The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has cancelled the concept of awaiting results in its admission process for this year. The spokesman of the Board, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, who made this known today, Tuesday, in a statement said: “JAMB, in the cause of conducting admission exercise, many institutions have admitted candidates on merit only for them to discover that such candidates do not have qualified O’levels results or the right combination for admission and had to delete and start the process all over again. “With this, they would have denied other qualified candidates the opportunities for admissions.” He said that JAMB had concluded all restructuring, transformation, reforms and other preparation for the 2017 UTME and is now set to commence the sale of its application document in March, 2017. “We sincerely appreciate the patience exhibited by Nigerians in allowing us take time to add value to the services we have been offering to Nigerians for over three decades. “Because we need a different and progressive result that will position Nigerian educational system in an enviable height in the comity of nations, then we must do things differently. The Board is poised to see that a reasonable percentage of candidates who take this examination and are qualifiedfind placement in tertiary institutions. “This we are addressing by ensuring that no candidate is henceforth recommended without his O’levels result being supplied. “To achieve this, JAMBwill insist that candidates supply their result on its website during registration or later, but before admissions commences for them to be considered for admissions. “We believe this will allow onlyqualified candidates to beconsidered for admissions. “We have designed a Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) where the Board will interface with the institutions and ensure the compliance of this reform. “The summary is that no candidate will be admitted with awaiting result. Candidates and their parents are also to note that the Board has restructured the registration platform to allow for only one choice of Public University. ”The new registration platform will now befirst choice, second choice, thirdchoice and fourth choice and not most preferred, preferred etc as it was. “Candidates’ first choice can be a College, University, Innovative Enterprises Institutions or Polytechnic/Monotechnic. “However, if a candidate makes a Public University his first choice, he will not have any publicUniversity to choose for 2nd, 3rd and 4th choice. He will have on the remaining three choices, aCollege, a Polytechnic, Private University and IEI’S. “However, candidates for the 2017 UTME can now select NCE (College) or ND (Polytechnic/Monotechnic) as their 1st choice up to 3rdchoice and the 4th IEI. “They can select the IEI (Innovative Enterprise Institution, ND) as their 1st choice up to the 4th choice, but can only pick a public university once. “This restructuring is to expand the opportunities available to candidates as almost all the public universities do not consider candidates on the second choice list because they hardly exhaust their first choice. “The registration of UTME this year will go side by side with the Direct Entry and during registration, candidates’ 10 fingers are to be captured using Biometric Verification Machine (BVN). “Again, we want to inform candidates that no cyber café will be registering candidates for our examination. On no account should any candidate patronize any cybercafé for our registration. ”It is important to note that the Board will not deploy the use of any scratch card for the 2017 UTME registration exercise.” [myad]
“I wish the President (Muhammadu Buhari) well and that he returns soon. Whether the President is here or away, he has my full loyalty. President Buhari can be rest assured on this point: I, Asiwaju Tinubu will never contest against him nor will I support anyone who does.” The National leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu made this commitment to President Buhari today, Tuesday, against the backdrop of media reports that he is planning to run for Presidency in 2019. The full Text of Tinubu’s Statement is reproduced below: “The front page story of the February 28 THISDAY newspaper alleging that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is actively planning a presidential run is an example of bad fiction masquerading as professional journalism. The story is a manufactured tale weaved by its authors to try to create division where there is none. Those who wrote this fantasy seek to place Asiwaju Tinubu at odds with President Buhari. Writing such a baseless report is a very foul and wrong thing to do. The story carried the headline “Tinubu Prepares for Presidential Run, Dumps PDP, Mega Party Alliance.” The headline is remarkable in the fact that every bit of it is utterly wrong. First, Asiwaju Tinubu is not gearing up for a presidential run. So there will not be any doubt about this core matter, we shall state Tinubu’s position clearly and unequivocally so that even THISDAY reporters cannot misinterpret his position. As long as that patriotic and committed man named Muhammadu Buhari holds and seeks to hold the mantle as our president, then Asiwaju Tinubu stands behind him in unwavering support and confidence. Asiwaju Tinubu remains faithful to the mission of progressive reform and change that President Buhari, he and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have started. Tinubu was instrumental in the formation and success of the APC. His toil and efforts helped establish this government. He is not one to tear down something he laboured so dutifully to build. Instead of trying to convey the truth, the THISDAY report opted to gain false sensation by completely mocking the tenor of the brief banter Asiwaju Tinubu had with