The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it believed in the war against corruption which President Muhammadu Buhari has since launched, but queried the arrest, yesterday, of the former Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi in connection to the arms purchase acandal amounting to $2.2 billion.
Dokpesi was said to have benefitted from the money disbursed from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Col Sambo Dasuki, running into billions of naira.
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said in a statement in Abuja that the arrest of Dokpesi was government’s plan tailored to decimate the opposition and cow the media in Nigeria.
“While the PDP is not against the war against corruption, we insist that the crusade must be carried out within the limits of the law and not as guise to persecute and torture opposition elements.”
Metuh demanded an open and public trial of all those arrested so that all issues and charges against them as well as their defence therein would also be in the public domain. [myad]
Researchers and Scientists were said to have discovered a drug that will let human being live for over 120 years.
Reports from the table of the researcher in the United States of America said that they are pretty sure the diabetes drug, called Metformin can extend human lifespan to 120 years and prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The researchers said that they have already proven that the drug extends the life of animals, saying that mice treated with Metformin saw their lifespan increase by nearly 40 percent with their bones being stronger.
“That is why the Food and Drug Administration in the US has given the green light to a trial to test if these effects can be replicated in humans. Last year, Cardiff University found that patients with diabetes who were prescribed Metformin lived longer than others without the condition (even though they should have died eight years earlier on average). That makes the human trail even more promising.
“If all goes well, a person in their 70s that takes the drug will be as biologically healthy as a 50 year old.
“I have been doing research into ageing for 25 years and the idea that we would be talking about a clinical trial in humans for an anti-ageing drug would have been thought inconceivable,” said Professor Gordon Lithgow of the Buck Institute for Research on Ageing in California. [myad]
Leader of the Shiit Group in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky has said that he knew those who detonated explosion that killed members of his group who were in procession from Kano to Zaria last week.
Elzakzaky, who was reacting to the bomb attack on participants in the Arba’een symbolic trek in Kano, which led to the death of over 24 per sons and more than 60 injured, said that the attack was manipulated to make the public believe that a certain faceless group named Boko Haram launched the attack through a suicide bomber.
Zakzaky who spoke at the end of Nahjul Balagha study session held at Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah, Zaria, Kaduna State said: “there is nothing like a suicide bomber. They tortured and drugged unsuspecting captives and made them carriers of the explosives, which they detonated amidst people.”
According to him, after the Friday attack, the perpetrators were sighted on Monday in two Hilux vans burying explosives along Kano route, but it was averted.
“We know the names of the contractors and those contracted to commit the massacre. Their identity is not hidden from us. Therefore we cannot be cowed by an imaginary Boko Haram tale. Let them tell it to the fools and ignorant. They should know that they are dealing with those with foresight, wisdom and intelligence and above all with the real religion.”
He said that the announcement by the Department of State Service (DSS) that there were going to be attacks on places on mosques and churches by female insurgents have given them away, adding: “how did they know about it and where it will happen? It clearly means they are accomplice to the atrocity.
“The perpetrators of the Kano bomb attack were the same people that seven years ago in broad daylight attacked us and killed two people, attacked Ashura procession and killed people in Potiskum and killed 34 people during Quds Day procession in Zaria in 2014.
“In most cases, these killers carry out the offensive under the watchful eyes of security operatives, sometimes escorted by tinted glass vehicles.”
According to Zakzaky, last year’s bombs were buried along routes of the trek, while a similar episode was planned to be repeated this time around.
He pointed out that mass massacre of Muslims has become a vogue across the world, saying: “Reason with this: Who is carrying out senseless killings in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon? They are the same people carrying out attacks here and we know them. We cannot be cowed.”
Shaikh Zakzaky said Arba’een as a mass movement of the people based on faith is now instituted and ever increasing and there is nothing anybody can do about it.
