President Buhari a listening leader, say Tompolo, Ex-MEND leaders

President Buhari a listening leader, say Tompolo, Ex-MEND leaders

*As ex-militant leaders, IYC, others hail Buhari
ABUJA — The new Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen Paul Boroh (rtd), yesterday, assumed duty with a promise to strengthen the programme and make it more efficient and beneficial to the people.
Meanwhile, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, frontline ex-Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND leaders, the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Niger Delta ex-militants and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta, yesterday, hailed President Muhammudu Buhari over the appointment of Brigadier Gen Paul Boroh (rtd) as the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Niger Delta ex-militants, who congratulated the newly appointed chairman of the Niger Delta Amnesty programme, said that Buhari had made a wise and deserved choice from the Niger Delta.
Boroh, who arrived the PAP office in Maitama, early in the day, said that he will move quickly to sort out the issue of Amnesty beneficiaries, who are currently out of school abroad as a result of the non-payment of their fees.

*Tompolo
He said he will do all within his power to consolidate on the gains of the programme and aid the efforts by Buhari to consolidate peace, safety and security in the Niger Delta.
He said: “Mr President is keen on the smooth and efficient running of the Amnesty Programme. He also wants things done properly. I am going to quickly look into the issue of beneficiaries, who are currently out of schools or training centres as a result of default in payment of fees and allowances. We are going to sort out these issues very fast and stabilize the Programme.”
Similarly, ex-militants and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta have described Boroh’s appointment as apt and responsive, noting it will help solve the concern raised by the people of the Niger Delta over the hitches in the amnesty programme and payment of outstanding allowances and scholarship of the beneficiaries studying at home and abroad.
For Tompolo, “This action shows that the President is a listening leader, and also demonstrates his desire to contribute to the development of the Niger Delta.
“It could be recalled that I called a meeting of ex-agitators’ leaders and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta last week, as a result of the pressure on me to intervene in the seemingly troubled Amnesty Programme due to the non payment of the stipend and allowances to beneficiaries for months now.
“And so, it gives me joy for the President to appoint a high ranking retired military gentleman to coordinate the programme rather than any of the political jobbers, who had advertised themselves in very negative forms in order to be appointed.
“ I want to use this medium to admonish Gen. Boroh to carry out his duty effectively and always consult stakeholders so as to succeed in this assignment,” he added.
While the Ex-MEND leaders, under the aegis of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative, LPCDI , led by Pastor Reuben Wilson, stated that though the delayed appointment had heightened tension among beneficiaries of the programme, “The choice of Boroh is welcomed and commendable.”
The IYC in a statement through its spokesman, Eric Omare described the appointment of General Boroh as well-deserved, adding that the appointee is a true Ijaw son.
Pastor Rueben said: “We welcome the news of the appointment with happiness and expect the hitches experienced with the sacking of Amnesty beneficiaries in higher institutions of learning in Nigeria and abroad to be addressed urgently. It is more gratifying to know that the new appointee is from the region and from Bayelsa State.
“The happiness expressed over the appointment is coming due to the show of listening ears by President Buhari to our appeal expressed by the ex-militant leaders on the heels of avalanche of complaints received by the indigent parents of the Amnesty beneficiaries home and abroad that their children and wards are currently experiencing hardship due to lack of funds.”
“Mr President has shown that his administration did not lose sight on the germane issue that brought about the PAP and has shown that he will save it from total collapse. Mr. President, we use this medium to remind you and the good people of Nigeria of promises to the people of Niger Delta about more positive changes.”

I am praying for Buhari that God will protect him from enemies

By Levinus Nwabughiogu, Francis Igata
ENUGU—Enugu cleric, Catholic Priest and founder of Enugu Adoration Ministry, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, yesterday, celebrated his 20th priesthood anniversary, describing it as victory over enemies of truth and blackmailers. This came just as President Muhammadu Buhari hailed the patriotic spirit of Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka saying  that ”Father Mbaka is a great priest who was not afraid to speak truth to power, even at the cost of his own life or being hated by leaders in power.”
It should be re-called that Mbaka’s message of change, which he delivered before the March 28 presidential election, attracted criticisms, especially from the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Speaking at the Christ the King Parish, Enugu, during his 20th anniversary mass, attended by thousands of worshippers, including the wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, the cleric said despite all the attacks against him, God continued to protect him because he remained on the side of the truth.
He declared: “I am not tired after 20 years, 20 years of good health; 20 years of miracles from God; 20 years of hard apostolic work; 20 years in the hand of God.
“There was a time they blackmailed me; they were saying such things like ‘Mbaka why? Mbaka this, Mbaka that’, but I have remained in the hand of God.”

Rev-Father-Mbaka
He, however, said he had forgiven his attackers, praying God to “forgive all those who have fought us on the course of this ministry and bless those who have stood behind us.”
In a special message, entitled, ’20-point agenda,’ Fr. Mbaka said he was praying for President Buhari “that God will protect him so that enemies will not destroy him. I also pray for Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi so that God will not allow occultic men to steal his vision.”
In a brief chat with journalists, the spokesman of the ministry, Maximus Ugwuoke said blackmail and unnecessary criticisms had rather strengthened the cleric.
According to him: “Those who are saying he should stay out of politics are misguided. It is part of the role of priests. So, they are merely trying to cow him down but I can tell you that Fr. Mbaka is not somebody to be intimidated; the more they do this, the more he is strengthened.
“In these past years, you can see how God had vindicated him; you can see his prophetic message before the general elections; at a time, he was repeating that prophecy even in the face of threat to his life. So, today, we are celebrating victory against enemies of truth.”
President Buhari in a  statement by a Senior aide on Media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, President Buhari said “Father Mbaka is a great priest who was not afraid to speak truth to power, even at the cost of his own life or being hated by leaders in power.”
According to the statement, “Mbaka was a remarkable example that religious leaders are the conscience and moral compass of the society.”
The statement further stated that the priest “rose to the occasion to add his voice in support of good governance and identify with ordinary Nigerians in the face of despair and uncertain future.”
It also explained that adding “one’s voice to make one’s country better has nothing to do with politics”, and that as the  “conscience of the nation”, religious leaders cannot afford to be aloof or indifferent to the miseries of the people.”
According to the statement, President said “though honest opinions attract hostility from leaders detached from reality”, history would be kind to Father Mbaka for courageously speaking truth to power, even at great risks.
President Buhari, who said he is “overwhelmed by Mbaka’s sincerity and patriotism” prayed to God to grant the Priest more good health, long life and wisdom in the service of humanity, adding that  he is a fountain of inspiration to all Nigerians

