Buhari Not Sick, He Carried Out All Official Duties Before He Left For London – Adesina

June 6, 2016

Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has made it clear that the President was not sick as was believed in many quarters, saying that he performed all his official duties upto the time he left the country for London on Monday.

Speaking shortly after Buhari addressed reporters at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja om Monday, Adesina said that though the President has ear infection, but that it had not stopped him from carrying out his duties as the leader of the country.

“The buzz going round town is that the President is ill, but ‘ill’ will be a misnomer, it should not be the right word to use.

“The President is going for a 10-day rest and during that period he will see specialists who will look at his ear because he has been treating that ear locally for some time.

“Nigerian physicians have looked at it and now they have said you are going to UK, now that you will be there. Let specialists look at the ear.

“They have treated it locally so it is not a question of whether the President is ill. If he is ill, it presupposes that there are certain things that he cannot do.

“But till the very last minute that he is traveling, the President performed the duties and functions of his office as the President. So illness is not the issue.”

The spokesman said that the President is on vacation, saying: “as a human being, yes he can rest. He has been President for one full year, you know that in February he took five days leave, he is taking another 10 days now. That means 15 days leave in one year.

“You and I take more than that. So it is natural that the President, as a human being, is taking 10 days rest but he is not ill.

“We need to underscore that. Rather than going into a frenzy I will urge Nigerians to just show goodwill and patriotism, they should pray for him and wish him well.

“Things about health life and death are in the hands of God, but I believe that all is well with our President and God will take care of him and take care of the country.” [myad]

Let Niger Delta People Drink Their Oil, We In North Will Eat Our Yam – Waku

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2016

A Senator representing Benue North West Constituency of Benue State, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999, Senator Joseph N Kennedy Waku, has asked people from the Niger Delta region to drink their oil which they so much make noise about and that people in the North will continue to eat their yam.

“Before oil came, didn’t this country exist? So, what are you talking about? We have been blindfolded and Nigeria became so lazy, a nation of cheap money. Before the oil, we had cocoa, we had palm oil, groundnut and pyramid, and those were the things that actually helped to develop the oil. At a point, we in Benue challenged them that okay, let them go and drink their oil, we would eat our yams and then see who will survive.”
Waku, who is now a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), spoke in an interview with Vanguard newspaper.

According to him, oil is natural resource which nobody owns even as no one owns farms, but that by virtue of the location some people wrongly claim ownership.

“If there is ecological diversification and you need to do something for your livelihood, then you table this issue to the federal government so that there would be amicable resolution.”

He wanted the Niger Delta militants to come out and tell government that ‘this has been our farmland, it has been devastated, and we have no land to farm anymore’ and then bring a proposal to the federal government.

“This is how it should be done than issuing threats. If I were the president, I would have ended that thing by now.”

On the renewed insurgency by militants in the Niger Delta, Waku asked “In the first place, what were the offences committed by these people before they were pardoned? Are they not criminals? If I were the president, I would jail them.”

On whether he is ruling out dialogue as proposed by some people as a way of resolving the problem, Waku asked: “what kind of dialogue? Let them bring to table what they want. Let them do what they are doing, they will also suffer it. Are they also not suffering when they ruin the economy? Are they not facing the same problem like you and I?

“They are talking of marginalization today. If you create Biafra today, is Biafra solidly Igbo’s? It’s not. When you go there, you would find a southern minority who will tell you that they don’t want to be part of it, even among the Igbo. Some Igbo will tell you that they don’t want it. If there is definitive kind of discrimination against certain segments of the country, that needs to be addressed because injustice creates dissatisfaction.

“If there have been injustices against one particular group in this country, let’s address it and not by taking the law into their hands. That is criminality. We are also affected but we want to take it in a matured approach. You cannot go and begin to destroy state apparatus in order to achieve your agitation, it is against the law.

“I am not in a position to talk about which contract was revoked because I am not involved in that. If those contracts were illegally awarded without going through the due process and the current administration wants to follow due process, what is bad about that?

“Go and do your investigation on that contract to see whether the old law that qualifies one for such contracts were made. What do you award contracts to militants for? In the first place, the name ‘militant’ is criminality. It is only this country that somebody will come back and say I am a militant and then ‘you award him contract.”

