Buhari Greets President Of Online Publishers At 50

December 19, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the media in celebrating the 50th birthday anniversary of renowned journalist and communication consultant, Dotun Oladipo.

A message by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity,Malam Garba Shehu quoted Buhari as wishing Dotun, who is currently the President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), long life, good health and more wisdom in projecting the nation.
Buhari commended Dotun who he said has served the country for more than 25 years, writing for many platforms, including Newswatch Magazine, Punch, The Sun, before setting up an online medium, The Eagleonline.
The President hoped that his wealth of experience in journalism and consulting on communication, to both private and public institutions, will go a long way in contributing more to the growth of the nation.
He stressed that Nigerians will remember Dotun for his awesome contributions to the growth, and acceptance as part of daily life, of the digital newspaper.
The President then prayed that God will bless and take the publisher to greater heights.

Between Punch And President Buhari: Daily Trust Stance

Editorial staff

December 19, 2019

The PUNCH newspaper fouled the political atmosphere on Wednesday last week with its editorial titled ‘Buhari’s lawlessness: Our stand.’ The editorial was triggered by the arrest of Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore, who was granted bail by a Federal High Court and was released on bail, only to be rearrested hours later by Department of State Services [DSS] agents at the court premises in Abuja. PUNCH also cited the case of the Shi’ite leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who was granted bail by the courts but is still in detention.

Sowore ran for president in the last general election. He polled 33,953 votes or 0.12 per cent of the 28,614,190 votes cast. Soon afterwards, he embarked on a protest tagged “Revolution Now” for which he was arrested and charged to court for treason. Accusing the authorities of disregarding court orders, PUNCH’s editorial stated, “As a symbolic demonstration of our protest against autocracy and military-style repression, PUNCH (all our print newspapers, The PUNCH, Saturday PUNCH, Sunday PUNCH, PUNCH Sports Extra, and digital platforms, most especially Punchng.com) will henceforth prefix Buhari’s name with his rank as a military dictator in the 80s, Major General, and refer to his administration as a regime, until they purge themselves of their insufferable contempt for the rule of law.”
The editorial elicited reactions ranging from support to outrage. Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said the newspaper’s stand was proof of Buhari’s commitment to free speech and press freedom. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu in a separate statement accused the newspaper of ‘personal hatred and animus’ for the president. He said PUNCH “never changed President Olusegun Obasanjo’s title from President to General Obasanjo for violation of court order or that of General Ibrahim Babangida, who wasn’t democratically elected, but assumed the title of President” and who closed media houses, including PUNCH, for several months.
Femi Falana (SAN), counsel for both Soware and El-Zakzaky, and NBA’s National Publicity Secretary Kunle Edun both said PUNCH is in order in addressing Buhari as a major general heading a regime which has contempt for the rule of law. Detained former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki’s lawyer Ahmed Raji (SAN) however said since “he (Buhari) is the President for now, I believe we should address him as President.” Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption chairman Prof. Itse Sagay described the editorial as disgraceful and disrespectful. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Dr Alex Izinyon said PUNCH’s editorial policy was unconstitutional and that “despite the acts complained about, he remains the President.”
Everything considered, we believe that PUNCH went overboard in its reaction. It has the right to take a position on any issue but to describe an elected government as a ‘regime’ and to refuse to recognise the president by his statutory title is an attempt to delegitimise an elected president and the government he heads. While it is sometimes difficult, by the nature of newspapers, to draw a sharp dividing line, PUNCH’s stand crossed the boundary between journalism and activism and could cause problems for proper journalism practice in the future. Government, too, could retaliate and describe us not as newspapers or journalists but as opposition activists and detractors. Such a stance would impair and harm the pursuit of good journalism. In all situations therefore, wiser counsel should prevail instead of impulsive reaction.
This is not to disagree with PUNCH on the need for the government to improve its democratic credentials and respect for court orders. The continued detention of Dasuki, Sowore and El-Zakzaky despite numerous court orders for their release on bail is a blot on Nigeria’s image and a dent on its democratic order. It is unjustifiable, unlawful and unacceptable. The president and the vice president, not DSS, are elected to run the country’s affairs. They must curtail DSS’s overzealousness and ensure that flagrant abuse of citizens’ fundamental rights never happen again. Both PUNCH and the Federal Government should tone down their rhetoric and de-escalate the present tension.

