Governor Nyesom Wike could not but hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s federal government for continuing with the amnesty programme which he confessed has been responsible for the peace in the Niger Delta region,
The governor, who spoke at the Government House in Port Harcourt when the Special adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the amnesty programme , Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd) paid him a courtesy visit, said that his government will assist the federal government to ensure continued success of the programme in the state and region,
He promised that he would set up an office in Government House, Port Harcourt to interface with the amnesty office to know what support it needs from the state government,
“For us as a government, we will give you all the necessary support. An office will be created here in Government House with a staff who will interface with you from time to time to know what support your office needs.
“It is important and I say it today, that the peace we are enjoying now is largely because of the Niger Delta Amnesty programme.
“There must be cooperation from the Federal, State, and Local Government levels. This is important because Rivers State and the Niger Delta are key, there is need for peace for Nigeria to move forward. Be assured that we are going to cooperate with you to move this programme to a success point beyond where you met it.”
The Special Adviser on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Brigadier Boroh (rtd), said the urgent need before the amnesty office was to reintegrate beneficiaries of the programs.
He said that 4,310 have gone through one programme or the other, adding that the state government should assist in managing some of the beneficiaries of the program,
“What we want to achieve is to ensure that we have the beneficiaries of these Amnesty programme well managed by the state.” [myad]
Elder statesmen and leaders of Rivers State have declared that the people of the state are not Biafrans even as they asked Igbos from neighbouring states to stop protesting in Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers state. This was even as they declared their support for the ban on street protests by the state Governor, Nyesom Wike.
The elders, under the aegis of Rivers Elders and Leaders Council (RELEC ), were reacting to recent protests on the streets of Port Harcourt by the Indigenous People of Biafra.
A statement issued in Port Harcourt today by the Chairman of RELEC, Albert Horsfall, and the Secretary, Lawrence Ibiayemie, warned that people of the state might be forced to confront the protesters if they continued to disturb the peace of the state. The statement read: “The Rivers Elders and Leaders Council has been rather disturbed over the recent developments concerning the feelings of some youths and their political elements for the resurgence of the issue of Biafra and entrap the peace loving people of Rivers state and in their sentiment have chosen to transport trailer and bus loads of demonstrators from neighbouring states into Port Harcourt. To say the least, this amounts to the display of bad political fate across our neighbouring borders.
“The attempt by these elements to focus on Port Harcourt for their political rascality is totally unacceptable and is hereby condemned by Rivers Elders and Leaders Council. The action so far taken by the Biafra protesters in Port Harcourt is highly provocative to all genuine sons and daughters of Rivers state who have so far restrained themselves from confronting the demonstrators in Port Harcourt. We ask that the choice of Port Harcourt may be adeliberate ploy to make Port Harcourt the battle ground for any fracas that may follow their rascality. We reject these moves in its entirety and hereby repeat our warnings of those concerned to desist forthwith.” [myad]
Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Tsav has made it known to the governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom that probing the government of his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam amounts to playing with fire and laying of a very dangerous precedence in governance.
Tsav, who was responding to the current probe, in a statement, lamented that people who should caution and advise the governor are not doing so but rather clapping for, and praising Ortom.
He made it clear that the situation may repeat itself when the governor also leaves office.
“Tomorrow the situation may boomerang and the same people may desert and abandon him like caterpillar for a greener tree with fresh leafs. Some of our Elders don’t even think of the future. To them, the present is more exacting; why think of the future? But that future must come.”
Tsav described the current probe as ignorance and over-excitement of being a Governor, adding that people who should talk are not talking because of the benefits they are deriving from the probe.
“Tomorrow the hunter may be hunted and there may be gnashing of teeth.”
While acknowledging the evils of corruption, the former Lagos State police Commissioner however appealed that the fight should be fought with a human face.
“In fighting corruption however, we should apply human face. Let us emulate President Buhari in his fight against corruption. The other day, former President Jonathan visited Buhari in Aso Rock. After a closed door meeting, they came out beaming with smiles while Buhari saw Jonathan off. This did not stop the President from probing Jonathan’s government. That is how we expect Ortom to behave; after all, Suswam did not commit the alleged offences against Ortom as a person. Why then should Suswam become a nightmare to Gov Ortom?” [myad]
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service retired Colonel Hameed Ali has advised smugglers operating in the country to, in their own best interest, change business.
