APC Laments Alleged Break Down Of Security In Rivers State

August 31, 2015

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State chapter has lamented the systematic break down of security in the state, citing the abduction of renowned essayist /columnist, Ms. Dornu Kogbara last Sunday in Port Harcourt by unknown gun men as one too many.
A statement by the party’s publicity secretary in the state, Mr. Chris Finebone regretted that governor Nyeson Wike’s administration is fast eroding the significant achievements in the security situation by the government of Chief Rotimi Amaechi.
“The several efforts made by the previous administration which significantly brought criminality to its lowest ebb across the State have now been reversed in just three months of the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike. The present sorry state of security in the state did not come by accident.”
APC recalled that before and during the last electioneering campaigns, it warned that the worst thing that would happen to Rivers State was for Nyesom Wike to become governor of the state, especially with regard to security of life and property.
The warning, the party said, was based on a clear assessment and observation of the individuals who call the shots in the Rivers State chapter of the PDP and those they chose to engage as their foot soldiers to snatch electoral victory through the use of the gun.
“Today, the worst fears of the APC have come to stay in Rivers State considering the skyrocketing level of killings, armed robberies and kidnap sweeping through the length and breadth of the state with negative impact on the economy and social life of the people and residents of the state.
“The APC would like to call on security agents in Rivers State and beyond to do all they can to ensure a quick and safe retrieval of the kidnapped journalist of international repute whose only crime was to visit the family in Port Harcourt, her home state capital.
“It is the belief of the APC that Rivers people do not deserve the present state of insecurity that has been imposed on them by a band of individuals who deployed criminality to steal the peoples’ mandate and now cannot find meaningful engagement for their foot soldiers who now resort to self help in armed robbery, kidnap and other crimes. The PDP and its governorship candidate sowed an ill wind of violence and we all are now made to face the accompanying whirlwind. Dornu Kogbara must be freed NOW!” [myad]

Buhari Hails Nigerian Basketball Team For Beating Angola, Assures Them Of Support For Olympics

Greenbarge Reporters

August 31, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari has praised the Nigerian national men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, for beating their Angolan opponent in yesterday’s final of the FIBA Africa Basketball Championship in Tunisia.
A statement by the special adviser to President Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said that the President described the performance of D’Tigers as exhilarating, leading to 74-65 victory over their Angolan opponents.
This victory, the President said, has also secured Nigeria’s qualification for the men’s basketball event at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro.
He commended the players for displaying exemplary strength, courage, determination and patriotism as well as great skills and creativity to dethrone Angola, who he said have been the perennial African basketball champions.
President Buhari advised members of the team and their handlers to work very hard to surpass their
extraordinary performance in Tunisia before a global audience at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro and bring even greater glory to Nigeria.
Buhari assured the team, its managers and the Nigerian Basketball Federation that his administration will give them and Nigeria’s other representatives at the next Olympic Games, the fullest possible support to ensure that they are well prepared to excel against the champions of other countries and regions. [myad]

President Buhari Fears Reversal Of Gains In Polio Eradication Efforts, Stresses Need To Sustain Them

Greenbarge Reporters

August 31, 2015

“Experts have cautioned that the progress we have made in the polio eradication efforts is still very fragile and that there is the risk of gains reversal if we don’t sustain this great effort and allow complacency to set in.”
This was the fear expressed by President Muhammadu Buhari today when he had a separate meetings with governors of polio-vulnerable states in the country and members of the High-Level Advocacy Group at the Presidential Villa, Abuja,
“As you are aware, the fact that we have not had any case of polio for over a year now, does not mean that we are polio free. It is just one of the milestones on the path to being polio-free. I understand that for Nigeria to be certified polio free, we have to sustain this zero polio case status, strengthen surveillance in order to detect quickly any case of polio anywhere in the country, improve routine immunization coverage and provide the needed human and material resources,” President Buhari said.
The President reaffirmed his determination to ensure that Nigeria is finally certified polio-free by 2017 and appealed to Nigerians to join hands with the Federal Government to achieve the objective.
He emphasised the need for Nigeria to build on its achievement of being polio-free for 12 months which was marked in July so as to enable it to become permanently polio-free.
The President said that he had initiated the meetings with the Governors and Advocacy Group members because the country could not afford a reversal of what has been achieved after 17 years of the polio eradication programme in Nigeria.
” I want to reaffirm the commitment of the Federal Government to sustain the gains and momentum to enable Nigeria achieve certification by 2017.”
The President urged the governors to diligently supervise the polio eradication programme in their states and join the Federal Government in ensuring that the required resources are provided and efficiently utilized to achieve the desired result.
“Between now and 2017, we must ensure that we continue to build confidence in our people to present their children and wards for immunization. We also need to interface regularly with our LGA chairmen to ensure that there is no complacency.
“We must make Nigeria Polio free in 2017. We must put all our efforts to achieve this milestone for the sake of our children, future generations and the over-all health and well being of the nation.”
President Buhari assured the governors and advocacy group members that his administration will continue to give the required leadership towards Nigeria’s final certification as being polio-free through the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Nigeria, Dr. Rui Gam Gaz praised the strong political support for the eradication of polio in the country.
He said that lessons learnt from Nigeria will be used in the search for ways to end polio in other parts of the world.