He prayed to Allah to send his wrath on those contractors of the killings and those carrying out the killings, adding: “may they not reap the proceeds of the contract. In Allah we depend and He will protect us.” [myad]
If one wants to put the above title in proper perspective in accordance with the popular saying, one would say that a dog that is destined to loss on the hunting ground would not hear its master’s whistle. This is becoming true about one man called James Faleke. This is a man who was never known, not even in his local government, before he was picked as running mate to the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 21 inconclusive governorship election in Kogi state, late Prince Abubakar Audu. Just like former President Goodluck Jonathan was catapulted from small state of Bayelsa to national limelight, Faleke became known simply by that act of being picked as running mate. Throughout the campaign period, Faleke was still a back-stage actor, just waiting to thankfully occupy the position that God, in His wisdom, was planning to bestow on him. He was a humble and obedient party man back then. But, the same God, without seeking to alter his destiny, turned the table the way He wished, probably to test Faleke’s faith. And Falake is now fighting anyone, any party, any system to finish, just so that he would be Kogi state Governor; which destiny never prepared for him in the first place. The fate that smiled on Jonathan and saw him to the seat of Presidency was definable in the constitution, even though some processes were still followed to actualize it. And Jonathan waited patiently, for God’s will to manifest. But, in the case of Faleke, the constitution never envisaged a situation where a winning candidate would die before the election is concluded, and what would happen to the running mate. As a matter of fact, the fact that the National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not announce late Prince Audu as the winner of the November 21 election shortly before he gave up the ghost threw not only Faleke into confusion but the nation and more importantly, the party. As earlier observed, the constitution as it is now, did not indicate how to factor in dead candidate’s running mate, who of course, might have, in most cases, been handpicked. When it became obvious that the constitution is silent on the issue, even worse, that the INEC guidelines are never in favour of a running mate like Faleke to slip into the main candidate’s position from the out-of-blue, and with time too short to conduct party primary to pick another candidate, the leadership of APC settled for Yahaya Bello. Bello, to be sure, came second in the validly conducted primary of the party which produced Prince Audu, ahead of the November 21 poll. It is to be made clear that the INEC recognizes governorship candidate who emerged only through the conduct of primary. And that Faleke did not directly participate in the primary, and therefore, was not known to have scored any vote thereto. Until another law or guideline, in a special situation such as we are contending with is reversed or amended, this is the existing law. Indeed, APC leadership has even admitted that in the many options that were available to take to meet INEC deadlines and guidelines, forwarding Bello’s name to replace late Audu was the most viable. The party did not claim that it was the perfect arrangement even as it is not spelt out in the constitution. But, Faleke, who had enjoyed the support of the leadership of the party all along, and who was even present when Bello’s name was announced at the party’s headquarters, threw caution to the wind and developed muscle which he is flexing against the same party. It is disturbing that when he was asked to continue as running mate, which of course, he was gladly working hard with late Audu to take, Faleke failed to see reason. He organised his supporters, most of who were political thugs, to embarrass the national leadership at the party’s headquarters in Abuja. What example is Faleke showing to the people of Kogi as a man that wants to rule the state? What manner of a man is Faleke that would be so blinded by sharp ambition that he would risk losing everything: the deputy governorship, party membership, respect of reasonable members of the society, and above all, God’s further favours? Or does he even believe in God and what He can do? One even wonders what manner of Governor he would be for Kogi if, by a stretch of imagination, court declares him governor eventually. Does Faleke wants to be a governor without a party? The party he had derided and scorned? Habba Faleke! [myad]
Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole has made it clear that he will personally lead labour union in protest against any governor that fails to pay the agreed minimum wage of N18,000 to workers.
The governor who spoke at the 6th quadrennial national delegates conference of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in Abuja, assured the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) of his commitment towards leading protest against any governor that reneged on the agreed payment of the minimum wage.
“I have told my fellow governors that when the going gets tough, everybody will answer his father’s name. I am not and I will not support any government, any governor, federal or state that misunderstood the problem to focus on the weakest link.
“Be assured that you can count on me. If you want to organize protest, I will join. I will not only join to protest against refusal to pay minimum wage, but to press for the idea of minimum wage to be sustained.” [myad]
PIC. 24. CHAIRMAN, DAAR COMMUNICATION, CHIEF RAYMOND DOKPESI
The Chairman Emeritus of Daar Communications Plc, owner of AIT, Ray Power and other in the media conglomerate, Chief Raymond Dokpesi has been arrested by the officers of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over the alleged missing of huge security budget.
Also arrested is the former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa for questioning by the security agents for allegedly receiving huge sums of money from the office of the embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.
Dasuki was taken from his Asokoro home in a pre-dawn raid by the operatives of the Department of State Security Service, DSS, ahead of possible arraignment for breach of public trust and money laundering.
Sources at the EFCC said that while Dokpesi was invited for questioning for allegedly receiving over N2 billion from the office of the NSA, Bafarawa was brought in for receiving over N100 million from the same source.
