Wednesday, July 15, 2015 Edition

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Vol. 1 Edition 6 Wednesday, July 15 - Tuesday, July 21, 2015

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Service Chiefs:

Igbos draw battle line

• Accuse Buhari of marginalization • I never said NASS won’t screen SCs – Saraki

page3

pg. 7

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We will handle issue of petroleum subsidies with care – Buhari

pg. 10

Entertainment From left: Chief of Air Staff, Avm Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Iba; Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Defence Intelligence, avm Morgan Riku and the National Security Adviser (nsa), Retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Mongunu, during their meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja recently. (NAN).

I’ve knowledge of ‘babalawo’, that is why I drink akpeteshie – Majek Fashek

pg. 21

Lagos prophet Salary cut: PDP Buhari, Vice dupes member berates •Says action meant for of N5million cheap popularity

pg. 6

pg.18

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I didn’t say senate won’t screen service chiefs – Saraki

By Sylvester Ugwuanyi

P

resident of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki has cleared the air on what he meant in his now controversial tweet where he was quoted as claiming on Monday that the Service chiefs newly appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari do not need any clearance by the upper legislative chamber.

He made this clarification in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, who explained that the Senate President’s comment which was without prejudice was misconstrued and that the Senate will do the needful when the list of the new Service Chiefs is sent to it by Mr. President.

President Muhammadu Buhari had told the new Service Chiefs shortly after their appointments Monday that their nominations will between the next two days be forwarded to the National Assembly for confirmation.

According to him, “Legally, you are in acting capacity until the National Assembly accepts you. It is only then that you will take the oath of office. Thereafter, we will sit down and talk in more detail.”

Spurred by this statement by the President and perhaps the fact that the last set of Service chiefs were screened and approved by the Senate, a citizen, Mr. Chinedu Peters, tweeted at Mr. Saraki at 5:25 pm on Monday urging him and his colleagues to immediately call off

Saraki their recess to clear the new military chiefs.

The tweet by Mr. Peters, who used the handle @chinair, reads, “I hope @bukolasaraki and the Senate will as promised come out of their break to confirm the appointment of the new service chiefs immediately”. But responding to the tweet at 7:08 pmsame day, the Senate President pointedly said the appointment of service chiefs was a prerogative of the President, and that the Senate had no role to play in the process. “@chinair Appointment of service chiefs is an exclusive function

NBC jams transmissions from Radio Biafra

T

he Federal Ministry of Information yesterday revealed that signals coming from the controversial Radio Biafra have been successfully jammed by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Shade Yemi-Esan, who disclosed this to State House correspondents in Abuja after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, revealed that the President frowned at the conditions of Journalists and other media practitioners whose salaries are being delayed or unpaid.

She further stated that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the reopening of federal information centers abroad to boost the Nigeria’s image abroad.

The development was the outcome of a meeting between officials of the Ministry of Information and President Buhari who yesterday received briefing from them on the activities of the ministry.

According to Esan, the President further directed that producers of Nollywood movies should be made to have uninhibited access to whatever is the due that should

of Mr President. Senate can only approve Ministerial, parastatals etc,” posted Senate President who used his handle @bukolasaraki.

This development attracted harsh criticism from a section of the Nigerian public to the Senate President which resulted in his Media Office issuing a press release on Tuesday, where it stated that “we want to make it abundantly clear that based on inquiries made to the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki on whether the Senate was consulted before the appointment of new Service Chiefs was announced, he had in response tweetaccrue from their work, charging the Ministry to reduce the menace of piracy.

In her words, “The Federal Ministry of Information went to tell Mr President what we have been doing; the major activities in the ministry which are geared towards publicity of government programmes and how we get the feedback from Nigerians which influences policy decisions.

“We also talked to him about the nine parastatal that are under the ministry, the work they are doing and some of the challenges they face.

“We are happy with the response we got and the concerns of Mr President on the work we are doing, especially the publicity aspect. He wants us to intensify publicity because he wants every Nigerian to know about the policies and programmes of this government.

ed that the appointment of Service Chiefs is the exclusive function of the President as stipulated by the Constitution.

“Let it be known that his comment is now being misinterpreted to say the Senate will neither screen nor confirm the new Service Chiefs.

This is far from the truth.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Saraki has said his comment is without prejudice to extant laws and court pronouncements on the issue and therefore that the Senate will do the needful when the list of the new Service Chiefs is sent to it

by Mr. President”.

Also, Saraki in a new tweet posted yesterday on his Twitter handle stated: “This is to clarify the earlier position which was not up to date and does not represent the position of the Senate President on the issue of screening of the newly appointed service chiefs. The Senate will perform its constitutional duty when it receives communication from the President on the appointments.”

Enugu Assembly confirms 24 commissioner nominees

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he Enugu State House of Assembly on Tuesday confirmed 24 commissioner nominees forwarded to the assembly by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Screening the nominees during plenary, they were asked questions on their courses of study, profession, experience and on how they would contribute to reposition Enugu State.

The screening which lasted for over five hours featured two former members of the House of Representatives, Princess Peace Nnaji and Chief Chijioke Edeoga, who were asked to take a bow and leave.

After the screening, the Leader of the house, Mr Ikechukwu Ezeugwu (PDP-Udenu), said: ``having answered most of the questions correctly, attempted some and with their experiences, levels of education, contributions to our party, their community and the state, when confirmed, they will do us proud.

Service Chiefs: Igbos draw battle line

By Ali Abah Adoyi

A

group, Alaigbo Development Foundation, ADF, yesterday in Abuja, described the appointment of service chiefs made

by President Muhammadu Buhari without an Igbo officer as unfortunate.

DAILY POST recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, fired the nation’s Service Chiefs and immediately replaced them with five others, declaring that they were all appointed based on merit, and urging them to show utmost commitment to their new duties.

While the new Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Olonishakin (N/6901) hails from Ekiti State, the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.Gen. Buratai is from Borno State.

Relatively, while the new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibas (N0746) was picked from Cross River State, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar (NAF

1433) hails from Bauchi State.

The new Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Morgan hails from Benue State. Also appointed was the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Monguno (rtd) who was picked from Borno State.

However, the latest appointments have been trailed with several criticisms as many are of the opinion that the President has committed ‘unforgivable’ blunders.

In their reaction, the Alaigbo Foundation decried the non-inclusion of the Igbos in the latest appointment.

A statement signed by its administrative secretary, Chinedu Aroh, quoted the President of ADF, Prof T. Uzodinma Nwala, as saying that, “The armed force is the most critical sphere of power in any society. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic society. Many of its component units are much bigger than many powerful nations in the world.

To distribute key positions of

power within the armed forces of the federation with no Igbo man occupying any position is most unfortunate. It is like saying the Igbos do not count or belong.”

Nwala therefore called on the Igbo nation to reject and resist as a fragrant act of subversion of the federal constitution, and urged them to speak out at this early life of the new government.

He said, “We believe that there are democratic-minded people in this Republic outside Igbo-land who are bound to see this set of appointments as grossly unconstitutional and unfair to the Igbo nation, not just the South-East zone alone. This signal is very ominous.”

He quoted the 1999 Constitution as making room for power-sharing in keeping with the political realities of a multi-ethnic federation, citing Third Schedule, Part 1 Section C, which provides for a Federal Institution called the Federal Character Commission. He

said that the constitutional body is charged with the power to ‘work out an equitable formula subject to the approval of the National Assembly for the distribution of all cadres of posts in the public service of the Federation and of the States, the armed forces of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force and other government security agencies, government owned companies and parastatals of the states’.

Also, the Labour Party, LP, faulted the sack of the former Service Chiefs, saying it was ill-timed as it was not yet time for such a decision. The party, in a statement by its National Chairman, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, said, “It is my candid opinion that Mr. President should have exercised a little restraint in sacking the service chiefs; he should not have taken that action in a hurry. He should have considered the totality of what is on ground.

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Buhari must appoint an educationist, not just anybody as Education Minister – Okebukola

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rof. Peter Okebukola, former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint an educationist to head the education ministry, to ensure a turnaround in the sector.

Okebukola made the observation while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, sequel to requests from the public for the appointment of professionals to head federal ministries.

According to him, there is the need for President Buhari to lay emphasis on professionalism while appointing ministers, especially that of education.

“Education, like we all know, is the key that unlocks every country’s national development and transformation.

“We must be critical in appointing persons that would handle the various portfolios in the cabinet, if we intend to turn things around in the various sectors of our economy.

“For the education sector, I will like to see a minister who knows education and not just anybody.

“For instance, you cannot just pick somebody who is not a health professional to be minister of health.

“In the case of education, everybody thinks he or she is an education expert.

“This must not be so, if we intend to effect the desired change in the delivery of the quality education we all yearn for in the sector in Nigeria,’’ he said.

The don said that government should ensure that only a well-rounded education expert was considered as the next minister of education.

Okebukola said that such a person must be one who was fired by the desire for change in the way things were being done in the sector.

According to him, it is when the country sticks to the right kind of person for the sector that challenges that are responsible for the not-too-encouraging results or output can be tackled.

“It is time we tell ourselves that it is no longer going to be business as usual.

“This is the period we need to see somebody that is fired up with the desire to positively effect those changes in the education system in our country,’’ the professor said.

(NAN)

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Paucity of funds is stalling our devt projects – N-Delta ministry

by Bunmi Akinsanmi

M

inistry of Niger Delta Affairs yesterday disclosed that it had not received any capital per head since August 2014, lamenting that shortage of funds had been slowing down its ability to deliver on the core mandate of empowering the people of the Niger Delta region.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele, who disclosed this to State House correspondents after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the ministry’s activities inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, regretted that the development had stalled a lot of projects.

She revealed that she and members of her delegation urged the

President to assist them in sourcing for the finances needed to carry out the ministry’s projects.

According to her, “I came in from the Ministry of Niger Delta on the directive of the President to brief him on the activities of our ministry, mandate, vision, mission, activities, challenges and what we will like His Excellency to look into.

“Such challenges include funding. Since August 2014, we have not received any capital per head up till today. So, a lot of our projects are being stalled and we don’t want abandonment of projects.

“So, we ask that funding can be sourced for the ministry’s projects.”

The Permanent Secretary, while noting that she briefed the

Lamido gets bail on self-recognition, sons to pay N25m each

by Wale Odunsi

M

inistry of Niger Delta Affairs yesterday disclosed that it had not received any capital per head since August 2014, lamenting that shortage of funds had been slowing down its ability to deliver on the core man-

date of empowering the people of the Niger Delta region.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele, who disclosed this to State House correspondents after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the ministry’s activities inside the

President on the progress so far recorded on the East-West Road which was 88.4 per cent completed, informed that the road had increased the economic activities in the area by opening up the place to various commercial activities.

Revealing also that about 250 housing units had been completed out of the 400 units, she pointed out that there were a number of projects waiting to take off again once money is provided.

She said although the ministry had been receiving budgets, releases from federal coffers had been limited to between 48 and 50 per cent since 2012.

This, she added, has led to the accumulation of liabilities for her ministry and other ministries.

“We have done quite a number of things. Our mandate is first to

ensure the economic empowerment of the people. This we have done through the empowerment of women and youth in the Niger Delta. We have trained at least 4,000 people in agriculture, maritime activities and ICT. “Part of our mandate also is to ensure we have peace in the region and to reduce militancy and restiveness amongst the youth.

This we have to do through town hall meetings and sensitisation meetings with the people in the area.

“We talked to them and convinced them on the need to work together with the Federal Government to empower the area and develop the area,” she added.

Bamidele said her team got the President’s assurances that he would look into their case.

Presidential Villa, Abuja, regretted that the development had stalled a lot of projects.

She revealed that she and members of her delegation urged the President to assist them in sourcing for the finances needed to carry out the ministry’s projects.

According to her, “I came in from the Ministry of Niger Delta on the directive of the President to brief him on the activities of our ministry, mandate, vision, mission, activities, challenges and what we will like His Excellency to look into.

“Such challenges include funding. Since August 2014, we have not received any capital per head up till today. So, a lot of our projects are being stalled and we don’t want abandonment of projects.

“So, we ask that funding can be

sourced for the ministry’s projects.”

The Permanent Secretary, while noting that she briefed the President on the progress so far recorded on the East-West Road which was 88.4 per cent completed, informed that the road had increased the economic activities in the area by opening up the place to various commercial activities.

Revealing also that about 250 housing units had been completed out of the 400 units, she pointed out that there were a number of projects waiting to take off again once money is provided.

She said although the ministry had been receiving budgets, releases from federal coffers had been limited to between 48 and 50 per cent since 2012.

Edo govt. records 131 fire incidents in 6 months – Official

T

he Public Relations Officer of Edo Fire Service Department, Mr Franklin Agbolahor, on Tuesday said the Department recorded 131 fire outbreaks from January to June, 2015.

Agbolahor, who said the Department was under the Ministry of Transport, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin.

He said that the increase in the outbreaks was due to the dry season, adding that in January alone, 65 fire outbreaks were recorded.

Agbolahor explained that the figure has drastically increased, compared to what was recorded in previous years.

“Fire outbreak in the state has drastically increased. If you look at our record of last year, you will agree with me that fire outbreak in the state has increased. ‘’In January alone we had 65 fire outbreaks, Feb. 24, March 8, April 9, May 16, June 19,” he said.

Agbolahor said sometimes, six to seven fire outbreaks were recorded in a day during the period.

He advised the public to be safety conscious and always ensure good access to their homes.

(NAN)

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

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SARAKI: From hero to villain

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews

O

n Tuesday, June 9, former Kwara State governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, a second term Senator, became the President of Nigeria’ s 8th Senate. He was nominated and elected unopposed in what will go down in history as a major upset for the deeply entrenched powerful interests in Nigeria’s new ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. Since the emergence of Saraki as Senate President, the ruling party has been at a loss over what transpired, licking its wounds rather unethically, in a manner that has exposed the true intents of the powers that be in APC. Naturally, the party and its entrenched powers have reasons to be angry, incensed and paranoid because what happened can conveniently pass for a major defeat of its supposed and much passed around invincibility and the larger than life image of its leaders. For the party and its leaders, Saraki’s emergence is an insult taken too far and a practical demystification of certain of its leaders and a message that truly, Nigeria is nobody’s personal Fiefdom.

In the run up to the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly, Saraki was not given a chance; the party and its leaders saw him as an outsider, whose ambition must be checked at all cost. For his sake, the party jettisoned its initial attempt at zoning National Assembly offices, insisting that the Senators and its Members of the House of Representatives should feel free to choose their leaders, a pronouncement many applauded as truly democratic.

However, the hypocritic tendencies and the doublespeak nature of the party came violently to the fore, when the Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, informed journalists at the defence house that the party will not interfere with the election of the leadership of the National Assembly but that the party’s National Working Committee, NWC had decided that the next Senate President must meet three conditions.

Chief among the conditions was that the next Senate President must

Saraki

come from the zone that gave the party the second largest number of votes at the March 28 presidential election. Another was that the person must not have corruption charges against him and thirdly, must be matured.

Of the three conditions, Saraki can only be said to meet the third, as he is not only matured age wise, but politically, he most definitely is a matured politician, having stayed in the Senate for four years and governed Kwara State for eight years. He also comes with a political background and must have learnt all the political tricks that make for survival in Nigeria’s murky political waters from his late father and strongman of Kwara politics, Chief Olusola Saraki.

However, that is where it stops, as the other two conditions exclusively gave the Senate Presidency to Senator Ahmed Lawan from the North East. To scrub in enough salt into the injury, the party conducted what it called straw poll, where Lawan was announced the candidate of the party.

The reaction of the party and its leaders to Saraki’s election has however showed the deep rooted resentment his party has for him, confirming the long held opinion by several ana-

lysts that the APC is nothing but a marriage of convenience, solely contracted for the purpose of grabbing power at the centre.

A contraction that is fast giving way and falling like a pack of cards, as reality has started dawning on Nigerians who were hoodwinked by the well-oiled propaganda machinery of the APC to believe the party is truly capable of effecting the change they bandied around and promised millions of gullible Nigerians.

One does not need to be a great student of history to recollect how beautiful a bride Saraki and his co-travellers in the now rested New PDP were, when the leaders of the legacy parties that initially formed the APC absorbed and brandished them to the country as change agents, as they junketed across all zones, wooing the nPDP elements.

They were described as progressives that had come home, people who were patriotic enough to see the danger the PDP posed to the country and had decided to come home to help salvage the fatherland from the rampaging wolves that former President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP leaders were.

These glorious and definitely grandiose adjectives used in describing Saraki

and his cohorts have now given way to the stinging mouthing of Lai Mohammed, a man who has in his verbal arsenal, a wide range of destructive weapons capable of doing incomprehensible harm as the PDP were to discover a little too late. Mohammed, against the norm, has described

“The question, however, is, what did Saraki and his nPDP folks exhibit when they walked out of the PDP National Convention in Abuja, while former President, Jonathan was seated?”

Saraki, putting it mildly, in the several unkind ways; calling him an undisciplined party man that has exhibited the highest level of disloyalty and a potential clog in the wheel of the anti-corruption campaign of President Buhari.

The question, however, is, what did Saraki and his nPDP folks exhibit when they walked out of the PDP National Convention in Abuja, while former President, Jonathan was seated?

If they were patriotic then, why not now especially as Saraki is a qualified Senator who was elected by his colleagues as their leader? Why is the APC crying over a constitutional duty carried out by the senators which is entirely the business of the Senate? Or are there other things the ordinary Nigerian does not know? Questions and questions!

According to those in the know, the supposed harsh reaction of the party’s national leadership through its spokesman, Lai Mohammed, may just be the personal reaction of the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, a man whose big over bloated ego seems to have been affected by the emergence of Saraki!