journalists at the inauguration of Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. When asked about future political office, Asiwaju said he could not discount that possibility if the nation called upon him for such service, provided, he emphasized, that all political conditions were appropriate; particularly the office in question would have to be vacant, even if it’s local government chairmanship. In our political lexicon, this means the office is not held by a member of the APC in good standing. We all know this. Moreover, if you really listen to his words, Asiwaju did not mention any office or any time-frame. The conditions he mentioned may not become ripe for years to come and they might not pertain to the presidency. In effect, all Asiwaju said was the position that any political figure would hold. As a politician, he cannot preclude the possibility of running for office in the future because no man knows what the future will hold. To translate this general statement of political reality into a tale that he is actively preparing for a 2019 presidential run is reckless in the extreme. For that newspaper reporters to have engaged in this great leap of counterfeit logic means they purposefully bowed to the pressure to create false headlines instead of following the ethics of their craft to follow the truth even if the truth is more pedestrian and less volatile than what the reporters would have liked to hear. They have turned themselves into newsmakers instead of remaining true to their calling of being neutral conveyors of events. Asiwaju Tinubu has not held any planning meetings for any such presidential campaign and is not contemplating any such meetings. He has no present list of possible running mates because he has no present intention of running. The headline also libels Asiwaju by asserting he was going to join the PDP. This is as shameless as a lie can be. Asiwaju is acknowledged to be the intellectual father and the driving force behind the APC. It makes no sense that he would abandon the party that he worked hard to build in order to enter the dilapidated building the PDP has become. Asiwaju worked for over 16 years to break the PDP yoke on the nation. After breaking that yoke, it is not in his nature to voluntarily place it back on our necks. Anyone who has followed his career, even his staunchest critics, knows Asiwaju for his partisan consistency. He is not a party hopper. He is loyal and sticks with the party to which he belongs. After fighting for so many years to elevate his party to the position of national leadership, he would not give that away in order to join with those who blame him for their currently bleak political circumstance. We understand all too well the genesis of this false news report. For their own reasons, THISDAY has joined with those who seek to put Asiwaju Tinubu at odds with our President. This scam will fail. Asiwaju supports and stands behind President Buhari.” [myad]
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has lamented the high rate of domestic and gender based violence, charging the Social Development Secretariat to give special attention to the issue of violence against women and children. The Minister, who spoke today, Tuesday, while inaugurating the FCT Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team and the Gender Based Violence Referral Centre in the FCT, noted with regret that the FCT ranked high among areas with prevalent cases of domestic and gender based violence. He said that with the right political will and cooperation among all stakeholders, a lot could be achieved to contain the scourge. He expressed gratitude to the office of the Vice President for initiating a national discourse on domestic and sexual violence, which culminated in the initiative being embarked upon by the FCT administration. “What we really need to do is to make sure that we all work together and I can assure you that with the right political will which is already on at the federal and FCT levels, if we get the right commitment from all offices, I think in a very short time, we will be able to achieve a lot. “As difficult as this activity may appear to be, as long as you have pockets of success and it is well documented and publicized, that opens up a lot of confidence in what can be done and more importantly, gives people hope that whatever happens to a person, you always have a place where you will receive a listening ear, guidance and counseling, above all resolution of problems.” The Minister called for the right attitude and efforts from other stakeholders to make the Referral Centre a success, stressing that the menace must be tackled headlong. “The capacity is there, the knowledge is there, the institutional support is there. If we really create time and look at this, I assure you we are going to achieve a lot of successes.” Earlier, the Acting Secretary of the Social Development Secretariat, Mrs. Elegbede Irene Adebola said the Referral Centre enjoys the support of the Presidency, Agencies, Departments, NGOs, among others. She said that domestic and sexual violence happens among the low and high, the educated and uneducated in the society and therefore called for concerted efforts to combat it. “In FCT, in the course of our service delivery in the Social Development Secretariat, we are confronted almost on daily basis with myriads of gender-based violence within and among families, siblings and within neighborhoods.” Also speaking at the occasion, the Director-General of Legal Aid Council, Mrs. Joy Bob-Manuel commended the political will which the FCT minister has given to the fight and assured that her organization will complement the efforts of the FCT administration in this direction. [myad]
The Niger State Police Command has expressed worry over the illegal importation of arms and ammunition into Nigeria from Benin Republic.
