Democrats In US Senates Angry With President Trump Over Assassination Of Iranian Military General

January 6, 2020

Democratic leaders in the US Senate are already angry with President Donald Trump for the assassination of an Iranian Military General, Qassem Soleimani without consulting with the American people and have demanded more information on the matter.

Members of the Congress, who convened today, January 6 for the first full week of the New Year, said in a letter to Trump:“no legitimate justification” for classifying the administration’s reasoning for the killing.
Senate Democratic Leader, Chuck Schumer and Senator Robert Menendez said in the letter: “it is critical that national security matters of such import be shared with the American people in a timely manner.”
Trump’s surprise decision to kill Soleimani – one of the most important figures in the Middle East – sent shockwaves throughout the world and has pushed foreign policy into the debate surrounding the president’s looming impeachment trial.
Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the Democrats in the House, said today that the lower chamber would introduce legislation this week to limit the president’s ability to conduct military actions against Iran without congressional approval.
Pelosi called the attack a “provocative and disproportionate military airstrike” that “endangered our service members, diplomats and others by risking a serious escalation of tensions with Iran”.
In a series of tweets today, Trump blasted the Democrats for focusing on impeaching him in a trial in the Senate while “we have so many important matters pending.”
Republicans have used the strike on Soleimani to defend Trump as taking action against enemies while Democrats try to remove him from office.
Meanwhile, Iraq’s parliament called for U.S. and other foreign troops to leave as the backlash against the U.S. killing on Friday of a top Iranian general grew, and Trump doubled down on threats to target Iranian cultural sites if Iran retaliates.
Trump also threatened sanctions against Iraq and said that if U.S. troops were required to leave, Iraq’s government would have to pay Washington for the cost of a “very extraordinarily expensive” airbase there.
Similarly, Trump is confident he could still renegotiate a new nuclear deal with Tehran, White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said on Monday.
This was a day after Iran announced it would retreat further from the 2015 nuclear pact.
Asked if Trump believes he can still get Iran to renegotiate a new nuclear agreement, Conway said at the White House: “He said he’s open.
“If Iran wants to start behaving like a normal country … sure, absolutely.”
Source: NAN.

Ebonyi Gov Narrates How He Arrested Pastor, Others Trying To Dupe Him Of $125 Million

Editorial staff

January 6, 2020

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, has narrated a story of how he ordered for the arrest of fake pastor and others who nearly duped him of over 125 million US dollars.

Governor Umahi, who spoke when he received in audienc, stakeholders and the members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ebonyi State chapter at his country home, Uburu community, Ohaozara LGA, of Ebonyi State, said: “my mother thought me and my brothers how to honour men of God. Those who are men of God that are not real should be avoided. They are taking course upon themselves because their own judgement will be greater.
“Something played out today. Some group of people in the past two months said they have $125 million U.S dollars to give us. I told my Commissioner for Finance that it doesn’t sound real. I know immediately that it was a scam but my commissioner for finance continued pushing innocently.
“Because of his belief that it is real, I told him to go ahead. They made us to know that they are investors and that they have money to give to us for free of charge. They said we should bring $125 million US dollars. And out of the money, they will only take $25 million dollars to develop our place while the remaining $100million US dollars will be our own.
“I said what is my own. They can even take 50% if they want and give us even 1million dollars, since it is a grants. I told them that, if this money is a flush money, Ebonyi State Government will not be held responsible. The journey began. They said that we should show evidence of $10 million dollars in our account.
“I ask them why do you want us to have money in that account? I now directed UBA to credit 3.6 billion but we are not touching or making use of it. Just show evidence. And so, UBA did and sent to them. Now, in the last one week, we supposed to have the money credited to our account but the acclaimed investors failed. I laughed.
“They wrote to us three days ago that the money will not be released to us unless we sign a sovereign grantee. You know, sovereign grantee can only be signed by the President. They said in the alternative, we should bring a letter of credit. I said why should they demand for letter of credit when there is no exchange of goods?
“Then, I demanded to meet with these people. I now told my commissioner for finance to invite them to come. They demanded for tickets and logistics money. I told them to come, I’m a governor and I will pay for everything. They all came and I lodged them at the Osborne Hotel.
“I invited the Director of DSS, though I didn’t tell them but what shocked me was that most of them hailed from Igbo land. The link man is from Afikpo our own Ebonyi State. We began to talk. I asked them why do they need a letter of credit?
“Are we expecting goods from you? They said no. They stated going up and down. I asked them, why don’t you people give us chance, you think that Ebonyi State is a fool and that we are gullible.
“I gave them two options, as an Igbo man, I want us to resolve this matter as brothers. I asked them to confess that they want to scam us. On the alternative, I will take the matter up. This is because, if this is allowed, some one may die of heart attack.
“They are looking for our money but they will not get it because we are in a debit alert.
“It is God, that led them to come, so that I can stop the virus. And so, about five of them when we began to probe further, I discovered that their leader was a pastor in one popular church in Abuja. I seized their phones and other things. I directed DSS to arrest them and never to release them.”