Informed sources say Tinubu is still at a loss as to how his sprawling empire seems to be crashing even before the government he has variously taken credit for installing has fully taken off. They say, Tinubu had nursed the ambition of replicating his stranglehold on four Southwest states at the centre but did not bargain for the stiff opposition he is now getting from the younger, sturdier horses who had been taking lessons at bigger Derby meets in the centre for years!

This seeming crumbling empire has now become the subject of cruel jokes and commentaries, with Chief Bode George, Tinubu’s arch enemy in Lagos politics, describing him as a ‘local champion’. Others have also cruelly tagged him the ‘tamed cat of Bourdillion’, as against the lion and Asiwaju that he had been variously called!

Whatever happens says a Nigerian political analyst: “Saraki is the Senate President and true democrats are the happier for it. Nigeria’s democracy is better and this is a clear signal, according to Governor Ayodele Fayose, that Nigeria does not belong to anybody!”

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Salary Cut: PDP berates Buhari, Osinbajo

Ex-PDP national auditor demands Arrest Ondo Chime’s probe, Speaker, clerk prosecution • Says action meant for cheap popularity – APC urges IG

By Emmanuel Uzodinma

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ne-time national auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Barr Ray Nnaji has prayed a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate the immediate past governor of the state, Barr. Sullivan Chime.

Addressing journalists on the matter yesterday, Nnaji disclosed that he was invited to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where he adopted his petition against Chime.

He expressed satisfaction that, at last, the anti-graft agency has started taking action on the petition.

“The EFCC invited me, I was at their office in Abuja on July 9. I spent two hours with them and adopted my petitions against Chime and Nwobodo.

“At the end of the day they said they will take further actions, but that I should forward any further information I have to them.

“The matter is in court, if the EFCC refuses to prosecute, I urged the court to direct the AGF to give me the fiat to prosecute.

“I will be very happy to see Chime prosecuted, if he is prosecuted those in public office now will do things differently, especially with public funds,” Nnaji said.

Wondering why the anti-graft agency should wait for petitions before taking action, Nnaji said: “By now Chime should have been visiting them regularly.

“They (EFCC) have a zonal office in Enugu, I believe by now they should have gotten preliminary information on how the man cannibalised the state.”

Nnaji’s suit, which was brought pursuant to Order 34 and 56 (1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009, the EFCC Act, and the Freedom of Information Act, followed the failure of the anti-graft agency to act on a petition in which Nnaji sought the investigation of several allegations of official corruption against Chime.

The allegations border on misappropriation, embezzlement, stealing, forgery, and criminal conversion of public property which Chime was said to have committed while in office between 2007 and 2015.

Earlier on July 2, Justice D. V. Agishi of the Enugu FHC had granted Nnaji leave to file the application before the court.

Aside EFCC, other parties joined as respondents in the suit, which have been scheduled for hearing on July 16, are the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Chime, and his brothers-Nnamdi Chime, Tochukwu Chime, and Jide Chime, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, as well as Chime’s former chief of staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo.

Other respondents are a former Managing Director of Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, Mrs. Mary Orji, current PDP chairman in the state, Ikeje Asogwa, former Commissioner of Lands, and current member of the House of Representatives, Chukwuemeka Ujam, the Accountant General of Enugu State, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the National Assembly, and the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

by Wale Odunsi

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of trying to gain cheap popularity by cutting his salary by 50 percent.

Buhari slashed his annual salary from N14 million to N7 million, and also rejected a proposal for the purchase of five armoured Mercedes cars worth N400 million, for his use.

Reacting, the PDP said the cut was an attempt to play to the gallery.

In a statement on Tuesday, Olisa Metuh, spokesman of the PDP, urged the president to stop “brandishing cosmetic achievements and focus on governance”.

“As the leader of the most populous black nation in the world, we believe you should not allow your presidency to be pushed into the gimmicks of playing to the gallery and attempting to use the dramatisation of promissory notes and pledges by foreign interests, false premature claims of victory against insurgency, dramatisation of salary cut and rejection of official cars, all to gain cheap popularity and create an impression that the government is on course when in the actual fact, the new administration has not been able to locate a bearing since its inauguration in May,” the statement reads.

The party in its argument said while it appreciates the symbolic gesture by Mr President in ‘cutting’ his N14 million annual basic salary by 50 percent, it should be noted that Nigerians would not be wavered by the N7million annual donation and rejection of official cars, adding that their expectations for the implementation of his long list of campaign promises for which he was elected into office must not be taken for granted.

Cautioning the president and his Vice against diverting Nigerian attention from pressing national issues, the PDP said, “The presidency should know that these orchestration, no matter how populist it may seem does not in any way address the burning issues of employment, worsening security situation, decline in the economy, avoidable inactivity in government businesses, and continued apparent slide of the naira which has dipped from under N200 to the dollar in May to an all time low of N238 under the APC administration among others.

“Moreover, Nigerians cannot be overwhelmed by the gestures especially given that they are pretty

Osinbajo aware that the salary is a mere drop in the ocean of personal allowances and privileges that come to the president.

“They cannot therefore be deluded by impressions aimed to make government appear to be on course when it has only been a case of all motion, no movement, spiced with unnecessary excuses.

“Nigerians, going by feelers have not been thrilled by such orchestrations as other leaders who at one time or the other adopted similar stance did not dither or become laid back, but hit the ground running with governance. What the citizens want is a government that is urgent in living up to its billings and campaign promises.

“Instead of allowing his government to be taken over by needless showmanship, Mr. President must realise that the people would not judge him by such measures but on the extent to which he addressed critical issues of governance for which he was voted into power.

“The issue is about the president facing the challenges of governance and assembling his team of experts and capable hands to manage the economy, which has been on the decline since he assumed office. It is also about allowing the different arms of government, especially the national assembly to work smoothly and encourage conducive democratic environment where the rule of law, personal freedom and security of lives and property are guaranteed.”

The party accused Buhari of flouting his campaign promises, alleging that the delay in the appointment of minister has led to a drift in government.

“Perhaps, we may need to draw Mr President’s attention to the growing concern that under his watch democratic institutions are

no longer free,” the statement read.

“While activities of the national assembly have been disrupted, the nation’s electoral body has lost its independence due to the appointment of an acting chairman that is publicly known to have very strong relationship with your good self and key members of your party. We have also seen flagrant disregard of court orders.

“We also wish to bring to your notice, Mr. President that Nigerians are now agitated that this government has failed to hit the ground running as it promised.

They are worried that the president who promised to unveil his cabinet two weeks after his inauguration in May, has, two months after, not been able to decide on key appointments such as ministers, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), a chief of staff and advisers in key sectors of the economy.

“They are worried by the drifting of government business in ministries, departments and agencies due to the absence of political heads vested with coordinating of important policies, which are now in tatters and taking its toll on the economy as indicated in the terrifying crippling of foreign and domestic investments and harrowing retrogression in the capital market which has continued to lose billions of naira since May 29th.

“Instead of engaging in pointless propaganda, the APC and the presidency should be more concerned about the decline in the economy with the continued fall in the value of the naira which has descended from under N200 to the dollar they inherited in May to all time low of N238 even in the face of the president’s promise to bring it to same value with the US dollar.

“We need to caution that the needless celebration of your party over Monday’s change of service chiefs is totally premature considering the corresponding urgency of previous administration in this regard.

The party reminded the APC and its leadership of several campaign promises made to Nigerians, saying, “also, as a quick reminder, we wish to notify you that in line with your promises, Nigerians are still eager for information regarding the five million new jobs, monthly N5, 000 each to 25 million poor citizens, monthly allowance to discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members, free meals to school children and bringing the naira to the same value with the dollar; among other promises upon which you and your party gained access to power.

NLC begs Buhari to relocate Boko Haram transferred to Anambra T

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Anambra has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to order the immediate relocation of the Boko Haram detainees transferred to Ekwulobia Prisons.

The NLC Chairman, Mr Jerry Nnubia, made the call at a news briefing at the union’s secretariat in Awka on Tues-

day. ``We condemn in its entirety the relocation of the suspected terrorists to Ekwulobia Minimum Prison that has no facility for such high profile suspects. ``This period in Anambra, we are breathing the breath of peace and security courtesy of Gov. Willie Obiano.

``They should be transferred or relocated to the place where there is maximum security in case of jail break or attack from their sympathisers or where they committed the crime and where they will be tried.’’

He said that the relocation of suspected terrorists would stop the tension in Anambra,

by Esther Ogenyi

T

he All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, through its Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of the Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele and the Clerk of the House of Assembly, for alleged conspiracy with Governor Olusegun Mimiko by swearing in the two Peoples Democratic Party’s House of Assembly candidates for Ilaje Constituencies l and II. Mr. Abayomi Akinruntan and Mr. Coker Malachi.

At a press briefing in Lagos, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya said, “it is illegal for these two gentlemen to be sworn in as Honourable Members of the State House of Assembly without Certificate of Return from INEC. “When a candidate is return elected as a member of the National or State Assembly, a Certificate of Return is issued in the name of the contestant by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which the Clerk of the Assembly will confirmed before performing an oaths of office and allegiance, which in turn will be in the custody of the Speaker of the House for records purposes. In the case of these two gentlemen, they have not followed the due process. ‘’Moreso, after the April 11th House of Assembly election of 2015, the Residence Electoral Commissioner in the State, Mr. Segun Agbaje, had signed a statement made available to journalists in Akure that, the election in Ilaje constituency I and II were inconclusive, and that a later date would be announced for the supplementary election in the two constituencies. Till date, the supplementary election has not been conducted in Ilaje Constituency I and II. ‘’We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of the duo of the Speaker and Clerk for complicity in illegality by allowing Messers Abayomi Akinruntan and Coker Malachi to participate in the business of law making in the State House of Assembly.

“This is a clear case of impunity at its peak and this is how government has been run in Ondo State in the last six years under the leadership of Dr Mimiko. Impunity must stop during the era of President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr IGP, do your job,’’ the statement reads.

and indeed, the South-East geopolitical zone.

Nnubia said, ``though the prison belongs to the Federal Government and as such has right to make necessary transfer but the calibre of these suspects was not good enough for South-East having recorded the highest hit of their operations since 2006.

He said the Federal Government had good intentions for every geo-political zone and should treat the Igbos with such love by relocating this high profile suspects from the area. (NAN)

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

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Let’s help IDPs and not play to the gallery like Jonathan – Shettima

by Wale Odunsi

G

overnor Kashim Shettima has called on the officials of the Insurgency Victims Support Fund to offer specific and verifiable support to citizens affected by Boko Haram attacks in Borno State in order to avoid photo shopping and playing to the gallery, which he said was very much associated with the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Shettima spoke while addressing officials of the Insurgency Victims Support Fund led by the Executive Director, Nigerian Foundation for the Support of Victims of Insurgency, Professor Sunday A. Ochoche, who led members of the committee on field assessment.

The Victims Support Fund, under the chairmanship of Lt. General T.Y Danjuma, was established by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan with a fund raising held at the Villa presided over by the former President.

The fund later established a foundation as a body to administer support using funds in the custody of the main committee.At the courtesy call, held at Government House, Maiduguri on Tuesday, Governor Kashim Shettima paid tribute to the committee for resisting attempts by some politicians who wanted funds meant for victims diverted for political purposes.

“When the immediate past President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan sought and secured the consent of our father and elder statesman, Lt. General T.Y. Danjuma to serve as chairman of the Insurgency Victims Support Fund, two things became very clear to me.

“First, I was sure that substantial funds would certainly be mobilized and I was also sure the funds mobilized would never be misappropriated, after all; General Danjuma himself donated over N1.5 billion naira to the fund he was to manage.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank this committee for resisting

Shettima some attempts made by some forces to hijack the funds meant for victims for the purpose of furthering their political ambitions ahead of the 2015 elections.

“I have heard for instance, that there was a proposal for billions of naira to be taken from the fund to erect about 100,000 tents across local government areas reclaimed from insurgents in Borno, all in the name of conducting the March 28 and April 11 general elections in these unsafe areas, regardless of the risks involved.

“But I am told that this committee of men and women of impeccable credentials, refused to carry out such a selfish agenda but rather, secured the funds for the purpose it was raised. The Government and people of Borno State salute all members of this committee for upholding their collective honor and integrity” the Governor noted.

Shettima called on the fund to meet with the Borno Deputy Governor, Zannah Umar Mustapha and the SSG to work out specific areas of cooperation with special interest in education and economic empowerment, declaring that as Governor, he was not interested in

recommending any contractor to the fund in carrying out any project. He maintained that his single interest is for verifiable impacts to be made in supporting the actual victims and not those that could seize opportunities to take what belong to traumatized citizens.

The Governor reeled out the level of destructions suffered in Borno, saying that over 20 out of 27 local government areas where either occupied or destroyed by insurgents as a result of which over 1.5 million citizens collapsed in Maiduguri as internally displaced persons living in and outside Government established camps.

Continuing, Shettima noted that “In the last six years, our people have witnessed nothing short of hell on earth. We have lost countless number of people, amongst them, infants, pregnant, and weak old women, aged men, young girls and boys.

“Our young men were slaughtered or shot before their parents for refusing to join insurgents while others were forced to take up arms and join insurgency in order to take chances and stay alive.

“Our business men including those famously identified as

wealthy in their own rites, have now been turned into beggars following large scale destructions inflicted on their large sized businesses, many of which involved export of farm produce, international transport and other legitimate imports, taking advantage of our uniqueness as the only State in Nigeria that borders three countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

“Over two million sons and daughters of Borno have been rendered homeless with about 1.5 now in Maiduguri as Internally Displaced Persons living within and outside IDP camps.

“The destructions caused by Boko Haram insurgents on communities in Borno State are better imagined than seen. In all the 27 local government areas of Borno, there is no single local government area that has not been attacked by Boko Haram” the Governor told the visitors.

Earlier, Professor Sunday A. Ochoche, who led the five man delegation, announced than less than 20 billion naira was redeemed as against pledges of nearly one hundred billion at a Presidential fund raising held in Aso Rock during President Goodluck Jonathan’s era.

The Professor explained that the fund was out to support victims in the area of education, to ensure that children, whose parents were killed by Boko Haram insurgents didn’t lack access to education.

He said the fund would invest in psychosocial treatments for victims and economic empowerment, assuring that the fund would work with anybody involved in reconstruction of shelter to identify areas of contribution.

Odoche saluted what he described as “extraordinary leadership qualities of Governor Kashim Shettima in managing the security challenges facing Borno State”, maintaining that “most Nigerians have taken keen interest in Borno because of Governor Shettima’s handling of the affairs of the State”.

I haves no regret creating complaints commission as Military Head of State – Obasanjo

A

one time President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, says has no regrets establishing the Federal Public Complaints Commission, FPCC, when he was the military Head of State.

Obasanjo disclosed this on Tuesday at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, when the newly appointed Ogun State Commissioner in the commission, Mrs. Oluyemisi Somorin-Dawodu, paid him a courtesy call.

The FPCC, which was established by Decree 31 of 1975 of the Supreme Military Council when Obasanjo was the Head of State, has since metamorphosed into the Public Complaints Commission.

He stated that FPCC was established to fight for justice for the ordinary Nigerian.

Obasanjo expressed satisfaction with the fact that the commission has maintained its relevance as the hope of the ordinary Nigerian.

He said, “As I listen to the Radio and hear the less-privileged talk about the relief and justice they got through the assistance of the commission, then I have no regrets ever establishing the body.

“Although I cannot say that the need we saw then has completely disappeared, there have been testimonies of cases where the commission has come to the rescue of the helpless.”

According to the former President, he would not relent in his support to compliment the government’s efforts in ensuring that the commission continues to leave up to its name.

Lagos Task Force seals 29 illegal Eid-el-Fitr: FG declares Friday, FG solicits global assistance in medicine stores repatriating stolen funds Monday as public holidays T T I

By Abdul Atabo

n celebration of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr festival, the Federal Government has declared Friday, July 17 and Monday, July 20 as public holidays.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mr Abubakar Magaji, made this declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement issued by him in Abuja on Tuesday.

The press release was signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press, Mr Yusuf Isiaka, who called for prayers for the nation as Muslims celebrate successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan.

He urged Muslims in particular and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, which include love, peace and sacrifice, to the development of the nation.

The Permanent Secretary also urged Nigerians to remain steadfast and law abiding

as the Federal Government worked to evolve peaceful and virile nation.

“While wishing Nigerians a happy celebration, we also urge them to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in his determination to build a peaceful, united and virile nation,’’ he added.

Following the usual practice in Islam where Muslims look out for the new moon of Shawwal at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, Magaji urged Muslims to look out for the new moon to determine the actual day for the Eid-elFitr celebration.

If the new moon is sighted on Thursday, Muslims in the country will join their colleagues across the world to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr on Friday.

However, if the new moon is not sighted on Thursday, Muslims will have to fast on Friday and the Eid will be celebrated on Saturday.

by Ikom Obasi

he Nigerian government has called on the international community to help African countries repatriate funds stolen from the continent, urging them to assist in preventing and tracking illicit financial flow from the continent.

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, made this appeal yesterday while addressing the plenary session of the ongoing Third United Nations International Conference on Financing for Development holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, in a statement made available to newsmen, informed that the Vice President identified corruption as a major impediment to development.

Osinbajo, who underscored the need for the global community to adopt concerted efforts against the scourge, said: “This conference must come up with a mechanism for dismantling safe havens and the return of stolen funds and assets to the countries of origin as

mandated in the United Nations Conventions Against Corruption and Transnational Organised Crimes”.

He further tasked global leaders, experts and the international community to pay attention to the plight of the poor across the world, arguing that the promotion of social inclusion is central to issues of development.

Osinbajo recalled that during the last global financial crisis, nations and governments worked out a bailout that took them out of the situation, and then wondered that “if we can bail out the rich, why not bail out the poor who have neither voice nor representation?”