If they claim to be agitators as they are saying, then let them come out with their demands and not by holding the state to ransom. You can’t take government for ransom. If their livelihoods have been damaged considerably by the pipelines and they have nowhere to go, let there be adequate compensation to them. It is not to take laws into their hands. [myad]

Boko Haram Recaptures Bosso Town In Republic Of Niger

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2016

The Mayor of Bosso, a town in southeastern Niger Republic, has lamented that Boko Haram has over-ran and retook it after overnight clashes with soldiers from Niger and Nigeria.

Boko Haram insurgents were said to have first took the town near the Nigerian border on Friday in an attack in which 30 soldiers from Niger and two from Nigeria were killed.

Nigerien troops had retaken the town by Saturday morning, the defense ministry said. [myad]

Ramadan: The Month Of Spiritual Reformation, By Deen Adavize

Deen adavize

June 6, 2016

Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, or Hijra calendar is, to millions of Muslims, a sacred period dedicated to fasting, intensive prayer, sacrifice, worship, supplication, repentance, self-purification, and spiritual attainment.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is the third pillars of Islamic faith. Ramadan is a month in which the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

The month offers a great opportunity for Muslims to reform and refine their spiritual being.
Allah (SW) in the Holy Quran commanded all Muslims to fast during this sacred month. It reads: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain Taqwa (God-consciousness).”– Qur’an, 2:183.

It is therefore an obligatory for every Muslim believer to fast during this month, except those who are exempted from fasting which include: Children, sick people, elderly, travelers and menstruating women, postnatal, pregnant or breast-feeding.

During this period, Muslims all over the world redesign their lifestyles to focus on the goals of Ramadan.

A whole body awareness of God and a humble thankfulness for whatever blessings He has granted. Where there is awareness of God, there is spirituality. Once we attain spirituality, we are bound to attain self-righteousness, which is the key to success in this world and in the hereafter.

Ramadan is not just abstaining from eating and drinking. It requires restraint from a lot of things that are permissible at all other times, such as eating, drinking, intimacy etc. It also provides opportunity for Muslims who consciously or unconsciously engage in the acts that are prohibited by Allah to restrain from them during this month. By doing this for most of the day, it teaches discipline and the ability to fight and control desires of the soul at all times.

For example, a man who is in the presence of his beautiful wife, within the privacy of his home, and in a very romantic environment, and still control his permitted desire just out of obedience to Allah does wonders for his self-discipline, self-control, and sacrifice.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has said: “The blessed month has come to you. Allah has opened the gates of paradise and closed the gates of hellfire, and the devils are chained. And, there is a night (during this month) which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good is really deprived (of something great).”

According to medical practitioners, there are many health benefits of fasting as well. When one is fasting, the entire digestive system is at rest and gives the organs time to repair and rejuvenate. This enables better functioning of the systems and prevents many illnesses.

Apart from these, fasting also improves mental acuity and physical and mental stamina, as the body gets trained to survive without continuous and instant gratification provided by food and drink.
Ramadan is an opportunity to abandon bad habits and attempt at reaching a higher degree of moderation and spirituality in order to be closer to Allah and away from the negativity of the world.

We must reflect on our lives in order to view this world and the purpose of our existence with more penetrating insight. We must therefore strive to imbibe the spirit of this Holy month at all times.

Habits such as night prayer, recitation of the Holy Qur’an, repentance, supplication, charity, love for one another, and abstinence from all forms of immoralities should be retained even after Ramadan. If we are able to achieve all these, then no doubt, we have really benefited from the Holy month and are one step closer to gaining God-consciousness. We will also be sure of coming out of this month with a reformed soul.

May Allah accept our struggles, forgive our shortcomings during this month and help us to achieve all the good benefits of Ramadan. May He admit us in His paradise and save us from the torment of hellfire (Ameen). [myad]

3 Men Allegedly Gang-Rape 16-Year-Old Girl In Uncompleted Building

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2016

Three men identified as Akinpolu Ayobami, 20; Oseni Buli, 20; and Sunday Oyedeji, 29, have been accused of gang-raping a 16-year-old girl.

The three men who have been charged at a Modakeke Magistrates’ Court were said to have committed the offence at about 8 p.m at Oke-dio Area, Modakeke, in Ife North-East Local Government of Osun on May 9.

Prosecutor, Ona Glory, said that the accused persons were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl.

