Christmas: Lagos Speaker enjoins Nigerians to imbibe Jesus’ virtues

Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, has called on Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of peace, love and perseverance from the life of Jesus Christ to move the country forward and ensure its development and growth.
This was contained in Obasa’s Christmas message to the people on Saturday in Lagos.
The statement was signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Razak.
“As we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, we should not forget to imbibe his virtues as criteria for national development,” Speaker Obasa said.
According to him, Jesus Christ was the harbinger of peace and love, while perseverance radiated all over Him in his lifetime.

He added: “He was peace, love and perseverance personified. At this point in time in our socio-political history, we need to imbibe all these virtues as a people for our country to grow and develop.”
Describing Christmas as a period of joy and festivity when people celebrate, dance and wine together, the Lagos Assembly Speaker urged Nigerians to do everything in moderation so that the society will remain at peace.
Obasa said: “Our people should desist from activities that can cause chaos and violence. We should always remember that Christmas goes beyond wining and dining alone, it is also a period to share love, preach peace and ensure we all co-habit amicably. Therefore we should desist from unnecessary indulgence capable of breaching the peace of the society.”
The Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker wished Nigerians a happy Christmas celebration.

FG saves N20bn on salaries monthly-Perm. Sec

FG saves N20bn on salaries monthly-Perm. Sec

The Federal Government says it has been saving about N20 billion on salaries monthly since it began to fish out ghost workers. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, said this while addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja on the sideline of a workshop on cost management.
The workshop was organised for Directors and top civil servants of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) by the Efficiency Unit of the Ministry of Finance. Isa-Dutse said that the drastic reduction in the cost of monthly wages was from N165 billion to N145 billion monthly. He said this was done with the assistance of the Presidential Committee on Audit of MDAs. He said the committee had the responsibility of continuous auditing of MDAs’ salaries and wages.
Isa-Dutse had declared the workshop open on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun when she said the present administration was interested in cutting costs and giving value for money spent. She said that the main aim of the workshop was to sensitise public officials to cost and share with them some tools to manage the cost. “It is basically to train on how, as a government, we can manage our cost better. “It is not only imperative that we look at ways to generate more money for government, but at the same time we must also manage our cost more efficiently. “As we have seen even though revenue has gone down in the last couple of years, expenditure, particularly overhead has not gone down correspondingly and that has created fiscal pressures for government. ” What we are doing is to look at whatever ways we can to generate more savings for government to be run more efficiently. “We want the savings realised from the efficiencies to be channeled into higher priority areas like infrastructure and social welfare spending,’’ she said Head of the Efficiency Unit, Mrs Patience Oniha, said that in the last one year that the unit was established, it had saved the government about N15 billion. The savings, she said, were from overheads and reduction in excessive foreign travels and other allowances. The Head of the Efficiency Unit added that more funds would be saved by consciously eliminating waste of government resources. She also said that the unit was working on several other items to be added to the list of cost cutting items.

Lagos Assembly orders D-G to vacate office.

Lagos Assembly orders D-G to vacate office.

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday ordered the Director-General (D-G), Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Hakeem Dickson, to vacate office until given approval by the House. The order followed an observation by the Chairman, House Committee on Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr Olusola Shokunle, that Dickson was occupying the position without the approval of the House.
Shokunle (PDP-Oshodi/Isolo I) told the House that Dickson had not been given approved at any time by the Assembly. The lawmaker added that such a development was against normal practice and the law which established the commission.
He said,“ This is a wrong step that should be urgently addressed by the House.’’ Supporting Shokunle’s position, Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Petitions, Human Rights and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, noted that the public was watching activities of the state government. Tejuosho said that whoever would occupy such a public office should be given clearance by the House. Also commenting, the House Chief Whip, Mr Rotimi Abiru, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Mr Olanrewaju Ogunyemi, urged the Assembly to request Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to send Dickson to the House for screening. Consequently, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa directed the acting Clerk of the House, Mr Azeez Sanni, to write a letter to the commission, asking Dickson to step aside and stop parading himself as the D-G. He said that this became necessary to allow due process. Obasa said that the order would remain until Dickson’s clearance by the House. According to him, the House will enquire if the commission has a legal department which ought to have advised the management on the steps to take before someone occupies the office. NAN reports that Dickson was appointed into the office after the exit of its former D-G, Mr Fouad Oki.