He urged the leaders to develop and implement unconventional social safety nets to address the scourge of poverty, hunger, disease and misery.

He said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was committed to setting appropriate spending targets on social services to address poverty, hunger, inequality and unemployment, particularly among the youths.

7

by Seun Opejobi

he Lagos State Task Force on Fake, Counterfeit and Unwholesome Processed Foods has sealed up 29 illegal patent medicine stores for operating contrary to the provisions of the law guiding pharmacies and patent medicine stores across the State.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Modele Osunkiyesi, who disclosed this on Tuesday, said the action was as a result of the State Government’s desire to rid the state of illegal patent medicine and pharmaceutical stores’ operators, in accordance with the provision of Chapter C34 of the Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provision) Act of 1999, Number 25.

The Permanent Secretary noted that the persistent defiance of government regulations on drug production, importation, manufacture, sales or display for sales, hawking, distribution, adulteration, and possession of drugs by illegal operators necessitated the sealing up of the outlets by the task force across the State.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

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Power It is shameful for Nigeria to refine locally transmission hits 4545MW produced crude oil abroad – Dogara S T

by Desmond Aloga

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has declared that it is illegal for the crude oil produced on the shores of Nigeria to be refined outside the country.

He noted that the practice allowed by the previous administrations was one that could make Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

Speaking while receiving the National Executives of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), led by its President, Chinedu Okoronkwo, the Speaker said: “I don’t know if there is any country that produces the kind of oil that is produced in Nigeria that refines its products outside its own shores. For me, it is kind of illegal. This is most inexcusable because

The barbarism of Boko Haram insurgents has no limits – US

Dogara

we have turned this nation into a laughing stock.

“Why is it that we can’t refine this oil here? Why is it that in an oil producing coun-

By Abiodun Badejo

T

he recent attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents on countries in the West African region have led the United States, US, government to declare that the brutality and barbarism of the sect know no bounds. It categorically condemned in strong terms, Boko Haram’s recent killings of innocent people in Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the US Embassy in Nigeria, the country’s Department of State’s spokesperson, John Kirby, expressed its condemnation of the “horrific and indiscriminate” sui-

Appointment of 2 Borno indigenes as Service Chiefs will curb Boko Haram – Shettima

By Maina Maina

G

overnor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has identified Monday as the happiest day of his life, following President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of two indigenes of his state as Security Chiefs.

He expressed optimism that the fight to overcome insurgents “is now or never” because with the duo, Nigeria now stands the best chance to overcome the challenges of insurgency facing it since 2009.

The Governor made this assertion while hosting members of the Insurgency Victims Support Fund under the chairmanship of Lt. General T.Y Danjuma who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

According to him, the President’s choice of retired Major General Babagana Monguno and Major General Tukur Buratai as National Security Adviser and Chief of Army Staff respectively, was a classic case of putting square pegs in square holes as both men now has the mandate of liberating their State which is at the centre of Boko Haram activities.

He noted that both of them are better positioned to lead the fight against Boko Haram given the ancestral knowledge of the Borno terrain which they possess in addition to being direct victims of insurgency attacks with their relatives killed, their residences destroyed and their towns raided.

According to him, “Yesterday was the happiest moment of my life. President Muhammadu Buhari made a strong statement by his decision to appoint two highly competent sons of Borno to the offices of the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Army Staff. I think his strategy was to get people with ancestral knowledge of the Borno terrain.

“Major General Tukur Buratai is even a direct victim of Boko Haram attacks. He lost family members when his residence was attacked earlier this year in Buratai, a town in Biu local government area. Monguno was destroyed and once occupied by Boko Haram and that is where the new NSA, Retired Major General Babagana Monguno hails from.

“In fact, a key family member of General Monguno is still being held captive by Boko Haram insurgents. These two Generals are from Borno, they know exactly where it pinches and most importantly, they understand the terrain and can easily connect with communities to get local support.

“Added to them is also the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar who hails from Bauchi also in the northeast. AVM Abubakar has spent many of his formative years in military here in Borno State. He has spent over ten years in Borno, he knows the terrain very well also and connect with the people.

try, our brothers and sisters have to queue for nine hours to buy a product that should just be there? This is something that I believe that with cide attacks on the Grand Marche in the Chadian capital of N’Djamena on Saturday, as well as attacks in Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria “over the past two days.”

The statement reads: “Boko Haram’s targeting of men, women, and children highlights that the group’s brutality and barbarism know no bounds, and we remain committed to working closely with the region to root out the threat posed by the group.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the soldiers, government officials, and civilians killed; we hope those who were injured will recover quickly.”

your expertise you need to leverage on.”

On the removal of subsidy on fuel, Dogara said: “As a legislator, I can tell you there is something about subsidy removal that we are not looking at.

“There is a Price Control Act; if you look at the PCA, section 4 talks about regulating or controlling the prices of products that are listed in the first schedule of that act.

“One of the products listed in the first schedule is petroleum products, so by law in this country, we must control the price of petroleum products.

“But the law, as passed by parliament, gives a window and prescribing, vesting the responsibility of adding up items on the schedule of the giving items to the price regulating board and I am not sure we have that board in place,” he stated.

The United States however commended the efforts of

the three country’s security forces as regards their timely responses to “these callous and cowardly attacks on innocent civilians.”

Kirby added in the statement that, “The United States continues to support the governments and people of the Lake Chad Basin region in their ongoing struggle to degrade and defeat Boko Haram. We support these efforts through a number of security and counter-terror-

ism assistance programmes, including intelligence, advisers, training and equipment.”

by Ali Adoyi

he Management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that it has attained a new electricity transmission peak of 4545MW through its national network. The announcement which was made on Tuesday confirmed that it was the first of such feat since Nigeria began its struggle against epileptic power supply.

A statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Seun Olagunju, said the latest peak was achieved at 21.45hrs on Monday.

DAILY POST recalls that the previous power transmission peak was 4517MW and was attained on 23rd December, 2012.

Only last week, the TCN Management had informed the general public that following improvement in fuel supply to power plants, electricity wheeling to the Distribution companies had improved.

TCN further assured that it will continue to work towards enhancing its power wheeling capability and reliability of the network to be able to deliver more quality electricity from the Generation plants to the Distribution companies nationwide.

“Expanding this support both bilaterally with the individual countries and to the Multinational Joint Task Force, which the Lake Chad Basin countries and Benin are in the process of standing up to coordinate their counter Boko Haram campaign,” the statement added.

Police invites two Ondo lawmakers to Abuja over alleged forgery

By Abiodun Badejo

T

wo Lawmakers representing Ilaje Constituency 1 and 11 at the Ondo State House of Assembly, Messers Malachi Coker and Abayomi Coker have been reportedly summoned by the Force Headquarters, Abuja, in connection with their alleged resumption as legislators without certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Sources said the duo allegedly escaped being arrested by some Police Detectives from Abuja last Wednesday at the Premises of the Ondo State Election Tribunal, Akure.

It was learnt that the lawmakers covered by immunity from arrest in the Court, allegedly evaded arrest in the presence of the Speaker, Princess Jumoke Akindele, who sources said had mobilized other lawmakers to intervene in the matter.

The Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ilaje Constituencies 1 and 11 ,Gbenga Edema and Leke Adegboye, had earlier petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase over the matter.

They pleaded to the IGP to probe the alleged impersonation and unlawful swearing-in of Akinruntan and

Malachi by the Clerk of the State Assembly.

It was learnt that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Segun Agbaje, had earlier declared elections in the two Ilaje constituencies as inconclusive due to alleged irregularities.

Consequently, INEC withdrew the certificates of return meant for the two Assembly members-elect on May 5 when it presented the same certificates to other members-elect.

A petition dated June 8 and signed by Mr Charles Titiloye on behalf of the APC candidates, noted that the Clerk of the House confirmed the writ of returns and roll call of all 26 members-elect on June 1 with Akinruntan and Malachi as no 6 and 20 in the attendance list respectively.

According to the petition, “We are aware that for a member-elect to be sworn-in as a lawmaker of any parliament, national, state or local government, the presentation of certificate of return should be a pre-condition in compliance with the electoral act.

“Based on this fact, we seek clarification from INEC on whether the certificates of return have been issued to the two lawmakers as at June 4 and INEC replied the second day that no certificate of return was issued in respect of the two members-elect.

“It is instructive to note that section 75 of the electoral act 2010(as amended) makes issuance of a certificate of return mandatory to any person who has won election in Nigeria before he/she could be sworn in to function in the office.

“Section 99 of the constitution(as amended) pointed out that any person who sits or votes in a house of assembly of a state knowing or having reasonable grounds for knowing that he is not entitled to do so shall be guilty of an offence and shall upon conviction be liable to a term of imprisonment”.

The petitioners therefore urged the IGP to probe into fraudulent move against Ondo state government and its citizenry by unlawfully swearing in persons who did not possess certificates of return to earn salaries and allowances due to them.

They also demanded justice from all persons who participated in such unlawful acts to facilitate the anti-corruption crusade of the present Buhari’s administration.

Speaking to one of the petitioners, Barrister Edema Tueday morning, he confirmed that he was on his way to Abuja on invitation by the Police at the Force Headquarters in connection with the petition.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

opinion

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Before Buhari Appoints his Advisers

By Umar Ardo

I

t is a standard universal norm that no leader leads without advisers, and time has ascertained that a leader who acts solely on his own judgment is sure to fail.

Consultations and taking of advice are therefore composite foundational elements of leadership. The institutional office of the Special Adviser, with its functions, is hence vital in the due discharge of governance. Indeed, the success or failure of a regime rests as much on the ability of the leader as on the competence or otherwise of his adviser(s).

Underscoring this point, the 1999 Constitution of our country (as amended) creates at the federal level the Council of Ministers and offices of Special Advisers for the good purpose of executing the powers and functions due to the Office of the President.

This invariably means that the stability and good governance of the country are dependent on the sound character, right practice and good judgment of the President; while the well-being and quality judgment of the President depend on the knowledge, skill and honesty of his official advisers. Blessed therefore is the President with truthful, knowledgeable, intelligent and right-doing advisers to remind him if he forgets, to assist him if he remembers, to correct him (in secret and with respect) if he is wrong, and always lay to him the complete facts of every issue that may come before him to decide.

Advising a leader, therefore, is an onerous task that necessarily requires very special proficiency to perform. Great political thinkers are agreed that the adviser needs five basic attributes, if his work is to be fruitful and satisfactory: i. Wisdom, whereby he will perceive clearly the outcome of everything into which the Principal may enter; ii. Knowledge, whereby implications of actions of the Principal will be open to him; iii. Courage, so as to act as and when appropriate on the Principal; iv.

Honesty, so that he will treat all things and men truthfully without exception; and v. Discipline, so as to keep official secrets secret at all times.

If the President is able to appoint suitable men, then he is most likely going to succeed, for ‘a good adviser is like the ornament of the King’; but if he is unable and appoints unsuitable men, then his regime is most likely going to fail. Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher, said that when a ‘king’ has an unsuitable [ignorant] adviser, his reign will be like a cloud which passes on without dropping rain.

He then warned that since what is most important in the polity is the ‘kingship’ institution, no effort must be spared in getting the right adviser to help protect it.

Instructively, in our presidential system of government, all advisers are solely appointed

Buhari

by the President. This means that the quality of advice is also solely dependent on the kind of advisers the President assembles to himself. In appointing advisers, the president’s skill or lack of it to distinguish the great disparity that exists between men who are suitable and men who are not itself can decide the ultimate destiny of his regime.

To this extent, therefore, the President must necessarily think deeply, consult widely and select carefully in matters regarding the appointment of advisers; and thus when ultimately making these appointments to ensure that only competent and very skillful advisers are chosen. On this account, I support the President in taking his time to select his governing team.

Given that President Buhari came to office with the confidence and goodwill of Nigerians behind him, all genuine lovers of the President and the country would not want him to lose peoples’ confidence and goodwill; because in politics, as the saying goes, it is easier to gain peoples’ confidence than to regain it. So it is of utmost importance that before the President appoints his advisers and ministers, his actions or inactions in the meantime must also not diminish his political standing. I say this because of three recent happenings on the political landscape, which ordinarily ought to have re-enforced the President’s political goodwill but all failed to do so, and instead are drawing unwarranted criticisms and even possible loss of peoples’ confidence.

First is the inauguration of the National Assembly (NASS).

Being a first time democratically elected president under the platform of an opposition party with the zeal to initiate and implement change in the country, the president undoubtedly needs the NASS to perform. To this end, in my opinion, the President

should have corporally inaugurated the NASS so as to create an interpersonal relationship with members.

This would not only have forestalled the current crises in the NASS and the ruling party, it would have instead created a strong bond of goodwill and confidence-building between the two arms of government, thereby earning the President huge political capital with the legislature. Besides, as probably more than 70% of the APC members in the NASS would not have won election on their own merit but were elected on account of Buhari’s ‘APC’s wind of change’, I believe many of them were eager to physically see the man whose name swept them into fame. The president’s failure to seize this opportunity and personally inaugurate the NASS was a political misjudgment and a product of either bad advice or no advice at all.

Second, is the recent policy statement by the Presidency on the removal of military checkpoints nationwide. Without doubt, military checkpoints have become nightmares for most citizens, especially those living or traveling in the northern part of the country. Other than the superfluous time-wasting at the roadblocks, and the accompanying extortions of innocent citizens’ hard-earned money, there are also cases of dehumanizing tortures and even killings inflicted on Nigerians.

It is therefore desirable that these checkpoints are removed or moderated in such a way as to bring relieve to our people.

However, it would have been advisable that before such decision is taken and pronouncements made, wide ranging consultations were made with critical stakeholders so as to arrive at the best form and method of handling the issue. In this regard, consultations should have been held with State Governors,

the Police Commands, DSS Commands, Road Safety Commands, NSCDC Commands, and even with Local Government Chairmen and key Traditional and Religious Leaders.

These consultations are important on two aspects – first, they can help formulate alternative security devises that are locally initiated, people-friendly and practically effective; second, it will be politically beneficial to the President because he will be seen to be carrying the people along in his policy formulation and implementation processes.

The failure to do that is again the result of bad advice or lack of it; the result of which occasioned the current embarrassing reversal of this policy in certain parts of the country. Such mishaps not only can inevitably create a poor impression of the thoroughness of the President’s policy initiatives, but also will be accompanied by a debilitating loss of peoples’ confidence in the president’s method of governance. This is the last thing the president needs to kick-start his administration, especially given the good impression of his character and ability that pedestalled his election.

Third, is the appointment of the Director-General of the DSS. Surely, the former Director General, Mr. Epenyong richly deserved his sack for having turned such a highly delicate and professional agency into a political tool of a governing party, but in appointing his successor the President should have been well advised to be political about it – i.e. being sensitive to the national sentiments and sensitivities! Since he wanted to appoint Musa Daura,

“If the President is

able to appoint suitable men, then he is most likely going to succeed, for ‘a good adviser is like the ornament of the King’; but if he is unable and appoints unsuitable men, then his regime is most likely going to fail”

9

who is eminently qualified, and Daura being the President’s home town, and having already appointed two previous officers (Accountant General and INEC) both from the Northwestern part of the country, the president should have appointed at least one Southerner in another agency along with Daura for the purpose of national politics.

Even though the President may mean well in his actions, still he needs not give his vast political opponents the data to paint him in bad light as a regional irredentist. Such a perception, rightly or wrongly, is not good for the President’s political image.

These three episodes are capable of hampering the President’s political trajectory and misleading the public of his politics of governance, in its formulation, execution and general decision making. But to be fair to the President, on all the 3 cases sited, I believe he must have acted on some advice, most likely from his close associates who are obviously acting as his unofficial advisers.

The lesson to be learnt from this, therefore, is that the capacity for sound advice in a presidential system of government like ours must not be taken for granted that it can always be found in about every Nigerian close to the President. It definitely takes more than knowing the President closely; it needs special skills and total commitment. And such commitment can only come when the skilled is formally bestowed with the official garment to perform those duties. That way, the sense of duty to the nation and responsibility to the government shall impel in the official adviser the total commitment to the President; seeing the latter’s success or failure as his own.

As an analogy, the work of an official adviser to the President is like that of an aircraft’s pilot.

Just as the pilot must ensure that the aircraft and weather are 100% without problem before taking off, so the president’s adviser must ensure that all matters are 100% inerrant before being presented to and decided by the President. This way, mistakes on the part of the President will therefore primarily be the malfunctions of his official advisers. In fact, the analogy may even be in twist in favour of the pilot - for the extreme that can happen to the aircraft is to crash; the harm that can come to a nation with a slip of the President’s pen is better imagined. This then necessitates the essence of ultimately appointing skillful official advisers in the light of the emergent problems that can manifestly expend the political standing of the President, the popularity of the regime and the stability of the country. It is my considered opinion that this action will help save the President, his regime and the nation from further unwarranted and avoidable discomfitures. The President may well need to heed to Aristotle’s admonition; ‘good advisers are needed to help the King spare his reign’.

10

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

dailypost.ng

business NACCIMA tasks Nigerian manufacturers to improve on their products

By Seun Opejobi

T

he Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, has called on manufacturers to improve on the quality of products been manufactured.

The call was made by the Director-General of the association, Emmanuel Cobham, in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos. He stressed that improved products would ensure the development of the sector and guarantee efficiency of their operations, society benefit and overall development of the economy.

Cobham noted, “If products can be made to standout, the customers will appreciate it because the customers like good quality products.

“Most customers are willing to pay the difference to get value for their money in the goods they purchase.

We pride ourselves as being a big economy and a key player in the world, then we expect that products from our country should meet international standards.’’

Cobhams noted that about two million new cars were sold every month in China despite the shortfall in its economy. He added that once upon a time, the world depended on German and Japanese products but from this figure, it shows that China has been able to improve on its act of manufacturing cars.

