Home Blog Page 1793

Head Of Service Threatens Government Institutions Over N9 Billion Debts

Oyo Ita WinifredHead of Service of the Federation, Ms. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita has threatened government institutions that are indebted to the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) to the tune of N9 Billion to pay the debts or risk having a chunk of their overhead expenditure deducted from the first line charge to settle such debts.

Ms. Oyo-Ita who spoke when the Chairman, Ministerial Task Team on the recovery of N9 billion owed the AEPB, Baba Shehu Lawan led members of the Task Team to her office in Abuja, made it clear that MDAs have no business owing the AEPB as these expenses ought to have been fully catered for in their annual overhead budgetary expenditures.

She said that her office has similar understanding with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) or the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company to deduct at first line charge all indebtedness by government institutions to the company.

She warned that her office had no option than to write the budget office to authorize this arrangement, should these MDAs fail to defray their indebtedness to the AEPB.

“We want to convey a very strong message to all the MDAs under the office of Head of Service, that is the Ministries and various Parastatals that if efforts are not made to clear these debts by the next overhead allocation, we will have no option than to ask the budget office to make deductions at first charge.”

“That is the arrangement we even have here with the PHCN or Abuja Electricity Distribution Company. We’ve given the budget office approval to deduct our bills and they are still doing it.”

The Head of Service said that a committee will be set up, comprising members from her office and FCT Administration to negotiate with the erring MDAs for the purpose of reconciliation and payment of these outstanding debts.

Earlier, the Chairman, Ministerial Task Team on the recovery of N9 billion owed the AEPB, Baba Shehu Lawan said the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, had constituted the Special Task Team when the Administration realized it was unable to offset its rising indebtedness to the companies which it had contracted to provide these services.

Lawan emphasized that due to the dwindling revenues of the FCTA, the Administration is finding it very difficult to settle these bills, which he said, amounted to more than N200 million per month.

“The level of indebtedness to the FCTA by federal government agencies exceeds N9 billion. We have organizations, the residents, the plazas, the commercial banks, the hospitals and so forth that are all indebted to the Administration. Because of this fact, this Special Task Team was constituted and given 8 weeks to recover such funds. We are now in our third week.”

The Chairman then appealed to the Head of Service to prevail on the MDAs to oblige and defray their balances within the shortest possible time to avoid discontinuation of solid and liquid waste disposal services.

“The FCT Administration is by no means willing to embarrass federal institutions either by dragging them to the mobile court or to discontinue the services of either solid or liquid waste.” [myad]

Father Mbaka Prays For Healing Of President Buhari, Says His Coming Out Is Bright

Father Ejike Mbaka

“I want the enemies to see our President shining, prospering and moving majestically in glory. The chances of his healing may be little but now with our prayers and faith, the chances of his coming out is high.”

These were the words of the Spiritual Director, ‎Adoration Ministry, Enugu Nigeria, AMEN, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, when he led his congregation to pray fervently for the healing of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been away in UK on a 13-day break, during which time he had doctors looked at his ear infection.

‎Father Mbaka, in one of his Adoration programmes, said that with the prayer of the members of the congregation, the President would receive healing even as he attributed the trouble with the President to some people who were not happy that he is alive.

“Such people hate everything about the President”, he said, while narrating the vision which he saw before the President’s present trip to London.

According to him, in the vision, the President was critically sick and was being flown abroad for treatment.

“His health was in a bad shape and he was asking that (Fr Mbaka) should pray for him. None among the people I have called, picked my calls.
“People think I speak with Buhari every day. When people climb into power, they are dazed. It is a long dream. Our job is to pray for him but there are things that he must do and there is no way to communicate it to him,”

He asked the congregation to stand up and lift their hands up as he began to pray for the health and healing of President Buhari.

The prayer went thus: “We call on Michael the arch angel, Uriel the archangel, Gabriel the archangel to carry you in their wings back to life. They angels are bringing you back in their wings. In Psalm 79:11 the Lord restores those who have already being appointed to die. Are you the one that has been appointed to die? God Himself will bring you back to life. Remember His word that when the thief comes to steal, kill you and destroy you, I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly. Have life now more abundantly in Jesus name Amen.

“We pray for our President and anyone that is suffering such a dangerous disease. We lift our healing hands for divine healing upon our president. Wherever he is, may he be healed in Jesus name Amen.