Court declines making order on frozen $15.5m linked to Patience Jonathan

Court declines making order on frozen $15.5m linked to Patience Jonathan

Lagos – Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court Lagos, on Tuesday, refused to restrain a brother judge from taking steps in relation to the frozen 15.5 million dollars allegedly belonging to Patience Jonathan. Idris declined an application by counsel to the former first lady, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), who sought an order to restrain Justice Babs Kuewumi from taking further steps on the frozen sum.
Adedipe had urged the court to stop Kuewumi from making any forfeiture orders, in respect of the said sum, which was frozen by the EFCC, until the determination of an interlocutory application on the subject. It will be recalled that Jonathan had instituted a fundamental rights suit against the EFCC, claiming the sum of 200 million dollars as damages for inconveniences suffered. In her suit, she had joined the EFCC, Skye Bank plc, and a former aide to ex president Goodluck Jonathan, Warampo Dudafa as respondents. Also joined in the suit are four companies namely: Pluto Property Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean company Ltd and Globus Integrated Service Ltd. It will be recalled also that Dudafa was charged alongside the four companies before Justice Kuewumi, on 15 counts of money laundering. Representatives of the four companies, which the EFCC claimed were used by Dudafa to launder the said money, had all pleaded guilty to the offences. The said 15.5 million dollars, is the same sum which the former first lady claims belongs to her as sole signatory to the accounts of the companies. When the case was called on Tuesday, Justice Idris acknowledged a letter from counsel representing Skye Bank, Mr Lanre Ogunlesi, stating that he was indisposed and could not attend the court. The judge added that since Ogunlesi has requested for a new date to enable him appear in court, the hearing of the application on notice can not proceed. Meanwhile, before the court could adjourned the case, Adedipe had urged the judge to direct the EFCC not to tamper with the subject matter of the case pending the hearing of the interlocutory application. In response, Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the application on the grounds that the accounts which housed the money had been frozen. He urged the court to dismiss the application with a “wave of hand”; adding that there was already an order of court convicting four defendants for warehousing proceeds of crime. In a short ruling, Justice Idris held that he could not go into the merits or demerits of the interlocutory application, until it is moved. He ordered accelerated hearing of the case and said that he could not make any order that will be prejudicial to the outcome of the main suit. He consequently, adjourned the case to Dec. 7 for hearing of the main application. In her suit, Jonathan is urging the court to issue an order discharging the freezing order, and restraining the EFCC and it’s agent from further placing a freezing order on the said accounts.

Pirated product as poisonous as adulterated drug – Lai Mohammed.

Pirated product as poisonous as adulterated drug – Lai Mohammed.

Lagos – The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that “a pirated product is as poisonous as an adulterated drug” and urged stakeholders to take necessary steps to stem piracy. The minister said this on Sunday night in Lagos at the command performance of one of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka’s iconic plays, “Death and the King’s Horseman”.
The play was staged by the National Troupe of Nigeria to celebrate Soyinka, one of Nigeria’s literary gifts to the world.
Mohammed decried the level of piracy of intellectual property in the country, stating that elites were most guilty of patronising pirated goods. “There are existing laws that protect the artists against piracy. However, it is the elites that mostly patronise pirated copies of movies and records. “We need to start our campaign by letting the elites understands that a pirated product is as poisonous as an adulterated drug and worse than armed robbery “When an educated person stops at a bus stop and in traffic and buys pirated CDs, books or other works of art, what signal is he sending out? “We must first launch the campaign for people to know that piracy is worse than armed robbery; just as receiver of stolen goods is as guilty as the thief, so should we treat those who patronise pirated products,” he said. Mohammed also called on the National Assembly to take a second look at the various Bills before it, notably the “Bill for the Creation of National Endowment Fund for the Arts”. According to him, anywhere in the world, the creative industry thrives on accessibility to grants from government. “You cannot successfully run the creative industry when you borrow at 20 to 30 per cent interest rate. “You can only improve and grow the creative industry when there is the enabling environment and access to fund,” he said. The minister described Soyinka’s literary creativity, ingenuity and contributions to the growth and development of literature and dramatic arts, as legendary. “I recall how, this time 30 years ago, Nigeria was inducted into the hall of fame of producers of Nobel Laureates with Professor Soyinka’s winning of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature. “It was such a historic moment for us in the creative industry as a nation and as a continent because it was the first time that a Nigerian, an African and indeed a black writer will be named a recipient of the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature,” he said. Mohammed solicited the continued support of the literary giant in the quest to develop and promote the country’s creative industry to enhance its contributions to the national economy. Mr Akin Adejuwon, the Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Troupe of Nigeria commended the efforts of the minister at revamping the creative sector in the country. He said stakeholders were looking up to him and believed in his capability to turn the industry around for the best. NAN reports that an award was presented to Soyinka, who was represented at the event by his son, Makin.

Between the Nigerian State, Shi’ites and the Sunnis.

Between the Nigerian State, Shi’ites and the Sunnis.

