Bauchi Impounds 97 Plots Stolen By Yuguda Government

June 30, 2015

Bauchi state government has recovered 97 government landed properties which were illegally allocated to individuals by the immediate past government of Isa Yuguda.

Chairman of the Committee set up to look into the alleged illegal land allocation, Air Cdr Ahmed Tijjani-Baba (Rtd), said that the plots of land belonged to State Government institutions but were allocated to individuals by the immediate past administration in the state.

According to him, 89 of the plots belonged to the Bauchi State College for Arts and Science (BACAS), allocated to individuals in the name of “curve outs.”
Tijjani-Baba also explained that eight plots were also curved out at the premises of Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP), and equally allocated to individuals.

He said that the plots at BSADP were meant for the construction of senior and junior staff quarters, staff school, police outpost, football field and other recreational facilities meant for staff and children of the Programme.

He said that documents, including Allocation Letters, Grant or Certificate of Occupancy, were initiated, approved and issued to the beneficiaries on May 28, 2015.

The chairman said that the committee had taken possession of all the affected plots, while the beneficiaries were directed to surrender the documents to the State Ministry of Lands and Survey.

Alhaji Garba Noma, one of the beneficiaries, while commenting on the matter, insisted that the plot situated at BACAS, was allocated to him by the last administration two years ago.

Noma said that the said plots used to be a hideout for armed robbers and miscreants, following the relocation of some faculties of the school to its permanent site along Bauchi to Jos Road.

He said that he had requested the then administration of Governor Isa Yuguda to allocate the plot to him for the construction of some social amenities, and was obliged.

Noma said that he had received the revocation notice and halted ongoing construction work on the site. [myad]

Mexico Pulls Out Of Miss Universe Contest, Protesting Trump’s Racist Remarks

Greenbarge Reporters

June 30, 2015

Mexico beauty pageant organizers have pulled out of the Miss Universe contest in protest over what it called “racist” remarks which the competition’s co-owner and US presidential hopeful Donald Trump made about Mexicans.

It is the latest fallout from Trump’s comments about migrants, which have outraged Latin Americans and the Hispanic community in the United States and prompted US television giant NBC and Mexican broadcaster Televisa to refuse to broadcast Miss Universe.

Losing a Latin American contestant is a big loss for Miss Universe as the contest is hugely popular in the region, where victory by a nation’s contestant is a source of national pride that can spark street celebrations.

“As a Mexican, I am very offended and angry like everybody else,” former Miss Universe and Nuestra Belleza Mexico pageant director Lupita Jones wrote on Twitter late Monday.

“As a Miss Universe, I think that Donald Trump is doing a lot of harm to the organization,” Jones wrote.

“It’s a shame that because of his racist comments we lose what the contest has promoted and represented during so many years, which is an atmosphere of harmony and peace among nations,” she wrote. “We will not participate in MU (Miss Universe).”

In a rambling campaign announcement last week, Trump lashed out at Mexico and Mexican migrants, saying that they were bringing drugs, crime and “rapists” to the United States.

NBC, which co-owns Miss Universe, and Televisa, the world’s largest Spanish-language network, announced on Monday that they were severing ties with the real estate mogul, meaning both will not air the contest. [myad]

Celestial Church Disowns Evang. Oshoffa As Its Pastor, Says He’s Impostor

Greenbarge Reporters

June 30, 2015

The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) has disowned Evang. Tosho Oshoffa who it said has been parading himself as the pastor or leader of the church, saying that the church does not have a “lawful and duly accredited” pastor for now.

A member of the Board of Trustee, Evang. Samson Banjo described as fake, not genuine and an exercise in futility for any person or group of persons to recognise Evang Oshoffa as the pastor or leader of the church.

Banjo, who is also a member of the Pastor- in-Council of the church, spoke today on behalf of the church when he addressed at the church’s National Headquarters, Makoko, Yaba, Lagos.

“Any assertion, representation, claims and pretention by any person or persons including the ill-advised and baseless self-declaration of Oshoffa to leadership of the church is fake,’’ he stressed.