“The doctors in Nigeria are nursing fear that he may not survive but we have a healing God. His name is specialist in impossibilities. In Mathew 19:26, He can make the impossible, possible. In Mark 10:27 He can make the impossible, possible. In Luke 1:37, He can make the impossible, possible. In Jeremiah 32:17, He can make the impossible, possible. In Job 42:2, He can do all things and no purpose of His can be thwarted. Hallelujah.

“We stretch our hands of healing upon our President and you that may be sick here. I take you as somebody who is as if to say he is dead already. Have they said that you are dead and there is nothing that can be done in your situation? Have your kidney died? Have your liver died? Have your heart or any organ of your body been confirmed dead? Look at what happened in John 11:39. When Jesus asked them to open the tomb of Lazarus, they told him that by now he must be smelling for he was dead for about four days now. After all this, I heard Jesus talking in verse 43 telling Lazarus to come out. Let that thing that is dead come back to life in Jesus name Amen. Let your dead vision come back to life. Let your dead destiny come back to life. Let your dead passion come back to life in Jesus name Amen.”

“The spiritual energy with which we make this prayer is enormous that it shall do this for us. If you are ready for testimony, my God is ready with miracles.”

President Buhari is expected back in Nigeria today, Sunday and will resume duty tomorrow, Monday, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. [myad]

 

America And The Man-No-Be-Wood Nigerian Lawmakers, By Reuben Abati

Reuben Abati
Reuben Abati

There has been no shortage of controversy and hair-raising incidents from the 8th National Assembly of Nigeria, but nothing breaks the heart more than the name-them-shame-them letter that has been sent to the Speaker of the House of Representatives by the US Ambassador in which he accused three Nigerian lawmakers of sexual misconduct during an April 7-13, 2016 participation in the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP).

The three lawmakers are Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi), Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Mark Terseer Gbillah (APC, Benue).  In his letter to the Speaker, James Entwistle says Gbillah and Ikon “allegedly requested hotel parking attendants to assist them to solicit prostitutes” while Gololo “allegedly grabbed a housekeeper in his hotel room and solicited her for sex”. This was reported to the hotel management. The use of the word “grabbed” sounds quite deliberate in its Nigerian-ness.

Whoever threw that phrase in knows certainly well, that Nigerian lawmakers who spoke against a Gender Equality Bill, and who have done nothing to protect the Child Rights Act which pegs the age of marriage at 18, are most likely to abuse women and grab anything that their libido finds attractive. Of course as expected, the three indicted lawmakers have claimed that they are innocent, that nothing of such happened and that they have been denied the benefit of fair hearing. Mark Gbillah has written a windy protest letter, like a petition for a visa denied, in which he not only affirmed his innocence, but he is also alleging defamation and the threat of possible lawsuits. Gbillah is even asking for a video-tape proof! You’ve got swag hen, bros, the way you just dey halla…

But I will advise you and the two others to just drink cold water and chill, and as they say, calm down. Without any technical or express malice intended, the truth of this matter is that the US Embassy in Nigeria and the US Department of State have just thrown you and the two others under the trailer.  Read Ambassador Entwistle’s letter again, the word “allegedly” is used but the letter suggests that the weight of the law of the United States could have been brought to bear upon the three of you right after the reports were made, but now, two clear months later, after investigations have been conducted and the US Government is convinced, the decision has now been taken to name and shame you, and punishment has been issued: your visas to the United States have been cancelled.  The case against you is already closed.

Your threat that you will go to court amounts to nothing.  It is your word against theirs. And it is not just the three of you the Americans are shaming, it is the rest of us, and so the shame is an embarrassment to Nigeria. If you guys don’t think so, please hire an intelligent person to decode the following excerpt: “The conduct described above left a very negative impression of Nigeria, casting a shadow on Nigeria’s National Assembly, the IVLP, and to the American hosts’ impression as a whole. Such conduct could affect some participants’ ability to travel to the United States in the future”. What? All of these insults -just because three male Nigerian lawmakers could not manage erectile functionality?

It seems to me that part of the problem with many of our public officers is that they enjoy free meals and free rides so much that they hardly pause to understand the implications. They jump at every invitation to dinner from foreign embassies without knowing what it means to go there and start blabbing. Every word gets recorded! They also don’t know what it means to accept a free ride to the home country of those embassies under whatever guise. Everything you do during the visit is monitored and every one around you, including the programme guides and the staff of the hosting hotel, has been specifically detailed to keep an eye on you. The IVLP is organized by the US Department of State through US embassies across the world. It is a “premier professional exchange programme.”

