Groups Accuse Judge Who Wants El-Zakzaky Freed Of Legalizing Terrorism In Nigeria

December 5, 2016

Coalition on Good Governance and Change Initiative (CGGCI) as well other Civil Society Groups have accused Justice Gabriel Kolawole, who recently ruled that leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky should be freed from detention, of trying to legalize terrorism in Nigeria.

The groups, whose members stormed the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja today, Monday, to protest said that the judgment was done “without recourse to the consequences that this dangerous precedence would have on law enforcement, security, anti-terror fight, terrorism and secessionist movements in Nigeria.”
National President of the CGGCI, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, said during the protest: “the judiciary has dealt a fresh blow to the future of Nigeria by legalizing terrorism, while leaving the rest of us at risk of losing our lives.”
Ogenyi described the judgment as ridiculous, wondering how Justice Kolawole could order the release of someone who poses grave security risk to the society through his extreme brand of foreign backed radicalization programme in the name of religion.
“Nigerians are ever ready to do the needful in safeguarding the future of our dear nation and hence would demand that Justice Kolawole be investigated by the National Judicial Council.
“In the space of one week, the judiciary has ordered dangerous fanatics and demagogues to be returned to the streets to resume brainwashing, radicalizing and militarizing vulnerable youths in the population.
“This could have only been in keeping with fulfilling obligations entered into for less than honourable considerations even as we cannot rule out a judiciary that is taking its pound of flesh from an executive arm that has exposed the sleaze on its soiled bench.
“If the entire judiciary has activated its vendetta against the security agencies that they see as the executive arm, the precedence set by Justice Gabriel Kolawole took things to the ridiculous by awarding N50 million of tax payers’ money to finance IMN’s radicalisation programme, while also asking that the police further deploy its personnel to protect a man whose sect members would invariably kill like they had killed soldiers and policemen in recent past.
“This judge also failed to realize the weight of his utterance that has basically ordered the government to build a new headquarters for a proscribed group – we do hope he will keep himself on the bench for when other terror groups approach to demand for the government to build them headquarters.
“The house demolished in Gyellesu in Zaria, Kaduna State, on which the directive to build a new one for this demagogue, originally belonged to Alhaji Ismail Gwarzo, the Director General of the National Security Organization under late General Sani Abacha.
“El-Zakyzaky was given the seized house by General Abdulsalam Abubakar because people of Babban Dodo had at time also rebelled against IMN occupation, which made them to burn his initial hub after he was released from another arrest for insurrection. Justice Kolawole has murdered sleep.
“He did this confidently because security agencies under obligation use taxpayers’ money to protect him and other judges, who therefore do not know the magnitude of the threat that terrorism poses to citizens.” [myad]

Ex President Jonathan’s Spokesman, Ima Niboro, Dumps PDP For APC

Greenbarge Reporters

December 5, 2016

The first special adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on media and publicity, Ima Rume Niboro has dumped his boss and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Niboro, who was made Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), by Jonathan shortly after he replaced him with Dr. Reuben Abati, was ushered into the APC today, Monday, at his residence in Udu Local Government Area of Delta.

Niboro said: “it is not a sudden switch. I have had 18 months to study the situation as it concerned my ward, local government, community and even my state.”

“I have to conclude that there is time for everything. This is the time for us in Delta to link up with the Federal Government in order to bring development to our land.

“We cannot at this critical point of our history be left out of Federal Government’s development agenda.” [myad]

Tinubu Vows To Remain Committed To Ideals That Fuelled Creation Of APC

Greenbarge Reporters

December 5, 2016

“I, Asiwaju will remain true to the progressive ideals that fuelled the creation of APC. In our journey to national betterment, plans and policies will be made, then amended. Mistakes will occur and then corrected.”

These were the avowal declarations of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, on his twitter handle @AsiwajuTinubu.

Asiwaju Tinubu wrote further: “APC, is for the people and the national purpose is bigger and more important than any individual desire.

“I have devoted my political life to achieve what has been achieved. My heart is too much of the people and my mind too fixed on establishing.´

His declared commitment to the APC came against the background of the recent media reports that he and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar were planning to float another political party ahead of 2019 general elections.