“What is Dubai trading in? Honesty, top standard production and they make sure that only the best comes in. Things like religion and sentiment do not interfere in their product quality specifications.

The DG also called on manufacturers to establish mechanisms that would facilitate growth in the manufacturing sector.

He further stated that attention had shifted to the patronage of locally-produced goods as that will in turn create jobs, which will culminate into economic development.

The DG appealed to the various government agencies to checkmate inferior goods in circulation across the nation.

We’ll handle issue of petroleum subsidies with care – President Buhari

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday in Abuja, said that his administration will handle the issue of subsidies on petroleum products with care.

Speaking after receiving a briefing from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other agencies in the oil sector, President Buhari said that he will carefully review all the submissions he had received on the need to remove the subsidies.

“I have received many literatures on the need to remove subsidies, but much of it has no depth.

“When you touch the price of petroleum products, that has the effect of triggering price rises on transportation, food and rents. That is for those who earn salaries, but there are many who are jobless and will be affected by it,” the President noted.

President Buhari also said that the lack of security, sabotage, vandalism, corruption and mismanagement, not necessarily subsidies, are the most serious problems of Nigeria’s oil sector. He promised to deal decisively with all identified problems of the oil and gas sector.

“We have to go back to the good old days of transparency and accountability,” the President said.

President Buhari directed the NNPC to review existing agreements for the swapping of crude oil for refined products with a view to injecting more honesty and transparency into the process to reduce costs.

The President also asked the NNPC management to do more to improve the supply of liquefied petroleum Gas (cooking gas).

In a related development,

People shopping for Eid-El Fitri celebration at Abubakar Gumi Central Market in Kaduna yesterday. (nan)

President Buhari has assured investors that his administration will implement far-reaching reforms to boost accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Speaking at a meeting with senior officials of Chevron led by the company’s President for Africa and Latin America, Mr. Ali Moshiri, President Buhari declared that his administration was ready to effectively address the myriad of challenges in the sector.

“We understand the situation in the industry and we will do our best to address the challenges affecting exploration, production and distribution of oil products in the country,’’ the President told the delegation.

Acknowledging the merits of the Amnesty Programme initiated by President Umar Yar’Adua to reduce violence in

the Niger Delta region, President Buhari said that his administration will build on good aspects of the programme.

The President added that his administration will also implement other measures to enhance security in the Niger Delta and optimize investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Mr. Moshiri had urged President Buhari to restore the confidence of international investors in the industry.

He identified improved security in the Niger Delta as key to increased investment in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

Mr. Moshiri said that Chevron which has 36.7 per cent interest in the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited was keen to support Nigeria’s gas sector and bring more electricity to Nigerian consumers.

Naira drops to 241 against dollar

By Seun Opejobi

T

he naira, on Monday, dropped to 241 against the dollar at the parallel market just as the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ban on foreign exchange sale promoted unofficial trade in dollars.

The restriction by the nation’s Apex bank on Nigerian foreign exchange markets for the importation of 41 items has led to the drop in naira at

the black market.

Since June 23 when the new forex rule became operational, the naira has continued to drop by 10.5 per cent from 218 to 241 against the dollars.

Dealers in foreign exchange say despite the shortfall in the United States dollars, the currency still pervades the market.

The new forex rule had led to huge demand at the paral-

lel market, causing dealers to hoard the dollar in anticipation of further fall in the naira According to Economic analysts, the nations Apex bank needs to devalue the naira to allow the local currency maintain an equal level against the dollar.

The central bank has however said it will not be focusing on the black market when determining the exchange rate.

Workers threaten Governors with Strike on Diversion of Bailout Funds

By Danielle Itodo

W

orkers, speaking under the aegis of The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) in Abuja recently, warned state governors that diversion of bailout funds will be visited with immediate strike action without prior notice in the affected states of the federation.

Kiri Mohammed, the National Chairman of JNPSNC and President of Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), and the National Secretary of the council, Marcus Omokhuale, who is the General Secretary of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the economic rescue.

They commended federal government on the bailout respite package designed to clear backlog of salaries, adding that it has brought to the forefront of the government, serious concern for the predicament of the Nigerian workers.

Kiri said the root of the lingering crisis of unpaid workers’ salaries that cut across most states and local governments in the country must be considered as the worst omen that has happened in the country in the past few years and spoke well of

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

11

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dailypost property MEGA HARVEST PROPERTIES LTD PROPERTY CONSULTANT (BUYING, SELLING & MORTGAGES) B28, LANDMARK PLAZA, 1 YEDSTERAM STREET, OFF IBB WAY, MAITAMA, ABUJA TEL: 08034095495. 08053780924 E-MAIL: MEGAHARVEST_GODALONE@GMAIL.COM ABUJA PROPERTY S/N LOCATION

PLOT NO.

SIZE

PURPOSE

PRICE

1.

Maitama

1.3hectares

Shopping mall

$35m

2.

Gwarinpa

28 hectares (C of O)

Mass housing

N2 Billion

3.

Kyami

10 hectares (offer)

Mass housing

N400m

4.

Central Area

2,780 sqm (C of O)

Multifunction

N250 m

5.

Wuse 2

1,500sqm (C of O)

Commercial

N300m

6.

Area 1

2,476sqm (C of O)

Commercial

N150m

7.

Maitama Aliero

3,467sqm (offer)

Residential

N250m

8.

Katampe

2,900sqm (C of O)

Residential

N100m

9.

Maitama Aliero

7,700sqm (offer)

Commercial

N350m

10.

Apo

7,755sqm (offer)

Commercial

N250m

11.

Guzape

2,600sqm (C of O)

Residential

N80m

12.

Guzape

1,500sqm (C of O)

Residential

N60m

13.

Guzape

1,700sqm (C of O)

Residential

N65m

14.

Dakibiyu

3,940sqm (offer)

N30m

15.

Dutse (Apo)

2,283sqm (offer)

N25m

16.

Dape

3,320sqm (offer)

N20m

17.

Karmo

1,126sqm (offer)

N15m

18.

Kukwaba

1.18 hectare (offer )

N250m

19

Jabi

1,350sqm (C of O)

N150m

20.

Kurudu (directly at the Express

800sqm

N2m

21.

Guzape

2,800sqm (offer)

22.

Kuje

1 hectare

Residential

N200m N50m

KACHI OKPARA & CO. Property Bulletin

Properties for Sale about 1500sqm (buildable).

ASOKORO DISTRICT/KARU DISTRICT/ NYANYA-MARARABA/JIKWOYE,GUZAPE Price: N75m Asking 8. Location: Guzape Gilmor.

1. Location: Asokoro Description: 5bedroom duplex with Description: A residential plot of land 1room B.Q on 2floors. measuring about 2000sqm.

Price: N220m Asking Price: N130m.

Title: C of O. 2. Location: Asokoro District

Description: A 6 bedroom mansion with 9. Location: Guzape District service quarters guest charlet and swimDescription: A residential plot measuring ming pool on large space of land. about 1,350sqm with building approval for Price: N480m Asking.

8units of 3bedroom flat.

3. Location: Karu District Price: 90million Asking Description: A unit of 3bedroom bunga10. Location: Nyanya-Mararaba Express low. way Price: N10m Asking.

Description: A commercial plot measuring 4. Location: Daniels Court Karu (Behind about 2000sqm (Good for filling Station or CBN Quarters Karu) Mall).

Description: Tastefully finished 3bedPrice: 85million Asking. room semi detached bungalow with 11. Location: FHA Karu Swimming pool, gym house, playground, Description: A residential plot of land in standby generator etc.

Karu measuring about 1000sqm.

Price: N15m per unit.

Price: 4.5million Asking 5. Location: Karu Site 12. Location: Guzape District Description: A tastefully finished 5bedDescription: A residential plot measuring room detached house with 2rooms service about 1300sqm (Offer). quarters.

Price: 30million Asking.

Price: N50m.

14. Location: Plot 4813, Guzape District 6. Location: Jikwoyi District.

Description: A residential plot measuring Description: A residential plot measuring about 800sqm (Offer). about 2100sqm within builtup neigbourPrice: N25million Asking. hood.

14. Location: Plot 4798, Guzape District Price: N10m Asking Description: A residential plot measuring 7. Location: Guzape District. about 1120sqm.

Description: A residential plot measuring Please for physical inspection contact: TONY: 08035927055 MONDAY: 08069449485

www.dailpost.ng/property

FOR SALE 1. 5 Bedroom Duplex with 2 Bedroom Guest Challet and 2 Rooms BQ at Asokoro off T.Y Danjuma @ N400m 2. 5 Bedroom Duplex with 2 Bedroom Guest Challet and 2 Rooms BQ at Asokoro off Justice Sowemimo @ N300m 3. 18 Unit of self Contain & 5 units of 1 Bedroom flat at Area 1 @ N280m LAGOS PROPERTY 1. 3 Nos 3 Bedroom Flat at Sango toll gate @ N20m TO LET 1. 1 bedroom self contain with 2 toilets (FHA Lugbe)@ N400,000 2. Self contain at Area 1 @ N500,000 3. Self contain at Area 1 @ N400,000 4. 1 bedroom self contain with 2 toilets (FHA Lugbe)@ N500,000 5. 1 bedroom self contain with 2 toilets (FHA Lugbe)@ N600,000 6. 2 bedroom flat (FHA Lugbe) @ N650,000 7. 2 bedroom flat (FHA Lugbe)@ N700,000 8. 2 bedroom flat (FHA Lugbe)@ N850,00 9. 1 room self contain (Galadimawa) @ N300,000 10. 1 room self contain (Galadimawa) @ N500,000 11. 1 room (Galadimawa) @ N150,000 12. 1 Room BQ (Prince and Princes) @ N350,000 13. 2 Room BQ (Prince and Princes) @ N600,000

BAMO PROPERTY NIGERIA LIMITED (PROPERTY LIST) Houses For Sale.

Location: Sunnyvalle Estate Apo Lokogoma Description: 3 Bedroom Bungalow Price: 20 Million Location: Rau’s Court Behind Apo Legislative Quarters Apo Description: 4 Bedroom Terrace Duplex With A Room BQ and Generator Price: 120 Million.

Location: Gold Court Estate Jahi/ Mabushi Description: Fully furnished 4 bedroom Terrace Duplex with one room BQ, A.C. and Generator Set. Price: 58 Million Location: Army Post Service Homes Kurudu Description: 3 Bedroom Bungalow with Furnitures and Interlocked Compound Price: 11Million Location: Wuse Zone 4 Description: Well Built 5 Bedroom Duplex In A Serene Environment Price: 180 Million Location: Urban Shelter Estate Kubwa Description: 1 Bedroom Flat Price: 5.5 Million Instalmental payment.

Location: Gwarimpa Description: 3 Bedroom Flat Price: 22 Million

Lands For Sale

Description: 2061Sqm fenced residential C of O Land Price: 50 Million.

Location: Bwari behind Law School Description: 500Sqm C Of Oresidential Estate Land Price: N800, 000 Location: Army Post Service Homes Kurudu Description: 2 Hectares of FCDA (R of O) Land Price: 8 Million Location: Jabi /Dakibiyyu Description: 2 Hectares of Land C of O with approved building plan Price: 350 Million Location: Guzape Description: 1561Sqm Residential C of O Land Price: 75 Million

Shops/Office Space

Location: Hatlab Place Wuse Zone 5 Description: Office space to let Price: N35, 000 Per Sqm Location: Ultra Modern Market (Garki & Mabushi) Description: Shops /Office Space to let Price: 10Sqm -4.5 Million (Mabushi) 6Million (Garki).

Location: Kado By Bua Estate

To advertise in the daily post property, call 0816746784, or email advert@dailypost.ng

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FOR SALE in Lagos

privateproperty .ng

Ikeja G.R.A

Lekki Phase Phase 12 Lekki

Ikoyi

Banana Island

Ikoyi

N 250,000,000

ref: S548703 A well finished 5 bedroom detached house in Ikeja G.R.A For Sale.

N 170,500,000

N 180,000,000

ref: S548947 A Newly Built 3 Bedroom Terrace House with all rooms en-suite For Sale at Old Ikoyi, Ikoyi, Lagos.

N 150,000,000

ref: S534117 A Newly Built 4 Bedroom Town House with all rooms en-suite For Sale at Parkview Estate, Lagos.

N 200,000,000

Hcn Properties Nig. Ltd. Call: 0802266151

Forte Properties Ltd. Call: 08033061732

Ifeanyi Igwebike Call: 08058700802

Ifeanyi Igwebike Call: 08058700802

Ifeanyi Igwebike Call: 08058700802

Lekki Expressway

Lekki Expressway

Lekki Expressway

Lekki Expressway

Agungi | Osapa

N 150,000,000

ref: S549774 An Exquisitely finished 5 Bedroom Detached house For Sale at VGC, Off Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos.

N 145,000,000 ref: S549775 An Exquisitely finished 5 Bedroom Detached house For Sale at VGC, Off Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos.

N 140,000,000

ref: S549776 An Exquisitely finished Block of 4 Number of 3 Bedroom Flats each For Sale at VGC, Lekki Exp, Lagos.

N 65,000,000

ref: S549778 3 Bedroom Flat (Serviced) to let at Pearly Gate Estate, Ikota - Lekki, 5minutes walk from V.G.C, Lagos.

N 65,000,000

Pavilion Trust Ltd. Call: 08034019564

Pavilion Trust Ltd. Call: 08034019564

Pavilion Trust Ltd. Call: 08034019564

Joe V. Properties Ltd Call: 08036706002

Joe V. Properties Ltd Call: 08036706002

Lekki Expressway

Lekki Expressway

Lekki Expressway

Lekki Expressway

Ikota, Igbo Efon, Abijo

N 55,000,000

ref: S545750 A Newly Built 5 Bedroom Detached Terrace House For sale at Heritage Estate, Lekki Exp, Lagos.

N 45,000,000

ref: S545749 A Newly Built 5 Bedroom Semi Detached House For sale at Heritage Estate, Lekki Exp, Lagos.

N 62,000,000

ref: S545747 A 5 Bedroom Fully Detached House with a 2 Room B/Q For Sale at Emerald Estate, Lekki Phase 2.

N 40,000,000

ref: S549294 2 Number of 4 Bedroom Luxurious Flats with a B/Q For Sale at Lekki Expressway, Lagos.

N 130,000,000

Stone Touch Properties Call: 08023129706

Stone Touch Properties Call: 08023129706

Stone Touch Properties Call: 08023129706

Blissmart Limited Call: 08186078801

Blissmart Limited Call: 08186078801

Lekki Expressway Caroline Estate, Ogidan

Lekki Lekki Expressway Phase 1

Expressway Lekki Phase 1

Banana Island

Maryland, Mende

N 50,000,000

ref: S549717 A Newly Built and well finished 5 Bedroom Fully Detached House For Sale at Ikota Villa, Lekki Exp, Lagos.

N 50,000,000 ref: S549354 A Newly Built 4 Bedroom Semi Detached Duplex For Sale at Atlantic View Estate Lekki, Lagos.

N 55,000,000

ref: S535241 A Newly Built 4 Bedroom Semi Detached House For Sale at Atlantic View Estate Lekki, Lagos.

N 700,000,000

ref: S549917 A Block of 6 Number of well finished 3 Bedroom Flats For Sale at Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos.

N 140,000,000

Oxford Gardens Call: 08137647109

Datikomisha Nig. Ltd. Call: 08037152904

Datikomisha Nig. Ltd. Call: 08037152904

Joe V. Properties Ltd Call: 08036706002

Ochuko Ochuko & Associates Call: 08023584351

ref: S549001 A 5 Bedroom Detached House with a 2 Bedroom Guest Chalet For Sale at Lekki Phase 1, Lekki, Lagos.

ref: S534112 A Newly almost completed 4 Bedroom Town House with all rooms en-suite For Sale at Ikoyi, Lagos.

ref: S549788 2 Units of Newly Built 5 Bedroom Duplexes For Sale at Agungi, Off Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lekki, Lagos.

ref: S549292 A Block of 4 Number of 3 Bedroom flats with all rooms en-suite For Sale at Igbo-Efon, Off Lekki Exp, Lagos.

ref: S550080 4 Newly Built 5 Bedroom Fully Detached Houses For Sale at Okupe Estate, Maryland, Lagos.

For more information on any of these properties, simply search on the website by using the reference number.

Visit www.dailypost.ng/property or www.privateproperty.ng to find more properties!

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TO LET in Lagos Maryland

Maryland

Okota

Ago-Palace

Isolo

ref: rr548808 N 3,500,000 Brand new 4 bedroom duplex with a room BQ all rooms ensuite to let at Maryland, Lagos Hcn Properties Nig. Ltd. Call: 08022266151

ref: rr548553 N 2,500,000 An Executive 4 bedroom terrace duplex with a room BQ to let at Arowojobe Est, Maryland, Lagos.

Hcn Properties Nig. Ltd. Call: 08022266151

N 600,000

ref: rr544723 A Well Tiled 3 Bedroom Flat with all rooms en-suite to let at Okota, Isolo, Lagos

N 750,000,000

ref: rr544725 A Well Tiled 3 Bedroom Flat with all rooms en-suite to let at Okota, Isolo, Lagos.

N 500,000

Holmes Viu Properties Call: 08033054770

Holmes Viu Properties Call: 08033054770

Holmes Viu Properties Call: 08033054770

Isolo

Okota

Okota, Isolo

Okota, Isolo, Cele

N 700,000

ref: rr544717 A Well tiled 3 Bedroom Flat to let at at Abba Street, Trinity Estate, Okota, Isolo, Lagos.

N 700,000

ref: rr544715 A 2 Bedroom Flat with all rooms ensuite to let at Trinity Estate, Okota, Isolo, Lagos.

ref: rr544712 N 500,000 A 3 Bedroom Flat with all rooms ensuite to let at Alhaji Agbeke Street, Okota, Isolo, Lagos.

