BREAKING: Ambassador Of Saudi To Nigeria Dies

February 4, 2020

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Adnan Mahmoud Bostaji is dead. He died in the early hours of today, February 4 in his sleep.

A staff of the Saudi embassy, Malam Abubakar, confirmed in a telephone interview that the Ambassador returned from Saudi Arabia yesterday, February 3 hale and hearty but died in his sleep before day break.

His death was first discovered in a Facebook post today before the confirmation by Abubakar.

Adnan Bostaji received his bachelor’s degree in social sciences in 1985 from King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. He also obtained a higher diploma in diplomatic studies in 1988 from the Diplomatic Studies Institute in Riyadh.
He started his career by joining the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Later, he was appointed deputy to the ambassador at the Saudi Embassy in Tehran from 1991 until 1998.
Adnan Bostaji also worked at the administration of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1998 until 2000.
In 2000, he was appointed as chargé d’affaires at the Saudi Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, until 2003.
He then worked as head of economic affairs and international organizations at the Saudi Embassy in London from 2003 until 2005. He also joined the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Makkah as director from 2003 until 2016.
Before his appointment as a Saudi ambassador to Nigeria, Adnan Bostaji served as deputy to the ambassador at the Saudi Embassy in Berlin in 2016.

Only The Best Brains Will Serve In My Administration – Imo Gov

Editorial staff

February 3, 2020

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has made it clear that only the best brains will be appointed to serve in his administration.

“I had earlier indicated that the bar for appointment into the state has been raised to the highest level, hence, only the best brains would serve in my administration and I am standing on this platform because Imo deserves the best.”

The Governor, who swore-in today, February 3, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Cosmas Iwu, Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister C. O. C Akaolisa and Chief of Staff, Chief Nnamdi Anyaechi, charged the appointees to put on their thinking caps, get into the factory room and get the ball rolling, adding that “to whom much is given, much is expected.”

“My brothers, today you are appointed to serve Imo people, do not disappoint because the expectations are very high. The entire Imo State is your constituency; therefore, you must do justice to all manner of men regardless of tribe or creed. Imo is one and belongs to all of us.”

Responding on behalf of the appointees, the SSG, Chief Iwu, thanked Governor Uzodinma for finding them worthy to serve and pledged their undiluted support, loyalty and commitment to his administration to achieve its lofty ideals.

Chief Iwu promised that they will abide by the general principles and policy direction of the present administration geared towards fostering prosperity, security and development of Imo State.

He asked Imo people to continue praying for the new administration, stressing, “Without God Hope Uzodinma wouldn’t have been Governor, God gives power and all power belongs to God.”

The swearing-in ceremony was witnessed by the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku, the Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice Paschal Nnadi; the Head of Service, Dr. Camilus Iwuagwu and other top government functionaries. Others include family members and friends of the appointees.

We’re Set To Start Work On Ajaokuta Steel, Russian Ambassador Tells Kogi Gov

Editorial staff

February 3, 2020

The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Shebarshin has assured the governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello that his country is fully ready to swing into action for the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel company any time soon.

The Ambassador, who played host to the governor, at the Russian Embassy in Abuja today, February 3, said that his home government is now eager to come and complete the steel complex following the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin in October, 2019.

He said that they were now waiting for the Nigerian Government to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) before the work begins on site.

Governor Yahaya Bello, who was accompanied on the visit by his Chief of Staff, Jamiu Abdulkareem Asuku; Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Idris Asiwaju Asiru; State’s Accountant General, Jibrin Momoh and state’s Audutor-General , Okala Yusuf, said his visit was to convey the goodwill message of the people of Kogi state to the Russian Government through the embassy for the Oct 22, 2019 Sochi Agreement between the Russian Government and Nigeria to revive the Steel Company.

The Governor told the Russian Ambassador that Kogi state had enormous human and natural potentialities even as he asked the Russian Government to partner with the state to develop Agricultural and energy sectors.

The Governor commended President Buhari for taking up negotiations with the Russian Government to revive the steel company, adding that Ajaokuta will make Nigeria the industrial hub of the world.

VIDEO: Suspected Suicide Bomber Confesses

Editorial staff

February 3, 2020

Real Reason US Suspends Immigrant Travel Visas On Nigerians, By Princewell Odidi

Editorial staff

February 3, 2020

It has little or nothing to do with Boko Haram, has nothing to do with Buhari, has nothing to do with arrest and detention of journalist, has nothing to do with Nigeria’s ban on gays and lesbian, but has everything to do with absence of a workable system in our identification and verification processes.

The main reason Nigeria is suspended from Immigrant visas category is because Nigeria does not have a credible background investigation system that groups like Interpol can rely on to vert and certify originality.