Ooni of ife is alive - Royal Council

By Gbenga Olarinoye
Ile-Ife—Despite the  widespread report, the Royal Traditional Council, RTC, of Ife has refuted the news making the rounds that Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Ooni of Ife, was dead.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade
Joseph Ijaodola, an Oba and the Lowa of Ife, who briefed newsmen at the  Ooni palace at Enuwa, in Ile-Ife early yesterday, said the monarch was hale and hearty.
RTC, which is a combination of traditional chiefs and title holders’ said the report that the monarch died in a hospital in the United Kingdom was untrue.
Ijaodola said: “I hereby dispel the rumour that our Baba, the Olubuse is dead. As I speak with you, the chiefs have not heard anything like that. This is not the first time such rumour will be carried about our father.
‘’ They did it in 1982, also in 2004 and now, these people are coming up with another rumour. Ooni remains in sound state of health.”
Vanguard saw residents of the ancient town trooping to the palace yesterday  to ascertain if the news about the death of the monarch was true.
The media had reported that Sijuwade died in a hospital in London, Britain, and the news of his death was confirmed by various sources close to the palace but the denial of the news came as a surprise to many.
Also speaking, secretary Royal Traditional Council of Ife, the Ladin of Ife,  High Chief Adetoye Odewole, said Ooni is hale and hearty and even spoke to the chiefs on phone few hours earlier.
He added that “Those behind the death story are enemies of Ife and as I speak with you, chiefs have not heard anything like that. This is not the first time such rumour will be carried about our father.
“They did it in 1984, also in 2004 and now, these people are coming up with another rumour. Oba Sijuade remains in sound state of health”.
Also commenting, chairman, Ife Development Board, Prof. Muib Opeloye, said Ife as a town with rich tradition has its way of managing its affairs.
Opeloye maintained the monarch was preparing for his son’s wedding, urging people not to panic and go about their normal daily activities.
Meantime, the entrance of Ooni palace was shut to visitors, as only newsmen, chiefs and relations of Oba Sijuade were allowed into the premises.
Many indigenes and residents of Ife had converged at entrance of the palace but were prevented from going inside by guards.
Osun State government is yet to make official statement concerning the demise of the monarch

Senate'll make Our Economy Compete with developed Nations; says Saraki

By Henry Umoru ] Joseph Erunke
ABUJA – SENATE President,Bukola Saraki, yesterday, vowed that the 8th Senate under his watch, must do everything within the ambit of the law to re-invigorate the dwindling nation’s economy and make it compete with that of developed nations.
Saraki stated this when he received a delegation from the United Kingdom Emerging Capital Market Taskforce, led by Mr. Roger Gifford, in Abuja.
He said the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari was working towards attracting investors whose entry will revamp the nation’s stock market and ailing industries that dot the landscape.
He pointed out that apart from the country’s historical relationship with the United Kingdom (UK), Nigeria expects robust economic ties with her former colonial master as well as investments that will assist in the area of industrialization, employment generation and technological development.
While reiterating the commitment of the Eighth Senate towards facilitating the development of the nation’s economy,  Saraki said: “The Senate is acutely aware that as attractive as Nigeria’s market is for investment, the challenge is in creating a friendly business environment that is conducive and competitive in today’s global context.
“We are already taking the bull by the horns and we are at advanced stage of putting together an engagement structure with the business community to fashion out a holistic plan of action that will bring about a comprehensive review of the regulatory instruments and legal structures that inhibit investments and depress capital formation across our business structure,” Saraki stated.
The Senate President assured that the Senate will at all times support and push for policies that will create deep, transparent and open capital market with numerous company listings.
He said: “Nigerians want to see legislative instruments that will help to open and stimulate private sector investment in infrastructural development. This w will serve as a primary source of funding for national development and also lead to job creation for our teeming populace in line with the Federal Government’s agenda for youth employment.”
He commended the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the initiative of sending a task force on emerging capital market to Nigeria. He also enjoined the Taskforce to identify Nigeria as a priority market adding that the Senate will continue to fashion out legislative instruments towards achieving set  objectives.
In his remarks, leader of the delegation, Roger Gifford, called for continued collaboration between Nigeria and the UK government. He said Nigeria has been identified as an emerging economy in Africa.
Gifford said the long bilateral ties among the two nations paved the way for the establishment of institutions in capital market.
He stated that the Taskforce will work to create an enabling environment by bringing investors into the country.
“I can only task Nigeria to continue to work together with the United Kingdom in order to make good use of the new partnership.” Gifford said.

America And Our War On Terror

WHEN President Muhammadu Buhari set out with his 32-man official delegation to the United States of America for an official visit to President Barack Obama, top on his shopping list was the quest to procure weapons and sundry support from the world’s sole superpower to flush out the Boko Haram jihadists from our embattled North East.
Other equally important items included soliciting support to fight corruption, repatriate our stolen moneys and secure the endorsement of the American business community to patronise our economy.
After four days of stay in Washington DC, the presidential team returned to the country with mixed results. Although President Obama expressed strong support for our war on corruption and more Americans showed interest in our economy, the crucial matter of procuring weapons was not successful (at least for now) due to what the American government described as “violation of human rights” by our troops in the war against Boko Haram.
The American government pointed to the Leahy Law of 1999, which forbids the US selling American arms to armies of foreign countries engaged in human rights violations, as their reason for refusing to sell crucial arms to Nigeria to defeat Boko Haram. The first time they refused to sell arms to us was when former President Goodluck Jonathan made a similar overture.
It is surprising that, in spite of President Buhari’s undertaking to investigate the allegations and his current high rating in Western circles, America still depended on unsubstantiated claims to, once again, deny us access to its arms.
It will also be recalled that when the Ebola scourge was rocking this country and we asked for the experimental drug, Z-Mapp, America bluntly refused. Happily, Nigeria single-handedly defeated Ebola, and America, in a twist of irony, offered to send expert to Nigeria to understudy how we did it.
Given the fact that America,  once our biggest oil buyer, no longer buys our oil, it is time we thought deeply about our relations and reassessed the level of our dependence on foreign friends.
Our defeat of Ebola is an indication that there is no problem we cannot solve if we stick together as a nation. We must remain resolute in our opposition to the gay rights nonsense because it is against our laws and abhorrent to our culture.
Our salvation lies in our self-reliance, but first, the President must unite Nigerians under a uniform purpose.