Ex Minister Bello Adoke Lands Into EFCC’s Trap From Dubai

Editorial staff

December 19, 2019

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke has arrived Abuja from Dubai, UAE.

Adoke arrived today, December 19 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 3:45 pm.

He was immediately whisked away from the foot of the aircraft by security operatives and taken to the office of Interpol in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The former AGF is facing charges bordering on alleged abuse of office and money laundering with respect to the granting of the Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245 to Shell and ENI.

Adoke was previously held by the Interpol on arrival in Dubai on November 11 for medical purpose.

The Interpol acted on an arrest warrant issued by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

Although the warrant was vacated, Nigerian authorities failed to alert the Interpol on the development, prompting Dubai police to allow Adoke return to Nigeria on his own accord.

Impeached President Trump Still Brags

Greenbarge Reporters

December 19, 2019

President Donald Trump, impeached by the U.S House of Representatives is still bragging that the Senate will set him free of all the charges.

The White House hit back at lawmakers today, December 19, describing the act as “illegitimate articles of impeachment” saying that the president would be acquitted in the Senate.

“Democrats have chosen to proceed on this partisan basis in spite of the fact that the President did absolutely nothing wrong,” spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement, calling the votes in the House of Representatives an “unconstitutional travesty”.

“The President is confident the Senate will restore regular order, fairness, and due process, all of which were ignored in the House proceedings.

”He is prepared for the next steps and confident that he will be fully exonerated,” the statement said, referring to the upcoming trial in the upper chamber.

The Senate will require two-thirds of votes to remove Trump from office, something that has never happened before.

The House of Reps, had approved the first article of impeachment, charging the president with abuse of power, by a vote of 230 to 197. Of the 233 Democrats, 228 voted in favor, along with the House’s one Independent.

Two Democrats opposed the measure. No Republicans voted in favor. Trump faced charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress after a fast-paced inquiry into allegations he pressured Ukraine into investigating his political rivals.

Trump Impeachment now heads to the Senate for a trial likely in early January to determine whether Trump will be removed from office or acquitted. A U.S. president has never been removed from office via impeachment. Both Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached, but were later acquitted in the Senate. President Richard Nixon resigned before he could be impeached and face trial over the Watergate scandal.

Investigators say President Trump withheld some $400 million in military aid from Ukraine while he pushed Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to dig into former Vice President Joe Biden and Biden’s family as well as probe a conspiracy theory about the 2016 election.

Gov Ihedioha Vows To Rebuild Ruined Imo State

Editorial staff

December 18, 2019

Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha has vowed to rebuild the state, which he said, was ruined by the immediate past administration.

The Governor, who spoke today, December 18, at the swearing in of Chairmen and members of Imo State House of Assembly Service, Imo State Civil Service, Imo State Law Reform and Local Government Service Commissions at Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers, said that his administration is out to build effective institutions and structures that would deliver the dividends of good governance to the people.
He recalled that in the last eight years, there were concerns over the near absence of effective institutions and structures for good governance across board in Imo State.
“We witnessed, firsthand, the ugly consequences of governing by discretion and the manifest disdain for processes and time tested tenets of public service
“Our task in the Rebuild Imo Agenda, includes, to leverage our abundant human capital and natural resources to build a State anchored in good governance, wealth creation, rule of law and sound management of state resources.”
He charged members of the Commissions and Boards who constitute the apex human resource policy- making bodies for all professional staff of the relevant arms, the executive, the legislature and the local councils, “to superintend over all cases of appointment, promotion, capacity building, discipline and severance of the concerned personnel.
“To the sworn-in Chairmen and members, you have been called to service at a very crucial time in the life of this administration. A time when we are working to restore the faith of our people in government.”
Governor Ihedioha noted that the people of the State want a system that works for them and not exploit them; that serves them and not lord it over them; and that delivers quality service and not half measures
While charging members of the Commissions and Boards to hit the ground running towards modernizing the service, the governor said, he looks forward to a professionalized as well as performance driven workforce committed to excellent service delivery.
He reminded that the various accolades we have won in the brief period of this government present a huge burden upon us all.
“We hope you would bring value into the Rebuild Imo team, and make us shine more and more unto a near perfect system. We have been painstaking in your various selections, bearing in mind your impressive track records and leadership experiences. We sincerely hope that you would justify the confidence reposed in you.”

