Aregbesola inspecting farm produce at the graduation ceremony of Osun-Odua Farmers Academy

Governor Rauf Aregbesola inspecting farm produce at the graduation ceremony of Osun-Odua Farmers Academy at Ede in the State of Osun on Thursday 28-11-2013

Nigerian Lawmakers Order Probe Of Subsidy On Kerosene

Lawmakers in Nigeria have ordered investigation into the alleged expenditure of 634 billion Naira (about 4.064 million dollars) to subsidise kerosene in the last three years.

The order came after a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Adeyinka Ajayi, moved a motion urging the house to look into the amount, which has drawn conflicting claims between the Minister of Finance and the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

A Committee in charge of Petroleum Downstream is to investigate the issue.

The house committee is expected to establish the actual amount spent on kerosene subsidy from 2010 to 2013 and the source of the money used in financing the subsidy.

Its report is expected to submitted to the house in the next four weeks.

Mixed Reactions Trail New PDP, APC Merger

Nigerian lawmakers have made diverse comments on the merger of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) and the All Progressives Alliance (APC), a development expected to generated unexpected debates related to its consequences in the plenaries of the upper and lower chambers.

The merger will be a source of worry for lawmakers, as they will have to consider the legal implications if they decide to move with the governors of the states they represent. The law may not have implications on the governor but on a lawmaker, the individual stands a possibility of losing his seat.

After the declaration of the merger on Tuesday by the chairman of the defunct nPDP, Mr. Kawu Baraje, some lawmakers hailed the decision, describing it as “the best decision the aggrieved group of governors should take”.

Indigenous Armoured Vehicles To Aid Policing In Nigeria

Security agencies in Nigerian are to receive a boost to their activities with the aid of armoured vehicles manufactured in Ogun State, South-west Nigeria.

The vehicle will assist the agencies in tackling insecurity and terrorism in the northern part of Nigeria and ensure safety of live and property in other areas.

In anticipation of the impact the vehicle will have on policing in Nigeria, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, visited the manufacturing company, which is the first indigenous armoured vehicle manufacturer.

COY TO CREATE 15,000 NEW JOBS IN OSUN

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has reiterated his determination to eradicate poverty and further boost economy of the state by providing jobs for youths.

Aregbesola, while signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Breweries PLC to expand its business to employ additional 15,000 workers into its workforce, said the partnership is to motivate and encourage the company to retain its investment in Osun State. The governor maintained that the state government would create an enabling environment for willing investors, adding that his administration has taken various steps to turn around the fortunes of the state economically.
He commended the management of International Breweries Plc for selecting Osun State for the investment, urging them to be involved in the backward integration for the benefit of those producing raw materials needed for production.
“The collaboration of the IB Plc will help to create about 150,000 direct and indirect jobs in the state. This will boost the economy of the state and the multiplier effect of this will reflect greatly on our economy,” he said.
Otunba Michael Daramola, IBL chairman lauded the efforts of Aregbesola’s administration in transforming the state and increasing the number of industries. Daramola noted that the development informed the decision of the company to expand its scope of operations in the state.

STRIKE: GOVT GIVES ASUU ONE WEEK ULTIMATUM TO RESUME OR FACE SACK

Education Minister Nyesom Wike

The federal government has given the striking members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) one week ultimatum to resume work or face sack.
Supervising minister of education, Nyesom Wike, who addressed the press today in the federal ministry of education, Abuja, directed all Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities to open the universities for academic activities and provide enabling environment for staff that resume for work.
He said all university lecturers that failed to resume by 4th of December  will lose their job.
He also directed that the VCs should place adverts for both internal and external vacancies in their universities.

Seven PDP rebel governors join APC

Rebel governors

The seven aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party have announced their decision to merge with the All Progressives Congress.

The governors, at the meeting they had with the leadership of the APC in Abuja on Tuesday, said their decision was aimed at rescuing the country.

A former Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, announced the decision after the meeting, which was held at Kano Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

Among the governors at the meeting were that of Rivers (Rotimi Amaechi), Kano(Rabiu Kwankwanso), Adamawa(Murtala Nyako), Kwara(Badulfatah Ahmed) and Niger(Dr. Babangida Aliyu).

The governors of Jigawa and Sokoto states, Sule Lamido and Aliyu Wamakko respectively were absent.

Baraje said the governors were part of the decision.

Some leaders of the APC like its Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; and a former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), were in attendance.