Saraki's Wife travel :Oyegun exonerate APC

By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA – National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Oyegun has debunked insinuations in some quarters that the party or any of its members were responsible for the current travails of the wife of the Senate President, Toyin Saraki in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
It will be recalled that the anti-grant agency recent arrested Mrs. Saraki of on issues of money laundering.
But the issue sparked off controversy with some feelings that some big personalities in the ruling party masterminded her ordeals to get at the husband who emerged as senate president against the wish and directive of the party.
But speaking with Journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Oyegun exonerated the party, saying that EFCC was only doing what it felt was necessary to do.
He said: “I want to assure you without doubts that the APC absolutely has nothing to do with the matter. She’s not on trial by the way. It is an investigation that has to do with the Senate President’s wife.
“You saw all the speculations in the media. As a matter of fact, this could have been triggered by the opposition party itself. The PDP has its branch in Kwara.
“They have to be nudged to make a denounce that they were not the originators of the petition or whatever triggered this investigation.
“We are completely, totally, absolutely, innocent of it. What we have not done like in the PDP days is to rush and interfere with the processes of the EFCC which our president has made quite clearly. Everybody should be ready to carry out their legitimate functions without interference. The EFCC is doing what it thinks it has to do.”
Speaking on the crisis that rocked the National Assembly and in particular, the House of Representatives, Oyegun expressed happiness that the issue had been amicably resolved.
He remarked the intervention of President Mohammadu Buhari in the matter, saying that his “presidential prestige” was brought to bear in the imbroglio, also emphasized the supremacy of the party.
Oyegun also commended what he called the patriotism of Speaker, Yakubu Dogara for toeing the party’s line eventually.
“The misunderstanding in the House of Representatives has been very very amicably resolved thanks to The intervention of Mr. President who again made it quite clear with everybody, that there is no alternative but to listen to what the party says.
“I want to emphasise the fact that all of us were what we were, what we are thanks to the platform that the party provided for everybody.
“I think his message resonated very intensive with all the members of the House. He still did not interfere. I want to make that very very clear and his parting words to us was that the presiding leadership of the House and the party should go and resolve whatever issues there are that was militating against the resolution of the problem and that is what exactly happened.
“When we were leaving there I promised, the press was very anxious to hear that A, B and C have been appointed to whatever positions but that is not what happened. I promised that within a few hours, 4 hours as I said definitely by the next morning, the nation will be glad knowing that this issue would have been resolved and put behind us.
“We left there into consultations and discussions with the presiding officers of the House of Representatives.
“Let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to their maturity to their sense of responsibility, tribute to their loyalty of the party and above all tribute to their sense of general good meaning their patriotism displayed by the Speaker and his Deputy. It did not take long, necessary concessions that had to be made were made.
The chairman who expressed regrets over the exclusion of the south east in the sharing of offices pleaded with the zone to be patient, saying haring of portfolios were not over yet.
“The sharing process is not over. I want everybody to get that very very clear, even in the House of Representatives, it is not yet over. All these will be taken into

Rep blasts Fayose over comment against Buhari

Lagos—A member of the  House of Representatives and former Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Bosun Oladele, yesterday, in Lagos took a swipe at Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State over what he described as his persistent unfortunate comments against President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption programme, dismissing the governor  as a rabble rouser.

Buhari
Fayose recently said President Buhari’s probe was targeted at PDP supporters and cautioned him against playing to the gallery as he said, “Nigerians should not be probed on the pages of newspapers. Rather, the anti-graft agencies should do their jobs quietly.”
Oladele, who is representing the Irepodun/Orelope/Olorunsogo Federal Constituency of Oyo State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, asked the governor to wait for the President as, according to him, Abuja would get to him soonest.
His words: “Fayose is just a meddlesome interloper. He is a rabble rouser. It is only him that sees ghosts where everybody sees lives.  He should not start talking about Buhari probing on the pages of the newspapers.
”He should wait for him because, he (Buhari) is coming to him. Fayose will get his own bit of it. I think from all indications of what he has been seeing, he has started developing butterfly in his stomach but he shouldn’t wait for too long, he will start feeling the heat and that is exactly why he is talking when everybody is supposed to keep quiet.”

Rep blasts Fayose over comment against Buhari

Lagos—A member of the  House of Representatives and former Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Bosun Oladele, yesterday, in Lagos took a swipe at Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State over what he described as his persistent unfortunate comments against President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption programme, dismissing the governor  as a rabble rouser.

Buhari
Fayose recently said President Buhari’s probe was targeted at PDP supporters and cautioned him against playing to the gallery as he said, “Nigerians should not be probed on the pages of newspapers. Rather, the anti-graft agencies should do their jobs quietly.”
Oladele, who is representing the Irepodun/Orelope/Olorunsogo Federal Constituency of Oyo State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, asked the governor to wait for the President as, according to him, Abuja would get to him soonest.
His words: “Fayose is just a meddlesome interloper. He is a rabble rouser. It is only him that sees ghosts where everybody sees lives.  He should not start talking about Buhari probing on the pages of the newspapers.
”He should wait for him because, he (Buhari) is coming to him. Fayose will get his own bit of it. I think from all indications of what he has been seeing, he has started developing butterfly in his stomach but he shouldn’t wait for too long, he will start feeling the heat and that is exactly why he is talking when everybody is supposed to keep quiet.”

Buhari appointment has shown his hatred for Igbo-Ohaneze

By Vincent Ujumadu
 Awka – THE  pan Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, said yesterday that it was not surprised at the way the appointments of President Muhammadu Buhari were going, insisting that it had shown the president’s deep rooted hatred for the Igbo nation.
Anambra State president of Ohaneze, Dr. Chris Eluemuno, in an interview at the state –owned Anambra Broadcasting Service Television in Awka, said the situation would still have been the same even if the entire Igbo voted for him.

Buhari
He said: “I said it during the campaigns that General Buhari does not like Igbo people and it is happening now with all the appointments he has so far made since he came into office on May 29, 2015
“He appointed five service chiefs and there is no Igbo man, even though Igbo have qualified people to occupy the positions.
“His party has completed the selection of principal officers in the national assembly and despite the fact that the speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara made case to apply the federal character in allocating the offices, the president jettisoned it through his intervention and left Igbo APC lawmakers out.
“He also exhibited his vindictiveness during his recent visit to the United States of America, USA, when he travelled with only governors from his party, leaving out governors from the opposition parties.
“He was also quoted as saying that he would favour those who voted for him and our position is that there is no way the president should expect all Nigerians to vote for him in the last presidential election.That statement contradicted Buhari’s earlier stand that he belonged to everybody and belonged to nobody.”
 Eluemuno, who is also the chairman of chairmen of Ohaneze in the seven Igbo speaking states, argued that Buhari had no reason to discriminate against the Igbo because  Igbonation played prominent roles in the development of Nigeria and should therefore not be discriminated against in the scheme of things.
According to him, apart from the Secretary to the Government of Federation, SGF, the remaining appointments are ministers and board members, which constitutionally must go to all the 36 states of the federation, adding that appointing an Igbo minister would not therefore be a favour to them.
On the president’s threat to probe only the Jonathan administration, Eluemuno said it would amount to witch hunt if he limited it to the immediate past administration, advising that the probe should start from the PDP civilian administration that began 16 years ago with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who governed for eight years.
He also advised the President not to jettison the report of the Constitutional Conference convoked by former President Goodluck Jonathan, arguing that the Constitutional Conference report was key to fighting corruption in Nigeria as it contained recommendations that could help him succeed in his fight against corruption in the country.
Eluemunor said the president might also be expecting too much if he thought that he would find angels to make ministers, stressing that as long as those he described as the corrupt civil servants were there, the ministers, no matter their background and integrity would still be corrupt.
 “He should know that those who corrupt the ministers are the top civil servants. They are the ones that show the ministers the way once they are sworn in. If he wants to fight corruption in the service, he should start by cleaning up the civil service,” he added.
He called on the Igbos to brace up to the challenge posed to them by the APC- led federal government.