Republican Congressmen In US Fight To Save President Trump From Impeachment

Editorial staff

December 18, 2019

The House of Representatives today, December 18, fought back the first two of what may be a string of Republican efforts to block the impeachment of President Trump and is now expected the impeachment vote will go ahead.

Earlier in the day, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tapped a veteran Democrat, Diana DeGette, to preside over the historic debate after the house rejected back-to-back motions proposed by the Republicans to scuttle the vote.
The House voted 226 to 188 to block a motion to adjourn without considering the articles of impeachment and then voted 226 to 191 to put aside a Republican resolution condemning the inquiry as an illegitimate and unfair violation of House rules.
The second resolution, introduced by Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader, outlined a litany of complaints about the way the inquiry was run by Representatives Adam B. Schiff of California and Jerrold Nadler of New York, the Democratic chairmen of the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees.
Their “abuses of power,” as Mr. McCarthy’s resolution put it, echoing one of the charges against Mr. Trump, “willfully trampled on the rights of the minority” and “brought dishonor and discredit upon the House of Representatives.” Democrats moved to table the resolution, and the vote unfolded along party lines.
“It’s going to be a lot of walking up these stairs today, I think,” Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat, said as he climbed the steps from his Capitol office to vote on the first of the procedural votes called by Republicans.
The House will spend much of the rest of the morning debating the rules for the debate itself before taking up the two articles of impeachment themselves around midday.
Democrats assert that Mr. Trump committed high crimes and misdemeanors by pressuring Ukraine to tarnish Democratic rivals to aid his re-election campaign while Republicans argue that the majority was engaged in a partisan witch hunt against a president they fear they could not beat at the polls.
The House plans to vote by the end of the day.
In a letter on Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi invited all Democratic members to be present on the floor on Wednesday as the chamber convened to debate the articles at what she called a “very prayerful moment in our nation’s history.”
• Early in the morning, the House debated the rules that the House Rules Committee hashed out on Tuesday with a vote expected around noon.
• This was the first procedural vote by the full chamber to lay the groundwork for formally impeaching Mr. Trump. The rules call for six hours of debate, equally divided between Republicans and Democrats, on the articles.
• Republicans opened the day with the first of what may be a series of parliamentary moves to register their opposition and slow the process, which could lead to multiple procedural votes that don’t amount to much like the one to adjourn. The votes everyone is waiting for — on the two articles of impeachment — are expected Wednesday night. House leaders anticipate two separate votes on the two articles to begin at 7:15 p.m Washington time and wrap up about 20 minutes later.
• The House may also vote to empower Ms. Pelosi to name impeachment managers, whose identities are likely to become public in the coming days. The managers are House members who act much like prosecutors in the impeachment trial that is to follow in the Senate, presenting the findings of the House inquiry to their colleagues across the Capitol.
• Senators will decide whether to acquit the president or to convict and remove him from office, which requires a two-thirds vote, or 67 senators if all are present.

Corpse Of 6-Year Old Boy Found Buried In Church, Pastor Arrested

Editorial staff

December 18, 2019

Corpse of a six-year-old boy was said to have been found buried under the alter of a church in Akure, Ondo State.

The discovery of the corpse today, December 18, is said to have led to the arrest of the founder of the church, Prophet Alfa Babatunde.
The pastor is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Information had it that the boy was declared missing a few weeks ago.

His corpse was exhumed in Sotitobire Miracle Church in Akure, leading to the angry youths burning it down in protest.

Imo Senator, Benjamin Uwajumogu, Is dead

Editorial staff

December 18, 2019

The Senator representing Imo North Senatorial District, Benjamin Uwajumogu, is dead.

His death was confirmed to journalists outside the Senate chamber on Wednesday by the Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha.