According to Banjo, “on March 26, a trial Judge, Hon. Justice A.O. Asenuga, ruled that the self-proclamation of Mr. Godwin Shonekan as pastor of the church was illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

“The court further ruled that the appointment of a pastor in the church needs re-articulating in a new constitution.

“The trial judge set aside all claims to the position of the church. In this regard, the board of trustee as one of the defendant has already appeal against the court ruling,’’ he said.

Banjo said that the church was working on the constitution to restructure its operations and administration.

“The church has commenced work on the constitution in response to another court decision for the church to go and find a peaceful solution to its problems.

“The interim draft produce by the committee is receiving necessary attention and the committee has resumed work to produce the final draft for the consideration of all stakeholders of the church.” [myad]

As Jega Bows Out, Buhari Brings In Mrs. Amina Zakari As Acting INEC Boss

Greenbarge Reporters

June 30, 2015

As the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega finally quit today, President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari as acting chairman of the electoral body.

According to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Barrister Danladi Kifasi, the appointment takes effect from today, June 30, 2015 until the appointment of a substantive Chairman.

The information was made known on behalf of the Head of Civil Service by the Director of Communications in his office.

Earlier today, Professor Jega handed over the leadership of the INEC to his successor, Ambassador Ahmed Wali.

The new acting chairman, Amina Zakari, was until his appointment today a National Electoral Commissioner in the Commission. She is a pharmacist by profession and hails from Jigawa State.

She completed her Secondary Education from the prestigious Queens College Yaba, Lagos. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.sc) degree in Pharmacy with Second Class upper (Best Graduating Student) in 1980 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. [myad]

Nigerian University Staff Threaten Nation-Wide Strike Over Budget Cut, Want Buhari To Intervene

Greenbarge Reporters

June 30, 2015

Senior workers in Nigeria’s universities have threatened to embark on an industrial action any time soon against the decision of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to stop the funding of federal universities staff schools in the budget.
The workers, under the umbrella of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and other non-teaching staff in universities notified President Muhammadu Buhari of their intention, seeking his intervention in the planned funding stoppage.
President of SSANU, Samson Ugwoke told reporters in a press conference at the headquarters of the association within the University of Abuja that the union has already mobilized all its members across board to prepare for a prolonged strike.
The NUC reportedly issued a circular directing the management of all universities to stop the funding of staff schools from their budgets. NUC in this regard classified them as private schools.
It also said that SSANU and other university based unions were aware of the decision taken on the issue and should know where to direct their grievances, adding that their grouse should be directed to the Salaries and Wages Commission. [myad]

Over 90 Million Across The World May Go Blind By 2020, Dr. Echendu Warns

Greenbarge Reporters

June 30, 2015

The National President the Nigerian Optometrist Association (NOA), Dr. Damian Echendu has warned that more than 90 million people might go blind globally by the year 2020 excpet stringent measures are quickly taken. He posited that for now, over one million Nigerians above 40 years currently blind.

At a news briefing today to herald its 39th Annual General Meeting and scientific conference scheduled to commence on Thursday in Abuja, Dr. Echendu said that from a study carried out, it showed that about one million people are blind in Nigeria.

“And these ‎are avoidable cases. Those mostly affected are above 40 years of age. By 2020, if actions are not taken to prevent those avoidable causes of blindness, which currently stands at 45, the number might double and will be 90 million.

“These cases of blindness are more prevalent in sub-saharan Africa. Poverty, lack of basic amenities and insensitivity of ‎government to those that should take care of the people are among the main causes of blindness in sub-saharan Africa.”

Echendu called on government at all levels to set up optometry departments in both state and federal ministries of health and other tertiary healthcare institutions in Nigeria. [myad]

Aso Rock Editor Of German Radio: Sacked By Jonathan, Restored By Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