What that means is that if someone commits a crime in lagos and relocates to Kano, there’s no system that can be used to track crimes and people across state lines.

Virtually all African countries have such systems even Ghana has it, Cameroun everyone has original birth certificates but nigeria prefers to have multiple identity cards not because they are interested in monitoring and tracking people but because they want to make money. Our country is a transaction society, you can buy anything even the human conscience.

Most responsible modern states in the world have tracking systems, but nigeria does not. A typical example, if you are about 40 years, if you go to your primary school to get your records they don’t have it. Principals and headmasters do not have computers in the 21st century.

Now only states that are considered rogue nations or failed states that do not have workable systems. Most nations in this category are nations at war. Nigeria is not at war but the irresponsible nature of our government makes Nigeria a war zone.

Now, back to US suspension, let me make it clear that only Immigrant visas are affected. Non immigrant visas are not affected. An immigrant visa is a type of visa that allows you to stay, work or even become a US citizen after you travel.

This category involves the type of visa you get when you marry an American citizen and have to relocate or the type of visas given to parents when their American citizens file for them or the visa you get through lottery.

Another category of visa affected is birth visas, these are medical tourism visas to come to America and have a baby. It is those categories of visas that are affected. Some waivers do apply. However, non immigrant visas like visitors or business visas are not affected, however going forward it will be difficult to get

What America is saying is that we cannot continue to give immigrant visas to your people if our investigators have no tools to work with to verify the true identity of your immigrant populations.

Example, someone who wins lottery or marries a US citizen, the investigators will want to check him up to primary school, but we have no records. Our government should be ashamed that we do not have a reliable working system to track Nigerians instead of deceiving the people to assume it is unfair what US has done.

Our government should be ashamed that today we are grouped with countries like Eritrea and Sudan. A sensible country, what they should be doing now is to put such a system in place, but they will not. Last year, two of my American friends visited Nigeria and came back with Nigerian international passports. That can never happen in Ghana or even Liberia. But with money you can buy a mans conscience in Nigeria.

With as little as three to five hundred dollars people are ready to subvert the law and do the unthinkable. With just Ten thousand Naira anyone can get local governments origin letters, worst still, today traders who never stepped their legs in universities are given degrees and people even serve youth service with fake results. If you are America will you continue to give immigrant visas to a country you cannot verify a simple certificate?

If you are America will you continue to give citizenship to immigrants whose entire documents for relocation to your country may have been forged?

We forge ID cards, we forge bank statements to get visas, we forge birth certificates, we forge marriage certificates, we forge election results, what is it that we do not forge?

We should not blame the US, the truth is we have failed as a nation. More disturbing, those who are clamoring that we need a working system are those who are arrested and locked up on frivolous reasons, charged with hate speech and ostracized by society.

According to my good friend Frank Anoh, he says we are a nation of criminals. I somewhat would agree with him. We are a nation of criminals. However, I blame my generation more, we continue to subvert the system for a plate of porridge. Until this independence era politicians leave the scene, Nigeria will continue to operate in the 16th century. God help us.

Catalogue Of Christian Involvement in Terrorism, By Jimoh Sule

Editorial staff

February 3, 2020

This is not the first time a non Muslim/Fulani will be caught in acts of terrorism

Mr. John Alaku Akpavan, the man

arrested in attempting to bomb Radio House Abuja on 5th June 2011 was a christian.

Lydia Joseph (the failed bomber of St. John Catholic Cathedral) of Bauchi State who attempted to bomb a church on September 12, 2011 was a christian.

Augustine Effiong Akwa Ibom indigene carried out the April 29th 2012 BUK

bomb attack is a christian.

Emmanuel King arrested in an attempt to bomb the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, while camouflaged in Islamic attire on December 28, 2011 was a Christian

Igbo traders that gunned down a dozen fellow Igbo businessmen of the same non-Islamic faith inside the Christ Apostolic Church, in Adamawa State on Friday January 6,

2012 all claimed to be Christians

Samson Mangai who was arrested in Plateau state attempting to bomb a church was a christian..

Madam Ruth, who attempted to bomb the ECWA church, Kalari Kaltungo, in Gombe State on 12 Mar 2012 was a Christian.

Case of the arrest of about eight

Christians in Bauchi in an attempt to blast the COCIN church on Sunday, February 26, 2012.

Case of the Christian bomber lynched while escaping after blasting the COCIN Church in Jos on Sunday, February 26, 2012.

Alex Danladi involved in COCIN HQ bombing was lynched by worshipers. He was a church member disguised in military

uniform.