ANAMBRA POLLS: INEC OFFICIAL CHARGED WITH NEGLIGENCE

Prof. Attahiru Jega

The man in the centre of the storm that stalls the Anambra governorship election has been charged with negligence of duty in an Abuja court.

Chukwujekwu Okeke, 54 INEC official in charge of Idemili North, election faces one year jail term or N500,000 fine as stipulated in the electoral Act.
He was charged at Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday and was ordered to be remanded in police custody till December 2.
Chief Magistrate Mr Usman Shuaibu said this was to enable the police complete investigation in the matter.He also said that the accused’s application for bail would be considered on that day.

I N V E S T I G A T I O N :HOW STATE LAWMAKERS COLLECT BILLIONS IN SALARIES

* 976 legislators received N12bn, passed 601 bills in 2 years

Lawmakers in the 36 State Houses of Assembly have received about N12 billion in salaries and allowances in the first two years of their tenure and passed 601 bills, most of which were initiated by the governors, Daily Trust investigations revealed.
There are 978 members in the state legislatures, soaking up about N6 billion per annum in emoluments.
A state legislator receives about N6 million per annum, comprising basic salaries and other perquisites, according to a Daily Trust analysis based on records obtained from the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

House Of Reps Member Died After Sex Romp With Female Banker, Woman Arrested

A member of the House of Representatives from Ondo State died in the early hours of Saturday after what security sources said was a sexual affair with a female banker in his private residence located at Gwarinpa Estate in Abuja.

Rep. Raphael Oloye Nomiye, who was 50 years old, was until his death representing Ondo, Ilaje, Ese Odo in Ondo State under the platform of the Labour Party.

80-YEAR-OLD OSUN MONARCH DIES AS PALACE IS SET ABLAZE

The traditional ruler of of Ilase-Ijesa in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Adesina, Alobijuwon, died late Wednesday after unknown persons set his palace on fire.

JONATHAN FALLS ILL IN LONDON

President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan, in the course of his on-going visit to London for a meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council, became indisposed and could not be present at the opening of the meeting today.

Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, who  disclosed this in a statement today, said the president had since been examined by competent medical practitioners.The presidential aide added that his boss had also been advised to rest for a few days.

According to Abati, the Presidency wishes to assure all Nigerians that Jonathan’s condition is nothing serious and that the medical attention he has sought is only precautionary.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from students at Ikirun, Osun State

Governor Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from students at Ikirun, Osun State 

PHOTO GOV AREGBESOLA AND I

GOVERNOR AREGBESOLA AND I

GUNMEN KIDNAP OSUN INDUSTRIALIST, KILL DRIVER

An industrialist, Dr. Olayinka Obaleye, popularly known as Yinka Oba, was late Tuesday abducted by  gunmen in front of her company, killing her driver on the spot.

It was gathered that she had finished the day’s work at her company located at Ilo-Ijesa, Ijebu-Jesa Road in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State and was about leaving when the gunmen accosted her vehicle and took her away after killing her driver.

EAGLES IN LONDON FOR ITALY TEST

The Super Eagles on Sunday evening arrived London ahead of today’s Grade A friendly against Italy in London.The match is scheduled for Craven Cottage the home ground of Premier League side, Fulham.

After thumping Ethiopia 2-0 in Calabar on Saturday evening, to become Africa’s first qualifier for the Brazil 2014 World Cup, the team departed Calabar venue of the match on Sunday morning at about 8am via an Arik Air plane to Lagos, according to the team's Media Officer, Ben Alaiya.

"From Lagos, players and officials of the team joined a Virgin Atlantic Airliner for the six hour trip to London.

"The team arrived London Heathrow Airport at about 4:10pm London time, which is 5:10 pm Nigerian time and was promptly checked into the Hilton Hotel in Cobham, by organisers of the friendly," he said.

BULLET-PROOF CARS: DONT CRUCIFY ODUAH YET - REPS MAJORITY LEADER

Majority Leader of the House of Representative, Mulikat Adeola-Akande has said that it would amount to injustice to crucify Aviation Minister Stella Oduah over the N255 million bullet-proof cars when she has not been found guilty.

Akande, in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo, Osun State, said the outcome of the House of Representatives investigation on the matter would be made public at the appropriate time.
The Majority Leader, who spoke shortly after disbursing cash to 100 women drawn from the 30 local government areas of Osun State as part of her empowerment programme for women in the South-west, said the issue of the bullet proof cars will be thoroughly investigated. 

Anambra: Coalition, CDRP Demands Release of Detained Election Observers

An umbrella body for all civil rights groups in Osun State under the aegis of Osun state Civil Societies Coalition has called for the immediate release of the 180 members of the Justice and Equity Organization (JEO) that were arrested in Imo state on Thursday.