According to the Command, some criminally minded Nigerians have been bringing in lethal materials through the Babana borders in Borgu Local Government area of the state.
This development is coming on the heels of the arrest of no fewer than 104 suspects within February alone.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who briefed the press today, Tuesday, on the efforts of the force to clamp down on criminals and criminality, said that no fewer than 12 revolvers and pistols were recovered from those bringing in arms into the country “just in one arrest.”
The immediate past Nigerian minister of environment, Amina Mohammed, has formally assumed as the fifth Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) at the UN Headquarters in New York,
The swearing-in ceremony was conducted today, Tuesday, by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.
Guterres told Mohammed shortly after administering the oath of office: “I want to say that I am extremely, very, very proud that you accepted to join our team. Thank you very much,”
The Deputy UN chief, after her swearing-in, immediately swung into action by declaring open the 2017 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Segment on Operational Activities for Development.
Her speech at the ECOSOC event was her first official engagement, followed by a brief press encounter with the UN Correspondents.
Amina Mohammed, who was appointed by Guterres on December 15, 2016, as his deputy, was supposed to have assumed office on January 1, 2017.
She, however, delayed the assumption of her new role at the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to complete some ongoing responsibilities she was handling at that time.
The office of the UN Deputy Secretary-General was formally established by the General Assembly in 1997 to handle many of the administrative responsibilities of the Secretary-General.
As the fifth Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed will help to manage the UN Secretariat operations, and ensuring inter-sectoral and inter-institutional coherence of activities and programmes.
She will also support the Secretary-General in elevating the profile and leadership of the UN in the economic and social spheres, including further efforts to strengthen the UN as a leading centre for development policy and development assistance.
In accepting the appointment, Amina Mohammed had said she was humbled at the opportunity to serve humanity.
“The opportunity and responsibility to serve people and planet as the next UN Deputy Secretary-General is truly humbling. I am most grateful for the confidence and trust demonstrated by the United Nations Secretary-General-designate, António Guterres and President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The next phase of my continued service to the people of Nigeria at the global level, will certainly build on the rich insights and lessons drawn from engaging with leaders, colleagues and stakeholders across our beloved nation.”
She recalled her positions of responsibilities over the last three decades and her contributions to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and recently working for environment protection as part of Buhari administration’s vision to transform Nigeria.
Nigeria was represented at the swearing-in by the acting Charge d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN, Anthony Bosah, while other family members and top UN officials also attended the ceremony.
Amina Mohammed had earlier served as UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to former UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 Development Planning.
She was instrumental in bringing about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the SDGs.
Before joining the UN, Amina Mohammed worked for three successive administrations in Nigeria, serving as Special Adviser on MDGs.
She provided advice on issues including poverty, public sector reform and sustainable development, and coordinating poverty reduction interventions.
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has south partnership with media practitioners and Nigerians to ensure a virile maritime industry as the activities of the Agency impact on the lives of all Nigerians.
Peterside said that such partnership is necessary in view of the fact that virtually every product used by Nigerians comes through the Sea and that NIMASA as the government Agency, is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring seamless and secured sea transportation, without negative impact on the environment.