Ali who gave the warning at a meeting with traders and other stakeholders in Kano stressed: “smuggling is one of the dangerous activities which affect the nation’s economy, so, smugglers should change business because it is an illegal business.”
According to him, there is the need for people, especially those who have the impression that smuggling is a legal source of livelihood, to have a change of mind.
“Many people are of the belief that smuggling is a legal source of livelihood, but it is not; it an illegal business.”
On rice importation, the CG said the Service would not reduce duty being charged on imported rice until when the Federal Government directed it to do so and asked importers in the country to ensure that they pay duty only at the approved rates to avoid any inconvenience.
According to him, the country cannot afford to continue to import rice if farmers are to be encouraged to produce the commodity.
“By 2017, rice importation will stop to give our local farmers opportunity to produce the commodity for our consumption and export,” he said.
He assured the traders that the Service would establish effective channel of communication with stakeholders.
“One of our mandates is trade facilitation to ensure that the legitimate aspects of your businesses are entertained.” [myad]
Guinness Nigeria has said that it had being fined 1 billion Naira ($5 million) by the National Agebcy for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over alleged infractions relating to the destruction and re-validation of expired raw materials without prior approval.
Guinness Nigeria said it did not fully understand the basis for the fine, nor the particular regulations infringed, but was in talks with the NAFDAC to resolve the matter. [myad]
The management of World Bank has rated the State of Osun as the best among its peers in the implementation, management and maintenance of Rural Access and Mobility Projects (RAMP) being financed by the institution across the states of the federation. The global financial institution gave this commendation through its team, led by Engineer Olatunji Hammed during a second phase project presentation to the state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Engineer Hammed said that Osun State has put up an exemplary performance in the quality of its unprecedented developmental projects that centred on the lives of the generality of its populace, especially the rural dwellers. Engineer Hammed said that the state has been able to stand out as the first state that has successfully maintained it roads to enhance productivity and as well as improve the economy of the state through accessible and motor able roads, linking communities, villages, towns as well as cities. He said that the state has maintained its pacesetting standard for its counterparts in terms of rural based road maintenance which according to him, has prompted other states to come to learn rural access roads maintenance skills from the state. Hammed said that in spite of the fact that the state is blessed with multitude of villages, towns and cities, it has emerged as the best roads connectivity in the country.
“Rural Access and Mobility Project has helped significantly in harnessing and exploring the agricultural potentiality of the rural dwellers in the area of transportation of farm produce to urban cities as roads rural/urban roads are being aggressively linked and exposed for easier accessibility. “There is no doubt about the fact that many states in the country are jealous of Osun in terms of its rapid developmental projects which aims at improving the general well being of its populace as the state ever remained the best in implementation, management and maintenance of community based roads across the length and breadth of the state. “This wouldn’t have been impossible if not for the support of Governor Aregbesola towards the Rural Access and Mobility Project which has impacted meaningfully in the teeming lives of the citizenry. Governor Aregbesola told the visitor that Osun is keen on the project because the state has been wrongly tagged “Civil Service State” which in reality, is a peasant agrarian state. Governor Aregbesola said that the entire resources of the state even at the best of time, were N4.6 billion at a period when the state received its highest allocation, adding that the last chunk of this statutory allocation amounts to the sum of N3.6 billion, dedicated to payment of civil servants’ salary arrears, gratuity, pensions and other emoluments. “We engaged in Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) because we know that it is through this provision that we can support the economy of this state by meeting the core needs of rural dwellers, access and support the evacuation of their farm produce to the markets. “It is because of our genuine commitment to energize the rural dwellers in their onerous duty of producing agricultural commodity that we are passionate and aggressively committed to RAMP. “Though financially, we are highly constrained but even in spite of that constraint, we are committed to RAMP and I pledge that we will quickly mobilize our counterpart fund to usher in the commencement of the RAMP2.”[myad]
The Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited has scheduled its Third Anniversary Lecture for Thursday, November 19.
According to information, Realnews will be focusing attention on the economy which is currently in the doldrums. It noted that all the economic indices in the country now ranging from depleting foreign reserve, depreciating value of the naira, the double digit interest rates, high rate of unemployment, especially amongst youth, to inflation rate which is now on the increase show that there is need for a rethink of the economic direction Nigeria is heading.