He said the men conspired and lured the 16-year-old into an uncompleted building where they forcefully took advantage of her, the offence which he said violated Section 357 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, Laws of Osun, 2003.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges even as the Magistrate, Bose Awosan granted each of the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety each in like sum.

Awosan adjourned the case tp June 22 for further hearing. [myad]

President Buhari Jets To London For Medical Check-Up

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari, this morning, Monday 6th, 2016, flew to London to spend 10 days during which period he would undergo check-up on his ear infection. [myad]

Governor Yahaya Bello Floors Faleke As Court Dismisses His Petition

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2016

The Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has ruled that the running mate to late Prince Abubakar Audu in the last year’s Kogi state Governorship election, James Faleke has no locus standi to file any petition against the election of Yahaya Bello as Governor of the State.
The Tribunal, therefore, dismissed Faleke’s petition against Bello.
Faleke had gone to the Tribunal seeking his declaration that he was the valid candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the election and that he should be declared as Governor.
Faleke said that with the death of Prince Audu on the day the results of the initial election was being announced, he should have stepped into his shoes.

Faleke also asked the tribunal to declare that the election was already conducted and concluded on November 21 before Audu’s death, and that he had already emerged as the deputy governor-elect.

He therefore asked the tribunal to declare him as the valid substitute for the late Audu and should be returned as the governor-elect.

But delivering its judgment on Faleke’s petition, the Justice Halima Mohammed-led three-man panel held that Faleke lacked legal right to file the petition after upholding Bello’s preliminary objection against it.

The tribunal upheld the objection but still went ahead to decide the petition on merit.

It upheld Bello’s objection to the effect that Faleke lacked locus standi to file the petition having not been the governorship candidate upon the conclusion of the election on December 6, 2015.

It held that it was clear that Faleke was not nominated by its party, the APC, but instead the party nominated Bello as Audu’s replacement.

The tribunal said it lacked the jurisdiction to question internal process of the party leading to the nomination for Audu’s replacement.

It held that contrary to Faleke’s contention, the election had the November 21 poll had not been concluded and thus the right to challenge the outcome of the poll had not accrued to him going by the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Meanwhile, the tribunal is still considering the merit of the entire petition. [myad]

We’ll Launch Missiles At Aso Rock, National Assembly, Others, June 11 – Niger Delta Militants

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2016

The Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF) has vowed to unleash six missiles that will destroy key buildings like the Aso Presidential Villa, the National Assembly, the Defence Headquarters and 12 others on June 11 and that before doing that it will shut down Nigerian Communication Satellite Orbit so that launching of missiles will not cause electronic radiation to human lives.

The militant group advised the occupants of the targeted buildings to vacate them so as to avoid loss of innocent lives. It also called on the international community to remain neutral as the militants battle the Nigerian Government.

A statement jointly signed by General Akotebe Darikoro, Commander, General Duties; General Torunanaowei Latei, Creeks Network Coordinator; General Agbakakuro Owei-Tauro, Pipelines Bleeding Expert; and General Pulokiri Ebiladei, Intelligence Bureau, reads further:

“The followings occupants of these buildings should as a matter of urgency vacate in them immediately IN THEIR OWN INTEREST to save their lives because our fight is not for ANY HUMAN BLOOD but to destroy all those infrastructures that were built with our oil and gas monies in this country.

“We will make federal government and oil companies to suffer as they have made the people of Niger Delta region suffers over the years from environmental degradation, and environmental pollution.

They include:

STATE HOUSE, VILLA- ABUJA
DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS
DSS HEADQUARTERS
POLICE HEADQUARTERS
NATIONAL ASSENBLY
NNPC TOWERS
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
SUPREME COURT/APPEAL COURT
AGIP HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA
SHELL HEADQUARERS, LAGOS
CHEVRON HEADQUARTERS, LAGOS
EXXON MOBIL, LAGOS
NLNG, LAGOS & ABUJA OFFICES
KADUNA REFINERY
ALL MILITARY FORMATIONS IN ABUJA, LAGOS, KADUNA, BENUE, ETC.

“We shall fire these Missiles’ simultaneously at the night, as this will enable every Nigerians to see the movement of the MISSILES and equally to believe us of our seriousness attached to the final breakup as predicted by the United States of America (USA).

