IPOB members will be arraigned for murder – Police IG, Arase

The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has directed that members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who were arrested in connection with the killing of three policemen on Monday be charged for murder.

He also ordered the Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIG) and the Commissioners of Police in the affected areas to immediately disarm members of the group.

Arase while condemning the killing by IPOB members also directed that any member found in possession of firearm be arrested and brought to justice.

The Force Spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, stated these in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement said: “IGP Arase also directed the arrest of any member of the group found in possession of firearm and bring him or her to deserved justice, while all IPOB activists arrested in connection with the killing of the policemen should be charged to court for murder.”

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WIKE IS A PRAGMATIC LEADER. By Sir Sam Ejekwu

Addressing News Men shortly after the Town Hall meeting with the Governor, The Mayor Of Port-Harcourt SIR SAM SONI EJEKWU described the indefatigable Governor Of Rivers State as a pragmatic leader.

He said Wike's passion and love for Rivers State is basically the propelling force behind his landslide developmental achievements.

"What would have taken Most State Governors 3years to achieve is exactly what Gov WIKE has been able to achieve in just one year in office and this goes a long way to compliment the fact that the Next 3years of his First tenure would be nothing but massive development all round for Rivers people" the Mayor Said.

Furthermore, the Phalga boss commended the actions of the Governor for deciding to end his anniversary programme with a town hall meeting with the people of his state which will in turn give him an experiential understanding of the needs of his people for a superior and preferable service delivery.

"So far we are pleased with this administration with so much to show in one year irrespective of the dwindling and paltry Allocation allotted to the state" the Mayor Said.

Ichemati Ezebunwo Prince-Charles
SON OF REBISI KINGDOM.

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GOVERNOR WIKE APPOINTS JOSEPH YOBO AS SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT ON SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has appointed Former Super Eagles Captain, Joseph Yobo as  Senior Special Assistant on Sports Development to the  Governor. 

The governor  has also appointed  Mr Chibuzor Aholu as Senior  Special Assistant to the Governor on Financial Matters.

A statement by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media  noted that  both appointments  take immediate  effect.

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor,
Electronic Media.

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FG Deploys 5 Warships, 100 Gunboats, Fighter Jets To Delta Creeks

The federal government, yesterday, deployed an armada of five warships, 100 gunboats and fighter jets to the creeks of the Niger Delta, in response to continued bombing of oil and gas pipelines by Niger Delta Avengers, NDA.

This heightened tension in the coastal communities of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, even as helicopter gunships were seen hovering at low altitude in the predominantly riverine council.

Niger Delta Avengers: FG deploys 5 warships, 100 gunboats, fighter jets to Delta creeks
It was gathered that while the Airforce deployed the fighter jets and helicopter gunships, the Army swooped on four more Ijaw communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, for the militants.

Bayelsa travellers from the hinterland, confirmed the large military presence in the tricky mangrove swamp of the council, which at the height of youth militancy, had the largest concentration of militant camps in the Delta.

“There is a massive security operation going on in the area. Fighter jets and helicopter gunships have been hovering around the airspace at low level, apparently on surveillance mission. Many of the natives are worried about the development,” said Ayebatari, an indigene of the area.

However, an Agip source told Vanguard that the company had, amid tight security, commenced repair of the damaged section of Tebidaba-Brass delivery line destroyed on Sunday by militants.

“Yes, the repair work is being done under the radar,” he said in reference to the aerial coverage by the military.

Meanwhile, the invasion of Ijaw communities, which started about 1.52a.m., on Saturday, with the take-over of Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of the kingdom and Kurutie, also known as “Little London,” the country home of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, Okerenkoko, Kokodigbane and Benikrukru, yesterday, has caused food crisis in Gbaramatu clan.

Residents, who fled Oporoza, three days ago to the neighbouring Azama community, are famished, as they had not eaten for the period, while soldiers were reportedly not allowing them to return to the community to look for food and pick their clothes.

The traditional ruler of Gbaramatu kingdom, HRM Williams Ogboba, Oboro Gbaraun II, narrated the ordeal of the people when the Special Adviser to the President on Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (retd), visited him at his palace in Oporoza, Delta State, on Sunday.