The Coalition also faulted the Imo State Command of the Nigeria Police for parading the election observers like common criminal despite that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accredited them to monitor the election in Anambra state.

JONATHAN REMAINS COMMITTED TO CREDIBLE ELECTIONS – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it is impressed with President Goodluck Jonathan’s stand on ensuring credible elections in the country.

The PDP, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa  Metuh, said it is proud of President Goodluck Jonathan’s stand on electoral transparency and credible polls at all  levels across the country. The party stressed that contrary to claims by the opposition, President Goodluck Jonathan has remained resolute in his commitment to free and fair elections as reflected in his mantra of ‘one man one vote’ noting that the drastic reduction in electoral disputes under President  Jonathan is a clear testimony in this regard.
 Lashing out at the APC for not imbibing the spirit of sportsmanship when it is defeated as demonstrated by the PDP on many occasions, the PDP said President Jonathan has remained open and objective on election issues adding that “it is on record that the President has always congratulated candidates who won in free and fair elections irrespective of the parties they belong.”
The PDP told the opposition to “wake up to the reality of its rejection by the people and look elsewhere to cast its lame vituperations.”

ANAMBRA: APC ASKS JONATHAN TO ENSURE CREDIBLE ELECTION

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to live up to his promise of a free and fair election in Anambra State on Saturday, saying the President must be believable at  all times.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday by its interim national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said nothing on ground in Anambra so far points to the fact that Saturday’s election will be free and fair as promised by the President.
“Rightly or wrongly in our country, institutions of state take a cue from the President’s body language. They know that members of the ruling PDP who engaged in electoral malfeasance and brigandage during last month’s Delta Central Senatorial election were not punished. They know that security agencies that turned themselves to the armed wing of the PDP were not sanctioned. In this context, therefore, the President’s promise of a free and fair election will not mean much to those bent on repeating same in Anambra,’’ the party said.
APC also said the fact that one of the candidates in Saturday’s election, Willie Obiano of APGA, has been left  to continue through alleged to have  multiple registration, does not give anyone much confidence that INEC can indeed be trusted to ensure a level-playing field for all the parties.
“President Jonathan should be careful in staking the credibility of his high office on these elections. His promise of free and fair elections in Ondo did not materialize, as the world knows, and the unprecedented electoral heist in Delta does not back up his administration’s claim that the country’s electoral architecture has improved under his watch.
“That is why we say the President must walk the talk. He should know that talk is cheap. If the institutions of state that have any role to play in the election fail to live up to that role, and the ruling  party continues to engage in a flagrant abuse of office by stealing votes in the most blatant of manners, then the President’s promise of a free and fair election would have been rubbished,’’ the party said.

Jigawa Governor’s Sons Arrested For Money Laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested Mustapha and Aminu Lamido, sons of the Jigawa state Governor, on Thursday night.

The Governor’s sons were reportedly arrested for alleged money laundering and flown to Abuja for questioning.A sum of N10 billion was allegedly transferred from Jigawa state government account into the accounts of the Lamido sons.

Although an EFCC representative in Kano state told Channels Television that he is not aware of the arrest, a member of the agency in Abuja confirmed the arrest.

It would be recalled that Aminu Sule Lamido, the eldest son of the governor, was arrested in December 2012 at the Mallam Aminu Kano Airport on his way to Cairo, Egypt for failure to declare the sum of $50,000 he had in his possession.

Aminu was arrested during security checks as he prepared to board an Egypt Air flight to Cairo.

His arrest followed the discovery that he allegedly declared $10,000 in his possession to the Nigerian Customs at the airport while a physical search by operatives of the EFCC found he had tucked away another $40,000, totaling $50,000.

His brother Mustapha is being quizzed for the first time in the fresh case of laundering 10 billion naira, within a space of six to seven years.

The EFCC has said it is prepared to try the suspects in court, in order to compel them to return the stolen money to government’s treasury.

FASHOLA URGES BAN OF SIREN ON GOVS’ CONVOYS

Due to constant road accidents involving public office holders, Lagos State Governor  Babatunde Fashola yesterday pleaded with other governors to  get rid of sirens in their convoys.

Fashola made the plea at the ongoing 13th National Council on Transport in Lagos.  He said such practice amounts to oppressing members of the public who elected them into office, noting that this is the reason why he barred all his commissioners from using siren.  The governor condemned the use of sirens by the political office holders and reckless driving by government convoy drivers.

