Nigeria Bans 18 Foreign Musics, Videos

August 26, 2015

The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission has banned 18 popular songs and music videos from airing because of concerns over vulgar lyrics and obscene visuals.

Among the artists and songs forbidden from receiving any airplay are American rapper Ace Hood’s “Bugati” featuring Future and Rick Ross, singer Omarion’s “Post to Be” with Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda.” The government body, which regulates Nigeria’s broadcast industry, stamped the chart-topping hits with the “NTTB,” or “Not To Be Broadcast,” label last month.

The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, known in Nigeria by its acronym NBC, also barred hit songs by local musicians including “Fans Mi” by American-born Nigerian artist Davido featuring American rapper Meek Mill. In a memo titled “Not To Be Broadcast (NTTB) List of July 2015,” the government-owned agency banned “Fans Mi” from air because it promoted violence, drug trafficking, a flashy lifestyle and indecent exposure. However, the songs will remain on cable channels such as Hip TV, MTV Base and Soundcity, and they will still be played in Nigerian night clubs and on websites..

Miley Cyrus performs her Bangerz Tour live at Perth Arena Oct. 23, 2014, in Perth, Australia. The American artist’s song “Wrecking Ball” was banned from air in Nigeria in 2013. Paul Kane/Getty Images

Popular Nigerian hip-hop singer Naeto C reacted to the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission on Facebook after the government-owned body banned his “Tony Montana.” The rapper posted on Facebook the disclaimer shown in the music video to reaffirm the scenes were fictional and not actual violence.

“This video is a work of fiction created for your viewing pleasure and in no way promotes violence or the use of firearms,” Naeto C apparently wrote on Facebook.

Other Nigerians have said thaeto Ce commission should implement a censoring system rather than outright banning songs. This is not the first time the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission has axed foreign jams in the West African country. The parastatal organization barred “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus, “Pour It Up” by Rihanna and “Birthday Song” by 2 Chainz featuring Kanye West for “obscene lyrics or visuals” in 2013. [myad]

Governor Oshiomhole Describes Orubebe As A ‘Clown’

Greenbarge Reporters

August 26, 2015

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has described the former Minister of the Niger Delta, Mr. Godsday Orubebe as a clown who contributed greatly to the failure of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The governor, who reacted to the recent allegation leveled against him by Orubebe, insisted that the former minister is jittery over President Muhammadu Buhari’s planned probe of several billions of naira squandered on the East-West road and on the Amnesty programme under his watch as Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, governor Oshiomhole said that the recent outburst by Orubebe incompetence of people like Orubebe contributed to the dismal failure of the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: “Our attention has been drawn to the latest outburst showed his level of comportment, describing him as “one clown called Godsday Orubebe”who had attempted to taint his image.

“It is no surprise that the former president, Goodluck Jonathan failed woefully because he surrounded himself with such charlatans as Godsday Orubebe, whose only credential is his ethnic origin and the large size of his bowler hat.

“Here was a man whose un-ministerial conduct at the election nearly plunged the nation into an avoidable crisis

“Does Orubebe really think Nigerians are fools, does he truly believe Nigerians have forgotten so soon the ignoble role he played in his attempt to truncate the release of the election results and announcement of the eventual winner of that election, a move which could have plunged the nation into another civil war?

“Is it not a shame that Orubebe who should be cooling off his heel in jail for that failed plot to truncate democracy has now found a convoluted voice?

“We are not surprised at the timing of Orubebe’s latest outburst. It is no doubt unconnected with the planned probe by President Muhammadu Buhari of the billions of naira allocated to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, even as the East-West road remains in bad shape and the probe of the fleecing of amnesty funds under his watch.

“We are aware that Orubebe, the perpetual noise maker has raised the decibel of his noise a notch higher so that he would have a ready-made defence of witch-hunting if he is indicted in the planned probe of Amnesty funds.