The Director General spoke today, Tuesday, during a breakfast meeting with media stakeholders held in Lagos.
He said that the essence of the Agency’s continuous interaction with the media was in recognition of the role they play in information dissemination and in educating the public.
He advised them to use their platform to educate the public on the activities of NIMASA, saying that it will create awareness on the Agency’s strides to advance the maritime industry for the growth of the Nigerian economy.
“A lot of Nigerians have various misconceptions about NIMASA and its activities, hence the need for synergy with the media. We are regulating the maritime sector on behalf of Nigerians with the backing of the Federal Government to ensure that we advance our maritime sector. NIMASA is charged with the responsibility of regulating shipping activities and the promotion of indigenous shipping in Nigeria. 90% of world trade is by sea and 65% of vessels heading to Africa visit Nigeria. By this we have the responsibility of ensuring safe and secure transportation of goods and services to Nigeria.”
Peterside said that the present management of the Agency which was given the mandate of restructuring, repositioning and reforming the maritime sector by President Muhammadu Buhari through the minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has taken strategic steps to ensure that the mandate is achieved in line with the Administration’s change Agenda.
“To ensure that our mandate is achieved, we developed a medium term strategic plan with five pillars viz; Survey, inspection and certification transformation; environment, security, search and rescue transformation initiative; Digital transformation strategy; capacity building initiative and cultural and structural reform.”
The Director General noted that the steps taken are yielding results and this is evident in the reduction of piracy and other sea related crimes in the Nigerian territorial waters.
Peterside said that the Agency is in the process of rebranding and that the New NIMASA brand would be unveiled by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 20th of April, 2017. This would coincide with the meeting of the Association of African Heads of Maritime Administrations to be hosted by the Agency in conjunction with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in Abuja from 19th -21st of April 2017. The DG said with the hosting of the event, Nigeria is set to become a leading voice in the comity of maritime Nations especially as the country seeks election into the category C of the IMO Council seat in November, 2017.
In response, Chairman of the Association of Radio News Managers, Mr. Charles Kalu commended Dr. Peterside for his achievements within a short time of assumption of duty, he said that as a pressure group, meetings of this nature would help them during their reportage.
He also appealed to the DG to look for avenues on the various media platforms to reach out to the public. [myad]
Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari has commenced the construction of Aisha Buhari Foundation Orphanage and School in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state. The Foundation of the project was laid today, Tuesday, by the Deputy Governor of Borno state, Alhaji Usman Mamman Dirkwa. According to a statement by Aisha’s media aide, Suleiman Haruna, the institution will provide basic necessities of life for orphans and give them a chance to grow up into normal adulthood. Suleiman said that the Institution will provide shelter, educational and health facilities as well as income generating activities. The statement said that Mrs. Buhari was represented at the foundation laying event by Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr. Hajo Sani. Mrs. Buhari has consistently called for more humanitarian action in the North East. This project is borne out of my passion of improving the living condition of victims of conflicts and other humanitarian crises, particularly, children. At the occasion, the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Usman Mamman Dirkwa, appreciated the commitment of Mrs. Buhari and prayed God to strengthen her. He promised that Borno state will continue to provide an enabling environment for humanitarian organizations to operate. She used the opportunity to appreciate the concern, love and philanthropy shown by well-meaning Nigerians and organizations towards the IDPs and urged them to do more. She singled out the Governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima, for exhibiting high-level of political will and providing an enabling environment for all humanitarian actors both local and international. Meanwhile, two young IDPs have praised Mrs. Buhari for championing the course of the IDPs. “She has done a lot for the IDPs. She has been at the forefront of assisting us and reminding others to do the same. Today, water and food are no longer challenges at the IDP camps.” [myad]
Foremost Nigeria cement manufacturer, Dangote cement Plc has announced that it has so far exported 0.4 million tons of the product to other countries in 2016, thus bringing to an end the era of Nigeria’s dependence on importation of the product. In its 2016 full year audited results presented on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos., Dangote cement showed that it sold 8.6 million metric tons of cement outside Nigeria, which is 54 per cent more than what was sold in 2015. A statement by the company’s spokesman, Jibrin Abubakar, the company said that the export is significant given that the nation used to be a net importer of cement.