An EFCC source said: “A whooping sum of N2.1 billion was traced in the office of the embattled former NSA to Dokpesi without any clearly stated reason and we want to know what he received sum huge public funds for.
“We have also traced some money to the former Sokoto governor, Bafarawa, and we need to know what he got such money from the former security adviser, for.” Both men were taken in around midday today to join the company of no fewer than 22 other suspects, who have been linked with receiving large sums of money from the ONSA, who is likely going to stand trial with them in court. [myad]
The Senate has approved a total sum of N574,532,726,857 supplementary budget for President Muhammadu Buhari to be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
The approved N574,532,726,857 is for additional Recurrent ( Non- Debt) Expenditure for the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2015.
The Senate however increased the original supplementary budget as submitted by President Buhari by N108,895,800,000, saying that the increase was designed to accommodate the said amount as additional funding for fuel subsidy for the months of October, November and December, 2015.
With the additional N109 billion by the Senate for fuel subsidy, it would now amount to N522,258,934,505 as against the President’s request for N413 billion for fuel subsidy, just as N5,000,000,000 was approved as Victims Support Funds in the Capital Supplementation which would be re- classified to the Service Wide Vote of N559,217,800,017.
The Senate also approved a total sum of N29,958,865,512 to fight Boko Haram Insurgency in the North East and payment of outstanding claims in order to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians under the heading, operation Zaman Lafiya. Of the approved money, Nigerian Army will get N17,468,992,640; Nigerian Airforce, N8,141,434,760; Nigerian Army outstanding balance from 2015 and second quarter, N4,348,438,112
It would be recalled that the Senate had penultimate Wednesday received a supplementary budget of N465,636,926,857 from President Muhammadu Buhari for consideration and approval.
President Buhari who also sought an upward review of the new borrowing plan from N882.1billon to N2.103trillion, had said: “The expected deficit arising from the above is projected at 2.103 trn or 2.19 per cent of GDP to be financed by additional borrowing of 1.601 trillion through the debt management office.”
The approval of the Senate was sequel to the report of the Senator Danjuma Goje led Committee on Appropriations on the 2015 Supplementary Appropriation Bill.
Earlier, the senators broke into an executive session for one hour as part of moves to discuss the appropriation bill and give the President a soft landing by passing the budget and as a follow up to last Thursday’s dinner the Senators had with President where collaboration and synergy among the Executive and Legislature were emphasized.
Presenting the report, Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Danjuma Goje said: “the Committee observed that: The provision for subsidy payment only covers year 2014 arrears of N120.5 Billion and the claims of January – September, 2015 of N292.8 Billion.
“There is need to provide additional funding in the sum of N108,895,800,000(One Hundred and Eight Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Five Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) only for fuel subsidy for the months of October, November and December 2015 to endure that the 2016 Budget takes off on a clean slate( this issue came up in the course of clarification of the total subsidy need for the year ending 2015, by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources;
“The provision for Victim Support Fund in Capital Supplementation should have been made in the Service Wide Vote since it is a Federal Government contribution to a fund managed by a Committee which is not an MDA of Government.” [myad]
An estimated 2.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS out of 3.4 million Nigerians diagnosed last year are now facing death as there appears to be no drug for them to continue with treatment to suppress the infection. Those affected, most of who are currently living in hiding, are not only at risk of death from HIV related illnesses, but are also infecting new people, causing a surge of the disease.
Nigerian HIV experts revealed this at a scientific symposium to mark this year’s World AIDS Day, organized by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), in collaboration with Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos branch.
In her submission, representative of the Population Council Abuja, Dr. Sylvia Adebajo noted that only 500,000 people are currently on treatment, while the 2.9 million largely men, serve as reservoir for the spread of HIV.
“Men do not go to hospital as much as women so they are the most difficult to reach. Those at higher risks include; women, homosexuals, men who engage with drugs and those who have sex with female sex workers.”
Adebajo said the attitude of testing people and letting them go without follow up needs to be stopped, and more people, particularly men needs to be reached with treatment.
Director-General of NIMR, Prof Innocent Ujah regretted that despite that effective available for the diagnosis and clinical management, the AIDS epidemic still claims an estimated two million lives each year, of which about 270, 000 are children.
“The multi – year theme since 2012 has been “getting to zero with the three main sub-themes of zero new infections, zero deaths from AIDs – related illnesses and zero discrimination.