“Orubebe is a yesterday’s man. We could have chosen to ignore him like his Delta brother, Mr. Sunny Onuesoke, an unknown entity who doesn’t know the arithmetics of financing, but decided to delve into a matter of a World Bank loan, something completely beyond his mental and intellectual capacity, but we simply can’t let Orubebe have the last say.

“We are not unaware that it has now become the fad for drowning and neophyte politicians to take cheap shots at the impeccable character of the Comrade Governor just to gain cheap publicity. However, Orubebe’s image, as he himself knows, is beyond redemption.

“Is it not laughable that Orubebe, the clown, accused Oshiomhole of biting the fingers that fed him? Pray, how did Jonathan feed Oshiomhole? Did he feed Oshiomhole by supervising over a government that fleeced the nation of trillions of naira, thereby denying Edo State her rightful share of funds for development? Or did he feed Oshiomhole by canvassing votes for him!

“Our candid advice is for Orubebe, a perpetual failed Governorship aspirant, to go to his family and apologise for the irreparable damage done to the family name with his infamous outburst beamed live to the whole world, before coming forward to confront Governor Adams Oshiomhole who is not in any way in the same class as him.

“It is no wonder that Nigeria was at a state of near collapse until President Muhammdu Buhari came on a rescue mission and rendered people like Orubebe irrelevant.

“Never again will characters like Orubebe take us on the path of Golgotha; never again will they hold sway in the affairs of Nigeria and ruin the collective aspiration of the people.” [myad]

Anglican Church Bishop In Sapele In Trouble: Members Want Him Out, Ground Activities

Greenbarge Reporters

August 26, 2015

Church activities at the St. Luke Anglican Church, Sapele, Delta State, have remained grounded following the over three weeks protest engaged by members of the church, calling for the immediate removal of the Diocesan Bishop, Rev. Blessing Erifeta.
The protest which assumed a new dimension early this week, took members of the Anglican Communion, marching through the major streets in Sapele, brandishing various placards, insisting that the Primate of the Anglican Communion, His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Nicholas Okoh, must sack the Diocesan Bishop for permanent peace to return to the Diocese.
The church’s entrance has remained under heavy lock and keys as the protesting youths, women and other leaders of the church have remained resolute, maintaining that the church cannot be opened for worship until the Primate shows the Presiding Bishop the way out of the Sapele Diocese.
Consequently, worshippers have converted the outskirt of the church for the past three weeks to worship ground.
The protest which commenced over three weeks ago with the youths of St. Luke Cathedral Church, Boyo and Christ Anglican Church Okpe, all in Sapele has now spread to involve the entire Diocese with all the Anglican Branches in the Diocese combining force to press home the call for the Primate to sack the Presiding Bishop and restore normalcy to the embattled House of God.
Those at the centre of the protest, carried placards which bore the inscriptions, “say No to Greed, Bishop Erifeta Must Go, We are tired of Embezzlement, Bishop stop calling us Witches and Wizards, we don’t want to kill Another Venerable, Stop Insulting Our Elders in Church, Enough is Enough of embezzlement of church funds and intimidation, We need Accountability of church fund, Erifeta stop Cursing our People, We Say No to foreign Trips”.
The church warden of the St. Luke Cathedral, the headquarters of the Diocese, Mr. Oghenero Onojorhoevwo, who led the protest, revealed that since the protest began over three weeks ago, a lot of water has passed under the bridge, saying their names and photographs have been taken to places for unknown reasons, with threat messages sent to them on daily basis.
Mr. Onojorhoevwo maintained that the church members do not have personal grudge against the Bishop Erifeta, but their concern is to reinvigorate the dying Diocese which is going into extinction and bring back members who have migrated to other denominations following the maladministration of the church in the city.
He told the members who defied the heavy down pour to march round the city that the Bishop of the embattled Diocese and the Archbishop of the Bendel Province Most Revd. Friday Imakhae, were working hand in hand to ensure the Primate does not visit the Diocese to have a personal assessment of the grievance of members of the Diocese against the Bishop.
He explained to the worshippers who commenced their open air service at Boyo Road prior to resumption of the protest that Bishop Erifeta and his cronies must leave Sapele Diocese for the Church of God to move forward and have needed peace.
The alleged sins of the Bishop include high handedness, greed, disrespect to elders, misappropriation of church funds, travelling abroad with church funds and other obnoxious acts leveled against the Bishop by membership of the church.
Meanwhile, the Bishop of the Diocese, Rev. Blessing Erifeta has refused to pick calls and also failed to respond to text messages.
But one of the close associates of the Bishop, Venerable Oyibo Otemu, who picked the call to his phone unaware of who was calling, said “no comment sir, thank you.” [myad]

