Chairman of the Rosehill Group, Suleiman Yahyah has described late Dr. Rilwan Lukman, former Nigeria minister of Petroleum resources who died in Austria on Monday morning, as a visionary leader. Suleiman said that the death of Lukman was a monumental loss to Nigeria. In a condolence message, the Rosehill Group boss said that the former petroleum minister lived a life of principle and service to his fatherland worthy of emulation. The deceased, he said, was chairman Advisory Board of Asokoro Island Limited (AIL), a hospitality hotspot founded by Rosehill Group. “He was highly principled; he abhorred corruption and was the defender of the interest of Nigerians,” he said. Suleiman said that Dr. Lukman would be remembered as the architect of the original Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The statement said the Group will miss the statesman’s wise counsel which he used to give freely, as chairman of the Advisory Board of AIL. He prayed for the repose of his soul while wishing the family and Nigerians the fortitude to bear the monumental loss. [myad]
Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has prayed to God to remove the evil ones from amongst Nigerians so that the country will enjoy peace, progress and development.
The Vice President who joined millions of other Muslims to observe lesser hajj (Umrah) at the Holy Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia today said: “We prayed for our nation’s peace, progress and development. We pray to Almighty Allah to remove all the evil that are within us so that the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President will succeed.”
Namadi Sambo offered the prayer shortly after the completion of circumbulating (Tawwaf) the Holy Ka’abah.
Amongst those that performed the pilgrimage alongside the Vice President were Nigeria’s ambassadors to Saudi Arabia Ambbassador Abubakar Bunu and the PDP National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha.
The Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage) is performed by Muslims from all over the world by converging at the Holy city of Makkah to observe the ritual. The ritual can be undertaken at any time of the year but preferred during the month of Ramadan.
The pilgrims perform a series of worship, the same way Prophet Ibrahim and his second wife Hajara did.
Pilgrims usually use the Umrah to pray to God mercy and forgiveness, as well as requesting Him to grant them earthly and heavenly wishes. [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has taken serious exception to General Muhammadu Buhari’s attempt to link him to the haze of impeachments that are now ringing bell across the country, saying that Buhari is just reeling in idle scapegoating. The President wanted General Buhari and others who have resorted to blaming him for their self-inflicted political troubles to stop their inexcusable partisanship and show greater regard for the truth, democracy, constitutionalism, the rule of law, peace, security and the well-being of the nation. In a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, responding to General Buhari’s accusation of him being the brain behind the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state and other impeachment processes ongoing, Jonathan expressed surprise and regret for such statement coming from General Buhari. He said that Buhari’s statement, titled: “Pull Nigeria Back From the Brink,” was full of wild and totally unsustainable allegations. “There can be no doubt that General Buhari has sadly moved away from the patriotic and statesmanlike position he recently adopted on national security, which I publicly commended, and has now reverted to unbridled political partisanship. “There can be no other explanation or justification for the completely unwarranted and very uncharitable assault on the conduct and integrity of President Jonathan which the statement he issued today represents. “General Buhari’s main grouse which clearly motivated his ill-considered statement appears to be what he called “the gale of impeachments or the utilization of desperate tactics to suffocate the opposition and turn Nigeria into a one-party state.” The President considered it most unfortunate that instead of working to put their house in order and resolve the leadership crises and internal contradictions that have plunged their party into a downward spiral, General Buhari and his opposition allies have resorted to blaming a blameless President for their woes. He reminded the General that the processes for impeaching an elected Governor are clearly stipulated in the National Constitution which Nigeria has operated since 1999, adding that President of Nigeria is not assigned any role in that process and therefore he has not played any role in the recent impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa or in the impeachment drama currently being played out in Nasarawa State. “For the record, President remains fully committed to upholding the letters, principles and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution as he has sworn, and defending the rule of law and integrity of the democratic process with all his might.” On the General Buhari’s statement about anarchy, the President reminded him that from his humble beginnings as a Deputy Governor in Bayelsa state to date, he has never in his acts, or utterances, recommended or promoted violence as a tool of political negotiation. “Contrary to whatever General Buhari and his new friends may imagine, I fully respect the rights, powers, authority and independence of elected representatives of the people, including the members of the state assemblies who have concluded or initiated impeachment proceedings against their state governors on grounds which they consider justifiable. “The constitution