He said he was under house arrest and had not taken his bath since soldiers invaded his kingdom, while his subjects in Oporoza had all fled.

Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, confirmed, yesterday, that the security agencies were now working in synergy to rout the Avengers.

Surveillance

He said: “We (Navy) use helicopter. If you spot it, you will clearly identify it as belonging to us. You see Navy written on it. The jet fighters and surveillance craft were deployed by Air Force to watch over the high risk areas against activities of the oil assets vandals and anyone else involved in criminality in the area.

“There is now strengthened synergy among the security agencies to stop this vandalism. The synergy is there. I will advise those involved to steer clear and employ peaceful ways of agitating and engaging their minds.”

The fighter jets and surveillance aircraft were also seen flying around communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom and Ogulagha area in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State about 10a.m.

Ijaw leader, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, and Public Relations Officer of Oporoza Youth Executive, Paul Kirifade, confirmed the movement of the jet fighters and aircraft in the communities.

It was learned that the fighter jets and surveillance aircraft were deployed to enable the armed forces locate the militants, believed to be running helter-skelter and hiding in the mangrove swamps after the occupation of Oporoza and fly down on Kurutie and other communities, yesterday.

Our source said soldiers stormed Kurutie in six gunboats at 4.30a.m., while the people were still asleep.

A 70-year-old man, identified as Mr. Dogood Ikekama, was allegedly molested and forced by the soldiers to take them round some houses in the community.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked to focus more on intelligence gathering and collaboration with host communities in identifying the location of Niger Delta Avengers.

Chairman of Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Social Orientation and one of the facilitators of the amnesty programme, Mr. Richard Akinaka, who condemned the renewed attacks as not representing the intention and interest of the Niger Delta, blamed it on protection of individual business interests of some unscrupulous people from the region.

To avoid collateral damage and hurting innocent villagers whose lives, he said, had been battered by neglect and lack of development, Akinaka said soldiers should desist from mass arrest but focus on identifying where the Avengers were located and take them out.

He said: “What is happening in the region does not reflect the common interest of the people of the Niger Delta. It is orchestrated by a few disgruntled people for their selfish interests. We just finished six years of a Presidency headed by one of us, former President Goodluck Jonathan, why didn’t the Avengers carry out their agitation during his regime?

‘’We produced a President, who did nothing in six years to better the lot of his people, not even the road to Otuoke was touched under him while the East-West Road was left undone; so what justification do they have to protest now?”

Vanguard gathered that Tompolo’s father had since fled the community, following the hunt for his son but one of his wives, who was in town managed to run into the bush with other villagers before the soldiers reached the house.

She wept uncontrollably in her location as soldiers rummaged the house, but the soldiers, who also broke into and ransacked other homes in the town departed at about 6a.m.

The soldiers marched into Okerenkoko, Kokodiagbene and Benikrukru community when they left Kurutie.

According to the chairman of Kokodiagbene community, Sheriff Mulade: “In the wee hours of yesterday, the Joint Military Task Force, codenamed Operations Pulo Shield, invaded more Ijaw communities in search of vandals and militants bombing oil and gas facilities in Delta state.

“The communities include Benikrukru, Kokodiagbene, Kurutie and Okerenkoko, all in Warri South West Council. According to the JTF, the operations, named Cordon and Search, was aimed at unmasking the militants and vandals, who are perpetrating the heinous crimes, requesting the communities to produce them,” he said.

Oil production plummets to 1.2 mbpd

Nigeria’s oil production has continued to plummet as it, yesterday, stood at 1.2 million barrels per day, against the 1.4 million barrels recorded last week.

Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Garbadeen Mohammed, said: “Our production is not less than, but about 1.2 million barrels per day.”

The decline has been attributed to increased vandalism of crude oil pipelines by vandals, as well as increasing blow up of international oil companies’ platforms in the last two weeks.

Onokpasa decries seizure of pots of soup by soldiers

All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Delta State, Mr. Jesutega Onokpasa, criticized the confiscation of household appliances and even pots of soup by invading soldiers in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West council, saying such act would only present the military as unruly and unethical.