THE Sunni-dominated Northern political and clerical establishment is using the machinery of the Nigeria State to wage war against their co-religionists and rival, the Shia Muslims, whose organisational umbrella, the Islamic movement of Nigeria, IMN, is currently under siege. The latest heavy-handed and ruthless measure, against the shia Muslims or shittes as they are referred in the popular media is the police massacre of their members in Kano, who were doing a peaceful trek in one of their religious rituals.
The weapons with which they allegedly provoked the police, consisted of catapults and sticks for which the police responded with heavy machine gun fire which the media reported killed about twenty of them. However, the group said that their casualty figure is over fifty. Antecedents show that the group figures are usually more correct. December, last year, when the army ruthlessly descended on the group in Zaria, following a stand-off, the group had with the army chief, Gen. Buratai over traffic gridlock allegedly orchestrated by the shitte movement, the group put their dead at nearly half a million which was disputed by the army. During the Kaduna state government panel of inquiry, which supposedly investigated the fracas, the state government officials let out the cat, of a hurriedly-dug mass grave, which contained at least 347 bodies of the decimated Shia members including women and children. The panel of inquiry concluded their months long seating without testimony from the shittes group, whose leader, El Zaky-Zaky and his wife, both mortally wounded in the Army-December onslaught, were taken prisoners and kept incommunicado, since then. Even Mr. Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the armed Kurdistan workers party, PKK, who for years before his capture in the late 1990s waged war against Turkey, in his maximum security prison had lines and channels of communication with his armed party, that is engaged in an on and off war with Turkey. To lock away a man, who is not leading an armed rebellion, and whose three undergraduate sons were brutally killed by security a force, unarmed members routinely harassed and killed, with his wife separately, in obvious solitary confinement is the most unconscionable assault on human dignity. It is more horrifying and even revulsing that a government that is in desperate search to placate and pacify the brutal and murderous Boko Haram, that has killed over 20,000 Nigerians and tormented the lives of several millions, is unleashing State-directed terror, at a group whose only alleged acts of public disorder, consist of obstructing the convoy of the army   chief, and public marches in observation of their religious rites. The Nigerian State is constitutionally secular, and therefore, should not and would never be conscripted to prosecute a sectarian war of any religious group against the other. The current government is in flagrant breach of the secularist character of the Nigerian  State, because in its current war against the shittes, there is no shred of a Shia threat to state security, except the mortal fear of Shia rivalry to the hegemony of the Sunni-dominated northern political and clerical establishment. The ideological insecurity of the Sunni-dominated northern establishment should never be taken for a threat to state security. How could the “roar of the words”, for which the Shia clerical establishment is famous all over the world and which is replicated in Nigeria by the equalitarian, republican sermons of the Islamic movement of Nigeria, constitute a threat to state security? Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the firebrand Shia cleric, who up turned the Pahlavi dynasty and founded the Islamic Republic, in Iran, did not lead an armed opposition, let alone an armed insurgency. He used the “roar of the words” to crack the decomposing and corrupt regime of Shah Reza, who had relied on the crude method of brutal force. In fact, there is nothing in historical Shia Islam that associates it with aggressive violence. Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam and the progenitor of Shia Islam, while on the verge of military victory over the ruthless and cunning governor of Sham (Syria) Muayiwa, opted to negotiate peace, in recognition that military victory secured with the blood of co-religionists even on the opposing side was not worth it. Even, the revered figure of Shia Islam, Iman Hussein, grandson of prophet Muhammed, born to Ali by the prophet’s daughter, Zainabu, was not exemplary for aggressive violence, but in patient resistance and heroic endurance in the face of overwhelmingly superior adversary. Even as he and his starving and thirsty associates were been decimated, he remained uncompromising to the values of his conviction. Nearly two years ago, the three undergraduate sons of Mr. El Zaky-ZAky were brutally murdered by Nigerian security, when the group marched to commemorate the mytardom of Imam Hussein and his associates otherwise known as ashoura in Shia Islam. Given the extreme measure at which the Sunni-dominated northern establishment commandeers the Nigerian State to do its bidding, in suppressing the Shia Muslims, the question arises as to what is in the “roar of the words” of the shittes that triggers the paranoid of the mainstream, Sunni-dominated establishment. The chasm of the social distance between the mainly Sunni-northern political and clerical establishment and their rank and file in accessing economic and political opportunities is largely viewed as a pre-ordained religious order, for which the Shittes vehemently disputes. It appears that it is the danger of leading an Islamic social reawakening that the Sunni-dominated northern establishment is mortally fearful of the Shia movement than the fabrication that the shittes are not only running a parallel state, but plans a takeover of the Nigeria state. The comparison of Shia Muslims to Boko Haram is essentially fraudulent. If, in provoking the shittes, the aim is to push them to armed insurgency as the Boko Haram, it is a futile effort. The only Shia armed group, the Hizbollah in Lebanon is not fighting to establish Shia hegemony or even to take over the Lebanese state, but as rather contributing a national effort to checkmate Israeli routine aggressions of Arab states. Recently, the Hizbollah supported very strongly, the election of General Michel Aoun ,a Lebanese Christian manorite leader as the president of the country. It currently fights alongside the largely secular Syrian national army to fend off, the extremist armed insurgents consisting of the Islamic state and Al-Nusra front. The current violent persecution of the shittes is an unnecessary distraction to urgent key challenges to the Nigerian State. As one of the shitte leader, was reportedly quoted that “our religious inclination is a matter of the heart, therefore, no amount of intimidation, or blackmail can change our posture. it would better to leave us with our faith”. To leave the shittes to practice their faith is not an act of favour, but a constitutionally guaranteed responsibility, which the State is under obligation not only to dutifully protect the group but to ensure that, they practice their faith without the fear of molestation. Mr.Charles Onunaiju, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

Nnamdi Kanu a combination of Azikwe, Ojukwu, Kaduna Nzeogwu all rolled into one – Fani- Kayode.

Nnamdi Kanu a combination of Azikwe, Ojukwu, Kaduna Nzeogwu all rolled into one – Fani- Kayode.