The American government funds it, and in its 75 years of existence, 200, 000 persons, mainly “current and emerging foreign leaders” from 190 countries have participated in it. The objective is to provide an opportunity for interaction and exchange of ideas with counterparts in the United States and to offer exposure to the workings of the American system and democracy. People don’t usually apply; they get invited. In its wisdom, the US Embassy in Nigeria chose ten lawmakers from Nigeria including Gololo, Ikon and Gbillah. These three gentlemen should go and take a second look at whatever documents they signed before they collected a free ticket, free accommodation and some dollars, to cover the cost of their stay in the US as guests of the American people. They should check the small print carefully. They may just discover a line about good conduct somewhere; and what the US Embassy in Nigeria has just issued is a report and a testimonial on a trip that was paid for by the American taxpayer!  If so, can the Americans be blamed for protecting the integrity of the American woman, who paid the taxes that provided funds for the US trip by Gbillah, Ikon and Gololo? I am tempted to write something else on the in-context onomatopoeic suggestiveness of this last name but good conduct says No. Let me just ask then: should the US Congress fund a programme that allows foreign visitors to come and harass the unwilling American woman for sex or solicit for prostitutes?

I must say this though: it is not only Nigerian lawmakers who act sometimes as sexual predators, either at home or abroad.  The United States also has a long list of lawmakers who attracted odium and sanction, because they could not keep their libidos in check. The only difference is that whereas in the United States, such predators when caught out are named and shamed, and they often show contrition, in Nigeria high social status is taken as a licence for sexual predation and that is why the indicted have been sounding so arrogant and defiant.  When Nigerian public officials go on any trip, local or foreign, they usually make special arrangements for what is called “Man no be wood”.  This is the euphemism for the money that is set aside by an individual for taking care of prostitutes, female companions, or accidental bedroom partners during such trips.

There are male public officials and even company executives who in fact swear that they will never sleep alone on a bed during any offshore trip. They will therefore either travel with what they call “a handbag” (this is the word for a mistress taken on a trip), or may be their wives who are knowingly introduced to others on the trip as Madam, but generally no trip is deemed successful without the accompaniment of a “cover cloth” (that’s another word for a woman whose task is to satisfy the sexual needs of a Nigerian travelling offshore). There are even more denigrating terms in the local languages. In Yoruba, such women are referred to as “agbesun” or “aso ibora”.

And of course, in many countries, female hotel attendants, particularly house-keepers are ready targets. Nigerian men are known in some countries to be quite generous, when paying for such special services. This instructively has nothing to do with religion. One of the guys in the present case, is said to be a devout Muslim (yet, he was allegedly soliciting for a prostitute), the other is said to be a practising Christian and an elder in the Apostolic Church of Nigeria (these religious labels hen?) and the third is described as a Christian (in this matter, there is obviously no religion!). What has also not been said is that some personal and special assistants to Nigerian big men attend to this same matter as part of their job definition. The sociology of misogyny, sex-solicitation and phallocentrism in Nigeria is quite an embarrassingly interesting subject.

The present scandal under review will not put an end to it, but the testimonial from the US Embassy is a cautionary note to all future Nigerian travellers to the US, especially public officials.  Gbilla, Ikon and Gololo have had their visas to the United States cancelled. They may never again be given a visa to that country.  And it may also be the case that other embassies in Nigeria would have taken note of their indictment by the US Embassy, and hence refuse them visas or opportunities such as the one they have just enjoyed and abused.

The leadership of the House of Representatives has reportedly set up a panel of inquiry. We expect in typical Nigerian fashion that the panel will stand by the three lawmakers, declare them to be honourable, guiltless gentlemen; the panel may also summon the American envoy and possibly interrogate him, but all of that will not change anything about the Americans’ decisions about a programme they organized and sponsored and whose terms and conditions the three indicted lawmakers agreed to. By the way, in the state of Ohio, US, where the lawmakers visited, sexual harassment, prostitution and solicitation are illegal. The allegations against the trio are akin to a breach of contract and trust and a shameful record.