Asiwaju, who governed Lagos state for two terms, was seen as not being happy happy with the leadership of APC, when he openly asked the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to resign his position over alleged irregularities during the party’s primary election in Ondo State that produced the State governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu. [myad]

Sule Lamido Accuses APC Of Opening Its Door To Big Thieves In Nigeria

Greenbarge Reporters

December 5, 2016

A former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of accommodating all manners of Nigerians with shady characters, including big thieves.

“Today, no matter how big you are as a thief, if you go to APC, they would accept you, look at those going to APC in the last two to three weeks, these are people who are literally on trial by the EFCC.”

Lamido, who spoke in his Bamaina hometown in Jigawa state, said that because the PDP cannot stand up for those thieves “they are going there or maybe APC has no qualms about fraud by accepting them with the intention of cleaning them.”

He admitted that the leaders of the PDP, including himself, should be blamed for the party’s electoral losses to the APC in the 2015 polls, adding that the PDP is beyond any personality.

Lamido, who is one of the PDP founding fathers, argued that there was no way Muhammadu Buhari could have been given an opportunity to contest for presidency at the outset of the present dispensation in 1998/99. He claimed that the President was able to come to power in 2015 because of the efforts of the PDP in reconciling and stabilizing the country.

“It is not about one’s own personality or one’s ego, but it is about this party called PDP which carries the Nigerian hope which was able to get Nigerians stabilized in spite of the vilification and propaganda and prepared the ground fully for Buhari to come in and become a president because if there is any great beneficiary of PDP in Nigeria, it is Buhari.”

The former Jigawa governor said: “between 1998 and 1999, there was no way Buhari could have gotten the opportunity to contest; he can’t contest. I don’t mean to insult him, but it is simply a historical fact that all those that are now calling the shots are all, thanks to PDP because the country has been stabilized and reconciled.

“So, anybody in the Villa or Government Houses or wherever they are, who are now enjoying this APC thing are simply because PDP was able to restore the country and made it possible for them.”

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the APC, Prince Paul Ikonne, has made it clear to the new entrants that the party is not for sale, calling on them to get themselves abreast of the fact.

Prince Paul Ikonne, who was a governorship candidate of defunct ACN in 2011 and a Chieftain of APC in Abia state, also warned those he allegedly said to have been using Abia APC to defraud people to desist from it.

In a statement, Ikonne called on Nigerians and lovers of APC to disregard a statement credited to Chief Orji Kalu that he had begged him secretly.

“We shouldn’t have responded to this cheap blackmail, but for the avoidance of doubt and to put the records straight, what Prince Ikonne Stands for is integrity and dignity and as such still maintains that Orji Kalu’s entrance into APC is nothing to celebrate, and people should stop leaving in past glory.

“We use this medium to warn those who have been using Abia APC to defraud people to desist from it. These same people are those who embezzled the money meant for the presidential election in Abia State and collected money from the people in Ukwa (the oil producing area) in the name of securing NDDC appointments for them, which is being spare-headed by Ben Godson.

“Paul Ikonne therefore warns that the All Progressive Congress is not for sale or a platform to defraud people and those involved should desist from it.”

He assured that the entire South-east will vote for President Mohammadu Buhari in 2019 election, “and therefore call on all Nigerians to support the president in his fight against corruption and his quest to fix Nigeria.” [myad]

Wole Soyinka Calls Nigerians Who Wailed Over Trump’s Victory Morons, Imbeciles

Greenbarge Reporters

December 5, 2016

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka is angry with Nigerians who he said wailed louder than the bereaved Americans, against the backdrop of the election of Donald Trump as their next President.

“I am embarrassed to occupy the same nation space as some imbeciles and morons. I am planning my Wolexit, which could be internal or external.

“On the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration, I will have a private funeral keep to mourn the death of Nigeria’s common sense. If the board agrees (because I do not like to be authoritarian), I will move the residency of my foundation out of the country (Nigeria).”

Soyinka spoke today, Tuesday, at a media parley at Freedom Park in Lagos.

The playwright wondered “why do Nigerians wail louder than the bereaved?