Jonathan Gyanet, police officer was arrested while attempting to bomb ERCC church in Akwanga Nasarawa state on Apri 20 2014 was also a Christian.

Ogbeche the Nyanya bombing mastermind was a Christian son of a retired army colonel.

Those arrested so for for providing logistics such as transports, food, ammunition to BH are Christians of a particular ethnic group in Nigeria.

And many more, including Nathaniel Samuel who attempted to bomb living faith Church in Kaduna on 02 February 2020. And he is not a Muslim..

May God continue to expose our common enemies trying to destabilizes our beloved country Nigeria.

Offer Suggestions On How To End Insecurity, Osinbajo Challenges Church Leaders

Editorial staff

February 3, 2020

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has challenged church leaders to offer suggestions on how to end the lingering security problems in the country.

Osinbajo who spoke today, February 3 when he received in audience, clergymen from the Northern part of Nigeria under the auspices of the Arewa Pastors Forum for Peace, emphasized the urgent need for “Men of God,” to come up with ideas and their thoughts on how to find lasting peace.

He said that on the part of the government, all hands have been on deck to find lasting solution to the security challenges.

He said that there is an ongoing deliberate and comprehensive consolidation of the security situation in the country, including plans to recruit more troops and officers to beef up the personnel of security agencies in order to contain the threats and security concerns in the land.

Professor Osinbajo assured the pastors: “we are doing everything that needs to be done.

“We are handling security well, and as you know, including military deployment in diverse fields, like the Boko Haram in the Northeast.

“In fact, we have to now recruit more into the army, and much faster than we ever did because we need men on the ground; resources also – to buy more arms, to buy more platforms.”

The Vice President informed the pastor about the seriousness of the Buhari administration on the matter of security. “At the last meeting of the National Security Council that was held on Thursday, we had discussions on how to beef up the military’s platforms. How do we beef up the numbers? “How do we recruit more men and women into the army? How do we collaborate more with local vigilante, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and all that.

“So, there is a lot going on in terms of trying to beef up security. The security situation is one that is very challenging. We are also looking at aspects of surveillance – how we can do more aerial surveillance using drones and electronic devices to improve surveillance.”

Professor Osinbajo assured the clergymen that the Federal Government is also committed to finding lasting solutions to the perennial crisis in communities in the North and other parts of the country, including the ones bothering on religious prejudices.

Earlier, President of the Forum, Bishop Mbayo Japhet pledged the group’s support for the administration.

He described Osinbajo as an apostle of peace.

We Always Believe Christians Are Among Boko Haram, Group Reacts To Arrest Of Christian Suicide Bomber

Editorial staff

February 3, 2020

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has reacted to the arrest of a suspected Christian suicide bomber at Living Faith Church, a.k a Winners Chapel, in Kaduna saying that they always believe that Christians are among the Boko Haram insurgence.

The Kaduna State Police Command, yesterday, February 2, announced the arrest of a suspected suicide bomber inside a church located at Sabon Tasha in Chukun Local Government Area of the state.

According to the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Yakubu Sabo, the suspect, a middle aged man by name Nathaniel Samuel, a Christian from Bauchi State, was apprehended inside the church with a bag containing items suspected to be Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).

About 200 worshippers usually attend the church every Sunday.

In a statement today, February 3 by the director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the group commended the Kaduna State police command for its diligence and described the arrest as divinely ordained.

MURIC said that the arrest of a Christian attempting to bomb a church makes mockery of the rally organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday.

“This arrest is the outcome of our prayers for Allah to expose all those who are behind the bombing of churches. We are not surprised that the suspect happens to be a Christian. We have said it on several occasions that there is a Christian version of Boko Haram. Christians bomb churches and the whole world blame Nigerian Muslims for the atrocity.

“The arrest of Nathaniel Samuel for attempting to bomb this church is not a new development. Victor Moses was arrested on 1st March, 2016 for spying for Boko Haram bombers. He confessed that he carried out surveillance before the bombing of Madalla church in Abuja on 25th December, 2011. It must be noted that for every single arrest there must have been several successful crimes committed. There is no doubt that there are many other Christians warming up somewhere to bomb churches and lay the blame on Muslims.

“We give kudos to the Kaduna Police Command for this feat. People blame the security agencies for no just cause sometimes. This arrest must have been the outcome of careful planning and prolonged surveillance. Those who handled the operation deserve promotion.

“But the arrest of a Christian attempting to bomb a church makes mockery of the rally organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday. The rally was called ostensibly to protest against alleged rising insecurity in the country. But God works in wonderful ways.

“He exposed another plot by a fellow Christian to bomb a church on the same day that CAN called for the rally. The coincidence is equally divine and it gives the impression that the rally itself was nothing but a hocus pocus.