N 900,000

N 500,000

Holmes Viu Properties Call: 08033054770

Holmes Viu Properties Call: 08033054770

Holmes Viu Properties Call: 08033054770

Holmes Viu Properties Call: 08033054770

A 3 Bedroom Flat with all rooms ensuite to let at 14, Awka Etiti Street, Off Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.

Holmes Viu Properties Call: 08033054770

Ogba, Omole, Ojodu

Lekki Expressway

Lekki Expressway

Lekki Expressway

Ikate Elegushi

N 2,500,000

ref: rr544571 A Newly Built 5 Bedroom Detached House with a B/Q to let at Magodo G.R.A Phase 1 Estate, Isheri, Lagos.

N 4,000,000

N 3,500,000

N 2,500,000

ref: rr530263 A 5 Bedroom Fully Detached Duplex to let at Lekki Expressway, Lekki-Ajah, Lagos.

N 4,000,000

Thy Grace Divine Properties

Call: 08023145328

Rochester Homes & Properties Call: 0900322510

Rochester Homes & Properties Call: 0900322510

Rochester Homes & Properties Call: 0900322510

Rochester Homes & Properties Call: 0900322510

Banana Island

Ikoyi

V.I Annex Oniru

Magodo

Magodo

N 10,000,000

ref: rr549920 A Newly Built and Serviced 5 Bedroom Town House to let at Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos.

N 6,000,000

ref: rr549925 A Block of Newly Built 8 Units of 3 Bedroom well finished to let at Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

N 7,000,000

N 850,000

N 2,000,000

Joe V. Properties Ltd

Joe V. Properties Ltd

Call: 08036706002

Call: 08036706002

Jubel Properties & Homes Call: 08033203794

Thy Grace Divine Properties Call: 08032487979

Thy Grace Divine Properties Call: 08032487979

ref: rr543494 A Newly Built 5 Bedroom Terraced Detached Duplex to let at Chevy View Estate, Lekki, Lagos.

ref: rr543493 A Newly Built 4 Bedroom Semi Detached House to let at Chevy View Estate, Off Chevron Drive,

ref: rr548778 An ultra modern newly built 4 bedrooms to let at Oniru, Victoria Island Extension, Lagos.

ref: rr544708 A Modern Up to date State of the art building 3 Bedroom Flats to let at Okota, Isolo, Lagos.

ref: rr557219 A 3 Bedroom Flat with all rooms ensuite, Tiled floors to let at Magodo G.R.A Phase 1 Estate, Isheri, Lagos.

ref: rr544719 A 3 Bedroom Flat with all rooms en-suite to let at Hakeem Dosumu Street, Okota, Isolo, Lagos.

Okota, Ago Palace

ref: rr544705

ref: rr530245 A Newly Built 4 Bedroom Duplex with all rooms en-suite to let at Ikate-Elegushi, Lekki, Lagos.

ref: rr557218 A 4 Bedroom Duplex with a Room B/Q, to let at Magodo G.R.A Phase 1 Estate, Isheri, Lagos.

For more information on any of these properties, simply search on the website by using the reference number.

Visit www.dailypost.ng/property or www.privateproperty.ng to find more properties!

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Suit 4, first floor, Standard Plaza, Plot 1248, Kutsi close, off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

07032259691, 08075752220, 08095886632, 08095886468 E-Mail: elijahogunsanya@yahoo.com Website: www.elijahogunsanya.com

HEAD OFFICE: Suit 4, Plot 1248, Standard Plaza, No. 2, Kutsi Close, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.

ASOKORO OFFICE: Ground Floor, J-Plus Plaza, Jimmy Carter Street, Asokoro Abuja KUBWA OFFICE: Shop 8 Sultan Dasunki Road, Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Kubwa Abuja.

KEFFI OFFICE: Shop C307, AGY Plaza, Opposite Keffi Motor Park, Abubakar Burga Road, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

PROPERTIES FOR SALE GADUWA Description: Three (3) units of 3 bedroom terraced duplex Location: Adamawa court, Gaduwa Estate Price: N33m each LUGBE Description: Two (2) units of 3 bedroom flat Location: Philkruz Estate Price: N15m each ASOKORO Description: Twin Six (6) bedroom duplex Location: Asokoro Price: N700 million UTAKO Description: 131 Rooms functional Hotel apartment sitting on a plot of about 6000sqm Title: C of O Location: Utako Price: N5 Billion Asking GUZAPE BY ASOKORO EXTENSION ABUJA Description: 5 units of 5 bedroom terraces all room-ensuit, granite finished, secured & serene environment.

Location: Guzape by Asokoro Extension Abuja Price: N1.8 Billion.

Land seize: N4000sqm (C of O) FEAUTURES: • Swimming pool of 12 by 18sqm • Ample parking space for minimum of 50 cars • Fitted Kitchens • Serene Green Garden Areas • Fitted Air conditioners in all areas • Standby 150k VA Generator and water treatment plant

GUZAPE BY ASOKORO EXTENSION ABUJA Description: 3 units of 5 bedrooms terraces all rooms ensuite, marble finished secured & serene environment

Description: Three (3) units of five (5) bedroom terraced service duplex with Two (2) flat quest chalet and a room BQ each Location: Jabi Price: 650million

Location: Guzape by Asokoro Extension Abuja Price: N900 Million Land Seize: 1,450sqm (C of O) FEAUTURES: • Swimming pool • Ample parking space • Secure & Serene • Fitted Kitchens • Standby Generator • Fitted Air conditioners in all areas • water treatment plant WUSE ZONE l Description: 4 bedroom bungalow Location: Wuse zone I Price: N75 Million Land seize: 700sqm

• Fitted Kitchens • Fitted Air conditioners in all areas • Standby Generator • Water treatment plant

WUSE ZONE 7 Description: 3 bedroom flat, high rising building, first floor Location: Wuse zone 7 Price: N30 Million UTAKO DISTRICT ABUJA Description: 5 units of 5 bedroom terraces all rooms ensuite Location: Utako District Abuja Price: N750 Million Land seize: 1,350sqm (C of O) FEAUTURES: • Granite finished • Secure & Serene environment • Ample parking space • Fitted Kitchens • Standby Generator • Fitted Air conditioners in all areas • Water treatment plant

KADO Description: An uncompleted (4) four Bedroom Fully Detached Duplex with swimming pool.

Location: Kado Price: N180 million asking

ASOKORO Description: Eight (8) units of three (3) bedroom flat + BQ each Location: Asokoro Price: N600 million FEAUTURES: • Swimming pool • Ample parking space • Secure & Serene • Fitted Kitchens • Standby Generator • Fitted Air conditioners in all areas • water treatment plant

APO Description: Eight (8) units of Six (6) bedroom detached duplex with BQ Location: Behind legislative quarter zone D Apo Price: N180 million/unit

GUZAPE BY ASOKORO EXTENSION ABUJA Description: 6 units of 4 bedroom terraces all rooms ensuite Location: Guzape by Asokoro Extension Abuja Price: N1.2 Billion Land seize: 1,500sqm (C of O) FEAUTURES: • Granite finished • Secure & Serene environment • Ample parking space

Description: 3 units of 5 bedrooms terraces all rooms ensuite, marble finished secured & serene environment Location: Guzape by Asokoro Extension Abuja Price: N900 Million Land Seize: 1,450sqm (C of O)

JABI Description: Three (3) unit of 5 bedroom terraced service duplex with Two (2) bedroom flat guest chalet and a room B/Q each Location: Jabi Price: N650 million APO Description: Four (4) units of four (4) bedroom terrace duplex Location: Behind Apo Legislative Quarters Price: N350 million

MARARABA Description: A functional shopping complex comprising 30 units of shops Location: Adjacent Ecobank, Mararaba,

Description: 5 units of 5 bedroom terraces all room-ensuit, granite finished, secured & serene environment.

Location: Guzape by Asokoro Extension Abuja Price: N1.8 Billion.

Land seize: N4000sqm (C of O)

along Keffi-Abuja express road.

Price: N150 million

GOLDIE SPRING ESTATE LOKOGOMA Description: Four (4) bedroom detached duplex + Two (2) rooms BQ Location: Goldie Spring Estate Lokogoma Price: N100 million Net

SHELTER VIEW ESTATE LOKOGOMA Description: Four (4) bedroom detached duplex + 2 rooms BQ Location: Shelter view Estate Lokogoma Price: N100 million Net ARMY SCHEME KUBWA Description: Four (4) bedroom bungalow with 1 bedroom flat guest chalet and 1 bedroom flat BQ with large compound and security post Location: Post Army Scheme, Kubwa Price: N50 million Net KARSANA Description: Three (3) bedroom Terraced duplex Location: Karsana Price: N25 million AREA 11 Description: Two (2) bedroom flat Location: Area 11 (Government House) Price: N25 million asking DAKIBIYU Description: Three (3) bedroom flat + A room BQ Location: Dakibiyu Price: N22 million LOKOJA- KABBA JUNCTION EXPRESS WAY Description: Three (3) Bedroom Bungalow with 4-number shops Location: Lokoja- Kabba Junction Express Way, just before the entrance to Lokoja Price: N15 Million

Description: 5 units of 5 bedroom terraces all rooms ensuite Location: Utako District Abuja Price: N750 Million Land seize: 1,350sqm (C of O)

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

dailypost.ng

feature

15

Senate Summon: Nwaobia’s refusal, evidence of ‘Buhari/Saraki rift’?

By Sylvester Ugwuanyi

N

igerians may have started witnessing the fallout of the widely-talked-about “cold war” between President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President, Bukola Saraki following last weekend’s allegation by some senators loyal to Saraki that the Presidency was instigating the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastacia Nwaobia to denigrate the office of the Senate President.

The numbers one and three citizens, who are both of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are reported not to have been in talking terms since the later spurned their party’s directive on who to lead the National Assembly by allegedly aligning with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senators to clinch leadership while Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP emerged Deputy President of the Senate. Consequently, Buhari is also said to have resisted all moves by the former Kwara State governor to meet with him.

While this appeared to be the extant mode of relationship between the two leaders, the top civil servant consequently “rubbished” the Senate President’s office by refusing to honour an invitation by the upper legislative chamber to brief it on the true state of the nation’s economy. Section 67(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) accords the National Assembly the right to summon before it or its committee whoever she wants.

Although Nwaobia unambiguously gave her reason for not showing up, the Saraki loyalists in the Senate are running with the perception that her failure to appear before the Senate’s committee was essentially inspired

by President Buhari’s disposition towards Saraki and the Senate leadership. They warned that, “the nation’s democracy will be in danger if the President continues to encourage the undermining of the people’s elected representatives.”

What really happened?

The Senate ad hoc committee on Finance, had in a letter dated June 29, 2015, invited Mrs Nwaobia and some officials of the Finance Ministry to appear before the committee on July 8.

They however failed to show up for the meeting slated for 11am having forwarded a text message to the committee earlier that they will not be honouring the invitation because the Permanent Secretary is yet to get the approval of her supervisors to do so. The immediate supervisor of a permanent secretary is the Head of Service of the Federation who is answerable to the President.

Buhari

Having made good what they disclosed in the SMS by not coming for the invitation, the Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa restated the invitation the same day in a letter that was copied to the Head of Service of the Federation. Maikasuwa in that the letter noted that, “I refer to our letter Ref. No. NASS/S// SP/ COS/CORRP/15/1/06 of June 29, 2015 on the above subject matter and your text message of July 7, 2015 to the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, signifying your inability to honour the invitation.

“Your action is a deliberate violation of the provisions of Section 67(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended).

“You are, therefore, requested to appear before the Senate leadership as contained in your aforementioned letter on Wednesday July 8, 2015 at 2.00pm prompt.”

Still on her failure to appear before the Senate Committee, the Permanent Secretary received another letter, this time from the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Issa Galaudu, who stressed the importance of her coming for the meeting.

According to him, “Please note that your text message of yesterday, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, which I received by hours of 20:02 pm, suggesting that you would not make today’s meeting, is unacceptable.

“This is an affront to the President of the Senate and its leadership. The provision of Section 67(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), is very clear and unambiguous in this regard.

Hence, you do not need the permission of any official before you attend or appear before the Senate.

“Consequently, I have the instructions of the President of the Senate and leadership that you

Saraki

do appear before them on the date and time earlier communicated to you, Wednesday, July 8, 2015 by 11am prompt. It is my belief that you will comply unconditionally.”

As at the time of writing, the top civil servant is yet to appear before the Senate committee.

She may not be the first person to have declined appearing before the nation’s parliament.

The immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke is reputed to have repeatedly failed to appear before the House of Representatives’ committee.

The only difference however being that her excuses for not appearing before the lawmakers was never associated with her iability to get clearance from a higher authority.

treaties to get both the Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, and the Special Adviser to the Senate President Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, to comment on the matter were unsuccessful as they preferred to keep sealed lips.

Meanwhile, this apparent manifestation of clash between the Presidency and the Senate leadership found expression in a statement issued by Senator Ahmed Lawan’s supporters in the Senate, who under the aegis of the Senate Unity Forum, supported Nwaobia’s shunning of the Senate invitation. Senator Lawan is the anointed candidate of Buhari’s APC leadership for the position of Senate President, later Senate Leader, which was purportedly subverted by the Saraki group.

The Forum, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Senator Kabir Marafa, on Sunday, claimed that since Saraki had allegedly violated some sections of the Constitution to emerge as senate president, he could not accuse another person of committing the same offence.

According to the senator , “I read with open mouth amazement, the letter written by both the Chief of Staff to the Senate President and that of the Clerk to the National Assembly on the refusal or inability of a government functionary to honour the invitation of the “leadership” of the senate.

“They were saying the refusal violates section 67(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Can somebody please tell them that they are guilty of similar, if not higher offence?

“They, in fact, not only violated the Constitution to ascend

“Although Nwaobia unambiguously gave her reason for not showing up, the Saraki loyalists in the Senate are running with the per-

ception that her failure to appear before the Senate’s committee was essentially inspired by President Buhari’s disposition towards Saraki and the Senate leadership”

The Buhari/Saraki angle A critical look at the foregoing begs how the failure of a permanent secretary to appear before a Senate committee can be successfully tied to the supposed fight between Buhari and Saraki. But then, experts argue that the excuse given by the bureaucrat points to the President as her superior. Again, they contend that Galaudu’s assertion in his letter that “This is an affront to the President of the Senate and its leadership” solidifies the perception that “it is a Presidency verses Saraki thing”.

Interestingly, however, all en-

to the Senate leadership, they murdered it.”

Marafa alleged that the leadership and management of the National Assembly, “murdered section 60 of the Constitution that gives the Senate, and not any individual or group of persons, the powers to conduct the business of the Senate on the 9th of June 2015 using the forged document” He also alleged that the Saraki group violated section 65 (2b) of the Constitution that “recognises the supremacy of the political party in favour of the unmentioned, unrecognised and unknown zonal caucuses.”

He alleged that Saraki violated Order 3(2) of the Senate standing order 2011, as amended, which he said put ranking above all other considerations in nominating senators to serve as presiding or principal officers of the Senate and its committees.

Marafa added that Saraki’s decision to announce Senators Ali Ndume and Bala Na’ Allah as senate leader and deputy leader respectively flouted the rule of ranking because Senators Ahmed Lawan and Bukar Abba Ibrahim, who were nominated by the party for the positions, were seniors to Ndume and Na’Allah.

He said, “The presiding officer did not hit the gavel after announcing the names of the Senate leader and his deputy, this is required to give the announcement legislative authority.

“From the foregoing it is clear that the leadership and indeed the Senate itself are not properly and legally constituted.”

‘There is no rift between Buhari and Saraki’ Despite the apparent raging disenchantment between the Buhari and the Saraki camp, the Senator, representing Bauchi South at the National Assembly, Senator Ali Wakili, on Monday insisted that there was no cold war between the President and the Senate President.

Speaking while addressing a press conference in Bauchi on Monday, he asserted that such reports in the media were merely meant to create “bad blood” between the President and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

In Wakili’s words: “I am getting sick of how some people are trying to destabilise the nation through false propaganda by creating bad blood between the National Assembly and the President.

“As one of the Senators that supported the Senate President, I know for sure that neither Saraki nor any supporter of Saraki has the idea of fighting the Presidency.

“We are sick and tired because our names are being dragged into the mud. Our constituents are asking us questions why we are quarreling with Mr President? We have taken our time to explain that there is no quarrel between Mr President and the Senate.”

Apparently referring to the permanent secretary’s spurning of the Senate Committee, the lawmaker posited: “If you go into the Constitution on the issue of oversight function, you will discover that the National Assembly has oversight function on all government activities. That will not warrant that there is going to be a clash between the National Assembly and the Presidency, especially under President Muhammadu Buhari”.

16 interview

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

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Buhari’s administration not yet convincing – APGA Spokesman The newly elected national publicity secretary of APGA, Chief Ivy Ifeatu Obi Okoye in this interview with DAILY POST’s Emmanuel Uzodinma, gives insight into his reasons for dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after serving as the State Chairman of the PDP in Anambra State.

Taunting PDP as not fit for opposition role, he unveils his vision for APGA, predicting a bright future for the party. He also speaks on the current APC leadership in the country, saying that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to convince him that it can deliver on its promises. Excerpts:

Y

ou were a State Chairman of the PDP, so, why did you leave the party for APGA? I left the PDP before the governorship election in 2013 and it was an open issue because I was welcomed into APGA alongside some state officers of the PDP as well as local government chairmen of the PDP who worked under me at a rally held inside Ekwueme’s Park in Awka, the Anambra State capital. It was a big ceremony and my joy today is that in my series of press interviews, I predicted the doom that was coming down on PDP which eventually manifested during the 2015 general election when the PDP lost the presidential election to the All Progressives Congress APC. Considering my track records and what I have contributed in building the PDP, I was worried with what was going on in the party. And I started asking this question; how long should we continue to exist under impunity with total lack of internal democracy and at a point, I said to myself, this is the time for me to quit and did I just that and I am happy that my prophesy of dooms day for the PDP has come to fulfillment.