The Nobel laureate had threatened to destroy his Green Card if Donald Trump emerge President, the threat which he carried out to the letter by actually destroying it on Thursday last week. [myad]

Kaduna Government Officially Declares Shiite Sect ‘Insurgent Group’

Greenbarge Reporters

December 5, 2016

The Kaduna state Government has formally declared the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shiite as an insurgent group.

In a White Paper, released today, Monday in Kaduna, the state government warned that IMN members would henceforth be treated as an insurgent group.

“For all intent and purpose, the IMN is an insurgent group and ought to be treated as such.”

The White Paper also declared that the detained leader of the Shi’ite sect, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky would be held responsible for all acts carried out by the group’s members.

“Members of the IMN owe absolute loyalty to Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky. He therefore bears responsibility for all the acts of lawlessness committed by the organization and should therefore be held responsible, fully investigated and prosecuted,” the government said. [myad]

To Kick-Start Nigeria Economy, We Need Lot Of Money, Including The $30 Billion Loan– Oyegun

Greenbarge Reporters

December 5, 2016

APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun

The All Progressives Congress (APC), National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun has made it clear that Nigeria currently needs a lot of money, including the proposed $30 Billion foreign loan, to kick-start the much talked about economic development.

“We must kick-start the economy and to kick-start it will need money, lots of money…so long as the borrowing is done not to pay salaries which the President Buhari administration will not do, but invested to create opportunities, solve our problems of power and things like that.

Addressing news men after an event in Lagos, Oyegun defended the borrowing plans of the President, saying that the money will be invested in infrastructure to grow the economy.

“If you read the newspapers, you hear the president being advised to pump money into the economy. So the question is where is the money coming from? Simple! It has to come from somewhere including borrowing — both internal and external. To get this country going again, you have to pay contractors. Some contractors have not been paid for four, five, six, 10 years.

“It is meant to allow people to have money to consume, to buy goods, to pay for services so that factories can produce. So it is that cycle. [myad]

President Buhari Marvels At How President Sirleaf Stabilizes Liberia

Greenbarge Reporters

December 5, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed great surprise at how President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had been able to stabilize her country, Liberia.

Buhari, who commended the Liberian leader for handling the affairs of the ECOWAS diligently, did not fail to also laud her efforts in stabilizing her country.

“I have to very sincerely congratulate you with the way you have stabilized your country and with the small contributions Nigeria was able to make throughout those difficult times that you went through.

“And also thank you very much on the way you are handling ECOWAS responsibility. We have one or two countries that I believe we will discuss when we go to Senegal today, tomorrow and maybe on Wednesday, in terms of peace and security.’’

Buhari spoke at a joint press briefing today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with President Sirleaf, who was on a two-day visit to Nigeria.

The Nigerian leader challenged African leaders to ensure socio-political stability in their countries to achieve peace and speedy regional and sub-regional integration in the continent.

He said that though the situation in the ECOWAS sub-region is now relatively stable, but that there is the need to continue to persuade the leaders to pay more attention to security and development.

“The situation in our sub-region is relatively stable but there is the need for us to continue to persuade our colleagues to show appreciation of the efforts the sub-region is doing to make sure that we pay more attention to security and development.

“I have appreciated very much your efforts and I also congratulate you on your successes. I believe you may even go outside the region, to the African Union so that before the AU meeting we try and persuade the leadership of those countries in our sub-region to show more patience and accommodation with politics of their countries.”

This was even as President Sirleaf, who is also the Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS nations, said that she was in Nigeria to be updated on the focus and challenges of the work of the ECOWAS Commission

She said that the visit is also meant to enable her meet with the entities of ECOWAS, the Commission, the Parliament and the Courts in preparation for the forthcoming Summit of the Authority of the ECOWAS, slated for Abuja on Dec. 17.

Sirleaf stressed the need for leaders in the sub-region to continue to maintain peace and stability to achieve regional integration and economic prosperity.
“I’m glad once again to be back in Abuja. I’m using the opportunity of this visit to be updated on the focus and challenges of the work of the ECOWAS Commission, to meet with the entities of ECOWAS, the Commission, the Parliament and the Courts in preparation for the reports I will present at the Summit of the Authority, which will be held here in Abuja, on Dec. 17.

“But, I’m so grateful that while here, I reached out to the President and asked him for the opportunity to call on him to be able to brief him on some of the findings I have had in my two days of consultation with the commission.