“ As at 2011, Nigeria was one of the world’s largest importers of cement, buying 5.1 million metric tons of foreign cement at huge expense to the country’s balance of payments. “The company’s Pan-African cement plants continued to perform well, contributing significantly to its turnover and profitability.” Jibrin quoted the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Onne van der Weijde, who presented the report as assuring the investors of better returns on their investment in the Dangote Cement. “The New Year has started well and we expect much higher profitability in Nigeria in 2017, even though we may not see the volume growth we achieved in 2016.
“I am confident that we will deliver an even stronger performance in 2017 as we increase market share and extend our reach across Africa.” [myad]
After the publication of my column last week, titled “I want to go to London… to see Buhari”, I received a lot of feedback from persons who were either amused or dead serious that they had been overlooked in my compilation of the list of persons who should go to London. One fellow asked:
“Abati, you left out the Miyetti Allah and the cattle herders of Nigeria.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yes, they too will like to go to London”
“With due respect, to go and herd cattle?”
“No, to visit the President and reassure him about the welfare of his cattle”
“My friend, are we talking about cattle or the health of Mr. President?”
“We are talking about everything and anything that can ensure the President’s speedy recover.”
“Speedy recovery!”
“Speedy recover!”
“My friend, it is speedy recovery, not speedy recover!”
“That is your problem. You spend too much time worrying about grammar and big words you don’t oftentimes know what to do. Look at you, you even left out local government chairmen. You left out an important organization like ALGON, the umbrella body of local government chairmen. You also did not insist that there should be a special resolution of the National Assembly in both chambers authorizing that a formal joint delegation should be sent to London to see the President, instead of the Senate President and the Speaker sneaking to London, behind every one else’s back.”
Candidly, I didn’t know what to say. But just about then, I received a text message and a phone call.
“Abati” “Yes?”
“I don’t like that your article. An old man is ill, and you are mocking him with your pen.”
“No. You are misreading the article. That is not my message. I understand that a President is a human being. No President has supernatural immunity. It is not unusual for any human being to have a medical challenge.”
“I didn’t get that message. You sounded like you were having fun, with your article dripping with cruel sarcasm. You have to be careful how you come across. You were just busy throwing yabis up and down. Are you Fela?”
“Calm down. My point is that the President’s stay in London should not become an opportunity for eye service, which is the biggest enterprise in Nigeria. Before you know it now, everybody will start trooping to London to see the President, and that will create too many leaking buckets, a lot of waste. I tried to use the vehicle of humour and laughter to ridicule and stop that.”
“I have said my own. Maybe you should re-read the article. When they decide to do something about you, don’t just say your friends abandoned you. If you want to be a stand up comedian, make up your mind. But this one that every time you carry your pen, you’ll start making jest of serious national matters in the name of writing, well, na you sabi oh.”
No writer should be placed under pressure to explain his own message. Language is invariably embodied, iconic, symbolic, semiotic and hence open to interpretations relative to levels of perception. So, I gave up on that conversation. But I was vindicated a few days ago. Another friend called, also anxious to discuss the most important subject in Nigeria today: President Buhari’s health and absence.
“Ore, ki la ri wi, ki l’on sele, ewo lewo, omo boy”
“Abati”
“How are you?”
“Have you noticed something?”
“What?”
“Since you wrote that article on your plan to go to London, people have stopped going to London or they have stopped them. When last did you see anybody posing for a photo opportunity with Sai Baba in front of Abuja house?”
”They are probably still going. London is Nigeria’s new Holy land. It may well just be that they are no longer publicizing the visits.”
“If there is no publicity, then very few people will go. A handshake with the President shown to all Nigerians, while the President is on medical exile, can open many doors for many people.”