[myad]

Thieves Break Into Abuja Office Of Newsdiaryonline, Steal Vital Items

Greenbarge Reporters

August 31, 2015

Thieves, today, broke into the office of Newsdiaryonline located at Extension D-49, EFAB Mall in Garki district of Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital City.
A statement by the publisher /editor-in-chief of the Newsdiaryonline, Danlami Nmodu, said that the thieves whose identities are yet to be established, forced their way into the office by breaking the doors through where they gained entrance.
According to the statement, the unknown thieves ransacked the office and made away with some vital office items, including laptops, a generator set, an LCD television set, electric kettle and others.
The publisher expressed surprise that the thieves did not touch the internet router and the satellite TV decoder, adding that they might be afraid that these two items could have made it easier for the security personnel to trace them.
Nmodu however assured readers and followers of Newsdiaryonline that in spite of the theft of its vital publishing items, it would continue to serve and provide them with credible news, opinions and analysis without fear or favour. [myad]

Saraki Leads Delegation To 4th UN Conference Of Parliamentary Heads

Greenbarge Reporters

August 30, 2015

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, will tomorrow, Monday lead the Nigerian delegation to participate in the 4th United Nations Conference of Parliamentary Heads holding at the organization’s headquarters in New York, United States.

This year’s conference which will be declared open by the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, will feature presentation of reports and general debate on “placing democracy at the service of peace and sustainable development.”

Other issues billed for debate include ‘Challenges facing Parliaments today’, ‘Parliamentary Oversight: challenges and opportunities ‘, while a bi-lateral meeting with Dr. Saraki is expected to be hosted by the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset), Mr. Yuli-Yoel Edelstein.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) and selected Heads of Parliaments (GLOBE International Representation) are also expected to meet on the sidelines of the conference.

In a statement issued by Yusuph Olaniyonu, Special Adviser to Senate President on Media and Publicity, the Senate President is billed to address the session of the world forum on Wednesday, September 2 and later hold a press conference immediately after the speech.

Saraki is accompanied on the trip by Senators Andy Uba, Shehu Sani and Dino Melaye.

Others on the entourage include Special Adviser to the Senate President on Economic Matters, Dr. Uchendu Okoye and Special Assistant on Public Partnerships.

The Senate President and his team departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for New York on Saturday ahead of the conference which begins on Monday, 31st August 2015 and ends on Wednesday September 3, 2015. [myad

Presidency Asks: What Are The Jonathan’s Ministers Afraid Of In Buhari?

Greenbarge Reporters

August 30, 2015

The Presidency has asked what it referred to as Nigeria’s latest trade union formation, “the Association of Ex-Jonathan Ministers” what they are afraid of as President Muhammadu Buhari is set to look into how that government spent the nation’s resources.
The Presidency challenged the Jonathan’s ministers to do a bit of self-reflection on the sort of government they handed to President Buhari in May this year to determine for themselves if it would have been right for any incoming government, not just that of Buhari, to ignore the issue of the brazen theft of public assets, which it said, was the first of its kind the country had ever witnessed.
In a statement today by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the Presidency emphasised that there is no witch hunting or malice against anyone in the pursuit of the county’s stolen assets.
“This war against corruption knows no friend nor foe. There is no intention to deny anyone of their good name where they are entitled to it and that President Buhari reserves the highest regards for the country’s former leaders, including Dr. Jonathan Goodluck who he continues to praise to the high heavens for the way and manner in which he accepted defeat in the last election. This singular action remains a feat that has earned the former president and Nigeria as country befitting commendations all over the world, the latest coming from Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who visited a week ago.
“For the purpose of emphasis, the issue of fighting corruption by President Buhari is non negotiable. It is sine-qua-non to the overall reconstruction of the economy and social systems which suffered destruction and severe denigration under the last administration. President Buhari will not be deterred or blackmailed into retreat and surrender.
“No one in the PDP can accuse President Buhari of undermining the economy when all they handed over to him is at best, a tottering economy hobbled by corruption and the absence of due process. All he has been doing while around is to put things together, organizing to defeat Boko Haram, paying outstanding salaries, cleaning up the mess left behind, improving security and restoring our relationships with neighbors and the world.
“So what are former ministers afraid of in these things? Have they become a new trade union? Let this collection of ex-VIPs allow the President the peace he needs to handle the reconstruction of the economy and the nation in a manner that most serves Nigeria’s best interests. President Buhari does not need these types of distraction presented by the so-called association of former ministers.” [myad]