The lecture entitled: “It’s the Nigerian Economy, Stupid,” which will be delivered by Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, a renowned Economist and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), will take place at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki Expressway, Victoria Island, Lagos, by 10 am prompt.
Members of the panellists who are expected to discuss various socio-economic issues and the way forward are, Mr. Gimba Ya’u Kumo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Remi Ogunmefun, Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and Abraham Nwankwo, Director General, Debt Management Office. Both the lecturer and all of the panellists have confirmed their attendance at the event.
The Special Guest of Honour is Senator Chris Ngige, former Governor of Anambra State and now minister of Labour and Productivity, while the chairman of the occasion is Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Alpine Investments Services Limited. Hayatu-Deen, former managing director of the defunct FSB International Bank is one of the moving spirits behind the Nigerian Economic Summit. They have also confirmed their attendance.
The event would also witness investiture of prominent Nigerians into the prestigious Realnews Hall of Fame, exclusively reserved for only Guest Speakers, Discussants, Book Reviewers and Chairpersons at our Anniversary Lecture Series.
Those to be inducted into the Realnews Hall of Fame are Professor Maurice Iwu, former chairman of INEC, Mr. Roberts Orya, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Dr. Ngozi Anyaegbunam, President, Media World, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises and Professor Joe. I. Ezigbo, Managing Director, Falcon Corporation Limited.
“They (inductees) all played key roles during our second anniversary Lecture and the induction into the Realnews Hall of Fame is just a token of our appreciation for the honour they did to Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited last year,” said Maureen Chigbo, publisher/editor of Realnews.
Chigbo also said that the Second Volume of the Paragon of Journalism, co-edited by her and the late Mike Akpan, publisher/editor and editor-in-chief of Realnews magazine, respectively, will be presented at the event.
Realnews, a general interest magazine, is an online publication which thrives on investigative journalism debuted November 19, 2012. It focuses on oil and gas sector with its attendant environmental challenges as well as issues relating to business and economy, politics, power, health, women and youth. Its aim is to unearth exclusive stories about real people and the challenges they are facing in their day-to-day activities. It does this bearing in mind that government can only act to influence the lives of people positively if they are aware of their true situation. Hence, its objective is to use its investigative skills to ferret out information in the sectors it focuses on and produce an unbiased report which will actually influence the government and decision makers to take actions that will make the society better. [myad]
A group, going by the name Advocate Against Corruption has sent a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), asking him to arrest the publisher of a Zaria, Kaduna base Desert Herald magazine, Mr. Tukur Mamu for alleged certificate forgery.
The group, shich is said to be an umbrella body of teeming Nigerian young professionals both at home and in the Diaspora, united in the cause of fighting corruption and impunity in Nigeria, said that unless something is done urgently to save the situation by the authorities of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, the entire academic process of the first generation university may soon be ridiculed and brought into avoidable disrepute following a certificate scandal involving the university and Mr. Mamu.
In an open letter dated 10th November, 2015 and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, they called on him to immediately arrest and prosecute Mr. Tukur Mamu over forgery of academic certificate and cheating.
The group’s three-page letter to the IGP was signed by Barr. Peter U. Ejike, National Coordinator and Barrister Vera G. Onoja, National Secretary. It was copied to the ICPC, EFCC, VC, ABU, Zaria, NUJ, Nigerian Press Council, SGF, Attorney-General & Minister for Justice, National Universities Commission and others.
It called on the IGP to arrest and arraign Mamu on a case of forgery and cheating, contrary to Sections 277 and 321 of the Penal Code.
The group’s petition read in part as follows:
“It has been brought to our knowledge that Mr. Tukur Mamu claimed to have obtained a degree in Mass Communication from the Institut Superieur de Technologie et de Management (ISTM) in Niamey, Niger Republic. With the said forged Certificate, Tukur Mamu has been holding himself out to the unsuspecting public as a journalist and has been publishing the Desert Herald News Magazine. He equally sought and obtained admission into Post Graduate School of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for a Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy.
“Without any verification and/or possibly, in conspiracy with Tukur Mamu, the authorities of A.B.U Zaria did not only admit but also graduated the said Tukur Mamu based on presentation of the forged degree certificate.
“Investigations have now revealed that Tukur Mamu never attended the said Institut Superieur de Technologie et de Management (ISTM) in Niamey, Niger Republic. Rather, he forged a degree certificate and in cahoots with some officials of the A.B.U Zaria illegally and corruptly obtained a Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy in 2012. You are no doubt aware of the serious threat which this kind of forgery act poses to the educational sector of our country.