ABUJA- FORMER spokesperson to ex- President Goodluck Jonathan campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode said Saturday that him and others would join hands with the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu to collectively bring down those he termed, their collective enemies. In a statement, Fani- Kayode who extolled the qualities of Kanu, said that he is not just a combination of Owelle Nnamdi Azikwe and Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu: but a combination of Azikwe, Ojukwu and Major Kaduna Nzeogwu all rolled into one.
According to Fani- Kayode, Kanu who loves the Igbos, serves as a rallying point for Igbo nationalism, the fight for self-determination of the people of the east and the establishment of the sovereign state of Biafra.
He said, “And when that time comes we shall stand shoulder to shoulder with men like who is the leader of IPOB a Nnamdi Kanu and face down our collective enemies.” In a statement titled, “the Heart and Soul of Nnamdi Kanu, Chief Fani- Kayode said, “In my essay titled “Head Bloodied But Not Bowed And The Ascension Of President-Elect Donald J. Trump” (Part 1) I wrote the following: “When I went to visit the great and brilliant freedom fighter, Nnamdi Kanu, who is the leader of IPOB and easily the most courageous, powerful and credible Igbo leader in Nigeria today in his cell we had a very instructive and long discussion. “I had never met Nnamdi before and I was amazed at his depth of knowledge, his immense courage and his deep convictions. “There is no doubt in my mind that the man is going places and in him the Igbo have an Ojukwu and a Nnamdi Azikiwe all rolled into one. He is destined for greatness”. “Apparantly my words have created quite a stir amongst those who believe that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Azikiwe or Ojukwu, both of whom, in my view, are also great men. “Yet despite their reservations I believe that we must give honor to whom it is due. Consequently I have no regrets for what I have said. “Those that are upset at the fact that I spoke highly of the IPOB leader are misguided and, worst still, they lack vision, foresight and insight. “They not only lack the ability to perceive individuals and events accurately but they also lack the gift of discermment. They may see the man but they cannot assess or recognise the spirit that is in him and that motivates him. “Worse of all they are suffering from good old fashioned envy and they have been afflicted with the worst form of ignorance. “Most of them have never even met Kanu let alone know him. I sat next to him for three solid hours in the most challenging and difficult circumstances. “We discussed our respective views about Nigeria, our collective history, the suffering and marginalisation of our respective people, the Nigerian civil war, the reptilian and violent nature of the Nigerian state, the present dispensation, the Buhari government and the way forward. “I have associated with, met and worked with many men of influence and power since I entered the combustible fray of politics thirty years ago but this one was different. “This was a man that had what I would describe as a Mahatma Ghandi-like quality. That is to say he is one that is prepared to sacrifice everything and anything for his beliefs, his people and his cause. “Like the great Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace I have no doubt that if he deemed it necessary he would go as far as to sacrifice his very life in the struggle for freedom and independence for his Igbo people from the Nigerian state and from our internal colonial masters and for the establishment of his beloved Biafra. “Not all may agree with him on that course but they must respect his determination, passion and courage. “Very few Nigerian leaders have that level of selflessness and commitment to any cause and, simply put, I admire it. “I looked deeply into his eyes as we spoke and I touched and weighed his soul. “I can tell you, without any fear of contradiction, that he is a profoundly good man who loves his Igbo people deeply. “He is also well-educated and widely-read and he is a formidable intellectual. “We may not have agreed on everything but I can tell you this much: we share an aversion to the spread of radical Islam and terror in Nigeria and indeed throughout the world. “We also share deep concerns about the oppression of our people by the state, the vicious persecution and desperate attempt to silence all the voices of the opposition in our country, the marginalisation and suppression of the good people and ethnic nationalities of the south and the Middle Belt, the implementation of a plainly racist and apartheid-like agenda by our government, the regular and consistent practice of genocide by our security forces, the rise in power and increasing callousness and brutality of the Fulani miltias and herdsmen in our midst, the not so hidden agenda to Islamise our nation and violate the secularity of our state, the violation of court orders, the brazen intimidation of the Judiciary and the resort to the most barbarous and hideous form of gestapo tactics, tyranny and human rights abuses by the Buhari administration. “I can also tell you that he feels and shares the pain of the Igbo and he yearns for their liberation and emanciption from an increasingly hostile and oppressive Nigerian state. “He is not a politician in the true sense of the word but rather a freedom fighter and a charissmatic leader who has managed to inspire millions of Igbo youth all over the world to once again have faith in themselves and their collective cause and aspirations. In my view that is a good thing. “I can also tell you this: he is a man of great faith and conviction and his rise to prominence is not ordinary but instead prophetic. “He cannot be destroyed or silenced by any government or man born of woman because the Lord is with him and He is using him. He is using him to say and do the things that many believe but that are too scared to say or do. “Other leaders have had their time in the past and now this is his. He is paying a very heavy price right now for what God will use him for in the future. “I recognise that fact and I sincerely hope and pray that his Igbo people will come to appreciate him and do so as well. “Very few leaders can or would be willing to take the pain and make the kind of sacrifice that this man is making today. “I am a very cautious and circumspect person and it takes me a while to warm to people or for them to win my confidence. Yet this case was different. “Nnamdi and I, rather like Che Guevera and Fidel Castro at the beginning of the Cuban revolution, connected immediately and he won my trust, respect and admiration. “If there is anyone that can truly build the much needed bridge between the south-west, the south-south and the south-east it is Nnamdi Kanu. “This is because he is pragmatic and sincere. It is because he is respectful and accomodating of alternative points of view and dissenting opinions and he speaks from a position of knowledge and strength. It ibecause he is very proud of his Igbo heritage and he would never betray his people or prostitute his principles. “The truth is that he is not just a combination of Owelle Nnamdi Azikwe and Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu: he is a combination of Azikwe, Ojukwu AND Major Kaduna Nzeogwu all rolled into one. “The fire of revolution and the yearning for fundamental and equitable change burns in his blood and resides in his bones. “He has spoken up for, defended and fought for the preservation and dignity of his people just as those other three leaders did in the past at different times in our history. “He also serves as a rallying point for Igbo nationalism, the fight for self-determination of the people of the east and the establishment of the sovereign state of Biafra. “His love, remarkable courage and sheer passion for his people and their cause is boundless and unfathomable. “The Igbo is blessed to have him as one of the most respected and reverred leaders in our entire history as a nation. “They would do well to appreciate him more, pray for him, stand up for him, line up behind him and insist that the government honors the numerous court orders that have granted him bail and release him from prison. “Why? Because he bleeds and suffers for their collective cause and he is sacrificing all to remove their shame and lift their pain. “What a man he is. What a mighty spirit. What a beautiful soul. What a braveheart. “Permit me to conclude this contribution with the following observations. “All over the world today the concept of political correctness has been discredited and rejected. Consequently right-wing nationalist and ultra-nationalist groups and political parties are rising up and regaining credibility and power. “In the United Kingdom we have the Nick Farage’s of this world and his UKIP whose magnificent efforts resulted in Brexit. In France we have the Marie Le Pen’s and her National Front. In Hungary we have the Viktor Orban’s and his Fidesz party. “In the United States of America we have the Donald Trump’s and his new and redefined Republican party. “We also have plain-speaking and honest men like Michael Flynn, who has just been appointed as Trump’s National Security Advisor. “Political parties with a similar ideology and that are led by equally strong-willed, focused and charissmatic figures are also making great waves and slowly gaining more power and relevance in Italy, Germany, Austria, Holland, Greece, Belgium, Hungary, Russia, the Phillipines, Israel and indeed all over the world. “Thankfully Nigeria has not been left out. We have men like Nnamdi Kanu in the east, Ganiyu Adams in the west, Asari Dokubo in the Niger Delta and others from elsewhere who believe passionately in the restructuring of the Federation, the redefinition of the Nigerian state, the right of self-determination for their respective people and the expression of power, pride, self-respect and dignity for their various ethnic nationalities. “Freedom beckons whilst the wind of change is blowing across the world and no-one can stop it. “I thank God for that and I also thank Him for the millions of men of courage, strength and vision that have joined the fray. “Whatever happens in Nigeria and whatever may come our way, one thing remains clear: an idea whose time has come cannot be successfully resisted. Today may belong to our oppressors but tomorrow belongs to us. “At the appointed time we shall rise up to where we belong as a people and we shall free ourselves from the demonic shackles and satanic chains that have have been placed upon us by our collective tormentors. “And when that time comes we shall stand shoulder to shoulder with men like Nnamdi Kanu and face down our collective enemies. “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob shall rise to our defence and the Lord of Hosts, the Ancient of Days, the God of the Armies of Israel and He who holds the universe together by the power of His word shall lift us up to where we belong.”