does not give the President any power to intervene in such proceedings and I have never arrogated such powers to myself or sought to exert any nefarious and unconstitutional influence on state assemblies in Adamawa, Nasarawa or anywhere else in other to secure undue political advantage for my party as General Buhari unjustifiably alleges.” President Jonathan said that he remain true to his declaration that no political ambition of his is worth the life of a single Nigerian, adding that he has definitely not declared war on his own country or deployed federal institutions in the service of partisan interests as General Buhari falsely claims. “Neither have I been using the common wealth to subvert the system and punish the opposition, as the former Head of State inexcusably asserts.” The President made it clear also that he has never at any time ordered that any Nigerian should be kidnapped or that anyone should be crated and forcefully transported in violation of decent norms of governance. “We therefore urge General Buhari to tarry a while, ponder over his own antecedents and do a reality check as to whether he has the moral right to be so carelessly sanctimonious.” [myad]
The National Security Council has sent a serious warning to state governments that have planned to register and issue identity cards to non indigenes in their states to stop it forthwith.
The Council, which held a meeting today, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, also insisted that no state government should involve in the deportation of non-indigenes.
Imo and other states in the South Eastern part of the country have lately been quoted as planning to register and issue identity cards to Hausa/Fulani people doing businesses in their states, all in an attempt to check the activities of Boko Haram.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting at the Presidential Villa today, the Director General of State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong, said that such deportation and registration are more dangerous than Boko Haram itself.
Ekpeyong, who was accompanied by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said that Nigerians are free to settle anywhere they like.
He said that the Council of State meeting will be held next week to discuss the issues.
“The IGP has told us what was discussed at the meeting, the fight against Boko Haram, the efforts made by government to rescue the Chibok girls and the issue of deportation, registration of Nigerians in states of the federation. We regard this as even more potent than Boko Haram.”
“The Council discussed in detail the issue of registration of Nigerians in any part of the country, being subjected to registration, being subjected to deportation, being taken away from one part of the country to the other.
“The Council discussed the reaction by some groups in Kano State and other parts of the country. We observe that this threat was more potent than Boko Haram and could disintegrate the country.
“And we take this very seriously, for people to deport people, for people to take people from one place to the other, for registration of indigenes no matter where they are. No matter where they are they are free to settle anywhere they like.
“The Council resolved that the issue of registration of Nigerians anywhere in the country and deportation should stop forthwith. To re-emphasis the importance, the President has attached to this that is why he asked the IGP and myself to address the press. This must stop forthwith.” [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has praised God for making the former Nigeria minister of Petroleum resources, Dr. Rilwan Lukman, who just passed on at the age of 75 in Austria, a Nigerian. This is even as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the departed Rilwan Lukman as the best oil minister Nigeria ever had “given his unmatched knowledge of the industry and the integrity with which he ran the ministry.” In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan said: “We give thanks to God Almighty for bestowing him on the nation and for the great intelligence, integrity, competence and humility with which he distinguished himself in all his national and international assignments.” President Jonathan said that he received the news about the death of Dr. Lukman with sadness and a feeling of great national loss. The President comforted his family, the Government and people of Kaduna state, as well as his friends, associates and all those he mentored over the years in the domestic and global oil industry. The President said that he shared in their sorrow as they mourn the brilliant engineer, technocrat and administrator who spent almost all of his working life serving his country and the global community in various capacities, including Minister, Special Adviser, Secretary-General and President of the Organization of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC). The President acknowledged the significant contributions which late Dr. Lukman made to the development of the country’s oil and gas industry and his service with acclaimed distinction as the nation’s representative at the helm of OPEC affairs for many years. In his statement, issued by his media team in Abuja, former Vice President Atiku recalled that Lukman’s contribution to the management of the nation’s oil and gas sector provided the impetus for his elevation as Secretary General of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Atiku who is also the Turaki Adamawa described his death as a monumental loss and prayed that Allah will grant his family and the nation the fortitude to bear the loss. [myad]
A helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force crashed today South of Bama, Nigeria’s Defence authorities have said.