Nigeria Primary School Pupils Will Soon Enjoy ‘A Meal Per Day’ From Federal Government

Greenbarge Reporters

August 25, 2015

The Federal Government has raised the hope of primary school pupils in the country with a promise that they would soon enjoying what it called a meal per day programme.
The government said that the programme is one of the numerous measures aimed at creating massive job opportunities for the youth and other unemployed Nigerians.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo dropped this hint today when he addressed Nigerians in Diaspora at the 7th National Diaspora Conference held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the Vice President, the government would give the textile and garment factories a new lease of life in the shortest possible time, adding that there would also be investment in the area of infrastructure, agriculture and mining sectors which will absorb many of the qualified unemployed.
He emphasised that government’s job creation plan will include a one meal per day programme for primary school pupils expected to create several job opportunities.
Outlining some of the economic plans and policies of the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration based on the bottom-up approach, Professor Osinbajo said government’s intervention will come in the provision of physical, infrastructure, implementation of robust economic and social policies that will provide opportunities and succor for 110 million poor people in the country.
“in the power sector, the administration aims to consistently generate 5,000 megawatts of power going into first quarter of next year.” He made it clear that this would involve aggressively ensuring that all power related projects are speedily concluded.
In the hydro-carbon industry, he said that the administration is pursuing a long over-due reform, saying that in the short and medium term, the NNPC would be re-organized.
“In agriculture sector, government would pursue self-sustenance in the production of items such as rice, wheat, cotton and therefore considerably reduce foreign exchange requirement for importation of these items as rice importation alone consumes about $4 billion.
“I have gone to this length to underscore the important role that Nigerians in Diaspora can play in the new Nigeria which is now under construction. It is well known that several nations of the world have tapped into the wealth of knowledge and exposure of their Diaspora mixed with those at home to build a thriving economy. India has attained its present global status in part because of the contribution of its Diaspora.”
The Vice President insisted that now is the right time for Nigerians in Diaspora to make sacrifices towards contributing their quota to nation building, especially when the country is presently facing numerous obstacles and challenges.
“I propose that the impact the Diaspora of those nations have brought to bear would not have been possible if they were not prepared to make sacrifices. If many of them had waited for the home environment to be completely ideal, before they start to actively get involved and engaged in their home countries, they would probably still be waiting up till now.”
Professor Osinbajo assured the Diaspora community of the resolve of the Buhari administration to resolutely tackle some of the numerous challenges confronting the country, emphasizing that the Federal Government is poised to take the critical steps in repositioning Nigeria towards the path of greatness again. [myad]