Since I joined APGA, I have been steadfast in participating in the affairs of the party, bringing in my experience to bear in contributing to the growth of the party and I believe my steadfastness to the party, led to my victory as the national publicity secretary of the party during the convention at Awka.

How do you look at the future of APGA? There is predictions in some quarters that Governor Willie Obaino, the national leader of the party is likely to join APC because he cannot be alone, he cannot be like orphan as the only governor in a political party, and if he leaves, that will spell doom for APGA. How do you look at that?

In Nigeria today, we have three major political parties namely; the APC, PDP and APGA. The PDP ruled the country for good sixteen years and was rejected at the polls during the last election. The attitude of Nigerians on the PDP clearly shows that the people have rejected it. Nigerians are no more interested in PDP. From what happened in some states during the inauguration of incoming governors where the outgoing PDP governors were booed and even stoned, it is clear as noon that Nigerians have discarded PDP. For instances, in Niger state, former governor Babangida Aliyu was booed and stoned, in the Benue Suswan ran away completely and was nowhere to be found in the state, in Adamwa, the same thing happened; so under these circumstances, it is obvious that the PDP cannot critically play the opposition role against APC. The role conspicuously falls on

APGA. And we are ready to play it critically and constructively. And in that case we are expected to provide a credible alternative political platform for Nigerians. And I believe that we are equal to the task. This is the future of APGA. On the issue of Governor Obiano being alone like an orphan as the only governor in APGA, I can tell you that the case of Anambra has always been a peculiar one. This is not the first time he is alone on the issue of political party. During the dispensation of National Republican Convention,NRC, and Social Democratic Party, SPD, other states in the southeast had their governors elected under the platform of NRC, but Anambra elected Ezeife as governor under SDP. Again, during the era of Governor Peter Obi, he was the only governor in a different political party and Anambra was isolated as the case appeared to be. That is politics and the peculiar situation did not affect good governance in the state. I believe that APGA is going to use Anambra to showcase what the party could be able to do at the highest level if given the opportunity.

As I know, governor Obiano is equal to the task considering what he is doing already. He does not feel isolated and he is focused to deliver on the mandate given to him by the good people of Anambra state. I’m sure that a lot of people do not know about some booby traps set for him by his predecessor and incidentally, he has been able to manage that situation very well.

For example, Obiano inherited over 5000 workers employed by his predecessor a month before his exit. He also inherited elected local government administration also put in place by his predecessor a month before his exit. Again, less than one month to his exit, the former governor massively awarded contracts. For eight years, no recruitment of workers, no local government election until one month to the end of his tenure and the amount of contracts he awarded two weeks before his exit is more than the contracts awarded in eight years.

To me, these are booby traps targeted at muzzling the incoming administration but thank God, the governor, Willie Maduburochukwu Obiano, Akpokuodike of Aguleri has competently managed the situation well. And you can see the massive development in Anambra state. Go to the Enugu Onitsha expressway and see what is going on there and more of such are ongoing in other parts of the state. The good people of Anambra state are happy and APGA as a political party is very proud him. What Obiano is doing in Ananmbra is what APGA would do in every part of the country if given the opportunity, I can assure you of that. I think the issue of being alone or join other party is neither his focus. His focus is to

“I would not

Okoye deliver and he is really doing that.

How would you react to the impression in some quarters that APGA is just an Igbo man’s party, not strong enough to face national challenge?

Every political party has its root where it originally germinated from. The Alliance for Democracy, AD started in the southwest.

Subsequently, it metamorphosed into Action Congress, AC, upward to Action Congress of Nigeria from which it merged with the All Nigeria People Party, ANPP and Congress for Progressive Change which on its own has a northern root. From there, they managed to formed a coalition of a mega political party that could win president election. APGA no doubt has its root from the southeast but that does not stop us from setting out the vision to be a well spread national political party and that is precisely what we have set out to achieve.

If you look at what happened during the last election, APGA fielded governorship candidate in many states as well as candidates for state and National Assembly seats and in places like Nassarawa, Abia, Bayelsa and Taraba, we put up a strong challenge to state Assembly seats.

The new national secretary of our party, Mr Labaran Maku who is former Minister of Information was the candidate to beat during the governorship election in Nassarawa state. That tells you that the party is spreading across the nation. Our vision now, is to rebrand and sustain the party and see it attaining the height of a strong national party. No doubt, it was midwifed from Igbo land but that should not stop the party from growing to the national level.

Something has to start somewhere.

Looking at the merger and coalition that gave birth to APC, would you buy into that kind of development for APGA towards achieving its goal; I mean APGA entering into merger with another party or parties so to say?

I would not want to go into that realm of speculation right now, because the vision now, like I said earlier is to sustain the party and see it grow to the top most level.

The issue of merger is an evolution and process which I cannot preempt or predetermine. The issue of merger is not in our offing now, our concern is to rebrand

want to go into that realm of speculation right now, because the vision now, like I said earlier is to sustain the party and see it grow to the top most level” APGA into a strong and legitimate voice and build it as a credible political platform for Nigerians. The evolution and process of merger is a matter of the future, it may come up, may by time, we would like to go into such. And we have to engage a well-organized party, not a party that lacks principle like the PDP. We would not associate rebranded and reinvigorated APGA with bad blood in PDP. Are you sure that the newly elected national leadership of the party is equal to task of achieving the set goal?

Yes, we are. First of all, let me point out that our predecessors under Chief Victor Umeh did wonderfully well and we have no options than to do better. When you inherit good performance, you face the task of doing better and I’m sure we are equal to the challenge. The new national chairman, Victor Ikechukwu is sound by all standards and well experienced administrative wise considering the fact that he has held various public offices in different capacities. He is well grounded with the kind of politics that APGA is set to champion now. And Maku, the Secretary is a one man riot squad who can go places. We all know his pedigree as a vibrant public servant.

We look at what he did with APGA in Nasarawa state. In less than two months to the election,he electrified Nasarawa with APGA. That is the kind of development we need to build the party on. We thank God that he was able to liberate himself from the shackles of the PDP to identify with APGA. Then my humble self, the image maker; I have been there in Anambra politics as the state chairman of the PDP with good degree of experience on the top

level politics and like I said earlier, I will do my best to make sure that the party is on the right track as a viable political platform. So, all in all, I am confident that the new leadership of the party is going to rebrand it and take it to the higher level where the party is supposed to be. I am very sure of that.

Over the years, APGA members in Lagos State in particular have continued to cry out over political oppression of election rigging by the APC led administration in that state.

They complain that their votes do not count in both state and federal elections and consequently they are losing confidence on the system. What plans would you map out to address this unfavorable situation in Lagos and restore the confidence of members of the party there?

Every legitimate member of our party should be encouraged to believe in the system and be confident enough to pursue his ambition using the platform of the party. We are going to look at the issues surrounding the party in Lagos and every other state across the country. However, I wouldn’t want to preempt issues because sometimes, if you want to do things in a hurry, you make mistakes. The new spirit of APGA must be trusted in the hands of credible people who can drive it with a good sense of responsibilities. And if that is done, APGA will spread from Lagos to Kano, Abuja to Sokoto, Kaduna to Akwa Ibom, Niger to Kogi, Rivers to Plateau and all states across the federation.

Let us move away from APGA and talk about the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. How do you look at Buhari’s government, do you think it will live up to expectations?

I think with the situation we find ourselves now, we should not give chance to rhetorics and too much time on consultations. I am surprised that two weeks (the time of this interview) after his inauguration, the new president is yet to appoint the Secretary to Government of the Federation.

He is yet to appoint the Attorney General of the Federation and other important appointments that will drive his administration.

The failure to make these critical appointments is not okay by me.

The other time, the president went to chad while his vice Osinbajo went to South Sudan, you find out that for good forty-eight hours, we had no government at the federal level and that is not what we expect. We thought that Buhari will hit the ground running from day one, but we did not see that. And as far as I’m concerned, his administration has failed to convince anybody from the outset.

I am surprised and embarrassed that upon all the noise that herald the inauguration, nothing has really happened. It is a sign that APC might not have the level of capacity we thought they will bring into governance.

The way the party lost out in the election of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Reps shows that there is no discipline in the party and when there is no discipline in a party, there cannot be discipline in the government that is controlled by the party. It is a problem and we are watching.

Good enough that Nigerians have improved in their level of political assessment and performance. If APC fails eventually, Nigeria will certainly speak against them in 2019 and then it could the time for APGA to shine. We are waiting in the wings of an Eagle.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

interview

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17

Osun workers need NEMA’s relief materials – Fadahunsi A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Francis Fadahunsi is a frank man any day, speaking his mind on broad spectrum of issues.

In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST,’s Timothy Enietan-Matthews, the retired Assistant Comptroller General of Customs bore his mind on the 2015 general elections, the perceived worsening condition of Osun State workers,snail speed of the Buhari presidency, National Assembly leadership and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

H

ow will you appraise the 2015 general elections?

The last general elections were generally peaceful, particularly the presidential and the National Assembly elections but unfortunately, we did not have up to 60% turnout of voters. It was a grave mistake on the part of the then government to have allowed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Atahiru Jega, to usecard readers for major elections for the first time.

We were shouting in the South West that he should use the House of Assembly as a test run and not the presidential election. It was also a consensus in the South that card readers will not work in the North because of the attempt to short-change the Southern part of the country generally because of the level of illiteracy and the war in the North East.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan did not agree with us until he was held for hours trying to get accredited with the card reader. For him to now tell the whole world that card readers should be discarded and incident forms should be used, the election was almost gone. So we had low electoral turnout in the South while in the North, you had all sorts of human beings, including the underage voting. People like us, who have traveled all over the country, knew it was time up for him. The election went as planned and it ended well.

Are you saying the election was manipulated?

Yes! It was manipulated to favour a particular group.

But why was it that the government that was in power could not do anything about it?

I was once with the former President and his wife and I once told him that with the way he was using presidential power, he will be the first President to be disgraced out of power if he did not manage it well and after that, he will go to prison. He is the first President I have seen that not negotiate his political exit. He did not put conditionalities at all and he did not negotiate his political exit. A northerner or anybody else would have done that. He has also forgotten that the people tak-

ing over from him are much more politically inclined.

Well, he has gone and prediction number one has come to pass and the second prediction is coming.

You can see all manner of allegations of corruption flying around.

Billions of dollars are alleged to have been stolen and President Muhammadu Buhari may just close his eyes and move against him. We all know he has disgust for corruption.

Agreed that he has disgust for corruption but what about the people that Nigerians say they don’t trust that are around him?

Well, when you talk about revolution, it can come in any form.

Revolutionary leadership can be thrown by all kinds of human beings. The important thing is that the person who was assisted by the same system people are complaining about is still the same person; it is still the same Buhari.

You can see that things are already happening in the polity with the way the Jagabans of this world were waved aside and Saraki came up. Before they knew what was happening and rush to the National Assembly, the election was already over. Even though they are powerful, they are not as powerful as God. Are you saying the emergence of Saraki and Dogara is good for the country?

Better! It is better because there is no single human being that will control the Senate and the House of Representatives against the executive. Tinubu nominated Lawan and Gbajabiamila and if he happens to have a problem with Buhari, he can just call on them to remove him but God said no.

There are people who say what happened in the National Assembly is wrong because Asiwaju Bola Tinubu played a major role in installing the present government…

He played a major role? Does he think the Federal Government is Lagos State Government or Ogun and the rest of the South West?

This is no regional government where his money plays enormous role, where people worship money. Where we have lost our integrity as Yoruba race, where we play into the hands of political

money bags.

The truth now is that with the power back in the North, except the North, with their assumed political majority willingly return power back to the South, it will never return. Chief Obafemi Awolowo tried it instead of limiting himself to the region and maintains political leadership, he died frustrated. Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe also went the same way.

The same thing happened to MKO Abiola. Only former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan succeeded with the backing of the North.

You contested in the last general election to represent Osun East at the Senate but lost; what happened?

There is little I can say about that election at the moment because we are at the tribunal. I do not want to jeopardise the case or be seen to be in contempt of the court but every sane person in Osun East knows what transpired.

There was nothing on ground for the APC in the senatorial election but because the governor had decided on what to do with INEC, we got what we got. But the truth is that the repercussion is there for the people to see. We have left everything to God and it is also in the court of the people. We are waiting for the judgment of the tribunal and we know justice will prevail.

Osun State workers have not received salaries for six months and you are one of the people that have donated food stuff to them; what is the motivation?

“Even if you say Aregbesola should resign today, the damage has already been done. Let him stay there and carry his cross.

Election is coming, if the people of Osun are all blind, let them vote for his party again”

Fadahunsi Number one, I am from Osun, a political leader in my own right and I am okay with what I have.

When we were telling Osun people to be careful with the government in the state, they thought we were blackmailing. I was singled out by the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his group, blackmailing and abusing me for more than five hours. He called me several names; I have the video clips.

He said I am not grounded Today we can all see what is happening.

Osun is a poor state no doubt, but a reasonable government would have taken advantage of the agrarian nature of the people and invest heavily in agriculture to promote prosperity and enhance its income. By now, Osun would have been one of the richest in the country. But because they met money, they thought it will keep flowing. Osun is today having problems because of misplaced priority and corruption.

Things are so terrible that he said they are beyond him.

Now, if a governor can come out to say the problem of the state is beyond him, and people asking him to resign; what do you think is the right thing for him to do?

I will not say he should resign because he said things are beyond him but I will rather appeal to the Federal government to give the states a general amnesty, even if it means giving them extra money.

If things are left the way they are, you can only imagine what will happen to the poor workers in the states. But then President Buhari must ask them what they did with the money they have been receiving.

Even if you say Aregbesola should resign today, the damage has already been done. Let him stay there and carry his cross.

Election is coming, if the people of Osun are all blind, let them vote for his party again.

When the governor took over, he met a monthly overhead cost of N1.8 billion and about 5000 people left the workforce either voluntarily or through sack. He has not employed more than 300 people since he took over, yet his monthly overhead cost has shot to over N4 billion monthly. Is that not administrative and establishment fraud.

The overhead should have gone down and not going up.

Senator Omisore recently said the state government is owing about N480 billion but the governor denied that; if the state is actually owing that much, how do you think it can survive?

The truth is that I see the state looking inwards. They have started labelling houses, including those that wind blew their roofs, for the purpose of generating revenue. The question is, will they pay? For me, the only way out of this will be for the federal government to bail them out.

President Buhari was sworn in almost a month ago but up till now, he has not made any major appointment; what do you think is happening?

I want Nigerians to know that President Buhari is not the same agile man they used to know; he is a 72 year old man. He is president today by the grace of God and it is also only God that will allow his health to sustain him to carry the problems of the entire nation. I would have wished he got this opportunity immediately he showed interest in 2003. But for now, we have to beg God to give him wisdom with the type of people surrounding him and with the type of society he is governing.

It is generally accepted that Buhari hates corruption, which is a major problem in our society. If Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. Corruption is a creation of human beings and they are still living with it. How do you kill it? You have to kill human beings! Democracy does not allow us to kill human beings, so you have to take it easy and reduce corruption.

It is advisable for him to take things easy before making sensitive appointments. Who is he going to appoint that has not being tarnished and tainted by corruption? Who will he appoint now that Nigerians will not say look at this person? Who do you want him to appoint as Chief of Staff? Is it Ameachi or Fashola?

Who will he appoint as NSA? Is it Danbazzua that is running after him everywhere? But he has to put somebody.

What is your message to the suffering Osun workers?

Well, Osun people should continue to pray that God will forgive the government in the state for misplacing their priority and for fake Lagos life. Aregbesola is from Lagos, he grew up in Lagos.

If he had been baptized with the poverty waters of Osun, he would have known the pains of the people before taking any decision. A good manager will first take care of the wages of workers so that their sweat will not dry off. Their sweats are dried and they are dying. They should pray for God to forgive him.

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metro

Cab driver in police net for allegedly raping female passenger in Abia

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he Abia State Police Command has arrested a 36-year-old taxi driver, John Madu, for allegedly raping a female passenger in Umuahia, the state capital.

The State Police spokesperson, Mr. Ezekiel Onyeke, said Madu took advantage of the 24-year-old female passenger, who was travelling from Lagos to Obehie, adding that she was the only passenger in the taxi.

Onyeke disclosed that the victim had boarded the commercial taxi in Aba upon arrival from Lagos and was traveling to Obehie, when the suspect sexually assaulted her.

The PPRO noted that the driver, midway into the journey, stopped at a lonely place claiming that his cab had run out of fuel along the Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, where the incident occurred despite the plea by the victim that she was a virgin.

Onyeke averred: “At a spot along the road, the driver pulled off the road, claiming that he ran out of fuel. The victim, who was not comfortable with the claims of the suspect, left the vehicle on the excuse that she wanted to ease herself.

“The driver, who suspected rightly that the victim wanted to escape, went after her and forcefully dragged the helpless victim back to the vehicle and raped her despite pleas from the victim that she be spared as she has vowed to keep her virginity till marriage.

“The suspect, who fell asleep after the act and did not know when the victim left the vehicle, was woken up by men of the Operation Safer Highway team on patrol of Obehie, who wanted to know what he was doing alone in the vehicle and on the deserted road at that hour of the night and he told the Police officers that he ran out of fuel.”

Onyeke said luck however ran out on Madu when the victim, who was hiding in a nearby bush, on sighting the police patrol team in the area came out and narrated her ordeal.

“The suspect was promptly arrested and handed over to the Police at Obehie,” he said.