E-commerce to create 50,000 jobs in Nigeria

As e-commerce expands aggressively across Nigeria, the sector may help create over 50,000 jobs within the country in 2-3 years. This was stated by Managing Director of Kaymu.com.ng Evangeline Wiles.
In a statement in Lagos, Wiles said as more and more retailers turn to e-commerce to acquire new customers and increase profit, the growing trends in online shopping in Nigeria means more opportunities for web designers, logistics personnel and affiliated services.
“In the next couple of years, e-commerce is going to emerge as one of the top recruiters in the country with a large increase in the number of marketing and content roles”, Wiles predicted.
According to the Ministry of Communications Technology, the Nigerian e-commerce space has created over 12,000 jobs since 2012 expanding the infrastructure, warehousing, advertising and logistics service industry. This figure will continue to rise due to zealous and assailing expansions, merges and acquisitions.
With the sharp increase in retailers  falling over themselves to spruce up their web presence and the e-commerce services they offer, the potential of e-commerce as a tool for job creation is limitless.
Almost all e-commerce companies are using varied marketing platforms to promote their businesses both online and offline thus requiring competent professionals to fulfill their various job descriptions. This growth will ultimately have an impact on the employment rate in allied industries like advertising, production, logistics, and payments, amongst others.
Wiles further stated that Kaymu had grown exponentially in the past two years and its employment rate will continue to match that pace. “The vision that started with about 5 people today has over 150 direct staff and thousands of employees for our sellers in 6 states across the country, thus creating more jobs within Nigeria”, she added”.
The growing e-commerce sector has resulted in a trend in job listings within the country with more than 60 percent of jobs advertised online falling into the e-commerce category.

E-commerce to create 50,000 jobs in Nigeria

As e-commerce expands aggressively across Nigeria, the sector may help create over 50,000 jobs within the country in 2-3 years. This was stated by Managing Director of Kaymu.com.ng Evangeline Wiles.
In a statement in Lagos, Wiles said as more and more retailers turn to e-commerce to acquire new customers and increase profit, the growing trends in online shopping in Nigeria means more opportunities for web designers, logistics personnel and affiliated services.
“In the next couple of years, e-commerce is going to emerge as one of the top recruiters in the country with a large increase in the number of marketing and content roles”, Wiles predicted.
According to the Ministry of Communications Technology, the Nigerian e-commerce space has created over 12,000 jobs since 2012 expanding the infrastructure, warehousing, advertising and logistics service industry. This figure will continue to rise due to zealous and assailing expansions, merges and acquisitions.
With the sharp increase in retailers  falling over themselves to spruce up their web presence and the e-commerce services they offer, the potential of e-commerce as a tool for job creation is limitless.
Almost all e-commerce companies are using varied marketing platforms to promote their businesses both online and offline thus requiring competent professionals to fulfill their various job descriptions. This growth will ultimately have an impact on the employment rate in allied industries like advertising, production, logistics, and payments, amongst others.
Wiles further stated that Kaymu had grown exponentially in the past two years and its employment rate will continue to match that pace. “The vision that started with about 5 people today has over 150 direct staff and thousands of employees for our sellers in 6 states across the country, thus creating more jobs within Nigeria”, she added”.
The growing e-commerce sector has resulted in a trend in job listings within the country with more than 60 percent of jobs advertised online falling into the e-commerce category.

EFCC drills Yakmut for 6hrs

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja
Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC),   Mallam Alhassan Yakmut has described his recent invitation by the anti- graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (ECCC) last week as a result of a petition written by some people who were not happy with his appointment.
Yakmut told  Sports Vanguard in Abuja that the EFCC drilled him for about six hours over a petition which claimed among other things that he was not qualified to be promoted to the office after d exit of d former DG, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye.
Yakmut   He also revealed that the petitioner whom he refused to name told the agency that he was elevated to his current position by those who wanted to use him to divert public funds.
“Yes I was invited to the EFCC and I was there for six hours because they were very professional, they were thorough, very efficient. They wanted to substantiate the credibility of the petition before them.
“The petitioner started  with a serious allegation that I was a creation of manipulation to siphon funds by d immediate past minister but the petitioner didn’t mention that I have a Masters degree, the petitioner said I was desperate to become director general. I don’t know how some1 who has spent 25 yr at the Sports Commission with a Masters degree and a core professional who has also passed the Permanent Secretary as far back as last year should be described as someone who is desperate.
“I wasn’t excited about the request and I refused to be agitated, I presented all the facts. There was a phantom claim that I have executed street lights with d All Africa Games funds to d tune of N109 million naira. All that we did as we have announced is 43 street lights to secure the athletes hostel and entrance into the stadium for the sum of N21 million naira & it was approved by the management and the minutes was signed by nine directors, only one director that did not sign & has made maximally the requirements of due process.
“We also sought the approval of the DG budget on the N750 million which was clearly stated that the amount was strictly for the preparation for the All Africa Games and the Olympics as well as participation for sporting activities. And when we gave them the expenditure that the sum of N685m out of that money has been expended so far and all athletes are in camp, yet the petitioner claimed our participation was in jeopardy. In fact the EFCC was wondering whether they were investigating an expenditure that was done after the event or before the event.”
Yakmut who said he will not be hampered by such antics added that many people who are not core professionals still think they can continue in the old way of putting square pegs in round holes.

Lara Oshiomhole's dress controversy

Blogosphere, it appears, cannot have enough of Iara Oshiomole, Edo state first lady and hot new wife of the state’s governor, Adam, who was the lone executive that took his

Adams Oshiomhole’s wife Iara looked stunning in red as she attended a meeting &  with President Buhari inUS
better half on the recently concluded visit of the presidential team to Washington DC.
Iara’s dress is responsible for the controversy this time, with folks arguing over the appropriateness of the dress madam Oshiomole wore on one of the occasions. Everyone agrees that the dress is hot, and that she looked stunning is not in contest.
A commentator writes: small wives always get away with eveything. Doubt if baba Oshio would have tolerated such from his first wife…

Some state lost govt's lost bailout money to Bank loans +Yari

Gov. Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara has said that some indebted state governments lost their bailout money to servicing outstanding loans they had obtained from banks.
It will be recalled recalls that the money was sourced from the revenue paid to the Federation Account by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).
Yari, who was fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja, expressed concern that many state governments were still facing financial challenges, in spite the disbursement of the NLNG money.
“What I’m saying is that no money is released yet apart from the NLNG money. But I think the NLNG money that was given, some states, their own was taken by the banks because it is due for them to repay some certain loans.
“So, therefore, automatically, that has to go there.’’
“But for sure, some other governors reported that money went to their accounts, it was taken by some banks because of their outstanding loans.’’
He, however, stated that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was negotiating with the banks on how state governments could freely access the next batch of the bailout funds, to enable them to settle outstanding salaries of their respective workers.
On the West African Examination Council (WAEC) debts owed by some states, Yari, who is also the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, said the issue was being addressed by the affected states.
“Some state governments need to verify between the WAEC and their Ministries of Education and other departments of education. So, that’s why some states cannot pay the registration fees,’’