The Debt Niger State Owes David Umaru, By Abdullahi Bello Kuta

Greenbarge Reporters

August 25, 2015

As a non-resident indigene of Niger State, I made a habit of constantly keeping track of the political events there. In this torturous practice, I got to know the principal actors of the politics of my dear state. I saw a state languishing under the seeming dominance of the PDP government, with the opposition parties clearly boxed to the corner. Ours was a predictable politics of the ruling party that considered itself invincible and the opposition parties resting on the shoulder of an uncompromising personality.
In Niger, that person who stood up to the tyranny of the ruling party was Barrister David Umaru, a two-time Gubernatorial aspirant and victim of PDP’s notorious rigging schemes. Though Senator Umaru contested results of the Guber elections and despite failing to have them judged as the frauds they were, being victories obtained through widely witnessed electoral malpractices typical of the PDP, he didn’t bow out of politics. He remained a frontline critic of the state government, exposing its frauds, ill-considered policies and brazen misappropriation of public funds. He was our eye to the excesses of the Niger State Government between 2007 and 2015, when, as karma would have it, he defeated Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, in their bids for the Senate.
Looking back, I doubt anyone deserves praise for keeping the opposition alive in Niger State more than him. Some of us only got to realise the massive corruption and lack of transparency that wracked Governor Mu’azu Aliyu’s administration through Umaru’s whistleblowing, and the many advertorials he sponsored in major national dailies, which the government couldn’t refute. All they could was the usual barrage of personalised attacks instead of convincing the people whose mandate they abused, that Umaru’s revelations were untrue.
We were all witnesses to political aspirants who stepped forward to vie for the Office of the Governor and disappeared when that couldn’t be realised. We saw Engineer Mustapha Bello, who only remembered he’s a politician and that certain responsibilities are expected of him only in election years. We saw
Malam Isah Ladan who joined the race spraying wads of money as though he owned a mint, and then disappeared, with nothing heard about and from him again, when his ambition wasn’t achieved. We saw Malam Sani Musa 313, Senator Isah Mohammed, Engineer Y. Y. Sani, and several other Guber candidates who came to the scene and quite predictably disappeared when that dream met a brick wall. These, from their antecedents, were the people we could describe as political opportunists, something not attributable to Umaru who, despite the electoral losses, remained resilient in the struggle to oust PDP in Niger State.
This exemplary trait of Umaru is the reason I was quite shocked when I saw some damning essays authored by semi-literate and amnesic hacks and sycophants who really had no idea of the role the man had played in levelling the political ground for the APC in Niger State, investing his personal resources as first a stalwart of the ANPP, and then its evolution into the CPC. He is, as agreed by a number of us at various political forums, the Muhammadu Buhari of Niger State, only that, unlike Buhari, he doesn’t have the advantage of the membership of a dominant ethnic group and religion. Thus, his advocacies, aside from championing political liberations, were frustrated by resistance to frustrate him based on ethnic and religious sentiments and identifications.
The theme of the recent attacks on the person of David Umaru was his agitation that a member of his senatorial district be made the Secretary to the Government (SSG) of Niger State based on a clear constitutional requirement for fair representation of the members of all senatorial districts in government. The rationale for this, as outlined by all thinking Nigerlites, is: since the Governor is from Niger North, his Deputy from Niger South, the third highest Executive Officer, one with marked administrative responsibility, and not just advisory role, ought to be from the Niger East. This was all Umaru asked for, and this also was the agitation of the obviously politically side-lined people of Niger East who, like me, see the office of the Chief of Staff allocated to them, as unfair compensation despite giving Governor Abubakar Sani Bello the bulk of his votes, the highest of the three senatorial districts, in the election that brought him to power. What stirred the hornet’s nest was that the Governor has chosen a member of his own senatorial district and local government area as the SSG, rousing a feeling of marginalisation, which the people of Niger East had endured all the while.
Nigeria is a polarised state, and so is Niger State. This is why we must be intelligent in dismissing Umaru’s observation as ethnically based advocacy, with some even accusing the man of tribalism and, elsewhere, someone even embarrassed himself pointing out that the senator isn’t from Niger State. Even Buhari, despite not being massively supported by the Igbo, remains sensitive to their plights, and has even appointed an Igbo as head of the nation’s biggest and most relevant institution, the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission.
That Umaru cries for representation of his people in the senate is a legitimate discharge of his duty, not just as a conscious politician among a people not fairly represented in government but also as a senator elected by these people to protect their interests. You don’t expect a Niger East senator to carry the problems of the people of other senatorial districts, which also have their representatives at the legislative chambers, on his head. And the irony of this is, even the Governor of Niger State, whose decisions some endorsed ignorantly, is a product of a quota system based on the State’s zonal arrangement. The people of Niger State, including the Governor, owe David Umaru a debt of gratitude and respect, for his political resilience in keeping the opposition alive at the time those attacking him now were dining with the powers that be!