Ex-minister, Rasheed Gbadamosi, dies at 72.

Ex-minister, Rasheed Gbadamosi, dies at 72.

 A former Minister of National Planning, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, is dead.
Gbadamosi, who was a leading industrialist, art collector and writer, died on Wednesday at the age of 72.
Although he was still active on the socio-cultural scene, he was said to have suffered from multiple strokes since last year and had recently gone abroad for medical treatment.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, confirmed the death of the man who was also the co-chairman of the Lagos @50 Planning Committee.
The Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, is the chairman.
Ayorinde said, “The Lagos State Government mourns the passing of a leading industrialist, art patron, former minister and co-chairman of the Lagos@50, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi.
“Chief Gbadamosi will be remembered for being a true Lagosian, a nationalist and an art aficionado.”
Ayorinde added that his remains would be interred on Thursday (today) afternoon.
Among his other strides in the business world, Gbadamosi was chairman, Ragolis Water Ltd., AIICO Pension Managers and Lucky Fibres Nig. Plc.
He was also a former chairman of Bank of Industry.
On the political front, Gbadamosi was also a former chairman, Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency.
Besides, Gbadamosi was deeply involved in creative development.
As a playwright, he authored Trees Grow in the Desert, which has been widely performed.
He was a founding member of the MUSON Centre, Lagos, while he was one of Nigeria’s biggest art collectors.
Indeed, at a time, he and the founder of the Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Foundation, Prince Yemisi Adedoyin; and the late businessman, Mr. Sammy Olagbaju, were described as the three musketeers of visual arts in Nigeria.
Incidentally, Olagbaju also passed on recently.
As a result of Gbadamosi’s involvement in the art and culture, stakeholders have received news of his death with shock.
According to a seasoned artist, Kolade Oshinowo, the development is disturbing.
He told our correspondent on the phone on Wednesday, “I have been on the telephone since about an hour ago. People have been calling me from different parts of the country.
“It is a huge shock to us because it is happening when we have not fully recovered from the demise of Mr. Olagbaju. It is painful that we are losing those who have supported the arts.
“He was involved in performance, music, visual, literary and other aspects of the arts. I don’t think many people will forget his contributions to the industry.”
On his part, Shyllon, who noted that he and Gbadamosi had a long-time relationship as co-art patrons, family friends and business partners, described his passage as very painful.
According to him, Gbadamosi was a selfless man who touched the lives of many people and institutions.

Goat Gives Birth To ‘Human’ Child In Taraba

Goat Gives Birth To ‘Human’ Child In Taraba

There was confusion in Taraba State recently after a goat gave birth to a creature, which looks so much like human being.
An eyewitness, Rariya wrote in her Facebook wall that residents were thrown into shock after a nanny goat allegedly gave birth to the baby goat in ‘human form’
She said residents were alleging that the owner of the goat may have had sex with the nanny goat.

CharlyBoy’s occupy NASS protest causes traffic gridlock.

CharlyBoy’s occupy NASS protest causes traffic gridlock.