The police spokesperson added that the victim was later taken to Cottage Hospital Owaza, for medical attention while Madu, who has confessed to the crime, will soon be charged to court.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

dailypost.ng

with

Seun Opejobi seun.opejobi@dailypost.ng

Beggars to sue Kaduna State Government over ban F

ollowing the ban on street begging by the Kaduna State Government, beggars in the State have threatened to take the state Government to court for alleged defamation of character and violation of their right to life.

A group of beggars, consisting of men, women and children and led by one Abdullahi Jugunu, stormed the Kaduna State Secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, to express their displeasure with the ban imposed on them. The group kicked against the ban on street begging and hawking.

Jugunu, while speaking on behalf of the beggars, ob- El-Rufai served that beggars ought to made. have been consulted before He said: “Apart from feelsuch a pronouncement is ing insulted, we will be

seeking legal redress against the government, first for defamation of character.

Gas explosion kills seven, injures two others in Jigawa

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bout seven persons were recently killed while two others sustained varied degrees of injuries after a wielding gas cylinder exploded in Ruba Village of Kafin Hausa Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

Confirming the incidence, the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Malam

Muhammad Gudado, in a statement in Dutse, said the explosion happened around 12:23pm on Sunday.

“Welding gas exploded in Ruba Village market, Kafinhausa Local Government, yesterday around 12:30pm, killing seven people and injuring two,” Gidado said.

The NSCDC noted that as a result of the explosion, the

welder’s two legs were seriously damaged.

Gudado stated that investigation into the explosion is on-going.

He said operatives of NSCDC in the area have handed over the corpses of the deceased to their various families for burial, adding that those injured have been taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Five persons feared dead while collecting zakat gift in Kaduna

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bout five persons were feared dead on Monday following a stampede that occurred during the collection of zakat gifts in Kaduna, Kaduna State.

Zakat is a charitable contribution expected to be given to the underprivileged by Muslims who are well-to-do.

DAILY POST gathered that scores fainted while waiting to receive zakat from a businessman in the state at Kabala Costain, in Kaduna North Local Government Area of the state.

The State Police Command’s

Lagos prophet dupes member of N5m

spokesperson, Abdullahi Zubairu, however denied the claim that five persons lost their lives during the stampede.

He said, “The command drafted its personnel to the venue, and they did not report any death at the venue of the Zakat.”

An eyewitness however said five persons lost their lives at the venue which was packed with both able bodied and physically-challenged persons, adding that the stampede occurred when the crowd became uncontrollable.

“It was after the stampede

A

woman, Ms Rita Okoro, has accused a prophet of defrauding her of the sum of N5, 000,000, under the guise of assisting her in securing the release of her brother, who has been in the custody of the Lagos State Police Command since January 17.

DAILY POST gathered that Ms Okoro and her sister, Ngozi, were members of the prophet’s church, until they discovered that he has been taking advantage of their situ-

that the police were invited to control the crowd to prevent further tragedy.”

A beneficiary, Bala Mohammed, stated that when they got to the venue, the physically disabled persons were told to queue separately, while the able-bodied women formed another queue.

He stated that the businessman, on arrival started giving out the zakat gifts, adding that the stampede occurred just when he started attending to the women with five persons feared dead.

ation to defraud them.

According to Okoro, they ran to the prophet for assistance following the arrest and indefinite detention of her brother by police operatives from the Special Anti -Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos, over claims of being an informant to a kidnapping gang and refusal by SARS operatives to either charge him to court or even allow anybody to see him.

Okoro noted that the prophet

“The ban, which came only after the Zaria blast, is a subtle way of calling us terrorists. Our right to life is now under threat because our existence is hinged on begging activities on the streets.

“We are giving the authorities three days to rescind their decision or risk being victims of a spell we would profess against them.

Our promise for now is that we will be returning to the streets for our normal business.”

It will be recalled that following the attack of a female suicide bomber in Zaria, that killed about 40 people, the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, banned street hawking and begging across the State.

Man pours acid on aged mother in Delta

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plumber in his 40s, Steve Nwani, has allegedly poured a liquid substance suspected to be concentrated acid on his aged mother in Ahima, Alisimie-Agbor, Ika South local government area of Delta State.

It was gathered from a family source that the plumber accused his mother of being responsible for his misfortunes in life.

Nwani was said to have been facing some challenges which he claimed was because of his mother.

Following the acid bath, the victim was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where she is said to be responding to treatment.

Nwani, was said to have gone into hiding on seeing that his aged mother survived the attack, prompting police officers from Agbor division to arrest his wife.

She is currently assisting the police in their investigation.

promised to help, stressing that he will make calls to a ‘top police officer’ at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Rita disclosed that the prophet then claimed to have travelled to Abuja from where he started demanding money for logistics.

She stressed that on several occasions; she had given money to the prophet and even paid some into his account, amounting to N5, 000,000.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Court grants alleged rapist N250, 000 bail A

n Ikeja Magistrates Court has granted one Atoku Odimegwu, 30, bail in the sum of N250, 000 for allegedly attempting to rape his friend’s wife.

Odimegwu, who resides at number 40, Ladejo Street, Ojodu Berger, was arraigned on a

Pharmacist remanded in prison for fraud

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n Ejigbo, Lagos Magistrate Court has remanded a 40-year-old pharmacist, Lazarus Akagbusi at the Kirikiri Prison for allegedly defrauding a company in the state.

DAILY POST gathered that Akagbusi, who allegedly claimed to be a superintendent pharmacist, collected about N500, 000 from a company, Rem. G Pharmaceutical Company, under the guise of obtaining license to manufacture drugs.

The suspect, instead of obtaining the license, diverted the money for his personal use.

Following this discovery, the company asked him to refund the money which he refused to do, saying there was no money.

The matter was reported to the police, who arrested him.

Confessing to the crime, Akagbusi told the police that he collected the money but could not procure the license for the company because he diverted the money for personal use.

He was arraigned on a two count charge of obtaining under false pretense and stealing.

When the charges were read, the accused pleaded not guilty and the presiding Magistrate, Mr. Peter Nwaka, granted him bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum but ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri pending when he meets up with his bail condition.

The case was adjourned the case to 27 July, 2015.

Policewoman arrested for killing husband in Delta

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one-count charge of attempted rape.

According to the prosecutor, Insp. Racheal Williams, while testifying before the court, said the accused, who works with a construction company, committed the offence on June 30.

The prosecutor told the court that on the day the incident occurred, the 37-year-old woman, who the accused tried to assault, went to the accused residence to collect the money he owed her husband.

It was gathered that on getting to the accused house, Odimegwu locked the door and told the woman that he wanted to have sex with her because he loves her.

“The woman, who said she could not believe what the husband’s friend wanted to do to her, begged him to allow her to go but the man was adamant and he forcefully pushed her to the ground.

“However, the attempt to rape the woman was un-

successful even though the accused tore her underwear, but she overpowered him,’’ William said.

William further stated that the offence contravened Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Odimegwu however pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, consequently granted the accused bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Elias also ordered the accused to pay N50,000 into the Chief Registrar’s account as part of the bail condition while he adjourned the case to August 19 for trial.

Motorcyclist stabs security man to death in Lagos T he police in Lagos have arrested a motorcyclist identified as Shehu Sanni, for allegedly stabbing a security man, Ibukun Oguntona, to death in the Okobaba, Oyingbo area of the state.

It was gathered that Sanni allegedly killed the security man when he was stopped at a checkpoint and questioned over his movement in the area.

The 38-year-old Oguntona was said to have been on a night duty on Abeokuta and Lagos streets, Oyingbo, when the incident occurred on Wednesday, July 8 at about 10pm.

Trouble was said to have

started when Sanni’s motorcycle developed fault and he was pushing it in the area when the deceased accosted and questioned him on his mission in the area, following the instructions that he must not allow any motorcyclist into the area at that time.

Oguntona was said to have held onto the motorcycle following the refusal of Sanni to respond to his query, this infuriated the suspect who brought out a knife which he used in stabbing Oguntona in the stomach.

The alarm raised by the security man alerted his colleague who rushed to the

Driver docked for car theft

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he police, Tuesday, arraigned a 34-year-old driver, Adefisayo Ademola, on before an Akure Chief Magistrate Court, for allegedly stealing a Toyota Picnic valued at N1.3million.

While testifying in court, the prosecutor, ASP Isah Atanegbe, said Ademola and one other, now at large, stole the vehicle with registration No. REL 358 AA, belonging to one Mr. Segun Albert.

According to the prosecutor, the accused person committed the offence on June 20, 2015 at about 7 a.m. at Ayus Hotel, in Akure.

Atanegbe said the offence contravened Section 383 and punishable under sections 516 and 390(9) of Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol 1, Laws of Ondo

T

he Delta State Police Command has arrested a policewoman identified as Sergeant Helen for allegedly killing her ex-husband, Kelechi Aririguzo.

The late Aririguzo was also a policeman.

It was gathered that Kelechi was killed when he visited Helen’s residence at Umuokwe village to see his daughter. However, Helen was said to have raised alarm that Kelechi was a thief who had come to kidnap her daughter.

An eyewitness said the alarm

State of Nigeria, 2006.

Ademola however pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing preferred against him.

Counsel to the accused, Mr. Peter Daramola, asked the court to grant his client bail in liberal term.

In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Victoria Bob-Manuel, consequently granted Ademola bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like sum.

The Magistrate also ordered that the surety must submit a year’s tax clearance obtained from the state internal revenue service to the court and fill an affidavit of means.

She adjourned the case till August 11, 2015 for trial.

attracted the attention of youths in the neighborhood who gathered and attacked Kelechi, killing him in the process.

Kelechi was said to have been married to Helen, but they later separated due to unresolved domestic differences.

Following the incident, almost all the houses within the vicinity were deserted for fear of arrest by the police.

A lady in the neighborhood, who simply identified herself as Gift said: “I feel that his decision to visit his daughter infuriated her. Kelechi has lived

scene and called for help from residents to take Oguntona to a hospital. He however gave up the ghost on his way to the hospital.

A police source disclosed that the suspect, on seeing what has happened, fled the scene with his motorcycle and the murder weapon but residents of the area fished him out and handed him over to the police at the Denton Police Division.

The source affirmed: “There were two security men in the area. Oguntona was on Abeokuta Street while his colleague was on Tapa Street.

Edo native doctor, five others nabbed in failed assassination attempt

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olice officers from Zone 5 in Benin have arrested six persons, including a native doctor, in a failed assassination attempt on one Etinosa Ighodalo of lyowa in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The Zonal Public Relations Officer of the Police, ASP Emeka Iheanacho, while parading the suspects before newsmen, said the suspects were apprehended following a tip-off from members of the public.

Iheanacho said: “The assassination attempt was due to power tussle over local politics of who becomes the chairman of Iyowa.”

in this neighborhood over the years before he was transferred outside the state. He just came into town a day ago and decided to see his daughter who is living with Helen after their separation,’ Gift said.

Delta Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the arrest of the policewoman, said that the suspect was being held in custody along with her accomplices in the killing of a policeman last week in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area.

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Lagos trader remanded in prison for armed robbery

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n Ikeja, Lagos Magistrate Court has remanded a 35-year-old man, Akeem Ariyo, who deals in men’s wear, for allegedly robbing a jewellery shop on Ariyo Street, in the Balogun Market area of the State.

The 35-year-old Ariyo was said to have been apprehended alongside his wife, Mosunmola, on July 14, 2015, but was later allowed to go.

The suspect, alongside others at large, were said to have broken into a shop owned by one Kudirat Akinyede, said to be the wife of a police officer, between 10pm of June 9and 6am of June 7, and made away with gold jewelries and cash valued at N11.6m.

The police also arrested the security guards attached to the market in connection with the crime, but let them off the hook after been interrogated.

According to the police, Ariyo confessed to the crime after he was transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ikeja, but the wife of the suspect, Mosunmola, debunked the claim, stating that her husband did so under duress.

“Officers at SARS said he had confessed. But when I asked him, he said he had suffered a lot; there are bruises all over his body,” she added.

Reacting to the arrest, Mosunmola said the suspect had visited his parents, whose residence was closed to the burgled shop, adding that he was taking his bath in the premises in the middle of the night when he saw some men dressed in black. He ran inside, leaving his phone on a bench in the compound.

Police operatives from the Lion Building Police Division, later called Mosunmola, using her husband’s phone, with which they were traced to their apartment in Ikorodu.

She further noted that the police searched through their apartment and took her jewellery box to the station, where Akinyede was asked to identify if they belonged to her.

She said, “On June 14, somebody called me that he found my husband’s phone. I gave the caller our address to bring it. Suddenly, a team of policemen stormed our house. They searched our house and took us to the station.

“At the station, my gold trinket was shown to the woman, but she could not find her own there. They later returned the box to me.”

Ariyo was arraigned on two counts bordering on armed robbery.

The charges read: “That you, Akeem Ariyo, and others still at large, between 10pm and 6am of June 9 and 10, on Ariyo Street, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit; armed robbery.

“That you, and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, while armed with guns, did steal gold jewellery valued at N8m, cash sum of N3m and a sum of $3,000 ─ all valued at N11.6m ─ property of one Kudirat Akinyede, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section (1) (2) (a) (b) of the Robbery and Firearm Act, Cap 398, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990, as amended.”

Ariyo’s plea was however not taken by the presiding magistrate, Mrs. O. Sule-Amzat, who ordered the case file be sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

dailypost.ng

entertainment

with

Ameh Comrade Godwin comrade.ameh@dailypost.ng

Romance with Suswam:

I owe no one any explanation – Imelda J Money, women and power are three inseparables that form a carnal trinity all over the world. Men of money and power usually end up attracting a flock of the most beautiful women. Glamorous and beautiful singer, Imelda Ada Jane Okwori, famously known as Imelda J, lives an easy-going lifestyle that attracts stories, linking her romantically with Rt. Hon Gabriel Suswam, the former executive Governor of Benue State.

City wags claim that the successes of the Jisoro crooner were largely due to favours from the former Benue governor.

If the story of an affair with the ace politician is true, it will merely fit into a global pattern of famous female entertainers who have been romantically linked with the high and mighty in the society where they reside.

DAILY POST recalls that in his tempestuous lifetime, the late US President, JF Kennedy, was rumoured to have dated a sizeable number of Hollywood beauties, including troubled star, Marylyn Munroe.

However when DAILY POST’s AMEH COMRADE GODWIN caught up with Miss Okwori recently, she affirmed that she owes no one any explanation on what transpired between her and the former governor while his government lasted.

She equally gave insight on her new single, Jisoro, latest project as well as her ideal man.

Excerpts:

I

t’s been a while. What has been happening to Imelda J lately?

Yea, I am still promoting my latest single, Jisoro video, while working on some other projects. I am very much around.

When are we expecting other new things from you?

Very soon… I have been recording and I have done so many collaborations. I might decide to dish some of the collaborations out.

I’m yet to decide, but before the end of the year, you will definitely get a lot of lovely tunes and music videos from me.

You were recently in Ghana; tell us about your experience in the country.

Ghana is a lovely place. I would love to make Ghana my second home. I have some media guys that are my friends and also some artistes that are my very good friends. You see, it is good to travel and make new friends across Africa and the world at large. It is one of the things I plan to do be-

fore the end of the year; building fan base across the world. It was a lovely experience. Nice people.

Very homely. Their entertainment industry is a bit different from ours, but we have a lot of similarities. All the same, it was fun all the way.

During the election, you did not campaign for anyone, why?

I just wanted to be neutral. I wanted to stand like a true Nigerian. All I did was to encourage people to go out there and vote. I did that in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, FCT command and I am grateful to the Police Commissioner for the privilege. I think with that, I played a major role during the election. I didn’t want to campaign for anyone. It was my personal decision.

Sometimes, it is not about the money. We all have consciences and I am one of those that put my conscience to use. It was a critical time for Nigerians to decide. It was a very delicate moment. The interest of Nigerians should be

put first before Money. Encouraging them to go out in mass and vote was okay for me.

What do you expect the new government of Buhari to do for showbiz industry?

We need a structure as an industry. For now, we don’t have a structure. Before I can say what President Buhari should do for us, we really need to stop fighting each other and put our house in order. We don’t have a leader amongst us. You see people fighting to be PMAN president, AGN president, etc dragging each other to the tribunal and all. If you ask me, I will tell you it is for their personal and selfish interest not for the Nigerian Entertainment Industry. If we can put our house in order, then I can suggest the president should purge the industry of piracy and then give us a ministry.

Who is the lucky man behind your beauty?

Story for another day.

I just told your sister that I wanted to marry you; I hope that is okay by you?

(Laughter) abeg ooo. But seriously, I have a lot I need to put in place before I can say ‘Yes, I Do’.

Moreso, I don’t see marriage as a do or die affair. Until I am sure of what I am going into; until I am sure it is going to give me happiness; until I am sure the man will give his full support and not stop me from my carrier instead; I am not planning to get in and get out of marriage. I don’t want to end up managing instead of been in real marriage. It’s going to happen when I am ready. Besides, God’s time is the best.

You recently opened up on your love for D’banj, why him?

When you study his activities closely, you will understand that he is a business guy. He takes risk that many Nigerian entertainers won’t take. I realized we have so many things in common when it comes

to business. He is a true definition of the Koko Master. He knows the Koko (laughter). He is cute and looks happy all the time. He is not arrogant. He is charming. And above all he is an entertainer.

Tell us what inspired your latest single, Jisoro?

Jisoro was born out of many inspirations. From dance to imagination of love, to money spending; All put together, it’s a song that gives Joy and happiness, accompanied with an African instrumentation.

Do you regret going into music?

Not at all. Why should I regret?

It is what I love to do. My passion for Music is inborn.

I haven’t and will never regret it.

What is your best kept secret?

That’s why it is called a secret (laughter). Not meant for everybody.

Why did you break up with your former governor, Gabriel Suswam?

We have never dated either. It was a baseless rumor. I am cool and chilling. No shaking.

The news was all over that he even bought you your first car. Are you saying it was no true?