A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said the Mi-35 helicopter was on a training mission, and crashed South of Bama, in Borno State, “due to technical fault.”
Africa’s richest person and the continent’s top donor Aliko Dangote has announced that he is upping his philanthropic works across Africa, starting from his home country Nigeria. A statement from the Group said that Dangote has alreadu made whooping donations of over N30 Billion across Africa. “Africans must begin to take responsibilities by shaping the condition of its people,” the kindest man in Africa was reported to have said. The statement explained that just in two years, the Dangote Group through its Foundation, churnned out about N30 billion in humanitarian gesture. “This is includes the Dangote Academy that is worth about a N1billion, through which manpower is developed across various disciplines. “Only last month, the Dangote cement, Ibese, through the Dangote Foundation, announced a scholarship for some Yewa community 50 students of various secondary and tertiary institutions. “The Group had donated $500,000 to victims of explosion in Republic of Congo. “Dangote Foundation also contributed a staggering $2million to flood victims in Pakistan and N120million to cushion the effect of famine in Niger Republic.” The statement recalled that two years ago, Dangote made a staggering donation of N2.5billion to cushion the effect of flooding in Nigeria, making that the single highest donation by a private body in the history of Nigeria. “Dangote also donated N430million to flood victims, unemployed youths and women in Kogi State in the same year. Three years back, the Dangote Foundation gave out about a billion naira for the economic empowerment of women in Kano State. “Only recently, the Foundation donated N540 million to vulnerable women as a result of insurgency in the North East of Nigeria. “The group had pumped over N1billion into the rehabilitation of some Nigerian universities, as part of its contribution to the educational sector. “Two months ago, the Dangote Foundation donated 12 trailer-load of relief items worth N40million to support the government in bringing succour to victims of communual clash that displaced people. “The Group had also donated N100million to victims of Lagos flooding, another N100million to those in Sokoto and N60million to victims of flooding in Oyo State, two years back.” The statement quoted Alhaji Dangote as saying: “About this philanthropy, I think from this year, I personally want to take it very seriously. I want to be much more aggressive than what we have had in the past. “We already have a foundation which will do all these things, but I am trying to see what we can do to encourage, not only Nigerians, but other Africans. “I am not going to give all my money to charity, but I am going to try my best and give part of that money to charity. I am working hard on it.” The statement said in Benue State alone, the Group has been running an annual scholarship scheme worth 10million to indigenes of Gboko communities. It said that in Benue State, 15 villages were electrified at the cost of N115million, adding that 14 blocks of classrooms have been constructed for the community around the company at the cost of N84billion. It added that 19 boreholes were constructed for the communities, and that an earth dam valued at N50million was also constructed. It said that apart from the monthly payment of allowances to traditional rulers, a vigilante contract to ensure N2million regular income to the community was also instituted. “We have also donated N15million to the community’s development foundation, and we are helping through the community empowerment scheme, while our one hundred bed hospital has been approved for construction within the community,” Dangote was quoted in the statement as saying. The statement said that in addition to N78million compensation paid during the takeover of the company, N60million inconvenience allowance has been paid to families. [myad]
National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has described the ongoing nationwide strike by members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) as selfish, unethical and illegal.
The Nurses alleged that doctors are on strike simply as a way of diverting patients to their private clinics to milk them of their hard earned resources.
The General Secretary of the Nurses Association, Yusuf-Badmus, who made these remarks in a statement in a in Abuja called on the Federal Government to “stop all government employed doctors from establishing private clinics while still in government employment, for the benefit of the citizens.”
The insisted that the striking doctors should be called to order as their incessant strikes are turning out to be gimmick to further divert innocent patients to their private clinics where they (doctors) stand to benefit.