ABUJA – THE occupy National Assembly, NASS, protest organised by a group of youths led by a socialite and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy has forced the leadership of the National Assembly and workers to use alternative route to the complex. The protest which started on Wednesday has caused traffic gridlock even as the main entrance to the complex has remained shut as the protesters blocked the entrance.
Charly Boy and his co-protesters are calling for the prosecution of the judges accused of corruption, a downward review of salaries and benefits for politicians in the country. The protesters are also demanding that people who are guilty of stealing public funds should be sentenced to death as well as a slash in the salaries of political office holders by about 70 per cent and a stop of state and local government joint accounts. Vanguard investigations revealed that the principal officers and workers at the National Assembly are now using the State House villa entrance and that of the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government, SGF, to gain entrance to the complex. Speaking in an interview, one of the protesters, Miss Joy Amadi said the protest was a welcome development, adding that the need for accountability in governance prompted her to join the protesters. According to her, “Occupy NASS is a protest against corruption, political criminality and bad leadership. Just as the current government stands out to fight corruption, we also want to join hands with the agenda to make Nigeria a corrupt free nation.” She said that politicians over the years had extorted Nigerians of their right due to fat salaries and allowances they received. Also speaking, another protester, Mr Ignatius Adeleke said they were committed to the protest until the leadership of the national assembly attended to their demands. He said, “We will not leave this place until our demands are met. We have suffered for too long while our politicians are living in affluence. We will not take it anymore, there has to be a change in our attitude.” However, a National Assembly staff who preferred anonymity commended the conveners of the protest and urged more Nigerians to join the protest. He said, “I wish the conveners well and I am hopeful that we will have more Nigerians who will walk the talk and not just grumble on the street.” Efforts made to get the reaction of the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas did not yield any results as he neither picked his calls nor replied them as at the time of filing this report.

Man Hacks Wife To Death, Commits Suicide In Enugu.

Man Hacks Wife To Death, Commits Suicide In Enugu.

A 41-year-old man, Francis Uzo, has committed suicide after allegedly hacking his wife, Ozoemena, to death over unresolved issues in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The Police spokesperson, DSP Ebere Amaraizu said in Enugu on Wednesday that the tragic incident occurred on November 15 in their residence at Nchantancha-Nike of the state.
Amaraizu said that on the day of the incident, Okonkwo allegedly pounced on his wife, over a yet-to-be established issue and inflicted several machete cuts on her.
He added that the woman lost several pints of blood before she was taken to hospital where she was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
The police spokesperson said that when the police arrived at the residence of the couple to arrest the husband, they found his lifeless body on the floor.
Amaraizu said that Uzo was rushed to the Annunciation Hospital, Emene for medical attention but was also confirmed dead.
He said that the remains of the husband and his wife had been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.
He said that the homicide department of the police had commenced investigation into the unfortunate incident. (NAN)

Pastor Remanded In Prison For Allegedly Impregnating 17-Year-Old Girl

Pastor Remanded In Prison For Allegedly Impregnating 17-Year-Old Girl

An Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered the remand of a 48-year-old pastor, Micheal Adeniran, in prison custody for allegedly impregnating a teenager. The magistrate, Mrs Oriyomi Sofowora, ordered that the accused be remanded for the facts of the case to be stated.
She then adjourned the case till Nov.30. The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing a charge of sexual abuse. The prosecutor, Insp. Kayode Emnmanuel, told the court that the accused committed the offence in June at El- Bethel Church, Ita Aka, in Abeokuta, Ogun. Emmanuel said that the accused, a pastor at El- Bethel Church, sexually abused a 17-year-old girl, which resulted into pregnancy. The prosecutor said that the pastor failed to take responsibility of the teenager in the last six months of his impregnating her. The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 32 of the Child Rights Law of Ogun, 2006. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

Fighting neighbours stab peacemaker to death

Fighting neighbours stab peacemaker to death

The police in Lagos State have launched a manhunt for two neighbours, identified only as Muhammed and Samuel, who stabbed a man to death during a quarrel in the Somolu area of the state.
Our correspondent learnt that the victim, identified as Christian Ugbaka, was stabbed in the chest while trying to settle a fight between Muhammed and Samuel, who lived on Babylone Street.
It was gathered that 25-year-old Ugbaka, who had visited a friend in the house at about 10pm last Tuesday, met Muhammed and Samuel arguing over Muhammed’s girlfriend, identified simply as Sahadatu.
He reportedly attempted to settle the fight, but was killed during the altercation. The suspects subsequently fled the area.
It was learnt that the matter was reported at the Pedro Police Division, while the operatives took  Ugbaka’s corpse to a morgue.
A police source told our correspondent that it was believed that Muhammed owned the dagger used to stab the victim to death.
He said, “It was the girlfriend, Sahadatu, who came to the police station to report that her lover, Muhammed, had stabbed a peacemaker to death.
“On that evening, the occupants were sitting together in front of the house. Sahadatu’s younger sister, Aishat, was also with them. Samuel was said to have had an argument with Sahadatu, during which Samuel slapped Aishat and Sahadatu.
“Mohammed, the boyfriend, was angry and queried Samuel for harassing his girlfriend and her younger sister. It resulted in a scuffle. It was the victim, Ugbaka, who came in at the moment and tried to separate the two men.
“But suddenly, one of the men brought out a dagger and mistakenly stabbed Ugbaka in the chest. We believed that Muhammed inflicted the injuries because the dagger belonged to him.”
It was learnt that Ugbaka was rushed to a private hospital in the area, where he was confirmed dead by a doctor.
A resident of the area, who did not want his name in print, said Muhammed and Samuel fled the house since the day of the incident.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the case had been transferred to the State Department of Criminal Intelligence and Investigation.
She said, “The man’s corpse was deposited at the morgue of the Lagos Mainland Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy. The case had been transferred to the Homicide Section of the SCIID for further investigation.”
In another development, the police are on the trail of two suspected cult members, who shot dead a 22-year-old, Samuel John, in the Ikotun area of the state.
It was learnt that John, at about 4pm on that Tuesday, was hit by bullets from the cult members who were shooting indiscriminately on Governor’s Road.
Our correspondent was told that the gunmen, who came on a motorcycle, shot John in the neck.
A witness, who gave his name only as Cornelius, said the victim was rushed to the General Hospital, Igando, where he died.
A police source told our correspondent that efforts were on to arrest the fleeing suspects.
The Lagos State Police spokesperson, Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was ongoing.