The indicted lawmakers probably do not understand how serious this is. But I accuse the US Embassy in Nigeria of overstating its case and it is like this: All that talk about negative impression of Nigeria, and the National Assembly and the threat to future participants is too saccharine. It is unfair to label the rest of us in that manner. Many Nigerians have participated in the IVLP over the years and they behaved well. Even in this instance, out of 10 Nigerian participants, there has been no need to complain about the seven others.  So, we should always name and shame the ones who fall short of standards and expectations but save us the stereotype, don’t jump from three to 200 million Nigerians and start tarring all of us with the same brush. The terms of participation in the IVLP should be between you and the individuals involved and not the House of Representatives or the rest of Nigeria. Gbillah, Ikon and Gololo do not represent me, just as they do not represent many readers of this comment. [myad]

Godwin Obaseki Emerges APC’s Governorship Candidate For Edo

 

Obaseki EdoGodwin Obaseki who until recently, served as the Chairman of the Edo State Government’s Economic and Strategy Team (EST), has emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the party’s primary election that was held last night in Benin City, capital of Edo state. The election ended in the wee hours of Sunday.

The result of the election was declared by the governorship primary election committee headed by Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina state. It was contested by 12 aspirants.

About 2,873 delegates from 192 wards of Edo state were accredited for the primary election. Obaseki scored a total of 1618 votes to emerge APC’s flag bearer over his closest rival, Pius Odubu who happens to be current deputy governor, having 471 votes.

Here is a breakdown of the results per candidate:

Agbarha Justina 3

Chris Ogiemwonyi 137

Oserheimen Osunbor 10

Godwin Obaseki 1,618

Kenneth Imansuangbon 247

Blessing Agbomhere 5

Charles Airhiavbere 11

Fredrick Amadasun 8

Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula 10

Austin Emuan 7

Peter Esele 8

Godwin Obaseki was born in Benin City, Nigeria to the famous and illustrious Obaseki family.

He had his early education in St. Matthews Anglican Primary School Benin City from where he proceeded to Eghosa Anglican Grammer School, Benin City for his secondary schoool eductaion. He attended the University of Ibadan where he obtained a BA in Classics.

Mr. Obaseki attended the Columbia University and Pace University in New York and has an MBA in Finance and International Business. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers, Nigeria and an alumnus of the Lagos Business School Chief Executive Program.

He was nominated a Global Leader for Tomorrow (GLT) by the World Economic Forum in 2001.

Godwin Obaseki began his career over 30 years ago and has established track records in Investment Banking, Asset Management, Securities Trading and the Public Sector both internationally and in Nigeria. He started out in 1983 with Capital Trust Brokers Limited Lagos as a stockbroker where he excelled and subsequently worked with International Merchant Bank (an affiliate of First Chicago Bank). In 1988 he joined AVC Funds Limited, Lagos where he served as a Project Manager and led the core team that set up two of the new generation banks which eventually reshaped the face of the banking industry in Nigeria. Between 1993 and 1995 he worked in New York as a principal of Equatorial Finance Co, a Financial Advisory firm with a focus on Africa and providing Structured Trade Finance for African related transactions through credit, financial advisory and risk insurance.

He Founded Afrinvest West Africa Limited (formerly Securities Transactions & Trust Company Limited (SecTrust)) in 1995 as the pioneer Managing Director. The firm has since grown to become a leading Investment Banking and Investment Management firm in Nigeria. In 1995 SecTrust was appointed the correspondent stockbroker for Nigeria by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In 1996, SecTrust established the first derivative product, the Nigerian International Debt Fund (NIDF) on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which allowed Nigerians invest local savings in US Dollar instrument. This fund has outperformed projections on returns.

SecTrust pioneered and was local adviser on the first global offering by a Nigerian bank through the issuance of Global Depositary Shares (GDS) to raise UD$50 million from the international Capital market. Afrinvest has acted as advisers on some of the largest and most significant transactions in the Nigerian capital market since 2005.

Afrinvest is one of the most trusted advisory firms in the domestic corporate finance market, pioneering major innovations and providing leadership in the Nigerian Securities market. The Firm has advised on numerous landmark transactions including the first Eurobond Issue by a Sub-Saharan Africa Corporate (outside South Africa); the first ever simultaneous merger and tender offer transaction in Sub-Saharan Africa and the largest ever listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Afrinvest has been ranked as a major Investment Research firm which is at the forefront of playing instrumental roles in the introduction of new financing products such as Eurobonds and Global Depository Receipts to Nigerian Companies. Mr. Obaseki is presently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the firm which won the Best Asset Management Firm in Nigeria (2014) Award by the Wealth & Finance International Magazine Finance Awards.