“For your ease of reference, the following documents backing the case against Tukur Mamu are attached as proof, marked A- D: (A- Tukur Mamu’s forged Degree Certificate; (B- Letter from A.B.U Zaria clearing Tukur Mamu; (C- Letter from Embassy of Niger Republic confirming the forgery; (D- Letter from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja to the IGP.
“It is very clear from investigation that Tukur Mamu never attended I.S.T.M in Niamey but forged the institution’s degree certificate, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 277 OF THE PENAL CODE AND UPON CONVICTION, PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 364 OF THE CODE WITH IMPRISONMENT FOR 14 YEARS.
“This same Tukur Mamu, parading himself as a media publisher and making defamatory publications, has since been blacklisted by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) following his indictment by a panel set up by the union to probe his activities.
“It has now come to our knowledge that investigations have been completed on the case and Tukur Mamu has been manoeuvring frantically using false claims to convince some influential persons to prevail on you to drop the case against him and abort his impending arraignment in court over certificate forgery. We have confidence in your leadership and believe that you will not waiver. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE ERA OF IMPUNITY IN OUR COUNTRY IS OVER!!!
“From the foregoing, WE HEREBY STATE AND DEMAND AS FOLLOWS:
(a) That you use your good office as a matter of urgency to order the immediate arrest and arraignment of Tukur Mamu for forgery and cheating.
(b) That your Office should set up an investigative team comprising highly professional Police officers to immediately invite and question the Authorities of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in order to ascertain those who conspired with Tukur Mamu to commit the offence and arraign them accordingly.
“We also use this medium to demand that the authorities of A.B.U. Zaria publicly withdraw the Masters Degree which the University wrongly awarded to Tukur Mamu with immediate effect.
“Please note that in furtherance of our commitment to the anti-corruption agenda of the present Administration, we may be left with no option than to resort to mass protests and occupation of strategic offices in Abuja if this petition is not accorded the deserved expeditious attention. This is because condoning any act of corruption, including certificate forgery, constitutes an attempt to ridicule and undermine the anti-corruption programme of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, which enjoys the overwhelming support of our members as well as those of the vast majority of Nigerians.”
It was learnt that investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had earlier found Mamu guilty of using a forged degree certificate to obtain admission for a Masters Degree programme at the university in 2011 and his subsequent graduation with MA in International Affairs and Diplomacy in 2012.
Efforts to each Mamu for his reaction to the allegation were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone were not going through. [myad]
The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki may have had the last laugh as the Supreme Court has ordered the stoppage of his by the Code of Conduct Tribunal even as the federal government promised that the trial is as good as being over. The order of the Court came today following the Federal Government’s position not to proceed with the criminal case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. The undertaking was given by the counsel to the Federal Government, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), at the hearing of the case which was instituted by Saraki at the Supreme Court against his trial by the CCT. This was as the Supreme Court also promised to expedite the hearing of the case. [myad]
National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh has said that the statement credited to the party’s National Conference Committee Chairman, Chief Raymond Dokpesi that former President Goodluck Jonathan was imposed on PDP in the 2015 Presidential election was purely his opinion and not that of the party.
Metuh who spoke with newsmen in Abuja today said that Dokpesi’s statement did not in any way represent official position of the PDP, as he was not a member of the party’s National Executive Committee.
According to Metuh, Dokpesi could only speak in his personal capacity even as he insisted that the decision to field Jonathan was approved by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
He added that the decision was also approved by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC), and the party’s National Caucus.
“In addition, the Constitution of the party allows a sitting president the chance to exercise his personal right to run for a second term if he so desires.’’
He wondered how the same party that endorsed the candidacy of Jonathan would regret the decision that was taken by the NWC, NEC and the national caucus.
“What are we talking about? Everybody was conscious of the decision; nobody was coerced into supporting the position.”
He said that it is the time for buck-passing or blame-game but time to collectively reposition the party.
“We are repositioning our party. What we should do is to join hands to reposition PDP based on Sen. Ike Ekweremadu’s report to reclaim the party’s lost glory. This is what is expected of us all at this time’’, Metuh said [myad]
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Governor Nyesom Wike could not but hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s federal government for continuing with the amnesty programme which he confessed has been responsible for the peace in the Niger Delta region,