You know when issues like this pop up; all people want to hear is yes it is true or it was true.

By the time you begin to explain, they will begin to ask are you sure? So the first thing I did was to tell my inner self, hey babe, you owe no individual an explanation for this. No offence. So when they call and the wish to know, I simply say well, believe what you heard or believe in what you wish to believe in. And you here them saying no na. I know you didn’t.

I just wanted to confirm. And I say cool.

That’s it.

Who is your ideal man?

Cool, Gentle, humble, outgoing, a socialite, responsible, fun to be with, generous and of course good looking.

Who is Imelda J? Imelda j is a simple, cool Benue born Nigerian Female act that has great passion for the music industry and a lover of God.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Why entertainment, nightlife in Abuja will soon outweigh Lagos’ – Mallam Yankee

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ehinde Adegbite, otherwise known as Mallam Yankee, is ultimately one of the pillars of entertainment in Abuja and the Chairman, Bank club, Abuja.

The CEO, Yankee Entertainment has no doubt taken entertainment to a competitive stage in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Speaking with DAILY POST’s Entertainment Editor, Ameh Comrade Godwin, on the state of showbiz and nightlife in Abuja, Mallam Yankee reaffirmed his earlier viral comment on how the seat of government (Abuja) was drawing very close to the apogee, especially with the growing awareness among the public who now committed to entertainment, especially nightlife and event in order to ease off their stress.

Yankee said entertainment in Abuja was drawing close to equal that of Lagos or possibly take over from Lagos in a short while.

DAILY POST recalls that following his recent statement in the media that Abuja was taking over Lagos soon with regard to entertainment, most show patrons in Lagos have discarded his opinion, affirming that it was simply an utopian dream.

entertainment 21

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My ex-wife beats me everyday

– Popular Cool FM OAP, Freeze

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he latest has not been heard over the circumstances that led to the collapse of the union between Cool FM OAP, Ifedayo Olarinde, popularly known as Freeze and his ex-wife, Ope. Last year, there were rumours that Freeze had left his wife of 15 years and mother of his two kids for a Port Harcourt-based woman.

However, after a long silence, the On Air Personality took to his Instagram page to post some pictures of how his

God gave me knowledge of ‘babalawo’, that is why I drink akpeteshie – Troubled reggae star, Majek Fasheke

O

nce upon a time, Majek Fashek was Nigeria’s greatest musician.

He is reggae extraordinaire with an epic all-time hit song entitled: Send Down The Rain. Whenever Majek Fashek (whose full name is Majekodunmi Fasheke) raised his voice in a melodious refrain of “Send Down the Rain”, there was literally an extraordinary downpour. And by that, he lyrically put an end to an almost two-year drought (famine) in northern Nigeria.

At 20, he was a kid sensation. At 40, a reggae god. At 55, a troubled star. The Nigerian reggae icon no doubt believes that he would still bounce back into limelight despite his deplorable state.

The principal prophet of reggae whose pathetic-looking picture spread like wildfire on the internet recently claims that he still remains the heir apparent to Bob Marley.

Fasheke, who is gradually fizzling out because of hard drugs spoke about rehab and his use of local medicine in a recent interview with Encomium Weekly.

According to him, “I’m scared of rehab. Let me tell you what I did to escape the rehab. God gave me different knowledge of orisha, babalawo knowledge. My ancestral knowledge, which is what I’m using right now. I drink akpeteshie. It’s the orisha idea I got” he further said.

Pastor Wole Oladiyun of CLAM had invited the singer for a month long of deliverance but he reportedly escaped because he does not want to be depressed.

“I don’t want to get depressed. Jesus is my Hero, my Lord and Saviour. He is the one that has seen me through up to this level. I told them to wait until I have released my record. I no wan enter hospital now, before somebody go inject me with bad injection,” stated Fasheke.

The singer, who is separated from his wife says the Celestial Church of Christ came in between her. “It was the Celestial Church that confused her. They gave her wrong vision about me. The celestial church can’t try me any day, any time. I will attack them. I will burn them. I am equipped spiritually.”

estranged wife brutalized him. He also accused her of infidelity.

He captioned one of the pictures thus: “Another incident when my ex tried to strangle me! Do you want more pictures? I can go on for weeks posting these pictures. I used to be like this at least twice every month. Yet my Pastor advised me to stay and that divorce is a sin.....After the separation, I realized that my life was far more important than the institute of marriage.

Fams Mi: Davido risks 15 years imprisonment, N2m fine for promoting drug trafficking

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elf-acclaimed Omo Baba Olowo, David Adeleke, otherwise known as Davido, may be sentenced to prison for promoting drug trafficking in one of his latest videos, Fams Mi. This is just as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has concluded plans to summon the Dami Duro crooner to explain the story behind the video.

In the controversial video, Davido, an MTN ambassador tries to seal a deal with a drug dealer to supply cocaine while the dealer hands him cases of dollars for the transaction.

Davido then goes back to his mansion where he can be seen aided by the brassieres-and-panties flaunting ladies preparing the ‘cocaine’.

However, the ‘cocaine’ Davido delivered to the drug dealer was only semovita (a local Nigerian food).

Mitchell Ofoyeju, Director of Public Affairs of the NDLEA, while reacting to the development, said he had watched the video and noticed it was not okay for public viewing.

He said, “The video has no positive impact on the society, no ethical message either; instead, it is evidently against what we confess. I have to this effect set up a panel to check mate him, his video, why he would go ahead with such a video where he was seen exchanging a brief case purportedly containing sedatives for dollars, exhibiting affluence which is questionable, probably based on drug trafficking or something I can’t conclude on for now’.

22 sport

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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

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Of pounds and Sterling

Tiger Woods eyes 15th major win at St Andrews

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aheem Sterling is now the most expensive English player ever.

Let’s not pretend that Queens Park Rangers will not get 20%, but the fact Manchester City is shelling out £49million for the 20-year-old is something.

No, I’m not unaware that football involves a lot of crazy figures. But there is something about English players. Often overhyped, overpriced, yet average even when at their peak.

A quick glance at the top 10 most expensive English footballers, you will come across names like Andy Carroll, Darren Bent, Luke Shaw and Joleon Lescott. Carroll never hit the heights at Liverpool and it’s not as if they are quite lofty these days. He plays his football at West Ham these days. Lescott is currently on the books of perennial strugglers West Brom. Shaw battled with fitness and form during his first season at Manchester United. Bent leads the line for Derby County in the Championship.

The reason City have paid premium is two-fold.

He is young and he is English. Manuel Pellegrini’s desperation to stock up on homegrown talent, has seen him chase Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph too. Not the type of talent he would be keen in. But the FA’s demands boxed him into a corner. Before Sterling arrived, the only players who qualified as homegrown were Joe Hart, Gael Clichy and third-choice goalkeeper, Richard Wright.

But that is not my business today.

Neither is it Liverpool’s. They have held out for a princely fee and will seek to reinvest in their attack.

It is all City’s business. They have committed £100m in transfer fees and wages for Sterling. The forward might have not fixed his price, but his agent surely agreed the lucrative £180, 000-a-week deal - an astronomic increase in the £35,000 he got in wages at Anfield.

Loyalty no longer exists in football.

Sterling is no longer the darling of the Anfield faithful, his relationship with Brendan Rodgers is broken and he has ignored advice from Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. He didn’t fancy becoming a Liverpool legend.

It is a money game now.

Mathieu Valbuena, who swapped Marseille for Russia last year, famously said: “I weighed up the pros and the cons and I am very pleased I took this option.

“They made a serious financial effort to sign me and that was an important part of my choice. I won’t lie, financially Dynamo Moscow have put me in a fantastic condition.”

Such refreshing honesty. It is incredibly rare for players to turn down bumper offers, but they prefer to put forward other reasons, so they are not seen as money grabbers.

Whether the excuse is illness or injury, whether it’s ambition or affinity, or he prefers Manchester to Merseyside, Sterling has crossed over to the league of high-speed, high class young footballers.

That is sorted. He needs to step up his game this time I mean football. He has not done enough like Memphis Depay for instance, who arrived at Manchester United this month, armed with a healthy resume. Sterling needs to ramp up the numbers - goals, assists, etc. Or else he will follow the predictable trajectory of English players: Emerge. Hype. Flatter. Crash. Burn.

James Ward breaks into top 100

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Murray

ritish tennis player, James Ward, has broken into the world’s top 100, after reaching the third round of this year’s Wimbledon.

The 28-year-old has risen up 22 places and is now number 89 in the ATP rankings.

Ward was beaten 6-4 3-6 2-6 6-3 8-6 in a five-set thriller by Canadian Vasek Pospisil. It was his best performance in the tournament and he banked £77,000 - his biggest payday so far.

Only two players from Britain - Andy and Aljaz Bedene - rank higher than Ward.

23

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ormer world number one, Tiger Woods, has expressed his belief in winning his 15th major at this week’s Open.

The 39-year-old has not won a major since the 2008 US Open, but in an interview with BBC Sport, the American insisted his game is “heading in the right direction”.

Woods, who is now ranked 241st in the world, also revealed he now spends less time playing golf and more time with his kids.

Last month, he shot the worst round of his professional career a 13-over-par 85 at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

“My body’s finally good. I’m just not as wiry and as whippy as I used to be. And being 39 versus 19 is totally different,” he said.

“If you’re making changes you have to take a couple of steps backwards before you make the giant leap forward - if you look throughout my career when I’ve made swing changes, I’ve gone through that suffering period and I’ve come out pretty good on the other side.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve found the solution - it’s a process, an evolution, making subtle shifts, fine tuning and getting the overall pattern different, and that takes time.”

Boca Juniors officially unveil Tevez nior player, unveiled as a Boca Ju arlos Tevez has been ds of fans in attendance. with tens of thousan rd returns to the club 11 years after The Argentine forwa y of Boca supporters at the Bomwelcomed by an arm s wa d an dium.

Sta ng compares bonera than this for me. Nothi “There is nothing better my people, and also it’s great because are to this, nothing. Thesein English or Italian anymore,” he said. ak spe to ve ha ting warm. It’s n’t do I at home, relaxing, get “Look, I would still bemany people faced the cold to come and so tough to believe that it’s beautiful, and I’m very thankful for see me. It’s incredible, s.” the affection of the fan returning to Los Xeneizes was a goal Tevez also expressed e. iev that he wanted to ach to my home,” he revealed. “My head “I had a goal to returnmissed everything about the club.”

I was spinning because and Manchester City player, might tus ven Ju r me for The urday against Quilmes. make his debut on Sat l Angelici, said the homecoming was the nie Da t, Club presiden . realization of a dream ht in which s and happiness, a nig “It’s a night of emotionhe said. ,” dreams became reality en we met with Carlos and talked with “The truth is that wh seemed like a dream. But when we all him about a return, it s strong desire from all parties -- and for worked, when there waventus -- it’s a great honour to announce this I’d like to thank Ju Boca Juniors.”

Carlos is returning to tus €6.5million in a one-off payment on ven Ju y pa ll wi tus will pay Boca Boca part of the deal, Juven December 15, 2016. As n of Guido Vadala, with the option to €3.5 million for the loa Juventus player with a further installmake him a permanent be paid no later than April 20, 2017. ment of €9.4 million to

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Vol. 1 Edition 6 Wednesday, July 15 - Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Obafemi Martins named in MLS All-Star Team

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line Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, the pairing known as Clintfemi, will be in Colorado, for this year’s MLS All-Star match against Tottenham Hotspur.

The MLS side was selected via a fan vote, commissioner picks, and FIFA goals to start with. The top 10 vote getters and the forward who has the most goals scored on FIFA 15, will suit up as the 11th member of the starting XI in a 4-3-3.

Dempsey made the cut via fan vote, while Martins was selected via FIFA 15.

The 20th MLS All-Star game will be played on July 29 against a Spurs side that has not been announced. The Premier League team will however be without first-choice goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, who has suffered a broken wrist.

2015 MLS ALL-STAR FAN XI Goalkeeper: Nick Rimando (RSL) Defenders: Omar Gonzalez (LA), Matt Besler (SKC), DaMarcus Beasley (HOU) Midfielders: Kaka (ORL), Michael Bradley (TOR), Benny Feilhaber (SKC), Graham Zusi (SKC) Forwards: Clint Dempsey (SEA), David Villa (NYC), Obafemi Martins (SEA) Commissioner Picks: Steven Gerrard (LA), Frank Lampard (NYC)

Roma eager to secure deal for Man City striker Dzeko

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talian giants Roma are keen on wrapping up a deal for Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, according to reports from the Manchester Evening News.

Dzeko has consistently been linked with a move away from City and it now seems like the club will finally sanction the sale of the Bosnian international this summer following their whopping £49million swoop for Raheem Sterling from Liverpool.

Roma have been on the trail of Dzeko for quite a while and it has now been revealed by the M.E.N that the Italian giants are ramping up their pursuit for the striker.

City have set an asking price of around £20million for Dzeko but Roma are hopeful of sealing the deal at a fee close to £12million.

Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini is England this week to try and push through the transfer.

xxx

‘Ifreke Inyang

N100

Sunday Oliseh might be our biblical Moses by ‘Ifreke Inyang

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e was born on these shores, but the former national team captain is not one of us. Like Moses, he is an Israelite with Egyptian training.

According to his Wikipedia page, the 40-year-old only played one year in Nigeria. And that was for Julius Berger between 1989 and 1990. Between that time and when he hung up his boots in 2006, Oliseh featured for Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Ajax, etc.

This his early exposure and football education in Europe stands him apart. If you’ve watched him carry out pundit duties, you will agree he is articulate and knowledgeable.

A lot of early criticisms insist that analyzing football on TV or even tweeting about it, doesn’t mean you will make a good manager. While I’m tempted to nod in agreement, I must quickly point out that there is no Nigerian coach in Oliseh’s class.

We can’t turn up our noses on Oliseh’s UEFA Pro License.

It is one of the highest and most respected coaching qualifications

worldwide. Mutiu Adepoju and Emmanuel Amuneke are the only Nigerians that have it. For full context however, we must note Oliseh is possibly the only African to have coached abroad.

Yes, it might have been at lowly Verviétois in Belgium. But it does count as an achievement in itself.

Like Moses complained before the Lord, Oliseh himself didn’t sound convinced about his readiness for the Nigerian job.

“So many people have been asking me, why don’t you go and coach the Super Eagles? I want to live long,” he said earlier this year.

“In as much as I know I’m very much qualified for it, I love my country and the proof of this abounds, but I’ll rather share my experience and allow my thoughts and knowledge reach a vast majority.”

Now he’s been asked to come and lead the team.

It’s refreshing to see how the NFF went straight for Oliseh. No sieving through endless applications. No touring of Europe and the Americas under the guise of looking for a random expatriate.

Just a let’s-do-this meeting in London.

But Oliseh is coming back to Pharoah’s house.

The same NFF (or NFA in those days), threw him out of the national team over disciplinary issues. But now he returns, armed with his rod (his technical knowhow and principles).

Like Moses, he must look Pharoah in the eye and say “let my people go!” He needs to be strongwilled and ensure he stands up to the NFF’s antics that frustrated his predecessors in the past. He has proven that he possesses an impressive analytical mind and it must shine through in the fiveyear plan, he has been tasked to produce.

When Oliseh leaves the job, I hope he leaves with his head high. Young, wide-eyed coaches always seem to clash against the establishment. For instance, what many don’t know, is that Barcelona sapped Pep Guardiola. We must not kill Oliseh.

We have stoned Stephen (Keshi) to death. Now, step forward, Moses. And show us the Promised Land.

Former Chelsea manager, Ranieri returns to EPL

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laudio Ranieri has returned to the Premier League to take charge of Leicester City - 11 years after he was sacked at Chelsea.

The 63-year-old was sacked as coach of Greece, following a disastrous spell of three defeats and one draw in the Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Ranieri replaces Nigel Pearson, who was dismissed on June 30, for what the club described in a statement as “fundamental differences in perspective that exist between us.”

“I’m so glad to be here in a Club with such a great tradition as Leicester City,” Ranieri said.

“I have worked at many great clubs, in many top leagues, but since I left Chelsea, I have dreamt of another chance to work in the best league in the world again.

“I wish to thank the owner, his son and all the executives of the Club for the opportunity they are giving me. Now I’ve only one way for returning their trust: squeeze all my energies to getting the best results for the team.”

Since leaving Chelsea, he had short stints in charge of Valencia and Parma. He has also worked with Serie A sides, Juventus, Roma and Inter Milan, before coaching Monaco for two seasons.

In a statement, Leicester vice chairman, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “It is my great pleasure to welcome Claudio Ranieri -- a man of remarkable experience and knowledge that will lead us into the next phase of our long-term plan for Leicester City.

“His achievements in the game, his knowledge of English football and his record of successfully coaching some of the world’s finest players made him the outstanding candidate for the job and his ambitions for the future reflect our own.

“To have attracted one of the world’s elite managers speaks volumes both for the progress Leicester City has made in recent years and for the potential that remains for the Club’s long-term development.”

The Italian will have the opportunity to access his team for the first time on July 21, when Leicester begin their pre-season with a trip to Lincoln.

Carl Froch ends boxing career

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our-time world super-middleweight champion, Carl Froch, has announced his retirement from boxing.

The 38-year-old has not fought since May 2014, when he knocked out George Groves, to retain the WBA and IBF titles. In total, he won 33 of his 35 bouts, with 24 victories by knockout.

Froch gave a hint he will quit boxing last June, after his rematch with Groves at Wembley and has finally made the decision.

“I have nothing left to prove and my legacy speaks for itself. I’m incredibly proud of what I have achieved in boxing but now is the right moment to hang up my gloves,” he said.

“I turned 38 last week. My joints and bones are aching. If the desire was there, I could fight again but there’s nothing motivating me.

“I’ve got nothing left to prove and I’m bowing out at the top.”

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