abduldankuta@gmail.com. [myad]

Buhari Accuses Past Leaders Of Deliberately Creating Condition For Unnecessary Oil Subsidy

Greenbarge Reporters

August 25, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari has accused past leaders for the current situation in which Nigeria is forced to spend billions of Naira annually on alleged subsidies for petroleum products.

“They allowed the infrastructure to collapse so that their cronies can steal by bringing in refined products from overseas,” President Buhari said.

The President, who spoke today at a meeting with the Chairman and members of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), said that the escalation of petroleum subsidy payments over recent years was due to the deliberate neglect of the nation’s refineries, oil pipelines and other related infrastructure to allow the importation of petroleum products and corruption to thrive.

The President, who restated his huge disappointment with the way Nigeria’s oil industry has been run since he left office as Petroleum Minister and Military Head of State, said that he was convinced that if the development of the country’s domestic refining capacity and petroleum products distribution network had kept pace with national demand, there would not have been any need for the huge subsidies currently being paid to importers.

The President advised the chairman and members of the RMAFC, who revealed the circumstances surrounding the petroleum subsidy payments, to go “back to the drawing board” and come up with more humane proposals to rescue ordinary Nigerians from the “wicked manipulation” of the country’s oil industry by corrupt operators.

President Buhari also warned that severe sanctions will be visited on any individual or organisation that violates the directive on the payment of all national revenue into the Federation Account.

The President said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other MDAs which previously relied on the laws establishing them to retain all or part of revenues collected by them, did so illegally and must now comply with the Nigerian Constitution by paying all revenues to the Federation Account.

President Buhari also chided the RMAFC for approving excessive remunerations for some political office holders, urged the commission to seek a proper interpretation of its powers and address the public outcry against the unreasonably high payments. [myad]

110 Million Poor Nigerians Are Easy Prey To Boko Haram’s Recruitment, Osinbajo Laments

Greenbarge Reporters

August 24, 2015

The Nigeria Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has lamented that 110 million Nigerians who he said are extremely poor, are the easy prey for recruitment by violent extremists, including members of Boko Haram.

“We (in Nigeria) have 110 million extremely poor and at the bottom of human development indices. Most cannot and do not interrogate the alternatives offered by contesting parties beyond narrow prisms of ethnicity, and religion.

“The disaffected millions who are largely illiterates and without a real stake in the security of the polity represent a reserve for recruitment into violent extremism.”

Vice President Osinbajo spoke today in a keynote address he delivered at the Dialogue on Democracy, Sustainable Development and Countering Terrorism’ at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.

Professor Osinbajo stressed the need for what he called a paradigm shift in socio-economic planning and development using the bottom-up socio-economic planning model towards strengthening the nation’s democracy and build a transparent and inclusive society.

According to him violent extremism is not entirely a product of socio-economic exclusion, but a function of permitting religious and radically ethno-centric pedagogy without a persuasive enough counter-narrative.

“Ï think a paradigm shift might be required; bottom-up economic and social planning, budget and planning that are driven by the poverty and unemployment numbers.”

Professor Osinbajo made it clear that government has a role to play in the determination of socio-economic inclusion by enabling a market driven economy and providing social safety nets through direct interventions directly in some cases even as he emphasized that a proactive approach to combating extremism among the vast millions of the poor and vulnerable citizens might be needful in addition to the socio-economic inclusiveness approach by offering a counter-narrative to the subsisting terrorist propaganda.

“While market must be self propelled, Government must set the safety floor and intervene directly in some cases in providing jobs and opportunities. I think we must also offer an alternative narrative to the one of extremism and violence.”