He was said to have slumped in the toilet while taking his bath and rushed to a private hospital in Apo, Abuja where he died

Details later…

African Dev Bank Grants $5 Million To Elumelu Foundation

Editorial staff

December 18, 2019

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved a grant of five million dollars to enable the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme to scale up its outreach and impact to 1,000 select youth entrepreneurs.

The grant follows the signing of a letter of intent between the Bank and the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, which took place during the launch of the foundation entrepreneurship programme.
The partnership would foster future collaboration focused on strengthening small to medium-sized enterprises as well as talent and skills development for Africa’s youth.
The partnership is expected to support 3,050 young entrepreneurs across 54 African countries.
The Bank’s participation would enable an additional 1,000 entrepreneurs to benefit from the entrepreneurship Programme, which provides much needed opportunities of curbing the tide of unemployment and inequality facing the continent’s youngest citizens.
The programme aligns with the Bank’s 10-year Jobs for Youth in Africa strategy launched in 2016 to support the creation of 25 million decent jobs across the continent.
The strategy is also expected to equip 50 million young African people with employable skills that would enable them access economic opportunities and realise their full economic potential across the continent.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation would deliver business training, mentoring, access to networks, markets and capital for business development to selected youth-led start-ups in order for them to grow and create jobs.
The Entrepreneurship Programme had demonstrated a strong alignment with the Bank’s Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund objectives to build the African youth entrepreneurship ecosystem by scaling innovative youth led start-ups, expanding youth market opportunities and improving youth access to finance.
Other development partners involved in supporting the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme are Agence Française de Développement, the German Agency for International Cooperation, the United Nations Development Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
They partners would also work to provide more business opportunities to youth entrepreneurs across the continent.
In 2017, the Bank established the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund, in partnership with the governments of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Italy and the Netherlands.
The fund is a grant vehicle managed by the Bank to support the African entrepreneurship ecosystem directly and indirectly by leveraging on the Bank’s instruments. Its interventions will equip Africa’s youth with the right tools to establish start-ups and micro, small and medium enterprises.

CBN Invests N69 Billion Into Edo State Oil Palm

Editorial staff

December 18, 2019

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has invested N69 billion into Edo State Oil Palm Programme.

The apex bank’s governor, Godwin Emefiele, said, at the launch of the programme in Benin City, that Edo with Nigeria’s largest oil palm plantation, is the best place to invest, if the country must revive its oil palm industry.

Emefiele disclosed that the CBN will make available N69 billion funding facility required for the ESOPP, adding that Edo State government has made available 120,000 hectares of land for the project and that the state has already benefited over 80 per cent from the apex bank’s N30 billion agriculture intervention for states.

Emefiele said: “I want to thank Governor Godwin Obaseki for showing the required commitment and leadership in developing the oil palm sector in Nigeria. When we contemplated on reviving the oil palm sector in Nigeria, he was the only one that came out aggressively from the South-South and South-East governors and made available 120,000 hectares of land for this project.

“The first Ethanol plant developed in Nigeria is in Edo State and the CBN disbursed about N8bn to support the project about a week ago. When I met with the governors, I told them that it is better to work together and rediscover our states and make them viable again.

“I will say equivocally that with the effort of Edo State Government in cassava, oil palm, rice value chain, and the support entrepreneurs in the state are receiving through CBN intervention, I have no doubt in my mind that Edo State will be economically viable in another 3 years.”

The CBN governor also warned that the bank will deal ruthlessly with smugglers of palm oil in the country if they fail to stop their illegal operations.

“I use this opportunity to advise those economic saboteurs who still think they will hide under the ECOWAS trade liberalisation scheme to sabotage the effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria. We will do our best to revamp this sector, including directing all banks in Nigeria to close the account of any company, person, staff, owners, top management and supply chain enablers involved in smuggling.”

He maintained that his government is committed to diversify the state’s economy, achieving economic prosperity, creating jobs and improving the lives of the people. “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has invested N69 billion into Edo State Oil Palm Programme The apex bank’s governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the launch of the programme in Benin City, said Edo with Nigeria’s largest oil palm plantation, is the best place to invest, if the country must revive its oil palm industry. Emefiele disclosed that the CBN will make available N69 billion funding facility required for the ESOPP.