June 29, 2015

Aso Rock correspondent of Deutsche Welle, a German Radio and Television media group, Mallam Ubale Musa, who was barred from the Villa in the last days of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has been fully re-integrated back to his beat by President Muhammadu Buhari.
On the directive of President Buhari today, the Villa Press Tag of Ubale Musa was restored to him.
Presenting the Press Tag to the correspondent at the Presidential Villa, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said that Ubale Musa’s re-accreditation as a State House correspondent was in keeping with President Buhari’s commitment to correcting the wrongs of the past.
“Part of the change promised by President Buhari is to correct things that were wrongly done before. Mr. Ubale Musa’s accreditation was wrongly withdrawn. To redress the wrong done to him by the withdrawal, we have returned his Villa Press Pass to him so that he can continue his work without hindrance,” Adesina said.
In his brief remarks after receiving his Villa Press Pass, Ubale Musa thanked President Buhari and his media team for restoring his accreditation.
He promised that he will continue to do his work as a State House Correspondent objectively, professionally and with due regard to the ethics of journalism. [myad]

How Jonathan Killed Mambila Project And Threw Nigeria Into Darkness, Chinese Company Tells Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

June 29, 2015

The Managing Director of CGGC, a Chinese Construction Company that has been working on the Mambilla Power Project, Mr. Zhang Heng, has said that the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his government refused to pay the Nigerian counterpart fund for the project, thus reducing the capacity of the power sector to meet the nation’s need..
Heng, who led his company’s delegation on courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today, emphasised that, work on the Mambilla project was being delayed as a rrsult of the failure of previous administrations to provide the counterpart funding specified in the agreement with the Chinese government.
This was even as President Buhari made it clear that his administration will not joke with such project, stressing that he would give the highest possible priority to the rapid improvement of power supply across Nigeria.
President Buhari said that it was quite regrettable that power generation in Nigeria had failed to keep pace with national needs over the years, saying that his administration will ensure that the Mambilla project and other unfinished hydro-power projects in the country are completed expeditiously to boost power supply in the country.
“I am very much interested in Mambilla and other hydro-power projects, not only for the improvement of power but also for irrigation as both power and irrigation projects will help to improve the lives of Nigerians.
“I am going to ask for details of the Mambilla Hydro-Power Project and others. Very soon, we will get together and redefine the project agreements for faster results.”
The CGGC delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Villa by Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State.
[myad]

Atiku Admires Jega’s Enviable Record As INEC Chairman

Greenbarge Reporters

June 29, 2015

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed admiration for the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega whose tenure ends this week.
Atiku said that the successful conduct of the 2015 elections with the introduction of Card Reader and Permanent Voters Card (PVC) had tremendously boosted Jega’s reputation and earned him the respect of Nigerians and the international community.
A statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Mazi Paul Ibe quoted as saying that Jega had disarmed even the worst pessimists that never gave him the slightest chance to produce free and fair elections in Nigeria.
Atiku said that Jega had made a huge difference in the conduct of credible elections, and that he left no one in doubt that he deserved the appointment in the first place.
According to him, Jega’s remarkable comportment, patience, calmness and presence of mind under very tense situations were very impressive.
The former Vice President noted that Jega had set a standard that would require his successor to work twice as hard to maintain his record and build on it.
In particular, Atiku recalled that some pessimists were already signing the requiem of Nigerian’s demise with the 2015 elections, the ominous deadline for the country’s alleged disintegration.
He said that at every turn, Jega rose to the occasion even in the face formidable challenges.
The former Vice President said it was not how many years an official spent in office that matters, but how he was able to make an impact within the scope of the opportunity he had to serve his country.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) leader said that Professor Jega didn’t disappoint Nigerians, and that history would write a favourable verdict on his impressive record.
He called on the person that will take over from him to keep the flag flying, especially by pushing for reforms that might strengthen the Electoral Act and deepen democracy.
According to Atiku, reforming the Electoral Act would go a long way to consolidate our democratic gains, and build on the efforts to achieve credible elections. [myad]

Buhari Inaugurates National Economic Council In Aso Rock

Greenbarge Reporters

June 29, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari, today, inaugurated the National Economic Council (NEC) to be chaired by Vice President Yomi Osinbajo. Just before the formal inauguration, President Buhari cracked jokes with governor Nasiru el-Rufai of Kaduna state, Vice President Osinbajo to the President immediate right; governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo state to his left, Samuel Ortom of Benue state (to his far right), Aminu Masari of Katsina state (behind el-Rufai) and other governors at the Presidential Aso Villa, today. [myad]

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