Ujah who lauded the UNAIDS 90 – 90 -90 initiative said it was designed to have 90 percent of all people diagnosed with HIV infection receive sustained ARV therapy and 90- percent of all people receiving ARV will have viral suppression.
“With 90 percent of those on treatment having viral suppression, there will be a drastic break of transmission of new infection and end the HIV/AIDS pandemic by 2030.”
He said NIMR will be conducting an outreach in Alimosho Local Government area of Lagos state to increase awareness on HIV/AIDS as well as enhance HIV counselling and testing.
Also in her presentation, on how to prevent new infection, Dr. Oladipo Fisher, from Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, LASACA, said early initiation of HIV positive people into antiretroviral drugs will decrease rate of new infection, as well as reduce HIV-related illnesses and deaths.
In the same vein, Consultant Haematologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Prof. Sulaimon Akanmu, noted that people who test positive to HIV can possibly eliminate the virus if they commence treatment immediately they are diagnosed. “This will help bring their viral load to an undetectable level, where they will likely not infect other people, and is in line with the World Health Organization, WHO’s new treatment guideline for HIV/AIDS.” [myad]
The operatives of Department of State Service (DSS) have whisked away the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Rtd.) to their office in Abuja.
It was gathered that the DSS operatives ordered the former NSA out of his Abuja residence without any form of force to the DSS headquarters in the Asokoro District of Abuja.
Dasuki has been under house arrest for some time now. [myad]
With the formal declaration and presentation of Alhaji Yahaya Bello by the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC), as replacement for late Prince Abubakar Audu in the December 5 supplementary governorship election in Kogi state, the battle line has been drawn between the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is the incumbent governor, Captain Idris Wada and Bello.
The first leg of the election, held on November 21, was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at the collation centre in Lokoja, the state capital, on November 22, shortly before Prince Audu, who was APC candidate died. INEC, wil therefore, conduct supplementary election in 91 polling units in which election results of November 21 were either cancelled or where election did not hold at all. In all, 49,953 votes are in contention for particularly the APC and PDP on Saturday. It would be recalled that APC was leading in the election results declared by INEC on November 22 with 240,867 votes while PDP trailed behind with 199,514 votes. APC beat PDP with 41,353 votes difference. Here are the 91 polling units with a total of 49,953 which Yahaya Bello of APC and Idris Wada of PDP are set to share on Saturday: 1. Dekina local government with 29 polling units (17,454 votes) 2. Ankpa local government with nine polling units (6,021 votes) 3. Bassa local government with two polling units (742 votes) 4. Ibaji local government with six polling units (2,665 votes) 5. Idah local government with one polling unit (310 votes) 6. Igalamela-Odolu local government with three polling units (1,501 votes) 7. Ijumu local government with one polling unit (705 votes) 8. Kabba-Bunu local government with four polling units (1,767 votes) 9. Kogi local government with two polling units (1,689 votes) 10. Lokoja local government with five polling units (2,854) 11. Ofu local government with eight polling units (4,679 votes) 12. Okehi local government with one polling unit (403 votes) 13. Okene local government with one polling unit (676 votes) 14. Olamaboro local government with four polling units (2,046 votes) 15. Omala local government with six polling units (2,526 votes) 16. Yagba West local government with one polling unit (375 votes). 17. Ajaokuta with three polling units (1,406 votes) 18. Adavi local government with five polling units (2,134 votes).
Meanwhile, the people of Okun area in Kogi State under the aegis of Okun Elders Forum, have thrown their weight behind the candidacy of Alhaji Yahya Bello, as the preferred candidate to fill the vacuum created by the death of late Prince Abubakar Audu.
In a statement signed by its spokesman, Chief Funsho Atale, the Forum stressed the need to move the state forward and in tandem with democratic principles, adding they took the position in the interest of the party, Kogi State and Okunland.
The elders, including Chief P.S . Alabi; Chief Remi Ogga and Engr. Dele Abu, urged the leadership of the APC to align various interest groups to rally support for the candidature of Bello and ensure victory for the party during the remaining election slated for Saturday, so as to move the state forward.
The elders insisted that this is not the best time for political horse trading as all hands must be on deck to get Kogi State back to the path of growth and development. [myad]
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it believed in the war against corruption which President Muhammadu Buhari has since launched, but queried the arrest, yesterday, of the former Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi in connection to the arms purchase acandal amounting to $2.2 billion.