Emefiele said that Edo State has made available 120,000 hectares of land for the project and that the state has already benefited over 80 per cent from the apex bank’s N30 billion agriculture intervention for states. Emefiele said, “I want to thank Governor Godwin Obaseki for showing the required commitment and leadership in developing the oil palm sector in Nigeria. When we contemplated on reviving the oil palm sector in Nigeria, he was the only one that came out aggressively from the South-South and South-East governors and made available 120,000 hectares of land for this project.

“Edo State has the largest oil palm plantation in Nigeria and in reviving the oil palm industry in Nigeria Edo State is the best place to start. The CBN has disbursed about N30 billion naira to entrepreneurs in the oil sector in Nigeria in the last one year and out of that amount, about N25 billion has been channeled to support companies into oil palm plantation in Edo State. He continued, “The first Ethanol plant developed in Nigeria is in Edo State and the CBN disbursed about N8bn to support the project about a week ago. When I met with the governors, I told them that it is better to work together and rediscover our states and make them viable again. “I will say equivocally that with the effort of Edo State Government in cassava, oil palm, rice value chain, and the support entrepreneurs in the state are receiving through CBN intervention, I have no doubt in my mind that Edo State will be economically viable in another 3 years”.

The CBN governor also warned that the bank will deal ruthlessly with smugglers of palm oil in the country if they fail to stop their illegal operations. “I use this opportunity to advise those economic saboteurs who still think they will hide under the ECOWAS trade liberalisation scheme to sabotage the effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria. We will do our best to revamp this sector, including directing all banks in Nigeria to close the account of any company, person, staff, owners, top management and supply chain enablers involved in smuggling.”

Meanwhile, Governor Obaseki said the project is in line with his administration’s agenda to harness the state’s rich human and natural endowments to achieve economic growth and wellbeing of Edo people. He maintained that his government is committed to diversify the state’s economy, achieving economic prosperity, creating jobs and improving the lives of the people.

“The focus on the oil palm sector alone can stimulate and drive the economy of any state as it has done to Malaysia and Indonesia. This programme will enable us move from complaining and talking about what we have lost to concrete action towards regaining what has been lost.”

Obaseki said the ESOPP will leverage on what the CBN has initiated, adding: “Ours is to remove the critical risk in the oil palm sector by solving the biggest hindrances to plantation farm in Nigeria and making land available to farmers.”

He said his administration has provided about 120,000 hectares of land for oil palm development in the state.

“Successful implementation of the programme will create over 600,000 more jobs as well as 25,000 hectares of forest cover. This programme will cost us about $600 million, which is approximately N200bn. The money is there globally as money is not out of reach with investors on ground.”

The governor said that he is setting up the Edo State Oil Palm Programme implementation office, noting that consultants, surveyors, community relations experts will be trained to review and ensure guidelines are strictly followed.

“I thank the CBN governor for stimulating the agricultural sector, creating the platform for our dream to come true. As a state, our goal is to be that trigger state for oil palm in Nigeria as the nation needs millions of lands for oil palm. We will stand as a stimulant for other states”, Obaseki added. Earlier, Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Programme, Prince Joe Okojie said the 120,000 hectares of land for the programme was made available by the four Local Government Areas in the state.

According to him, while Ovia North East provided 25,329 hectares; Ovia South West had 36, 759 hectares; while Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode provided 51,000 and 23, 000 hectares of land of land respectively.The focus on the oil palm sector alone can stimulate and drive the economy of any state as it has done to Malaysia and Indonesia. This programme will enable us move from complaining and talking about what we have lost to concrete action towards regaining what has been lost.

Obaseki said the ESOPP will leverage on what the CBN has initiated, adding, “Ours is to remove the critical risk in the oil palm sector by solving the biggest hindrances to plantation farm in Nigeria and making land available to farmers.”

He said his administration has provided about 120,000 hectares of land for oil palm development in the state.

The governor said he is setting up the Edo State Oil Palm Programme implementation office, noting that consultants, surveyors, community relations experts will be trained to review and ensure guidelines are strictly followed.

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