in the last ten years.

The Nigerian leader, who spoke today at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, in Jordan (Dead Sea), said: “we are faced with the task of rebuilding.”

Buhari confessed that no region of the world has felt the full impact of these dramatic shifts and shocks like the Middle East and Africa – North and Sub-Sahara.

“On one hand, our region is blessed with a very young, vibrant, enterprising and dynamic population. We also have valuable natural resources that are the envy of many nations.

“These assets and endowments contributed to our region experiencing some of the highest economic growth rates in the world.

“On the other hand however, we have also been hosts to some of the deadliest conflicts in recent history. The deaths, damage and destruction caused by terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, ISIS and Boko Haram over the last ten years will take decades to repair.”

The Nigerian leader reported that most of the terrorist organizations have been significantly degraded because the world came together to achieve the feat.

He insisted that, in the case of Nigeria, it is the lack of social and economic inclusion that has been the cause of the insurgency, adding: “as Nigeria celebrated being the largest economy in Africa and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Nigerians were migrating in droves through harsh desert conditions and across treacherous seas to seek what they believe would be a better life in Europe.”

President Buhari believed that “the lack of social and economic inclusion was the root cause of many challenges we are experiencing.

“Today, our population is one hundred and ninety million people. By 2050, it is estimated that we hit three hundred and ninety million making us the third most populous country in the world. This means we must start working now to ensure this population is productively engaged.

“In the last four years, we focused on security while implementing inclusive policies.

“On the security front, we made significant gains in fighting Boko Haram. We have recaptured all territories held by Boko Haram in 2014. We have liberated thousands of Nigerians held against their will.”

The President said that today, no territory in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is held or controlled by Boko Haram, even as he expressed gratitude to the many countries that have stood with Nigeria to confront this global scourge and in particular, the Kingdom of Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty, the King.

“Furthermore, our economic diversification and social inclusion policies are also yielding positive results. Our country has now returned to the path of growth. We are making gains in the ease of doing business indices.

“A key driver for growth is the agricultural sector where we aggressively pushed agricultural policies that empowered millions of our rural citizens.

“In the spirit of “Building New Platforms of Cooperation”, we partnered with the Kingdom of Morocco to domesticate fertilizer production in Nigeria and revive over two million tons of abandoned fertilizer blending plant capacity.

“The outcome is we created tens of thousands of jobs in agriculture, logistics, manufacturing and retail sectors. We are able to achieve moderate growth. But it was inclusive.

“Nigeria is now at a new dawn and embarking on a new development trajectory. We are determined to industrialise Nigeria leveraging our comparative advantage.

“We recognize the private sector as the engine of growth and a veritable partner in our economic agenda. The Middle East is a natural partner.

“Africa and the Middle East must therefore focus on policies that will deliver shared economic prosperity for all our citizens. On trade and investments for example, we can do more. Africa represents only five percent of Jordan’s trade with the world. But we have the resources, the people and the markets to do more.

“Opportunities exist in key job creating sectors such as Agriculture, Health, Tourism, ICT, Infrastructure as well as Textile and garmenting to mention a few.

“Our new, inclusive and diversified Nigeria is definitely open for business. Our population, resources, policies and programs make it the most attractive investment destination in Africa.

“As friends and allies, we must therefore cooperate and leverage on our relative strengths. We must remain open to “Building New Platforms of Cooperation”.

“As we deliberate over the next two days, I would ask all leaders present to reflect on our collective experiences. We must identify how we can work together.

“Today, we are living in a new world. In this new world without borders, my personal view is stability and sustainability can only be achieved through inclusive economic growth, and enhanced cooperation amongst nations.”

Saudi’s Prince Abdulaziz Assumes Presidency Of Islamic Sports Federation On Monday

Greenbarge Reporters

April 6, 2019

The President of the General Saudi Sport Authority, Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal has been scheduled to be made the President of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF).

The election of Prince Abdulaziz, who will replace Turki Al-Sheikh that recently resigned from the post, will be done at the extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly of ISSF to be held on Monday, April 8 in Jeddah.

The new President of ISSF, who has also been serving as President of the Saudi Olympic Federation (SOF), will be in office till 2021.

Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki has been a keen leader in the sporting world and an avid industrial development expert. He is currently the Board Chairman of Saudi General Sports Authority (SGSP); President of Saudi Arabia Olympic Committee (SOC) and President of International Camel Racing Federation (ICRF) as well as member of the IOC Marketing Commission.

He was once Board chairman of the Saudi Arabian Industrial Resin Limited, from where he restructured the industrial outlook of Saudi Arabia, leading to increase in total turnover of the system, despite the economic crisis in North Africa.

Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki, born on April 6, 1983, was also instrumental to the development of the Middle East Radical Championship to be most complete championship in the region, with more than 25 cars on the Grid and a turnover of more than one million Pound Starling in the first year.

According to information from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, chairman of the Board of ISSF for the period between 2019 and 2021, Dr. Yousef AlOthaimeen will also be unveiled at the event.

The General Secretary of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), according to the information, will attend the meeting where the fifth version of the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2021 will be discussed, alongside the administrative, technical and financial reports done by the General Secretariat of the Federation.

It said that the ISSF will hold two Directors of the Board meetings.

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