Mr.Godwin Obaseki, was until his election as APC candidate, Chairman of the Edo State Government’s Economic and Strategy Team (EST), a position he has held since March 17, 2009 Pro bono publico.

Key achievements as chairman of the economic team of Edo state Government include: Documentation of State Economic Development framework through Sectors’ Strategic Planning which is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis; Introduction and enculturation of retreats as a platform to ensure all parties engagement not only in planning and executing state development initiatives but also in monitoring and evaluation of outcomes; N25 Billion Infrastructure Development Bond from the Nigerian Capital Market in 2010; $225 Million Concessionary rates Development Loan from the World Bank with the 1st Tranche of $75 Million already accessed; Successfully hosted Sector based Economic Summits and Policy Dialogue Series including the Power Round Table in 2010, 2011 Education Round Table and 2012 Agribusiness Round Table.

These summits have translated in measurable and desired outcomes including:

  1. Azura-Edo IPP project with over $1 billion in FDI currently under development in Ihovbor, Uhunwode LGA
  2. Education Reforms which have translated to significant improvement in Educational Infrastructure and student performance in WAEC and other Exams.
  3. Following the 2012 Agribusiness Summit, the state has attracted investment in the Rubber Sub-sector for the development of the single largest Rubber Plantation project in Nigeria in Sokponba in Orhiomwon LGA under a privately developed and financed initiative;
  4. A framework for Local Economic Empowerment through out-growers schemes is being finalised to attract funding into the development of key crops for which Edo State has natural endowment including Oil Palm, Rubber, Cassava, Cocoa, Rice and other grains

Other Committee activities in Edo State Government

  1. Tax Assessment Review Committee for Edo State Internal Revenue Service (TARC) – Chairman
  2. Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) – Chairman
  3. Committee on the Implementation of the Law Establishing the Edo State University of Science and Technology, Uzaire – Secretary
  4. Committee on Contributory Pension Scheme – Member
  5. Edo SEEFOR/DPO Steering Committee – Member
  6. Committee on the Report of the Audit of the Credentials of Teaching Staff in Public Schools in Edo State.
  7. Land Use Charge Committee – Chairman
  8. State Steering Committee on the European Union Assisted Niger-Delta Support programme (NDSP) Component 3 (Development of Edo State Water & Sanitation Policy and Law.

Professionally, Mr. Obaseki has served on the Presidential Committee on the Reform of the Nigerian Pension System. He also served on the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission Committee on the Re-activation of the Nigerian Bond Market and the review of the Investment and Securities Act. He served as a member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange Council between 2006 and 2009. He also serves on the board of some companies such as Dorman Long Engineering Limited, Pillar Oil Limited, Seric Impianti International Limited.

He was the founding secretary of a New York based US Africa Chamber of Commerce in 1992, which promoted US organisations doing business in Africa. He was a Director in Junior Achievement of Nigeria – the local affiliate of the worldwide Not for Profit organisation which trains students to appreciate market economy values. He also participates actively and serves as Trustee, in the Dr. Jackson Owen Obaseki Foundation, a family owned NGO which is involved in providing free educational and health services to the less privileged. He is a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and has participated actively in all elections since 2009 and was Chairman Fund Raising Committee for the Oshiomhole-Odubu re-election bid in 2012. [myad]

Egypt Sentences 3 Journalists To Death For Espionage; Jails Ex President 40 Years

Egypt sentences journalists to deathThree journalists have been sentenced to death in Egypt for espionage, even as the former President of the country, Mohammed Morsi, is to spend the next 40 years in prison on charges of leaking secret state documents to Qatar when he was in office.

Two of the three journalists whose death sentence was confirmed on Saturday by the Cairo Criminal Court, are employees of the Qatari television network, Al Jazeera. They were tried in absentia.

Confirmation of the death verdicts came after the country’s chief Islamic legal authority, the grand mufti, approved them, as required by Egyptian law in cases involving death sentences.

The Cairo Criminal Court announced two separate jail terms of 25 years and 15 years against Morsi on different counts even as his two former aides were also sentenced to life terms, which under Egyptian law is 25 years.

The rulings against Morsi and all other defendants can be appealed.

Qatar was a key ally of Morsi’s now-banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Human Rights group Amnesty International has condemned Saturday’s death sentences, saying: “while this outcome is appalling, it is sadly not surprising.”