“CAN would have exploded immediately in its usual self-righteousness if Nathaniel Samuel had succeeded in bombing the church yesterday. A world press conference would have been held this morning to blame the killing on Muslims.

“Also, there would have been screaming headlines in newspapers across the country : Boko Haram Bombs Church Again: Hundreds Killed! White House would have called Aso Rock: Why are you killing Christians?

“This scenario is becoming too ridiculous. It is turning our country into a bundle of contradictions. We say enough is enough. This hypocrisy in articulated religiousity must stop.

“CAN nurses a false dogma of permanent insecurity, incompetence and persecution. But in reality, Nigeria today is much better than Nigeria in 2015 when the Buhari administration took over. Boko Haram that was controlling 17 local governments at that time has been reduced to a pack of hoodlums hitting and running.

“Nigerian soldiers who were running and hiding from the insurgents before are now putting the latter on the run. The fact that Boko Haram tactics have diminished to guerrilla warfare cements our hypothesis of a debilitated insurgency. Ditto for kidnappings and armed robbery. There is a gross reduction in the spate of crime but groups like CAN feed fat on misinformation.

“In a nutshell, MURIC calls on patriotic Nigerians to continue to pray for peace, political stability and economic prosperity. But above all, we call on the security agencies to step up their safety measures. Life is sacred and this country can only make progress in an atmosphere of security. Therefore, the security agencies must be alert to their responsibilities. We charge Nigerians to be extra-vigilant. Our enemies are in our midst.”

NASS Leadership Backpedals On Call For The Sack Of Service Chiefs Over Insecurity

Editorial staff

February 3, 2020

Both the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila have withdrew the pressure being mounted on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the nation’s Service Chiefs over the lingering security crisis dodging the country.

Rising from a meeting they had with the President today, February 3, at the Presidential villa, Abuja, the leaders of the two chambers of the National Assembly, admitted that the sacking of the service chiefs would not possibly resolve the security challenges in the country.

Speaking to newsmen separately after the closed door meeting, one of them, Femi Gbajabiamila said: “opinions are divided; the generality of the opinion is that the service chiefs should go, that was evident in our debates in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, but sometimes you don’t want a knee-jack reaction.

“Many of us identify that something drastic has to be done. There’s also the school of thought that says since we are talking about banditry, kidnapping and murders, what have the armed forces got to do with that, anywhere in the world?

“So the question then arises that if he (President Buhari) changes the service chiefs, does that address the issues of kidnapping and banditry?

“The army, navy and air force are outfits set up to tackle external aggression. It is the police that is set up

for internal security, such as we are all witnessing.

“That’s talking about service chiefs. Has the Inspector-General of Police met up with his responsibilities? The question is if we now narrow it to the Inspector General of Police, many will argue that he has done a very good job and many will argue with you that he’s armstrung, straight-jacketed. There’s very little he can do in the face of no equipment, no funding and we explained to Mr. President that we have to increase funding, we have to recruit more.

“We are talking. Even just right now we have gone on to set up a committee that will periodically review the issue of security, maybe once a month or once in six weeks, which will involve the two arms of government and the party.”

This was even as the Senate President said that one of the numerous things they discussed with the President was the issue of service chiefs, adding: “we believe that it is imperative that we are able to provide those necessary equipment and welfare for the armed forces of this country and the police, to ensure that they are able to operate and performed efficiently and effectively.”

Senator Lawan said that President Buhari is more worried than anybody else about the growing insecurity in the country.

“So, we are on the same page that we should be able to do whatever it takes to ensure that the security agencies are able to perform better than they are doing now.”

He said that in matters of security, the leaders are supposed to lead but that when it concerns security, every single citizen matters.

“So it is for all of us, citizens and leaders to ensure that we are playing our part as it is necessary. But I believe that how the time has come, we have reached a tipping point that everybody in Nigeria is concerned about the security situation and therefore we are all prepared and that is why we have come to meet with Mr. President as leaders of National Assembly on behalf of our colleagues, to discuss the way forward.

“And of course, I believe that citizens participation is critical and crucial.”

The Senate President said that government is looking into technology in the way the security matters are handled.

“We don’t want to divulge everything discussed about security, but I believe that the issue of technology is important. “We need to minimize the casualties of our armed forces and therefore we need to apply technology and become more efficient.

“It is also critical that because we are dealing with human beings, you are asking the military, the police to go and fight insurgents, kidnappers and bandits, you also need to do something for their welfare. How do they live? where do they live? What is the condition of the schools for their children? And so on and so forth.

“So these are issues that are very important and could have very impact outcomes when we are able to do the right thing and we will do them.”

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