Shi’ites Protest In Abuja Over Assassination Of Iranian Military General

Editorial staff

January 6, 2020

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shi’ites, led a procession and protest in Banex, Wuse Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja today, January 6, over the killing of top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani in an airstrike by the United States of America.

The angry protesters marched through the streets of Abuja chanting hate songs and slogans like “Death To America.”
They also burnt a flag of the United States of America and carried placards condemning the killing of the top Iranian general.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu had earlier placed Police Commands and Formations nationwide on red alert.
The proactive measure followed Intelligence Report that sequel to the recent killing of an Iranian General, some domestic interests are planning to embark on massive public disturbances and sabotage.
According to a communique by Force Spokesman, Frank Mba, police commanders were directed to ensure strategic deployments of both overt and covert Police operatives to ensure adequate security and safety of citizens, foreigners especially diplomats and diplomatic missions domiciled in Nigeria as well as the protection of critical national assets.

We’re Fighting Trump Not America – Iran Presidential Aide

Editorial staff

January 6, 2020

An adviser to Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani has said that his country is fighting President Donald Trump and not America as a country, even as he vowed to destroy all of Trump’s property empire for assassinating Iran’s military commander, Qassem Soleimani.

Rouhani stressed that Tehran’s ‘sole problem is Trump’ rather than the American people – dropping another hint of a direct reprisal against him.

Hesameddin Ashena had shared a link to a Forbes article listing all of Trump’s properties in New York, his hotels and resorts across America and golf courses in the US and Britain.

The list included the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where the president was when he ordered the hit on Soleimani, as well as the Trump International Hotels in Washington and Las Vegas and his New York Tower with its Fifth Avenue entrance.

At Soleimani’s funeral march in Tehran, the military commander’s daughter declared that ‘families of U.S. soldiers in the Middle East will spend their days waiting for the death of their children’.

Trump has threatened his own retaliation if Iran hits US targets, warning of a ‘disproportionate response’ including cultural sites.

President Trump wrote in a capital-letters tweet that ‘IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON’ despite Tehran’s latest move away from the nuclear deal.

With tensions mounting, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept over Soleimani’s coffin as hundreds of thousands joined a funeral march in Tehran.

As America Sneezes, Nigeria Catches Cold: Police On Red Alert

Greenbarge Reporters

January 5, 2020

Following the murder of an Iranian military General by America, Nigeria police have been placed on red alert for possible spread of the crisis to other regions of the world.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, today, January 5 in a statement, asked various Commands and Formations nationwide to be on red alert.

“This proactive measure follows Intelligence Report that sequel to the recent killing of an Iranian General; some domestic interests are planning to embark on massive public disturbances and sabotage.

“Consequently, Zonal AIGs and Command Commissioners of Police have been directed to ensure maximum surveillance and security of lives and property across the nation.

“The Police Commanders have been directed to ensure strategic deployments of both overt and covert Police operatives to ensure adequate security and safety of citizens, foreigners especially diplomats and diplomatic missions domiciled in Nigeria as well as the protection of critical national assets.”

The statement which was issued by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, quoted the Inspector General as assuring Nigerians and foreigners resident in Nigeria of adequate security, even as he warned potential troublemakers to steer clear of the streets and territory of Nigeria.

Iran Places $80 Million Ransom On Whoever Kills President Trump

Greenbarge Reporters

January 5, 2020

Iranian authorities have put a bounty on American President, Donald Trump’s head during the televised funeral of General Qasem Soleimani after he was assassinated last week.
In a televised funeral of the top Iranian, official state broadcasters said one US dollar would be tabled for every Iranian in the country, with the cash going to whoever killed the US President.
“Iran has 80 million inhabitants. Based on the Iranian population, we want to raise $80million (£61million) which is a reward for those who get close to the head of President Trump,” it was announced, according to en24.
Soleimani, Iran’s preeminent military commander, was killed on Friday in a US drone strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport.
The attack took long-running hostilities between Washington and Tehran into uncharted territory and raised the spectre of wider conflict in the Middle East. Earlier today, January 5, Iranian MP, Abolfazl Aboutorabi threatened to attack the heart of American politics.
“We can attack the White House itself, we can respond to them on the American soil,” he said according to the Iranian Labour News Agency.
“We have the power, and God willing we will respond in an appropriate time.”
He went on to say that “this is a declaration of war, which means if you hesitate you lose.
“When someone declares war, do you want to respond to the bullets with flowers? They will shoot you in the head.”
During an open session of parliament in Tehran this afternoon, President Trump was called a “terrorist in a suit” after he threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites hard if Tehran attacks Americans or U.S. assets.
Soleimani was the architect of Tehran’s clandestine and military operations abroad as head of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised on Friday that Iran would seek harsh revenge for his death.
U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo said that if there were further Iranian attacks on U.S. targets, Washington would respond with lawful strikes against decision-makers orchestrating such attacks.
Pakistani Shi’ite Muslims carry flags and signs to protest the death of Iranian military commander, Qasem Soleimani outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi
“The intelligence assessment made clear that no action – allowing Soleimani to continue his plotting and his planning, his terror campaign – created more risk than taking the action that we took last week,” Pompeo said on ABC’s “This Week” show.