3 Killed As Communities Clash In Ebonyi.

3 Killed As Communities Clash In Ebonyi.

ABAKALIKI—EBONYI State Police Command, yesterday confirmed the killing of three persons in renewed hostility between the people of Onweonweiya and Mkpumaekweoku communities in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State. The incident led to the destruction of landed properties worth millions of naira and the setting ablaze of buildings in the area. On Monday, Governor David Umahi visited the troubled communities to assess the level of destruction in the area. Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Ebonyi State Command, Jude Madu, while confirming the development, said the Police was prepared to forestall law and order in the area. “We are aware of the misunderstanding in Izzi land. We now have an official report that there was a communal clash at the two neighbouring villages both in Ndieze, Inyimagu community in Ominyi Development Centre, Izzi LGA. The DC Coordinator, Njoku Cajetan reported the clash to the Police in the area. And the dispute is over a parcel of rice farmland. “As a result, the DPO and his men moved in quickly to save the situation. The CP also mobilized from the state headquarters and by the time our team got there, we discovered that some houses were razed by fire orchestrated by the invading Onweonweya people. Also, part of the said farmland was razed and we were able to recover three bodies, out of which two have been confirmed dead,” he said. The PPRO who maintained that the Command was yet to make any arrest added that it has commenced investigations into the incident. The identities of the three persons were yet to be known as at the time of filing this report. In a reaction, Governor David Umahi has ordered the state government’s take-over of the disputed land. Umahi said the measure was to forestall future bloodshed between the people of Mkpuma-Ekwoku and Ogwuzeru-Onweya communities.

School Expels Injured 2-Year-Old Pupil Over Mother’s Reaction.

School Expels Injured 2-Year-Old Pupil Over Mother’s Reaction.

A mother has accused Remmok School at 57, Sarah Faboyede Street, Bucknor Estate, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos, of expelling her daughter after their negligence.
According to the mother who reported the unfair expulsion, the pupil, Doxa Etim-Esin was bleeding on the head when she was picked up from school.
Narrating to Human Rights Activists, Emeka Ugwuonye, her mother said, On Tuesday, October 25, 2016, I got to the school premises at about 7.30pm and upon checking her body, I noticed her right eye was bleeding. I was alarmed! I beckoned on the small boy she was left with and all he could say was….”I don’t know what happened. It’s not our fault.
At this point, I was left with no other option but to raise an alarm. The proprietress’ daughter came out and maintained that whatever happened to my daughter was not their fault. At this point, I was so traumatised to keep calm
I kept demanding for explanations but got none. The proprietress’ husband came out at that point to say I had no right shouting in his premises and then ordered me out of his residence.
On of the daughters also flung my child’s school bags at me insisting the accident was not their fault. I reported the issue to the nearest police station and the next day, the school management was invited.
The DPO charged the teacher and she was detained. We made it plain that our displeasure was basically the fact that a 30-month-old child had an accident where adults were around and was left without even first aid treatment for the next 5hours.
To our greatest surprise, the school, on Monday, November 7, 2016, inserted a dismissal letter in her school bag which was to be effective the very next day.
Apart from being in the school within school hours, we also paid for after school care to be provided for her until we pick her up later in the evening.

Former Sultan Of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki Is Dead.

Former Sultan Of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki Is Dead.

A former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, who is the father of the Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki has died.
The Secretary, Sultanate Council of Sokoto, Alhaji Umar Faruk. Dasuki, said the 18th Sultan died after a protracted illness at the age of 93.
The statement said Dasuki’s remains would be buried at the Hubbaren Shehu, Sokoto, after the afternoon prayer (Zuhr) on Tuesday.
The funeral prayer of the late Dasuki would be conducted at the Sultan Bello Juma’at Mosque in Sokoto.
Dasuki, who was the Sultan of Sokoto between November 6, 1988 and April 20, 1996, was deposed in 1996 during the military government of late Gen. Sani Abacha.
Dasuki was succeeded by Muhammadu Maccido who died in an air crash in 2006.
Prior to becoming the Sultan, he held the traditional title of Baraden Sokoto.
Dasuki was the first Sultan from the Buhari line of the House of Dan Fodio.
He was influential in the founding of Jama’atu Nasril Islam and had held many positions in government
The late Dasuki was born on December 31, 1923.

AAU Shutdown, As Students Protest School Fees’ Increase.

AAU Shutdown, As Students Protest School Fees’ Increase.