Time To Rethink Subsidy

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has hinted that his government may not remove the petroleum subsidy, saying that the reasons so far canvassed for its removal did not sound plausible.
He added that it will have adverse effect on the poor and jobless Nigerians. 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 he would review all the submissions he had received before making a final decision.
While the President needs to carry every segment of the society along, he must reflect deeply on the cost and benefit of retaining subsidy. It is a known fact that petrol price increase has far-reaching effects on  food items, transport fares and other areas that affect the ordinary Nigerian.
In the last few years, the administration of fuel subsidy has not impacted positively on the economy and the masses it was meant to help. Subsidy removal has cost the nation hugely both in material and human resources. Many have died in subsidy removal protests and several man hours lost in strikes. Every government, civilian or military, has made attempt at removing subsidy but dropped the idea due to social backlashes.
In the twilight of the last administration, several billions of dollars were uncovered as subsidy fraud. In fact, a $6.8 billion fuel subsidy fraud scandal heaped pressure on former President Goodluck Jonathan to prosecute those involved. A string of investigations, audit panels and committees were set-up to investigate the issues. The subsidy regime between 2009 and 2014 was fraught with endemic corruption and entrenched inefficiency.
We share in the President’s concern for the citizenry but subsidy  can no longer be sustained. The oil prices are down; government ability to generate revenue through taxation is limited. We believe that subsidy can better be administered through the production process. The government should consider attracting investors to set up refineries in the country by granting them subsidy to produce and sell to the consumers at reasonable prices.
Instead of entering into swap agreement with oil traders, government could offer crude at lower than international market price for refining here in Nigeria. This will ensure enhanced local refining capacity, regular fuel supply and creation of employment for Nigerians. It will equally encourage other ancillary firms that make use of crude oil by- products to come on stream. This certainly will grow the economy.
The time has come for us to take the bull by the proverbial horn and permanently resolve the contradiction of being the sixth largest export of oil in the world and yet unable to refine and manage local production for the benefit of our people

OYO Workers to be paid this week-NLC

By Ola Ajayi
Ibadan—After months of agony due to unpaid  salaries, thousands of workers in Oyo State, will heave a sigh of relief this week, as the state government has agreed with the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress to settle them.
This was disclosed by the State Chairman of NLC, Mr. Waheed Olojede in Ibadan, yesterday.
Some workers in the state are yet to be paid their March salary, while others are being owed salaries of May and June.
The state NLC boss added that payment would exclude the Local Government staff who had already collected their March and April salaries.
Olojede said, “With the sustained consultation of labour union with the Oyo State Government over the weekend, it is now clear that payment of the balance of March salary to workers in the mainstream of public service on grade level 13 and above, pensions and subventions to the judiciary and state higher institutions will commence with immediate effect.”

Walcott close to signing new deal for Arsenal!

Arsene Wenger has revealed Arsenal winger Theo Walcott is on the verge of signing a new contract with the FA Cup winners.
Walcott’s current deal expires at the end of the forthcoming season and talks over an extension had dragged on without a successful conclusion for several months.

Walcott
But reports over the weekend claimed the 26-year-old England international had finally agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth around £100,000 ($155,000) a week.
Asked for an update on the situation on Sunday, Gunners boss Wenger confirmed he expects negotiations to be concluded shortly.
“He hasn’t signed a new deal yet but we are getting closer and closer and hopefully we can get it done very soon,” Wenger said after Walcott scored the second half winner in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Wolfsburg in the Emirates Cup.
Walcott’s goal against the German club came while he was deployed in his preferred central striker’s role.
After years of playing Walcott out on the wings, Wenger admits the former Southampton player is now capable of functioning as the main focus of Arsenal’s attack.
“I’ve always said he’s a goalscorer because he has the speed, the movement and the eye for taking a chance when he gets in these positions. I believe he will score goals,” said Wenger, who also successfully used Walcott as a striker in last season’s FA Cup final win over Aston Villa.
“He has his own way. He is not what you call the aggressive striker, he is the mobile striker, he lives on the quality of his movement.
“He turns up in the right space in the area, he anticipates well, and with his speed that makes him very dangerous.
“In his ideal he would like to play with a strong guy physically in the middle.
“But when I played him on the left he liked it as well because when he makes a good run he can score.”
– Potential –
Arsenal’s victory over last season’s Bundesliga runners-up completed a successful weekend as they won the pre-season Emirates Cup tournament in front of their own fans for the first time since 2010.
They weren’t able to recapture the swashbuckling form that produced a 6-0 rout of Lyon on Saturday, but there was still much to encourage the always cautious Wenger ahead of next weekend’s Community Shield clash with Chelsea and their Premier League opener against West Ham on August 9.
“The pre-season has gone well, but this period is to prepare to be efficient in the Premier League. The real truth starts when the season begins against West Ham,” Wenger said.
A solid home debut for Petr Cech following his £11 million ($17 million) move from Chelsea was undoubtedly a sight for sore eyes after so many years of indifferent displays from Arsenal’s goalkeepers.
And Wenger admitted the Czech veteran’s presence should be a much-needed boost to his sometimes shaky defence.
“He is at the top level on the experience front. As well he is a good communicator, he brings a sort of calmness in the way he responds to situations that will help to lift the confidence of our defenders,” Wenger said.
There was also a tantalising glimpse into Arsenal’s future as 17-year-old French midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide, signed from Lens last month, delivered an eye-catching display including the assist for Walcott’s goal.
“He looks very promising and has fantastic potential,” Wenger said.
“He needs to work with the first team for a year to develop, so he will stay with us rather than go on loan.
“In some situations he has the game of a 17-year-old, but he has also shown great potential and looks very advanced physically for his age.”

Buhari urges Odusile, journalists to support him rebuild Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari on sunday congratulated Mr Abdulwaheed Odusile of the Nation Newspapers on his election as the new President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.
According to Buhari, with Odusile’s worthy credentials, long experience and antecedents as a highly respected and reputable professional, the NUJ boss can be expected to discharge his new responsibility of leading the union to greater heights of accomplishment with distinction.
The President assured Odusile and the newly elected executive officers of the NUJ of the fullest support and cooperation of the Federal Government.
He, therefore, enjoined them to reposition and revitalise the journalism profession in Nigeria for present and future challenges, including the revolutionary impact of new technologies on communications and information dissemination.
Buhari further assured the new NUJ president and all journalists in Nigeria that his administration would consistently uphold their right to perform their constitutionally assigned role in society without hindrance.
“I look forward to working in a harmonious partnership with Odusile, the new NUJ executive and media practitioners in Nigeria as the Federal Government strives to end the scourge of Boko Haram, improve national security,
“rebuild and expand national infrastructure, accelerate the pace of economic development across the country and create more employment opportunities for Nigerian youth,’’ the statement quoted the President as saying.
Buhari wished Odusile and other newly-elected executive officers of the NUJ a very successful tenure in the service of their profession and country