Aregbesola campaigning for Ngige in Anambra

Gov Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State campaigning for candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Chris Ngige ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Anambra state

MEMORIES OF PROF FESTUS IYAYI

The death yesterday of Prof Festus Iyayi in a car crash in Kogi State would cause great pain and anguish throughout the academic community in Nigeria but also to all the people who have known and stood with him in the trenches of revolutionary struggle in Nigeria. In my own brief stint as a university lecturer and also a member of the secretive Communist underground in the 1980s, I got to know Dr. [as he then was] Festus Iyayi quite well. Even though I have not seen him for many years now, we spoke on the phone as recently as two months ago.

YOUTHS DISRUPT BAUCHI APC CONGRESS

APC

Hundreds of youths suspected to be supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday disrupted a meeting of the party meant to elect an interim leadership committee for the party in Bauchi State.

The congress which was attended by party stalwarts in the state had hardly begun when the hall was thrown into chaos by angry youths who came to witness the proceeding.
Convener of the meeting and national officer of the party Captain Bala Jibrin, confirmed the incident while speaking with our correspondent in Bauchi.
He said, “We had summoned a meeting of all stakeholders of the party in the state to elect the interim leadership but it was disrupted by political thugs among them responsible persons.”
Cpt. Jibrin said the meeting was organized in order to have a free and fair election by inviting all relevant stakeholders and neutral persons of integrity to monitor the election and to conduct free and fair election, but that before the commencement of the election, some youths broke the door of the venue of the meeting and came in to disrupt the convention.

AREGBESOLA MOURNS PROF IYAYI

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday saluted the courage with which the late former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Festus Iyayi confronted forces of under-development in his contribution towards the growth of Nigeria.

Aregbesola said the sudden and tragic death of Iyayi made a sad statement on how quality lives are wasted under very avoidable circumstances of bad roads and other infrastructure decay in Nigeria.

Describing the death as a sad loss to the academic world and the nation, Aregbesola, in a statement by his Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said Iyayi’s death has not only robbed the academic world of an intellectual of uncommon repute, it has depleted the ranks of truly committed agitators for common good in Nigeria.

PDP Leaders Ask Court To Restrain Jonathan From Contesting 2015 Election

A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has slated the 20th of January 2014 for hearing a petition brought before it by two leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who are seeking a court order to restrain President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2015 presidential election.

The plaintiffs, Richard Tersoo and Shuaibu Lilli, had filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Kaduna asking it to disqualify Jonathan from presenting himself as a presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2015 election.

They also want the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restrain the PDP from accepting any nomination of Jonathan as a presidential candidate in 2015 election.

In a suit filed on 7th October, 2013, they insisted that President Jonathan had completed his first tenure in office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria having expired at the end of the four year tenure calculated from 29th May, 2007.

They said the tenure of Jonathan has expired at the end of the four year tenure calculated from 29th May, 2007, being the date the last holder of the said office was sworn in.

Part of the originating summons reads: “A declaration that President Jonathan is not entitled to tenure of office as President exceeding eight years calculated from 2007, till last holder of the said office”.

At the first sitting where the case was mentioned on Monday, the presiding judge, Justice Evelyn  Anyadike after hearing the submissions made by counsel to the plaintiffs and INEC,  Tony Agaga and Hauwa Habib respectively, adjourned the case to 20th January 2014 for hearing due to the absence of the counsel to President Jonathan and PDP in court.

The judge stated that he will give the petitioner accelerated hearing if the defendants fail to show up by the next adjourned date.

However, one of the petitioners, Shuaibu Lili told journalists that he has the right to challenge the eligibility of President Jonathan to seek for another term in office based on  the provisions in the country’s constitution and Electoral Act which bars a president from exceeding more than eight years in office.

Nigeria Police Is Incapable of Providing Security- Ngige

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 16 Anambra elections, Dr. Chris Ngige has declared that the Nigeria Police “as presently constituted, incapable of providing security to everybody”

Ngige, who was speaking during the Channels Television’s organized Town Hall Conversation with candidates of contesting political parties, added that this is so because “they are poorly funded”.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, he revealed that “30 per cent of police budget in the state formations are funded by the respective state governments” adding that “the Council of state and the National Economic Council have a proposal that two per cent of the revenue of the country be used for the police”.

He also noted that the conditions, welfare, logistics for work and the working equipment of the Nigeria Police is nothing to write home about insisting that “you don’t give what you don’t have”.

He also debunked the notion that state policing is usually used for political reasons insisting that “times have changed”.