“Medical exile. I like that phrase.”
“Forget that. I am not here to discuss grammar. I have a business idea that I think we can discuss. What you don’t know is that some people are already exploiting the business opportunities involved in Sai Baba’s absence.”
“How?”
“I pity you. The only thing you know is to speak and write English and lift your head to the clouds. You can’t smell business. The biggest business in Nigeria today is to be seen to be loyal to President Buhari.”
“I don’t quite get the business angle.”
“This is my proposal, then. We have to do something. In this season of recession, you have to think creatively. That is the best way to beat recession. We also have to organize a solidarity rally or a prayer session for Buhari.”
“How is that a business?”
“Very strategic business”
“How?”
“First things first. Do you think all the people who have been organizing rallies and prayer sessions are doing it for fun, or free of charge, or for love?”
“I am aware that they are doing it out of love for the President. They have all said they wish him well. They are praying for his good health and for the well-being of the nation.”
“Is that why there is so much competition to pray for Buhari, then?”
“What I am aware of is that prayer sessions have been held in parts of the country, in Kano by the Governor, and the Emir, in Kaduna by the state Governor and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), In Katsina state, where 50, 000 youths gathered in Daura under the umbrella of the Buhari Youth Congress for Change. In Nasarawa, Muslim faithful from 13 local councils and 18 development units spent 4 hours praying in Lafia. Security was even provided by the Nigerian Army, the Police, the Civil Defence Corps and other government agencies. The same thing happened in Kwara State, and Jigawa where the state chapter of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam also conducted prayers.”
“I am glad you have been following the trend.”
“You should trust me. Let me also tell you that all mosques across the North have been placed in a prayer mode, under strict instructions from the Sultan. Not even the private sector is left out: The Pyramid Radio Mosque in Kano held a prayer session for Buhari, attended by over 200 Muslim faithful.”
“And you still don’t see the business opportunity in all of this?”
“No. My only concern is that Nigeria is a secular state. The Constitution says so. When we begin to involve the state in prayer sessions, we are violating the law.”
“Leave that matter. The Constitution says we are a secular state. It does not say the people must not pray for their leaders.”
“Not quite so”
“I beg. Let’s talk business. See, I have a business proposal in my head. We can beat all these people to it. Instead of all these, small, small, prayers-for-Buhari that they are organizing, we can have a grand prayer rally, at every stadium in this country. I know people who can link me up with all the big Pastors and Imams in Nigeria, and every week till President Buhari returns, we can have inter-denominational prayer rallies and vigils from one state to another.”
“But where is the business in that?”
“We will buy tickets, keep people in hotels, organize transportation from every local government to the state capital, we will put money in envelopes, pay for venues, provide refreshment, and we will ensure we surpass the prayers warriors of Nasarawa who prayed for only four hours. We will make our own 8 hours. We will also involve evangelical musicians and prayer warriors. These prayers don’t come cheap or free.”
“How? Where will the money come from?”
“I can’t give you all the details. You see this my head, it is full of business but to give you an idea, we will get the state governors and local chairmen involved, corporate Nigeria and SMEs will also be mobilized. They will bring money. They won’t want to be seen to be opposing prayer sessions for the President. They too will understand the business implications.”
“I don’t get it.”
“You still don’t get it? What don’t you get? Can’t you see that even the People’s Democratic Party and all their Governors are also talking about holding prayer sessions for the President? Last year, when the President went for an ear infection vacation, the PDP – Governors, National Assembly members and other stakeholders held a prayer session. This year, with the President now on medical exile in London, the PDP is planning an even bigger prayer session from Delta state to Bayelsa to Ekiti. Fayose who once predicted that the President would fall sick is now a Buhari prayer warrior. Bet with me, the way this thing is going, you would wake up one day and Fayose will hold a prayer rally in Ado Ekiti. I know what I am talking about.”
“I don’t know. So, why are you telling me?”
“You know people. You can provide relevant contacts and we can get this thing done.”