Magdalena Mughrabi-Talhami, the watchdog’s deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme, in a statement said: “Egypt’s broken and utterly corrupted justice system is now little more than a handy tool for the authorities’ repression of any vestiges of opposition or criticism.”

The Egyptian government has repeatedly rejected criticism of heavy-handed sentences against Islamists, saying that the country’s courts operate independently.

Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president was toppled by the military in 2013 following mass protests against his rule.

In June 2015, another court sentenced him to death after convicting him of involvement in a mass prison escape during Egypt’s 2011 uprising. This sentence is also subject to appeal.

The court also handed him a life term on charges of conspiring with foreign organisations in conducting the jailbreak.

He is being tried in a separate case on charges of insulting the judiciary.

Several senior leaders in the Muslim Brotherhood and their followers have been sentenced to death in different cases since Morsi’s toppling.

The Islamist group has dismissed the sentences and other harsh verdicts as politically motivated. [myad]

5 Young Brains On Spell Bee Competition

Spell Bee CompThe best five pupils in the upper primary school of Deo Gratias International School for the Nationwide Spelling Bee Competition, billed for next Saturday, in Abuja.

L-R: Ehijie Ejemhen (Daugther Of Frontiersnews Publisher, Horatius Eguah), David Cross Nnochiri, Doris Emmauel, Nathan Ademuyiwa and Jesuseun [myad]

Dogara Wants US Ambassador To Prove Allegation Against Lawmakers’Attempted Rape

Yakubu Dogara
Yakubu Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has asked the Ambassador of the United States of America in Nigeria to prove his allegations that three members of the Nigeria House of Representatives were involved in attempted rape while in the US.
In a tweet on Saturday, Dogara said that the United States must prove the allegation, saying: “He who alleges must prove. That’s the law.”
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, had in a letter to Dogara alleged that three members of the House – Rep. Mohammed Gololo (Bauchi), Rep. Samuel Ikon (Akwa Ibom) and Rep. Mark Gbillah ( Benue) – had during a visit to the US committed the crimes.

The Reps, who were in the United States for an International Visitor Leadership Programme held between April 7 and 13, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio, were said to have behaved in unacceptable manner.
However, Dogara has appealed to Nigerians who have been making comments on the social media to stop passing comments on the issue but wait for the outcome of investigation.
A statement issued by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan, said Dogara called ond Nigerians to refrain from passing judgment and wait for the outcome of the investigation by the parliament.
“Judgment can only be passed when an allegation is proven.”
Dogara maintained that as ambassadors of the House and indeed the entire country, the members in the middle of the scandal would have known not to bring dishonour to the institution they represent.
He vowed that the House would conduct an investigation into allegations, saying: “together with the US Embassy in Nigeria, we will get to the bottom of this matter.”
The speaker said that apart from the letter, no evidence had been forwarded to his office and that there can be no conviction without a trial.
He also indicated that the lawmakers have said that they are prepared to defend themselves at their own cost.
Speaking on the attempted rape allegation, the Speaker said it was not alluded to in the letter he received.
“We await the result of the investigation into the matter.” [myad]

Diversion Of Rice For Displaced People: Gov. Shettima Accuses Abuja Politicians Of Mischief

Borno-State-GovernorBorno state governor, Kashim Shettima has accused state politicians operating from Abuja of being responsible for the diversion of rice meant to be distributed to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) in the state. He said that it is part of the mischief against him which they have embarked on.
In a statement, his spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau showed that the governor got angry at the development and directed that it should be investigated.
“The governor said that although he would await the outcome of the investigation, he is aware that a group of Abuja-based politicians from the state have sworn to bring down his administration.
“They are using all kinds of mischief, including the one of May 29 when hundreds of his posters were dubiously produced.
“The posters were pasted along strategic ‎points in Abuja and Kaduna, claiming that he is aspiring to become Nigeria’s president in 2019 with Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo as his running mate.
“They are coming up with all kinds of mischief, including trying to set me up against the Presidency. They don’t care if doing that can obstruct our success in the war against Boko Haram insurgents.”
The rice, supplied by the National Emergency Management Agency for the feeding of the IDPs in the state, was allegedly diverted by some government officials.
Governor Shettima spoke when he played host to heads of security agencies and members of the State Executive Council to a Ramadan breakfast at the Government House in Maiduguri.
The governor’s directive followed widespread allegations that some government functionaries were diverting food supplies meant for the feeding of IDPs to personal use.
“The directive followed the circulation of video clips and still pictures on social media alleging that some officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) are re-bagging rice meant for the IDPs feeding for onward sales in the market.” [myad]