For now, No Governor has got one Naira under bailout arrangement

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says contrary to insinuations in many quarters, no state has got a kobo from the Federal Government as bailout fund.
He spoke Saturday at a reception for the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase in Sabongida Ora, Owan West Local Government Area of the state.
According to the Governor, the cheering news, however, is that President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to seeing an end to the situation where up to fifteen states owe workers’ salaries.
He said: “there is some conversation going on between the Federal Government and the Governors and the president has been extremely positive in recognizing that he does not want to preside over a country whose workers are not paid.
“At the end of the day, it is not acceptable where fourteen to fifteen states cannot pay salaries. The good news is that the president is standing by us and there is always a time lag between when you conceptualize and when you implement.
“For now, no government has got one naira under the bailout arrangement.”
On the Inspector-General of Police who was holding a thanksgiving on his elevation, the Governor said: “the celebrant is not just a man of history, there are many people who could become the I-G, by political connection, but I think he has a very unique ability.
“I also believe that your present elevation is a demonstration of the way you have sought to manage your office , deal with the challenges of the police force without being partisan, This is a difficult position to maintain. As an Edo man, you represent the finest tradition with courage, determination and intellect to your job no matter whose ox is gored”, he said.
Oshiomhole continued “I think at this time, the I-G would need all the prayers, support and encouragement particularly of Edo people. Let it not be said that the task of policing was made more difficult by the people of the state. And he is serving under a president who will not tolerate indiscipline. He is an I-G to drive changes in the psyche and governance of our great nation,
“It is a thing of pride to our people that coming from a minority, he has risen to become the I-G of the police. But we also recognize that he is coming to office at a very challenging time. This is the time we need such people with security of mind and competence to drive the changes which president Buhari has promised the people by ensuring that the police play their part of providing security to the people.”
On his part the president of Ora Ekpen Development Association, Prof. S Ahonkhai said the I-G is forthright, dependable and a man of integrity.
He said “I humbly enjoin all of you to pray for him so that his tenure will become a milestone of the success in the history of the Nigerian Police.”
In an address of welcome, Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Ehimika Ifidon said in celebrating the I-G, the Ora people of Edo State are also celebrating other sons and daughters who have made tremendous achievements in various areas.
Responding, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase said he felt elated to receive the honour being bestowed on him with joy.
He said “I remain extremely grateful for this honour and for the personal sacrifices that you have made to make this occasion a huge success. May the Almighty God return the honour you have bestowed on me and perfect your ways, grant you protection and success in all your endeavour.
“Sabongidda Ora has made my life. It reminds me of the time-tested saying that, ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’. I shall promise three things in return. First in my line of duty, I will continue to project those values that would edify this community. And I will not engage in anything that would bring our communal values to disrepute

President Jonathan lied, says Saraki

‎BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI
ILORIN-Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki disclosed yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan lied during last monnday campaign to kwara that his administration was responsible for funding a multi-million naira dam in Malete, Moro local government area of the state.
Jonathan had during his campaign visit to Ilorin, the state capital, mentioned the project as one of the contributions of his administration to the state.

Senator Saraki

Similarly,Minister of National Palnning, Dr. Sulaiman Abubaka had also at a meeting with newsmen later in the day listed the dam project as one of the various projects sponsored by the federal government in the state.
Malete,in Moro local government was where Senato‎r Bukola Saraki located the Kwara state university while he was the governor hence to him,it was a pay back time.
‎The fomer governor and APC leader in the state had insisted that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has not done anything for Kwara in six years.
Saraki, while addressing supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at Malete yesterday hinted that funding for the said Dam project was from the constituency allowance of federal lawmakers from the state with the exception of Senator Simon Ajibola whom he claimed refused to contribute to the project.
Vanguard reliably gathered that Saraki from Kwara central and senator Sha’ba Lafiagi from Kwara north contributed N125 million each while each of the six members of the House of Representatives contributed N62.5 million into the project.
His words, “I was amused the other day when President Jonathan came to Ilorin and he said they have given you dam in Malete. I laughed because I know that money for that project was from our constituency project. Each of us who are senators was supposed to contribute our constituency allowance just like the House of Reps members.
“We held a meeting, nine of us from the state on the project but senator Ajibola refused to put down his own money. He never foresaw that he would one day need you but today he is coming to ask you to vote him as governor. Would you vote for someone who refused to contribute to your wellbeing; a project that is meant to provide water for your community and the entire local government?”
The senator harped that it was his administration that brought the state university, KWASU, to the community because of his love for the residents and which has brought tremendous transformation to the area.
He urged the people to reciprocate his good gestures to them and vote for all the APC candidates and assured them of more presence of federal government projects under the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari.

13-year old student murdered in cold blood

By Chidi Nkwopara, OWERRI.
Palpable anxiety has gripped Umuagaragu, Enyiogugu community in Aboh Mbaise local council area of Imo State, following the gruesome murder of Uzoma Okerenkwo, a 13-year old JSS 2 student of Logara High School, Ngor Okpala, by unknown assassins.
Fear and apprehension enveloped the entire community soon after the lifeless body of Uzoma was discovered along a bush path close to his home.
A villager, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, told Vanguard that “Uzoma’s throat was mercilessly slashed by the assassins”.
One of the stories associated with this gory tale was that Uzoma was last seen in company of two other boys before his lifeless body was discovered in the bush.
When Vanguard visited the home of the deceased’s family compound, his widowed mother was looking completely dazed and unable to speak on the issue.
However, late Uzoma’s uncle, Chief Donatus Okerenkwo, explained that the deceased had gone to the market earlier in the day to buy some food stuff for his mother and kola nuts for him.
“News filtered in that there was a corpse in a nearby bush. On getting to the scene, we found out that the reported unidentified corpse was that of Uzoma”, Chief Okerenkwo recounted.
Answering a question, the aggrieved man reasoned that his cousin could have been killed elsewhere but carefully brought close to the family home by the assassins.
“There is no visible sign of a struggle between the slain boy and the murderers. The blood clot around his neck sadly tells the sad tale of how the boy was slain”, Okerenkwo recounted.
Vanguard gathered at press time that a suspect was already helping the police to unravel the circumstances that led to Uzoma’s death, while his remains has been moved to an undisclosed morgue, awaiting autopsy

Nigeria loses more than $2 billion annually to India through medical tourism

Dr. Dayo Adeyanju is the Commissioner for Health in Ondo State. In this chat, he speaks on  how Nigeria loses more than $2 billion annually to India through medical tourism, explained in details the management of deaths arising from the consumption of local gin (Ogogoro) in Irele community, while outlining the gains of  the state’s deliberate investments in the health sector.
By Olufemi Ajasa
 
What is the state of Ondo State’s health sector ?
When we came in, under the leadership of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, all the indices indicated that Ondo had the worst health status with our maternal mortality standing at 745 per 100,000 live births. So, as a responsible government, we decided to launch the Abiye project and built Mother and Child Hospitals to reverse the trend. So, between 2009 and 2012, the maternal mortality dropped to 317, and, today, we have come down to 187.