Hundreds of students of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, on Monday staged a protest over the alleged increase in school fees by the management of the institution.
Academic and non-academic activities were also grounded within and around the university located in Esan West Local Government Area of the state, as the rampaging students barricaded the major entrance of the school and highway, preventing any entry or exit.
It was gathered that a stampede ensued when some soldiers arrived at the scene and dispersed the protesters, leaving some of them injured.
They were said to have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
It was also learnt that a truck was set ablaze and its contents removed as the students protested and resisted attempts by some of the management staff to pacify them.
The situation was said to have forced the management of the university to shutdown the institution till further notice.
A student of the institution, who pleaded anonymity, explained that the state government failed to fulfill its earlier promise to reduce the fees from the N150,000 paid by fresh students.
“The (former) governor promised the new students that the ‎fees would be reduced in their level. But what they (management) are trying to do now is that the same N150,000 is what we would pay in the 200 level.
“They will do it to the extent that all levels would pay a uniform school fees and the students refused.
The Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer for the 4 Brigade Command, did not respond to calls put across to him, while a Police Public Relations Officer, Stephen Onwochei, told our correspondent that he was no longer the spokesman.
But the Public Relations Officer of the university, Edward Aihevba, said the protest was uncalled for as there had been discussions with the leadership of the students over the matter.
Aihevba also denied reports of any fatality during the protest.

Ondo election: Oke mobilising supporters from Lagos, Osun, says APC.

Ondo election: Oke mobilising supporters from Lagos, Osun, says APC.

The APC in Ondo State has alleged that the AD Governorship Candidate in the forthcoming election, Cheif Olusola Oke, was mobilising supporters from Lagos and Osun states for his campaign flag off.

The AD governorship campaign flag off is scheduled for Akure on Monday, November 14.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Abayomi Adesanya, APC alleged that Oke had hired over 500 luxury and mini buses to bring in supporters from the neighbouring states to the rally to deceive the people.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed November 26 for the Ondo State Governorship Election.

Adesanya said, “Some of our members have been receiving calls from APC members in Osun and Lagos states informing them of the planned mass mobilisation for the AD’s flag off campaign in Akure.

“We are reliably informed that Bola Ilori, the Director- General of Oke’s Campaign Organisation, who also doubles as an aide to the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has concluded plans with some APC leaders from Lagos and Osun states.

“The arrangement is to hire over 500 luxurious and BRT buses, among other mini buses, to ferry people from these two states to deceive the general public and the good people of Ondo State.

“Other desperate tricks being employed by Olusola Oke is generation of fake bulk SMS purportedly from EDO APC sent to people to deceitfully invite them to the flag off campaign.

“The reality on ground in Ondo State is that the APC Candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), is the most popular in the hearts of the good people of the state.

“The AD candidate is a third force that has no place of reckoning in the present Ondo State politics.

“The party, therefore, urges the people of the state to disregard whatever crowd seen at the AD flag off campaign as hired.

“Crucial issue about this election is about evolving a home grown governor for the state; one in tune with the cravings of the people, not one thrown up by political and business merchants outside Ondo State for the promotion of pecuniary interests of Lagos and Osogbo jobbers.”

The Chairman, Media and Publicity of Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, advised APC to mind its problems and face its campaign like the AD candidate had been doing.

“Is it not an irony that a party that specialises in the importation of people from Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos states where the party currently rules is now accusing a party that it described as an orphan?

“AD will not engage in such underhand methods that the APC is noted for. Our people from the nooks and crannies of Ondo State are the ones on ground now for our flag off rally.

“Oke is the headache and sole manifesto of the APC in Ondo State and we are aware of their shenanigans and evil plots to stop him from contesting.

“When these numerous plots are failing one after the other, they can merely heckle us.” (NAN)

Disaster Averted As Arik Air Aircraft Loses Engine Mid-Air Between Lagos And Jos.

Disaster Averted As Arik Air Aircraft Loses Engine Mid-Air Between Lagos And Jos.

The aircraft, a Boeing 737 with the registration number 5N-MJD, departed from Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, for Jos when the pilot discovered that the plane had lost one of its engines during the flight.
A source close to the airline told correspondents that the aircraft was already 60 miles away from Lagos before the incident occurred.
Immediately after the pilot discovered the problem, he contacted the Lagos control tower, which granted him emergency landing status.
Passengers panicked when they were informed that the aircraft would return to Lagos.
Upon landing in Lagos, it was gathered that the aircraft could not taxi out of the runway and it took the intervention of the Airport Rescue and Fire-Fighting Services (ARFFS), a department in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to tow the aircraft to the hajj and cargo terminal area of the airport in order for the passengers to disembark from the aircraft.
“The incident occurred at noon on Friday. The aircraft had departed Lagos for Jos, but barely a few minutes into the journey, the pilot radioed the Lagos control tower that it needed to return to base," a source from the airline said.
“When the control tower heard this, they approved the pilot for emergency landing, which he did successfully. The aircraft had to be towed out of the runway by the ARFFS because it could not move again.”
A source in the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was yet to report the incident to the bureau for further investigation.
“As an investigator, I can tell you that I am not aware of this development. AIB should be the one to decide any occurrence if it feels that the industry can gain any safety value from it," the source said.
“There had been complaints that the NCAA does not notify us at times when there is an incident. It is by law that we should be notified in case of any incident. The AIB Commissioner is empowered by law to investigate any occurrence in the sector,” he explained.
Similarly, a source in the NCAA said that the regulatory body was yet to be informed about the incident, stressing that it was a reportable issue.
The cause of the incident remains unknown at the time of publication.

Breaking News! Bridge Under Construction Collapses In Owerri.

Breaking News! Bridge Under Construction Collapses In Owerri.

Okorocha's on going bridge construction at Assumpta Avenue collapsed last night. And in order to hide it from the public,  they have blocked the bridge with two long Containers so that the public will not see the collapsed bridge while frantic efforts are currently being made to see if they will remedy the situation. Already,  they have stationed Stern looking policemen at the site to bar journalists from nearing the site.