“We equally advise the Diplomatic Community to be neutral on this issue as wrong comments against us will be seen as saboteurs. Where they are staying presently will not be affected which is not part of our targeted areas of destruction in the country.

“We shall embarrass the self acclaimed Nigerian Air Force with their recent deployment of fighter aircraft, helicopter gunship and surveillance aircraft when at this digital age, countries are talking about Missile development, and they still condescend so low of their present obsolete equipment. This is sad indeed!”

“Note, we are going to destroy the ones they have deployed to Escravos, Forcados in Delta State; Bonga oil field, Agbami offshore and Brass in Bayelsa; Bony in Rivers; Qua Iboe Terminal in Akwa Ibom State, and Opuekeba in Ondo State if they fails to remove them before time. Our crack team has taken inventory of their equipments. Even the present suffering from a rare ear disease known as Meniere’s disease by President Muhammadu Buhari will not win any sympathy to save our action against the federal government. The name Nigeria as a country will come to an end this week.

“The so called military operations code named ‘OPERATION PULO SHIELD’ in the Niger Delta region who our partners in the oil bunkering activities, because presently without been told the former JTF Commander, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe who was arrested by the EFCC last week over pipelines surveillance contract amounts to N8.2 billion in the region, is an eye opener to the federal government that the military are fully involved in illegal bunkering in the area.

“They only destroy those who could not afford their bidding and further lobby to come to the Niger Delta region because of what they are gaining from the area.

“Imagine, an Army private’s and corporals from the North could build business plaza of 3 storeys with several estate and other buildings including exotic cars to the detriment of the region? The Pharaoh of Nigeria (Buhari) should take the counsel of sycophants and jesters around him of the region especially Mr. Ayiri Emami and Professor Ita Sagey who are presently in our searchlight. The founder of the Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, Israel Akpodoro, is a dead man and that he should not hide for linking former President, Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson with the Avengers. We are not in ANY community, the Military can’t locate Tompolo but we have identified where he is now.

“Presently, Tompolo is in Libya and we’ll get him dead or alive for betraying us in supporting the federal government against us.

“Nigerian Military has weak intelligence gathering mechanism hence they could not identify our modu oparandi. Nigerian military is only good in carrying AK47 to harass innocent people and raping young girls and women.

“If the oil companies especially Shell and Chevron spents billions of naira to only undertake repairs of damaged oil and gas pipelines in the region, when such funds were better channeled for the payments of Bonga oil spill in 2011 and Chevron gas explosion in Koluama, Bayelsa state in 2012 would have saved them from these bombing and their present predicament would have been a thing of the past. Since they don’t want to hear, we’ll continue to break the pipelines until they do the needful for our old parents at home because that is the only language the companies and federal government hears in the country from the region.”

The Niger Delta Avengers have in the past couple of weeks bombed several oil installations, raising fears that Nigeria’s economy might soon collapse as zero oil production is imminent. [myad]

Atiku Asks Muslims To Be Good Ambassadors Of Their Faith, At Ramadan

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2016

Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has asked Muslims in the country to observe the Holy month of Ramadan which begins today, with soul-searching and deeper commitment to family.

He also asked the Muslims to be good Ambassadors of their faith, “because our humble Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) himself attracted adherents to Islam through personal examples of love, tolerance and justice. The best service we can to do Islam is to live by its teachings.”

In a goodwill message to Muslims, the former Vice President said that Ramadan should be a unique opportunity for Muslims to demonstrate greater self-discipline and compassion for the weak, the poor and the suffering.
He said that the 30 days period of fasting should be a reminder to Muslims that they should appreciate what it means for the poor to go without eating from morning to evening, and thereby appreciating the conditions of millions of ordinary Nigerians that go without eating daily.
He asked Muslims to use the Holy Month to increase their love and compassion for the less fortunate members of the society, saying that they should take the spirit of compassion beyond Ramadan by making it a permanent feature of our everyday life.
Atiku who also asked Muslims to pray for Nigeria and its leaders at all levels to overcome the challenges confronting the country, appealed to them to use the spirit of the Ramadan fasting period to promote tolerance, love and peaceful coexistence to higher and more enduring levels.
“The best public relations for our religions is our conduct towards others in terms of love and tolerance. We must be good Ambassadors of our faith, because our humble Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) himself attracted adherents to Islam through personal examples of love, tolerance and justice. The best service we can to do Islam is to live by its teachings.”
Abubakar enjoined Muslims to give support to one another, and give even greater support to the political authority in our country and various localities. [myad]

Etisalat Opens Entries For 2016 Pan-African Prize For Literature

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2016

A few months after the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Fiston Mwanza Mujila won the 2015 edition of the Prize with his first novel, Tram 83, the Etisalat has opened another entries for the 2016 edition of the Pan-African Prize for Literature.
Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, who made this known in Lagos, also announced the Judging Panel for the 2016 Etisalat Prize.