America Dispatches 3,000 Soldiers To Middle East As World War III Looms

Greenbarge Reporters

January 5, 2020

The United States of America has dispatched 3,000 soldiers to the Middle East as tension between America and Iran rises over the killing of Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian military general.

Defense officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity announced the decision, adding that the troops are from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The 3,000 military personnel are in addition to about 700 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne deployed to Kuwait earlier this week after the attack on US Embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq, according to Daily Mail UK.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for withdrawing from Syria and Afghanistan, but over the past year, he has greatly increased U.S troop in the Middle East.

“At the direction of the Commander in Chief, I have authorised the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force of the 82nd Airborne Division to the U.S. Central Command area of operations in response to recent events in Iraq,” Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper, said in a statement.

Boko Haram Insurgents Kidnap Adamawa CAN Chairman

Editorial staff

January 5, 2020

Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly abducted The Rev Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika in Adamawa State following an attack January 2.

The district head of Michika, Ngida Kwache, who spoke when he hosted the state deputy governor, Crowther Seth who visited the area yesterday, January 4.

“The pastor was abducted the day Boko Haram attacked our community. He was last seen when the suspected insurgents forced him into a Toyota Hilux. Since then, we have not heard from him or his abductors,” he said.

In separate appeals, three district heads, Ngida Kwache, Bello Ijeidi and Lawan Luka, representing Michika, Gulak and Koppa respectively, called for more troops in the communities located around Sambisa forest.

The deputy governor reassured the affected communities that the administration of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri had stepped up efforts to ensure peace in the state, saying their requests would be forwarded to the Federal Government for appropriate action. Source: Daily Trust.

Bakare Wants Buhari To Be Interested In Who Succeeds Him In 2023

Editorial staff

January 5, 2020

Founder of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to be interested in who becomes his successor so as to preserve his legacy.

President Buhari has severally said he does not wish to be part of the conversation for his successor when he leaves office in 2023.

But in his state-of-the-nation broadcast on Sunday, Bakare tasked the President to be involved in the process, adding that the dreams of the nation’s founding fathers’ “must keep us awake to our responsibilities as co-builders.”

He said: “We must also run inclusive structures that bridge transgenerational and gender gaps to ensure that the baton of success is passed on from one generation to another.

“…as the government of President Muhammadu Buhari ushers us into the second decade of the 21st century, the third pivotal objective of governance should be to build a strong post-Buhari legacy facilitated by accurate succession.

“Therefore, even as we build institutions of democratic governance, a key responsibility that history has bestowed on President Muhammadu Buhari at this turning point in our journey to nationhood is to institutionalise systems of accurate succession that will build and sustain the Nigeria we desire. This is a task that must be done.”

Bakare had in 2018 said during his church service that he would succeed President Buhari.

Bakare, in the video which resurfaced in 2019, said God had prepared him for the nation’s top job for more than 30 years

170 Percent Salary Increments, Promotions, Recruitments Rock UBA

Editorial staff

January 4, 2020

More than 5,000 staff of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc began 2020 with cheers as the bank announced its promotion to new grades as well as salary upgrades with immediate effect this January.

Those who are beneficiaries of this exercise will receive up to 170% increase in their salaries and benefits, whilst a good number have been moved to higher grade levels.

A statement from the bank said that a planned restructuring which was embarked upon in the last quarter of 2019, had transformed the Bank’s grading system and processes to become one of the most competitive within the industry.

It said that the bank crashed its grade levels to 12 levels from entry level to the top of the pyramid where previously it had been 16 levels. “This means that staff will now find it much easier to attain top leadership management positions at UBA as their careers progress much faster.”

The statement said that over 4,000 new staff members who were recruited had since resumed in the last week of December 2019 in Nigeria alone, adding that the bank currently stands as the highest employer of labour among Nigerian banks with a staff strength of close to 20,000.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Uzoka, who announced the bank’s new staff improvement initiatives to the employees, noted that UBA is continually seeking new ways to improve the fortunes of its staff as they are the backbone of the organisation .

Uzoka, who spoke to the staff in a bank-wide live broadcast said: “As a leading financial institution, we do not take issues relating to our staff lightly. We take great pride in being a listening bank that has the ears of our employees as they turn the wheels which make the organisation successful for our customers and shareholders. UBA recruits highly talented staff who perform at the best standards and deserve to be remunerated accordingly.

“We have also taken steps to ensure that our bank remains at the top tier as it relates to talent pool. We want to train the best and we have crashed the grade structure to make it easier and faster for our employees to progress along their careers. With this new grade structure, it will be possible for a new graduate employed at UBA to rapidly chart their own careers and become GMD by the age of 36.”

UBA operates in 20 African countries, with presence in the global financial centres of London, New York and Paris. UBA provides banking services to more than 17 million customers globally through diverse channels

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