He said that the counter-narrative approach to combating terrorism based on religion is not enough to counter religious views, suggesting that governments must seek progressive allies in such religion to achieve the objective of the narrative.

On climate change, the Vice President who identified the unmitigated consumption pattern as responsible for the challenges associated with climate change expressed the support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to the fundamental objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the recent Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon in whose presence the dialogue held has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to social inclusiveness, emphasizing that government must respect human rights and dignity of its citizens. He added that the vulnerable must be included in governance.

He said that the problems of insecurity and climate change cannot be tackled by any single country, saying: “every hand should be on deck.”

Mr. Moon used the opportunity to praise Nigeria’s leadership roles in Africa and the world in the area of peace keeping and on other global issues.

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar who spoke at the occasion informed the gathering of efforts being made by traditional and religious leaders in the country to tackle the problem of extremism and called on the UN Secretary-General to help Nigeria to recover and return her stolen fund back to the country.

In his own remarks at the occasion, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onayeikan reiterated the position of the Pope on the issue of climate change and called for concerted actions to redress the situation. [myad]

Governor Wike Begins Probe Of Amaechi: But Amaechi Says Probe Is Dead On Arrival

Greenbarge Reporters

August 24, 2015

The Rivers state governor, Nyeson Wike has finally set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe the administration of immediate past Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, even as the former governor described the probe as being ‘dead on arrival.’

The Justice George Omeregi-led commission of inquiry began its sitting today at the Chief Judge’s court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital and is expected to probe the alleged sale of state assets by the past administration, as well as invite former Commissioners and officials of former Governor Amaechi to explain their role in the financial administration of the state.

However, in reaction to the probe, the former governor expressed reservations over the probe, saying: “what Wike has set out to do is anything but fair.”

In a statement issued by the media office of the former governor and signed by his former Chief Press Secretary, David Iyofor, Amaechi said that though he is not afraid of a fair and decent probe or investigation of his administration and would cooperate and support such inquiry as much as it is done within the armbit of the law, but that Wike has already pre-empted the outcome of the probe.

“Governor Wike had repeatedly held at various fora that former governor Amaechi acted illegally in the disbursement of funds and ran a corrupt government, and as such prejudging the outcome of the inquiry. And the probe is dead on arrival”, the statement by former governor’s media aide said.

The statement dismissed reports trending on the internet that the former governor had been involved in fraud to the tune of 757 million Dollars in a US bank, describing such claims as imaginary.

The Chairman of the panel, Justice Omeregi, however, promised that the panel will be fair to all and will not witch-hunt anyone. [myad]

Vice President Osinbajo Receives UN Scribe, Ban Ki Moon

Greenbarge Reporters

August 24, 2015

Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) receives UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon in dialogue on Democracy, Development, Climate Change and Countering Violent Extremism. From left to right: Retired Major General Babagana Mongunu, National Security Adviser (NSA); Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General; Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Abubakar Sa’ad, the Sultan of Sokoto; John Olorunfemi Cardinal Onaiyekan, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja. [myad]

Jonathan’s Security Chief, Dasuki, Faces Court Case Over Alleged Illegal Firearms

Greenbarge Reporters

August 24, 2015

The former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki has been charged to court by the Department of State Security Services (DSS), over offenses related to illegal possession of fire arms.

A statement by the DSS today issued by Tony Opuiyo said that after searching Dasuki’s houses on July 16, 2015, its men discovered large cache of arms and ammunition and has subsequently charged him to court.

“The search operation led to the recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition among other things and for which further investigation was conducted.

“Consequently, on Monday 24th August, 2015, he was charged to court based on evidence so far obtained, but which relates to possession of fire arms without license,” Opuiyo stated.

He said that the crime is punishable under section 27(i) (a)(i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 LFN 2004, adding: “this is in line with democratic practice and our avowed commitment to the rule of law.”

Opuiyo emphasized that nobody is above the law no matter how highly placed in the society. [myad]

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