“The government should have a rethink on the undue attention it gives to doctors and do what is right. The government should revert to the era when administrators administered the hospitals/health facilities while health professionals, including doctors do their professional duties that they are being paid for.”
The nurses suggested that all government health workers should have unified salary scales, adding: “the difference should be in the entry/exit points and professional/peculiar allowances of the different cadres of workers.
“This will go a long way in checking and preventing unhealthy rivalry and end to the incessant strike actions that leave the innocent patient in suffering.”
The nurses encouraged patients to attend and patronise the hospitals despite the current strike, for, according to them, is because “other health professionals such as skilled midwives, the accident and emergency (A & E) nurses, intensive care nurses, orthopaedic nurses paediatric nurses, including the medical laboratory scientists, medical record officers, the radiographers, the physiotherapists and pharmacists, are on ground to attend to their health needs, even when the medical practitioners embark on their selfish and illegal strike.”
The association noted that doctors are on strike also as a way of forcing the Federal Government to stop the implementation of agreements and memorandum of understanding reached between JOHESU/APHA and Federal Government spanning between 2009 to date.”
The nurses again condemned what they described as “the unethical behaviour or practice of medical practitioners whereby in-patients are compulsorily discharged against their wish whenever NMA calls for industrial action.
“NMA does this to make it appear to the public and the press that the patients left the hospital because doctors are on strike. The public at large must be made to know that most in-patients are in the hospital for comprehensive healthcare (physical and psychological) and are being taken care of by the nurses and other health professionals, except those that have been booked for surgical procedures or surgical operation.
“The medical practitioner, therefore, has no moral or ethical justification to compulsorily force them (in-patients) out of the hospital to make the hospital empty because doctors are on strike.” [myad]
The wind of impeachment that is now defining the political game between the executives and the legislatures has now caught up with the speaker of Ebonyi state House of Assembly, Chukwuma Nwazunku. He was removed from office today in what observers described as in a commando style.
Reports from Ebonyi state indicated that 18 out of the 24 members of the Assembly voted to send the speaker out of leadership of the House, few minutes after the members lifted the suspension of the three members. The three members are Hon Frank Onwe, Hon Eni Uduma Chime and deputy speaker, Hon Blaise Orji.
Hon Frank Onwe moved the motion for the Speaker’s impeachment and was seconded by the minority leader, Hon Enyi C. Enyi.
Thereafter, Hon Eni Uduma Chima representing Afikpo South West, moved the motion for election of Hon Helen Nwaobasi, representing Abakaliki South state constituency as the new speaker. The motion was seconded by Hon Jerry Obasi. [myad]
Beyoncé and Jay Z are said to be planning to go each other’s way without necessarily divorcing, even as they have already removed their wedding rings ahead of the plan. The couple – who are currently on their joint “On The Run” world tour – are said to be working out a way to break-up without divorcing, following the final dates of tour in Paris this December. A source close to the couple confirmed that they have removed the wedding rings, adding: “if you haven’t noticed. They are trying to figure out a way to split without divorcing … This is a huge concert tour and they’ve already gotten most of the money from the promoters up front.” The source added that the tour will be the last for Jay Z (44), and Beyoncé (32) after marriage counsellors failed to help them get their relationship back on track. It is believed the couple – who have a 2-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy – thought having their first child would bring them closer again but they soon started to go their separate ways. The source explained: ”For just a split moment, things got real for them and she was even talking about adding to the family. “But, after a while, Jay was out doing Jay and Bey was out doing Bey. They made the classic mistake of thinking a child would change everything and help to rekindle the initial fire, and it didn’t.” The news comes just two months after Beyoncé’s sister, Solange Knowles, was seen attacking Jay in leaked security footage from an elevator as the trio made their way out of a Met Ball after-party in New York. A statement was later released, saying: “At the end of the day families have problems and we’re no different. We love each other and above all we are family. We’ve put this behind us and hope everyone else will do the same.” [myad]
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