China sentences fourteen (14) cut members who say Jesus has been reincarnated

A total of 14 members of a Chinese religious cult have been jailed for up to three years, state media said Sunday, the latest sentences after two members were executed this year for killing a woman.
Nine members of the banned Quannengshen group were convicted of “undermining the implementation of laws by making use of cult organisations”, the official Xinhua news agency said, citing prosecutors in the central province of Hubei.
The sentences ranged from 18 months to three years, the agency quoted local authorities as saying on Sunday.
It added that on Saturday a court in the northeastern province of Liaoning sentenced five cult members to prison terms of two or three years.
The agency said the punishments were for “spreading cult propaganda”.
Followers of Quannengshen, whose name can be translated as Church of Almighty God, believe that Jesus has been reincarnated as a Chinese woman — the wife of the cult’s founder.
The organisation appeared in the 1990s and the founder and his wife fled to the United States in 2000, Xinhua said.
A father and daughter who belonged to Quannengshen were executed in February after being convicted of beating a woman to death at a McDonald’s restaurant, reportedly after she rebuffed their attempts to recruit her.
Three others convicted over the attack — including another of the executed man’s daughters — were given prison terms ranging from seven years to life.
Earlier this month Xinhua reported that the spiritual leader of a Chinese Buddhist sect would be prosecuted for financial and sexual offences.
China has cracked down harshly on religious groups, mostly notably on the Falungong movement which was banned in the late 1990s.
It has submitted to its rubber-stamp parliament a new law which includes harsher punishments for those involved in “cults or superstitious activities”.

NNPC WORKERS QUESTION ON ST

Nigerians woke up Tuesday, July 21, 2015, after what some would have been termed a peaceful Sallah celebration, to read in some newspapers  a 21-day ultimatum had been issued by the leadership of the Petrol Station Workers  (PSW) Branch of NUPENG to petrol station owners in the downstream sector, NNPC retail outlet (mega stations), major marketers filling stations and independent marketers filling stations (PEDAN, MOMAN, IPMAN, NNPC, RETAIL OUTLET, LTD) to  accede to its demands or have its members working in all filling stations nationwide withdrawn from work. One of such publications appeared as a paid advertorial at page 44 of Vanguard Newspaper of Tuesday, July 21, and signed by Comrades Roland Abu and Abass Adegoke; Branch Chairman and Secretary of PSW of NUPENG respectively.
Any discerning reader, who had the patience of reading through not only that ill-conceived but  also unnecessary polity pollutant, as presented in that write-up by the Petroleum Station Workers, would, no doubt, agree that the nation, at this stage, can no longer be threatened with strikes, withdrawal of workers, etcetera by any branch in the oil sector, as there has been one too many in recent months, resulting in great pains for Nigerians and adversely affecting the economy.
This goes to show that the state of the trade union in Nigeria is lamentable. The PSW leadership has lost focus and has become completely disconnected from the workers they claim to be representing. Instead of the union leadership  maintaining  a class position and  take responsibilities that will better the lot of the entire citizens of the country while engaging  in the efforts to move the economy forward, it issues needless threats. To say the least, the union leadership has abandoned  its  core responsibilities as shown in  international best practice of the trade union movement- providing training for members, equal right for employees and welfare programs for members, etc.
From the publication, the crux of the matter, according to the PSW, are as follows: The inability of the afore-mentioned bodies to (1) “Allow their workers exercise their fundamental human rights; to freely unionize… and (2) “…Non-existence of salary structure and collective bargaining agreement for its workers in the downstream sector of the economy…”
Fuel scarcity
The implication of the strike threat is that Nigerians should get set for another round of fuel scarcity in the weeks ahead should the concerned stakeholders refuse to accede to their demands, even as many cities in the country are experiencing fuel scarcity as a result of the  actions and  inaction  of some  oil sector unions.
It is disheartening that at a time the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is saddled with managing an economically weak, and virtually impoverished country; at a time Nigerians are divided along ethnic and religious lines perhaps more than ever before, a wobbling ‘federal’ structure showing the inability of most federating units to function, security of lives and property across Nigeria at  its lowest ebb, an oil-dependent economy in the doldrum due to corruption and the fall in global oil prices, and more than 50 per cent of the population living below the poverty line; at a time the President is seeking international  help to end the threat of  Boko Haram and the recovery of the nation’s looted funds; at a period that all attention is focused on how to ensure that our refineries are working again and producing for our local consumption; a season that joblessness and unemployment have forced Nigerians to take to begging, it is something of great concern that the leadership of the PSW is threatening to withdraw its members from their source of livelihood just because they must unionize.
While this is not aimed at preventing any Nigerian worker the right and freedom in accordance with the extant labour laws of the country, it is, however, unfortunate that the way some of these rights and policies are pursued and exercised have not only left a  sour taste in the month to the workers but also brought pains to Nigerians while our union leaders sit and clap with sadistic inclination. It is nauseating to see the pains the union leaders are causing to the employers of their members and the people.
The lamentable state of the trade union has left doubt in the minds of Nigerians as to when and how some trade unions affiliates should be trusted because the perception that these bodies are the government of the masses has been long eroded. Why? They feed  mostly on the sentiment of the majority (people who understand next to nothing about policies) to mobilise against policies that potentially could benefit all. The result of this is that, at the end of every fight, the masses come out worse than they were.
From history, in the so-called battles to ameliorate the plight of the masses, the same masses will still be at the receiving end. For example, the loss of the minimum wage, to fuel subsidy removal and conducting election amongst themselves-they have not only failed themselves but also the masses.
Anti-people stance
Nobody is paying anybody minimum wage in the country today. We are all witnesses to the fiasco that followed the National Council of State (NCS) meeting of November 2010 which  okayed the N18,000 minimum wage demanded by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). Economists are still baffled at the arithmetic the labour used to arrive at that figure for workers across the country, including states that could barely generate enough income to buy petrol for their governors vehicles.
It is unfortunate that a nation like Nigeria is constantly subjected to  artificial scarcity of  petroleum products just because some unionists have today become anti-people.
Unionists must not forget  how President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela sacked the CTV (Confederación de Trabajadores de Venezuela) (Confederation of Venezuelan Workers), the central labour body in that country, before he came to power in 1999. Labour leaders must also not forget the weakening of unionism in that country due to the number of factions and branches among the central workers’ union and especially the personal ambition of their leaders which was seen as a clog in the wheel of progress of that country.
Nigeria today is at the threshold of negative or positive history. The challenges before the Buhari administration are so many that they require the collective will of the people to tackle. This must not be done through persistent disruption of the system.
A situation where factions or branches in the labour unions are allowed  to pull out workers on strike and ground the economy must no longer be encouraged. Such action should, henceforth, be treated as treasonable.This is not healthy for the nation as no nation survives without entrepreneurs; there is nothing wrong in workers organizing for a genuine cause, but the spurious ones, especially in the oil and gas sector, is becoming an embarassment.
I appeal to all unions or branches suffering from one form of crisis or another to find a common ground through the mother union to sort out their grievances as Nigerians are  tired of distractions. Unions should learn to sacrifice a little today while allowing the new government of Buhari time to settle down. Let us remember that we are placed in our various vantage positions to bring glory to God and satisfaction to our fellow human beings. This is the golden course of nature!