Using an English adage “Necessity is the mother of all inventions”, Ngige said the security challenge the state is facing made him to invent “a vigilante services that comes up from the community level to the local government level and up to the state level and trained them in the conventional police system” to curb the security challenges the state was facing in 2003.

He argued that if he is voted into office, he will do it again noting that “that is what my security votes is for” insisting that the main function of government Is to protect its citizens.

ISLAMIC SIM TO BE SHOWCASED IN AFRICA

A new SIM-based application designed to offer a range of functions to users of even lower end feature phones will be showcased at Africa Com in Cape Town this week.

The Islamic SIM Service (ISS), designed by Greek electrical engineer Yiannis Hatzopoulis, enables users to track the direction of the Kaa’bah, receive accurate prayer timing, convert dates between Gregorian and Arabic calendars and automatically ban incoming calls during prayer time.

The SIM will be showcased at Africa Com in Cape Town from 12 – 14 November.
Hatzopoulis says the Islamic SIM Service is currently under scrutiny by mobile operators in several countries, but that it would be premature to speculate on its distribution in Africa.
He says the ISS came about after he noted the success of LG’s Islamic phones in 2009, and saw a gap in the market for good Islamic services running on generic feature phones. He says: “I realised that I could pack most of the functions of an Islamic phone inside a SIM card, to turn any casual feature phone into an Islamic phone, simply through the swap of its SIM card.”

MTN ALERTS CUSTOMERS TO NEW SIM SWAP FRAUD

MTN Nigeria has warned its customers to beware of a form of deception that is being perpetrated by individuals  intent on duping unsuspecting telephone subscribers.

According to MTN, the deception which has been noticed in jurisdictions outside Nigeria, is similar to ‘phishing’ and its sole aim is to mislead telephone subscribers into divulging personal information that could later be used to defraud them.

In the latest incidents, the individuals behind the deception initiate calls to telephone subscribers, purporting to be staff of a telecom service provider and request sensitive personal information from the telephone subscribers.
Unsuspecting subscribers who willingly provide information will subsequently become victims of illegal SIM swaps, paving the way for online banking fraud and international calling theft.

An SSS operative harassing a photo journalist. Haba !

An SSS operative harassing a photo journalist. Haba !

PDP CRISIS DEEPENS AS TUKUR FACTION SUSPENDS BARAJE, OYINLOLA, OTHERS

The crisis in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today takes another dimension as it is reported that the party has suspended the quartet of Abubakar Baraje, Sam Sam Jaja, Ibrahim Kazaure and Olagunsoye Oyinlola for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities.

America Consular General Lauds Aregbesola

America Consular General Lauds Aregbesola

The Consul General of United State of America in Nigeria, Mr. Jefferey Hawkins has lauded the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State for the economic, social and infrastructural renewal in the state.

75-year-old man commits suicide over seizure of vehicle by VIO

75-year-old man commits suicide over seizure of vehicle by VIO

Written by Abdul-Hameed Olawale, Osogbo

A 75-year-old man, Pa. Adisa Hassan has committed suicide because of seizure of his vehicle by Vehicle Inspection Officials (VIO) in Osogbo, capital of Osun State.

Kogi State Elders Reject Bid by Gov. Wada to Secure N20bn Bond

Gov Idris Wada

Kogi State Elders Reject Bid by Gov. Wada to Secure N20bn Bond

Kogi State Elders Forum has warned the state government against ongoing efforts to secure a N20 billion “Development Bond” from a consortium of four Nigerian banks in the country saying the bond is capable of  enslaving the people of the state.

TARABA ASSEMBLY GETS NEW SPEAKER

BREAKING NEWS: TARABA ASSEMBLY GETS NEW SPEAKER

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Category: News

Published on Monday, 11 November 2013 11:35

Written by Itodo Daniel Sule, Jalingo

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The new Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Josiah Sabo Kente (Wukari 1 Constituency). PHOTO: ITODO DANIEL SULE, JALINGO

Taraba State House of Assembly has elected Josiah Sabo Kente (Wukari 1 Constituency) as the new Speaker of the Assembly following the death of the Late Speaker, Haruna Tsokwa.

Kente has just taken his oath of office and pledged to serve the House to the best of his ability.

ONE YEAR REMEMBRANCE LAMIDI ADESINA

From Right: Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, All Progressive congress National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and Former Governor Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu during the one year remembrance of the former Governor of Oyo State, Late Alhaji Lamidi Adesina at Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba Ibadan, Oyo state on Monday 11/11/2013.