“But what if you don’t make any money?”
“We can’t fail. The business model in my head cannot fail. People are making gains already. Everything is not money. The President made a phone call to the Governor of Kano while a prayer session was going on at the Government House in Kano. Just 300 Imams and Islamic scholars oh, but the Governor made sure the phone call was broadcast live on all local radio stations in Kano state. Calculate the cost of that in business terms. An ordinary phone call from President Buhari at this time is worth its weight in gold. Since that phone call to Governor Ganduje, other state Governors have been falling over themselves to organize prayer sessions. The Governors of Katsina, Kebbi and Gombe have also received their own phone calls.”
“I am confused.”
“You will soon get it. The day we succeed in organizing our own prayer session, with over a million Nigerians, I will make sure President Buhari makes a direct, live telephone call to the stadium. He will mention the names of Governors, CEOs, VIPs, media executives, and the whole thing will be on skype, whatsapp, snap chat, instagram, you tube, live streaming. And the prayers will go straight to heaven, because we will make sure we invite only those pastors and imams who have been saying they have direct telephones to God.”
“There are such religious leaders in this country?”
“Yes” “But you seem to have left out the diviners, the aborigines, the herbalists…”
“Sai Baba is a devout Muslim. We can’t bring such people to the public domain, but we’d find a way of providing for them. We’d give them cows, rams, goats, clothes, palm oil, kolanuts, alligator pepper… and they will pray and be happy in their underground covens.”
“And you, what will you do?”
“If Sai baba can just make that phone call, I will jump in the air and dance like Dekunle Ajokete.”
“But what if something goes wrong and the network connection fails. Or your phone runs out of battery.”
“A text message from Sai Baba will be just fine. If I get just that, Walahi, I will twerk publicly like Tiwa Savage.”
“Tiwa Savage? Does Mummy Jam Jam twerk also, with that her small 2G package? To twerk properly, you need 3G, 4G, or wifi Bakassi. What you are proposing sounds like Kwa-ra-pption.”
“Dey there. You think any judge will indict or convict anybody for praying for the President? Even the Judges may soon organize a prayer session for Buhari.”
“Let’s talk a bit more about this twerking business. “
“Get out. I am talking business; you are talking twerking! You have no business sense.” [myad]
The second Republic President of Nigeria, Sir Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari has described President Muhammadu Buhari as a honest, incorruptible and detrabalised leader who must be supported by all Nigerians to steer the country out of doom.
Shagari, who clocked 92 on Saturday, said that Buhari has been doggedly fighting corruption to sanitise governance in the country and therefore, needed the prayers and support of all Nigerians.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto that Buhari is a true nationalist whose penchant for Nigeria’s socio-economic development was unparalleled.
He said that the President is striving to salvage the country from the hands of anti-Nigeria forces, and appealed to Nigerians to continue to pray for leaders at all levels ”rather than cursing them’’.
”Buhari is also intensifying efforts to truly diversify the economy by taking attention away from heavy dependence on oil revenue.” The former president expressed satisfaction with the efforts so far made by the present administration to improve the security situation in Nigeria and urged the government not to relent.
This was even as the eldest son Shehu Shagari, retired Captain Bala Shagari, has described his father as “humble and disciplined,” saying that they are proud of him.
He said that the family is grateful to God for the life of their father, adding that it is a blessing that he marked 92 years and is still strong.
”We must show gratitude to Almighty Allah for his longevity. Our father is an invaluable blessing from God; he is free with us and always provides wisdom and guidance to us.
“He is never greedy and he is a person who never solicits for anything or position, only gets it purely on merit.”
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has cancelled the concept of awaiting results in its admission process for this year.
“I wish the President (Muhammadu Buhari) well and that he returns soon. Whether the President is here or away, he has my full loyalty. President Buhari can be rest assured on this point: I, Asiwaju Tinubu will never contest against him nor will I support anyone who does.”
Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari has commenced the construction of Aisha Buhari Foundation Orphanage and School in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state.