“I also exchanged with him some of the developments in our sub-region, political development; economic development, and to get his wise counsel on how we can ensure that we monitor the situation in all the West African countries so as to maintain peace and stability in all of our countries.”

The Liberian President arrived in Abuja yesterday, Sunday on a two-day official visit to Nigeria, and had visited the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on the same day

The ECOWAS chairperson also held closed door meetings with the President of the commission, Mr. Marcel de Souza, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and senior officials of the commission. [myad]

Poor Diet Killing Nigerians Fast, Health Minister Laments

Greenbarge Reporters

December 5, 2016

Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has lamented the rate of death in Nigeria resulting from unhealthy diet.

The minister who presented a keynote address in Lagos at the First Annual Black Tie Gala event, organized by the Tristate Heart Foundation (THF) to raise N500 million in support of cardiovascular care in Nigeria, observed that unhealthy diets contributed significantly to the development of non communicable disease in Nigeria.

“Sadly, there is widespread low consumption of proteins, fruits and vegetables and increasing patronage of fast food outlets by the population. There is also large promotion of sweetened products such as carbonated drinks, pastries, candies and other refined sugars, while excessive intake of salt is promoted by food additives such as monosodium glutamate common in delicacies such as suya, kilisi, isi-ewu, ngwo-ngwo, among others.”

He said that current estimates, show that death rate from stroke is 40-50 per cent within the first three months of diagnoses, while 39 per cent of those who survived stroke after three months died within a year, with 12 per cent developing severe disability.

“I can say without fear of contradiction that at least five out of 10 adults seated here tonight have elevated blood pressure and more than half of these are not aware of their situation.

“This is frightening because the dire consequence of neglected hypertension is stroke without warning. Unless we take drastic and sustained actions, we will keep counting losses.” [myad]

How Kuforigi-Olubi Redefined Place Of Womanhood In Nigeria Development – Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

December 5, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the former Nigeria’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Otunba Ayora Bola Kuforiji-Olubi, who died on Saturday at the age of 80, will be remembered for redefining the place of womanhood in Nigeria’s development.
In a condolence message to her family, issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President, who recently received the deceased in audience at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the deceased, described her as the banking and accounting guru.
He said that, Kuforigi-Olubi, who was the first female President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of NIgeria, served her nation and humanity with all her God-given strength and talent.
“As a distinguished economist and manager who scored many firsts in breaking the glass ceiling in both private and public services, the President believes that Otunba Kuforiji-Olubi.”
President Buhari described the multiple professional, national awards and fellowships which she received during her life time as well deserved.
Dr. Kuforiji-Olubi died on Saturday morning in Lagos.
Buhari, as a military Head of State, appointed her the first female Chairman of United Bank for Africa.
She served in various capacity locally and internationally. She was the 25th president Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria, the first female to become president of the Institute; while she was in the office she launched Accounting Technicians Course 1989–1990.
She was the first Nigerian woman to be Chief Executive Officer of a multinational company (VYB Industries Limited, with British affiliates (incheape & Co Plc) and first female Chairman of a public quoted company (Bewac Plc).
kuforiji chaired and served on the boards of many other companies.
She the first Chairperson of Ogun, Osun River basin development (1976–1980), member governing council Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic research (NISER) from 1981–1983.
She had separated from the father of her children who is late, but kept the Kuforiji name in the interest of her children and as, indeed, she is legally entitled to so do. She later met Chief Daniel Adeyanju Olubi who was an administrative manager in one of the companies she held sway in, married him and, in her most popular and successful days, became known as Chief Mrs. Bola Kuforiji-Olubi.
Her husband, Yanju, a good friend of late Chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club and leading architect of his time, Kingsonian, Arc. John Seyton Macgregor (AKA JSK) of the iconic and dynastic Lagos Macgregor family who took immensely to him and enhanced Olubi’s initiation into the Yoruba Tennis Club.
Kuforiji-Olubi later separated from Chief Olubi and has been living a happy retired life caring for her children, Tokunbo and Joke and their children in her massive riverside mansion on Marine Road Apapa while surrendering the management of her real estate holdings to her children. [myad]

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