The panel comprises Nigerian novelist and poet, Helon Habila, as the Chair of Judges, South African writer and activist Elinor Sisulu and Ivorian writer, Edwige Rene Dro as members. The Chair of judges was present at the briefing as well as two of the Prize Patrons: renowned literary icon, Prof. Kole Omotoso and awards-winning author, Dele Olojede.
Mr. Willsher spoke about the uniqueness of the Etisalat Prize, adding that it is designed to serve as a leading platform for the discovery and encouraging of creative writing talents as well as the celebration of literary arts by African writers.
“We are delighted to champion the cause for celebrating the richness and strength of African literature. Etisalat Prize for Literature is about discovering and bringing to the world stage, the many creative talents Africa boast of. The Etisalat Prize is about creativity, excellence, empowerment and reward; it is about celebrating our African diversity in very innovative ways through various forms of art, literature being one of them”, he said.
Willsher added that only books by debutant writers published not later than 24 months before submission, will qualify for entry. “They must also be by registered publishing houses not less than six years as incorporated publishers with registered ISBN Number or the equivalent, and who must have published a minimum of six authors. All entries should be accompanied by seven copies of the book entered along with an acceptance of our publicity terms. A publisher may submit a maximum of three books. The rules and guidelines for entry are available at

About the Judging Panel
Nigerian-born Helon Habila is a writer, poet, author and an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at George Mason University, USA. His novels include, Waiting for an Angel (2002), Measuring Time (2007), and Oil on Water (2010). He is the editor of the Granta Book of African Short Story (2011).
Habila’s novels, poems, and short stories have won many honours and awards, including the Commonwealth Prize for Best First Novel (Africa Section), the Caine Prize, the Virginia Library Foundation Prize for fiction and most recently the Windham-Campbell Prize.
Habila has been a contributing editor for the Virginia Quarterly Review since 2004, and he is a regular reviewer for the Guardian, UK.
Elinor Sisulu is a Zimbabwean-born South Africa writer and human rights activist Elinor Sisulu combines training in history, English literature, development studies and feminist theory from institutions in Zimbabwe, Senegal and the Netherlands.
She is the author of the award-winning children’s book The Day Gogo Went to Vote. Her biography on her parents-in-law, Walter and Albertina Sisulu: In Our Lifetime secured her the prestigious 2003 Noma Award for publishing in Africa.
Elinor’s involvement in book promotion and literary development efforts for many years has culminated in her work with the Puku Children’s Literature Foundation. She has been a judge for the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize, the Sanlam Youth Literature Prize and the Penguin Africa Writer’s Competition.
Edwige-Renée Dro is an Ivorian writer and a translator. She is one of the 39 most promising voices under 40 from Africa, south of the Sahara as decided by the Africa39 project. She was the 2015 PEN International New Voices award judge.
Edwige-Renée currently works as the director of Danbé Collection, a new imprint of l’Harmattan Editions with a focus on the promotion of Ivorian literature in Abidjan. Her short stories have been published in anthologies and literary journals.
About Etisalat Prize for Literature
The Etisalat Prize for Literature is a Pan African prize that celebrates debut African writers of published fiction. Previous winners include Zimbabwe’s NoViolet Bulawayo (2013), South Africa’s Songeziwe Mahlangu (2014) and Democratic Republic of Congo’s Fiston Mwanza Mujila (2015).
The winner receives a cash prize of £15,000 in addition to a fellowship at the prestigious University of East Anglia, U.K. under the mentorship of Professor Giles Foden, the award-winning author of The Last King of England.
The Etisalat Prize also incorporates an award for Flash Fiction; an online-based competition for non-published African writers of short stories. [myad]

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