Bola Tinubu Campaigns For Sylva For Bayelsa Governorship Contest Under APC

Greenbarge Reporters

August 30, 2015

Former governor of Lagos State and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the people of Bayelsa state to vote for Chief Timipre Sylva in the December 5, 2015 Governorship election in the State.
Tinubu encouraged Sylva to work hard and secure the APC ticket at the primary election, to enable him win the governorship poll for the greater benefit of the state.
“I want him to contest the governorship election because of his proven leadership qualities and our belief that he can bring change to the state” he said.
Tinubu who met Sylva at his Abuja home not only endorsed him as the party’s consensus candidate for the December 5, 2015 governorship election but commended him for his contributions to the development of the party in Nigeria, particularly Bayelsa State.
“It is time for Bayelsans to unite and support a person who can effectively enhance unity, provide opportunities for all and lead the people in a different direction”
He expressed total and unreserved support for Sylva’s aspiration to clinch the party’s ticket and governorship seat even as he mandated APC leaders and members in Bayelsa State to support his choice.
“If you want change, if you are unhappy with the direction of Bayelsa State, then you must join the governorship race and change the state for the people.”
Tinubu, who also described Sylva as an agent of change, is pushing for the former governor of Bayelsa State,to occupy the governorship position once again. [myad]

Big Players In ICT Industry Hold Technology-Assisted Learning Conference In Abuja Tomorrow

Greenbarge Reporters

August 30, 2015

Some big players in the ICT industry with the National Universities Commission and Digital Promise Global in the forefront, will tomorrow, August 31, begin a two-day conference on “Technology-Assisted Learning in the Nigerian University System.”
The Conference, scheduled to hold at the Barcelona Hotels on Blantyre Street, Abuja is expected to end on September 1^st.
It is being jointly sponsored by the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa state, Airtel, MTN, Computer Warehouse Group, Microsoft, Sunnet Systems & Datacom Services Ltd, IBM, and EDU Platform.
A statement from the office of communications and public relations of the American University of Nigeria said that the conference will bring together major stakeholders in the nation’s university system and underscores the importance of collaboration and teamwork.
The statement said that Vice Chancellors or Presidents, Directors of Academic Planning and ICT, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), internet service providers (ISPs), research institutes, independent researchers and others seeking to help chart the course for university education in Nigeria are expected to attend the conference.
It said that the prime objective of the conference,described as a foundational event is a better and more effective teaching, learning, and research through ICT.
Participants, according to the statement, will be exposed to the current state-of-the-art of IT and education, strategies for successful ICT deployment, and the challenges and barriers to ICT deployment.
It quoted the conference website as saying: “Our universities need to gradually ease away from traditional methods currently employed to those that are more relevant to the realities of life in an inter-connected and globalizing world.” [myad]

Your Husband Was A Great Patriot, Buhari Tells Wife Of Late Nigeria’s Ambassador To US, Adefuye, On Phone

Greenbarge Reporters

August 30, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, spoke to the wife of the late Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Professor Ade Adefuye, describing him as a great and remarkable patriot whose contributions to the development of Nigeria were immeasurable.
According to the special senior assistant to the President on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in a statement, President Buhari told the wife of the late Professor that he was profoundly shocked by the sudden death of the distinguished top diplomat and historian.
President Buhari told the wife of the late envoy, who is still in the United States, that her late husband had contributed immensely to making his official engagement in the United States of America fruitful and successful.
President Buhari recalled that late Professor Adefuye attended all his engagements during the July official visit to the White House and other places in the United States of America, stressing that he is proud to encounter such a patriotic diplomat, who put higher national interest above partisan loyalty.
Buhari wanted such fine virtues of the late envoy to be emulated by other Nigerian leaders, even as he prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest in peace, and to give his family the fortitude to bear the loss of this great Nigerian senior diplomat. [myad]

Atiku’s Daughter Becomes Commissioner, Donates Salary, Allowances To Health Sector

Greenbarge Reporters

August 30, 2015

Dr Fatima Atiku, daughter of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and newly appointed Adamawa Commissioner of Health has forfeited her salary and allowances for use in revitalizing the health sector in the state.

Fielding questions from newsmen in Yola on Friday after being sworn -in along with 21 other commissioners, Fatima, a Consultant, said she was making the sacrifice because of the numerous challenges in the health sector.

“I am very grateful to the governor for appointing me to head the Health Ministry. The ministry is the most challenging because of the insurgency problem that had caused some damage to the health system in the state.

“For this reason, I shall be donating my salary and allowances for use in enhancing the delivery of healthcare service in the state,” Fatima said.”

Speaking earlier while administering the oath of office on the Commissioners, Governor Bindow Jubrilla said that their appointment was based on merit.

He advised them to join hands with him in bringing the desired change in the state, adding that their loyalty should be to the people, and not him.

“Your loyalty is to the people of Adamawa, whom you represent, and not to me”, Jibrilla said.

Responding on behalf of the commissioners, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Kaletapwa Farauta, thanked the governor for the appointment, assuring that they would not betray the confidence reposed in them. [myad]

1...2,1292,1302,131...2,499 Page 2,130 of 2,499