STOP CALLING BUHARI `BABA GO SLOW'

Ibadan – A Cleric, Moses Kasali, has called on Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari over the delay in constituting his cabinet.
He made the call on Saturday while addressing the congregation at the auditorium of the ministry in Ibadan.
Kasali, Head, Mercy of Prayer Ministry, Ibadan, was optimistic that the President would choose members of his cabinet within the first 100 days of his administration.
He also urged Nigerians to avoid calling the President ‘Baba Go Slow’ for not constituting his cabinet almost two months after his inauguration.
He said that Buhari was studying the situation to ensure appointment of competent and reliable hands into key ministries and parastatals.
Kasali said the wrangling in the two chambers of the National Assembly was a carryover of the old order.

WE DON'T NEED FOREIGN AID

By Soni Daniel
President Muhammadu Buhari believes Nigeria does not need foreign aid if the world powers can help her plug all the loopholes that had been used by government officials to steal her assets.
A Presidency official on Buhari’s four-day visit to the United States (US), which ended on Wednesday, quoted the President, yesterday, as telling US officials that Nigeria has the resources to stand on her feet, and that the world powers should help her.
In the meantime, Nigeria is to draw down investments and cash worth $13.6 billion following negotiations and understanding reached by Buhari with the American government during the visit, Sunday Vanguard learnt, yesterday.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Secreatry of state, John Kerry in Washington DC on July 21st 2015
The President met with US President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, among many other top functionaries, during the visit.
“Buhari did not go to the US with a begging bowl. We don’t need foreign aid, he told everyone, so long as the world powers can help us plug all the loopholes that had been used to steal our assets,” Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Publicity, disclosed to Sunday Vanguard.
Whereas the President said, during the visit, that about $150 billion is stolen annually from Nigeria and many other African countries, the Presidency official said, ”Americans hold the view that between $10 billion and $20 billion dollars is lost annually through the crude oil sector alone.”
He quoted his boss as saying: ”There is no organisation or government (across the world) that can give us (Nigeria) $5 billion. If we plug our loopholes and recover stolen money stashed abroad, Nigeria will do well by herself.”
A breakdown of the $13.6 billion earmarked for Nigeria, courtesy of the Buhari US visit, shows that $5 billion is coming for investments in the power sector, another $5 billion is to fund investments in the agricultural sector, $1.5 billion is from the Bill Gates Foundation while $2.1 billion is being provided by the World Bank.
Of particular interest is the discovery that the huge sums being brought for investments into the country, according to the Presidency official, attract no counterpart funding.
Similarly, in its efforts to assist Nigeria eradicate polio, the Bill Gates Foundation, which is revving its support with additional $1.2 billion, is extending its areas of coverage to four more states – Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno and Yobe.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President described Buhari’s outing in the U.S as a monumental success.
According to him, no Nigerian leader ever achieved that kind of success in one visit.
Shehu said: ” From our point of view, no past President of this country has ever netted these for Nigeria from a single U.S. trip. Overall, it is a resounding success.
“The clamour for President Buhari was astounding. He was gone after by every member of the United States establishment. He met Secretary of State John Kerry, Vice President Joe Biden and the President of the United States, Barack Obama.
“I am not sure there was any past Nigerian President who met as many a number of Secretaries of U.S. Departments as Buhari did and, in all of these meetings, the personal integrity of President Buhari came through.”

Word cup draw

The top 13 ranked African football nations received a boost Friday when the draw procedure for the 2018 World Cup qualifying draws in Russia was unveiled. Each of them gets a first-round bye before facing one of the weaker national teams on the continent in the second round this November. And victories in the home-and-away ties would secure places in the 20-nation third round from which the five group winners qualify for the World Cup to be hosted by Russia. Algeria top the African rankings and the other top 13 countries are Ivory Coast, Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroon, Congo, Cape Verde, Egypt, Nigeria, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali. Africa is among the continents whose World Cup qualifying draws will be made Saturday (1800 local time, 1500 GMT) at the Konstantin Palace in Russian second city Saint Petersburg. Among those who will assist with the draw is retired Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o, one of the greatest footballers produced by Africa. Eto’o was capped 117 times by the ‘Indomitable Lions’, scored 56 goals and made his farewell World Cup appearance at the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Zimbabwe are the only one of the 54 Confederation of African Football (CAF) members who will not take part in the draw. The cash-strapped national football association of the southern Africa state did not pay a severance package to former coach Brazilian Jose Claudinei Georgini and were barred by world football governing body FIFA. The 26 lowest-ranked countries go into the first-round draw, with home-and-away ties this October producing 13 overall winners. Those qualifiers will be paired with the top 13 sides for home-and-away ties during November with group-stage slots up for grabs. Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, South Africa, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Uganda and Rwanda — ranked 14 to 20 — are in a separate pot. And their opponents will come from Togo, Morocco, Sudan, Angola, Mozambique, Benin and Libya, the countries ranked immediately below them. Morocco are the team to avoid even though the last of four World Cup appearances by the north African kingdom was 17 years ago in France. Coached by 1986 World Cup goalkeeper Badou Zaki the Atlas Lions squad includes Bayern Munich defender Mehdi Benatia and regular-scoring Granada striker Youssef El-Arabi. The winners of these seven ties also secure places in the six-matchday group stage, scheduled to kick-off in October 2016 and end during November 2017. A separate draw will split the 20 second-round winners into five groups and each mini-league winner goes to Russia.

focus

As general Muhammad Buhari started his administration all Nigerian are thinking that all things we'll put in to other

why always crisis in house of Representative if not selfish intrest

• All our leaders are deep in to selfish intrest,  that is why they are fight for senate president and speaker if not why are they fighting for it let asume if Nigerian ask them to sacrifice everyone will do, but because of their own intresting they start boxing it other  

doller

 BY AJ Oriyoni on 10/07/2015
Marah is the place of bitterness while Elim is the place of fruitfulness, advancement, progress and fulfillment. You cannot get to Elim until you have gone through Marah. This is why it is so important to deal with whatever issues that is causing bitterness in your life.
Beloved do know that right where that bitterness started or emanated from, the solution is already there. We trust God that by this message you will enter into your liberty and become fruitful roundabout. This is your season to shine.
Too many people are filled with bitterness that is grievously ravaging their lives. They are so unhappy and miserable in life. Every little thing gets them upset and angry. They are not able to flow and be blissful in life. Bitterness is a disease worse than cancer and AIDS. It is a death trap. It eats up the individual and ends up destroying the individual. Bitterness is the cause of so many sicknesses that has no medical cure. It is indeed a great hindrance to one’s fruitfulness. It is a tool that causes setbacks. It is difficult to be bitter and make progress in life.facebook

I urge  all Muslim to be good every time before and after Ramadan 

Buhari start appointing service chiefs