Maradona Calls Ex FIFA Boss, Blatter, Thief

MaradonaFormer Argentinean football star, Diego Maradona called ex FIFA President, Joseph Blatter a thief who had stolen a lot of money from the world football ruling body at the time he was helm of.
Maradona compared Blatter with a former government official imprisoned for corruption in Argentina, claiming that Blatter has more money than Jose Lopez.
Lopez was Argentina’s public works secretary during the governments of Nestor Kirchner (2003 to 2007) and his wife Cristina Fernandez (2007 to 2015).
He was arrested on Tuesday while trying to hide millions of dollars in a monastery.
The former World Cup champion asked Loretta Lynch, the US Attorney General investigating corruption within FIFA, to come to Argentina to see things for herself.
He said that a former Argentina football executive, Julio Grondona, who is already deceased, was the one who taught Blatter how to steal.
Maradona, 55, said the current FIFA President, Switzerland’s Gianni Infantino, was “saddened” by the situation involving the football association.
“Infantino has asked me to collaborate.
“Both in FIFA and in the AFA (Argentine Football Association) dynamite has to be thrown in so that a fresh start can be made.
“Infantino was saddened. He could not do anything at all from outside of FIFA.”
Xinhua/NAN. [myad]

Chucks Ehirim: A Journalist With Difference, By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

Chuks Ehirim 3When the death of the immediate past chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja chapter, Chucks Ehirim was made public on Wednesday, June 15, what came to my mind was, ‘this could be a June Fool’ as in April Fool.
It was not as if the death of anyone would not elicit the same feeling of shock, disbelief and sadness roll into one, but that of Chucks had a ring of surprise because he died on the day he was born, June 15. And at the golden age of 50!
Of course, I cannot describe myself as being close to Chucks, but a few months we worked together in National Accord newspaper in Abuja, brought me closer to him. The two of us happened also to live in the same Area Council – Kuje. While he had his house in Peggy, I stayed in the main Kuje town.
Of course, like every other editor (he was Associate Editor while I was Deputy Editor), Chucks and I would work far into the night to see the newspaper through for the day. Sometimes if I did not go with my car, it was him that would give me a ride in his own. And vice versa.
He was so attached to the Press Centre, the official secretariat of the NUJ in Abuja that he would not go home, over 40 kilometre away, without dropping by at the press centre to greet friends and take a sip of beer.
On two or three occasions when he gave me ride, his car broke down after Ludgbe. While he bundled me into a commercial vehicle to Kuje, he would remain inside the broken-down car till day-break and then called his mechanics to fix the faults.
What actually made Chucks unique was his political leaning, which, by the Nigerian standard, was strange. While his fellow Igbo people in the profession were mainly on the Right, conservatism (those who are in love with the status quo), he was clearly on the Left of the political leaning, representing radical forces for change.
Chucks, until his death, was a star supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari. So strong he was behind Buhari and of course, the All Progressives Congress (APC) that you dare not speak negatively about the man or the party in his presence. This was at the time the mainstream Igbo, especially, those in journalism leaned heavily on the Right political ideology and hated anything that had to do with the APC or the North.
From the distance, one could conclude that Chucks’ philosophy about life is ‘take things as they come.’ He was not the type of person (Igbo) that chased things of this world, especially, wealth with madness or being consumed by it. As a matter of fact, he was an every day man: a man who waited on God for his progress with a lot of prayers.
It was not by mad pursuit of position that he was voted the chairman of the NUJ Abuja Council in 2012. It was not as a result of the cash he distributed to high-breed Abuja journalists that made him win the hearts of his colleagues. It was, more, the goodwill, his simple, innocent-looking mien disposition, his cool headedness, buried in radical disposition to change and his determination to change the system for the better that did the magic.
While I join other colleagues in mourning the gentle soul of Chucks Ehirim and while I commiserate with members of his immediate family (wife, kids, brothers and sisters), I wish to sincerely align myself with the demand of Abuja journalists that President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC should do something to honour him. This is the time the family he left behind should be made to feel the weight of his contribution, in his own way, to the success of the APC and President Buhari in the last year’s general elections. This is the time also that the Abuja NUJ should think of immortalizing his name, for he deserves nothing less.
Adieu Chucks Ehirim! [myad]

Advertisement
Advertisement ADVERTORIAL
WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com