Calling on the Niger Delta Avengers to have a rethink and embrace dialogue, he said: “Everyone in Gbaramatu cannot be an Avenger and we cannot be talking of negotiation and at the same time invading Oporoza.

‘’What is required is intelligence, not brute force. These vandals could be operating from anywhere. Would they bomb a pipeline and then remain in the area waiting for the military to come after them?

“Stopping further destruction of our oil and gas infrastructure is of utmost priority, invading communities and going so far as confiscating household appliances and even pots of soup, will only present the military as undisciplined, untidy and unprofessional.”

Vanguard gathered that the greatest threat to the lives of residents, particularly Oporoza villagers, who fled to neighbouring Azama community since Saturday, is hunger.

Chief Gbenekama and Oporoza youths spokesperson, Kirifade, said the helpless villagers had not eaten for three days, as there was no food in Azama community, where they escaped to.

Also, National President of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, Mr Austin Ozobo, who confirmed that hunger had hit the displaced persons, said: “There is hunger everywhere as there is no food for the people to eat. Food supply to the kingdom has been cut off by the military, which is not allowing boats to come in from Warri and other areas to bring food to the people.”

Kirifade added: “It is sad that soldiers are not even allowing the trapped villagers to get canoes to go to their homes in Oporoza to look for food and pick up clothes. Some of them have not taken their bath since last Saturday.

“We are not Niger Delta Avengers, why should government classify every Gbaramatu man as a Niger Delta Avenger, they should withdraw the soldiers because it is obvious that their aim is to commit genocide. Though, we thank God that in their indiscriminate shooting, nobody has been killed.”

I’m under house arrest- Monarch

Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, HRM Oboro Gbaraun II (Aketekpe) Agadagba, who raised the alarm when Brigadier-General Boroh (retd) visited his palace, said: “I am in pains, deep pains, this is the third time the military has invaded the community. They came with large number of soldiers, harassing and beating up women, there are kids missing now.”

Vanguard

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Joseph Yobo Bestowed With A Chieftaincy Title

Ex-Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo has been conferred with a chieftaincy title in Ogoniland.

The honour was bestowed on his a day after he was given a grand exit from professional football by a stellar collection of football stars like Samuel Eto’o,Austin Okocha, Sulley Muntari, Stephen Appiah, Lomana Lualua and Laryea Kingston during his testimonial in Port Harcourt on Friday.

Yobo was conferred with the title of Mene Aborlo 1 of Ogoniland by King GNK Gininwa, with his wife Adaeze given the Waamene Aborlo 1 of Ogoni land.

"Honored to be conferred the title Mene Aborlo 1 of Ogoniland by my King, HRH GNK Gininwa and people #chiefyobo," he tweeted.

The former Nigeria international defender made his Super Eagles debut against Zambia in a 2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on 24 March, 2001 in Chingola, Zambia.

He went on to amass 101 international caps, scoring seven goals in a career that spanned 13 years where he featured at three Fifa World Cups and six Afcon tournaments, leading Nigeria to victory in his last outing in South Africa.

At club level, he turned out for Standard Liège, Marseille, Everton, Fenerbahce and Norwich City between 1998 and 2014.

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The New Rivers State with Governor WiKe.

The man Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is not strange in Nigerian politics, being  a former Local Government Chairman, a Minister of the Republic and presently the executive Governor of oil rich Rivers state. What might be strange to you is that Gov. Wike did not just wake up and become the Governor of Rivers State. He came, saw and he conquered . He definitely had his own share of the usual challenges associated with contesting an election in Nigeria.

At a time when Rivers State was faced with doom due to the mal administration of his predecessor Gov. Chibuike Amaechi, God intervened and sent Gov. Wike to run and emerge as the Governor of the State. 

Amaechi's tenure  practically killed every other organs of Government, the Judiciary and the legislative arms of Government were in comatose. He plunged the State judiciary into crises by his deliberate and selfish desire to elect his personal choice as the CJ of Rivers State. Most persons even hold the view that Amaechi directed and conspired with the judiciary to go on protest strike in protest of his own very action.

The other arm of government, the Rivers State House of Assembly was not left out, though being a former Speaker of same house, Amaechi collapsed the institution, instigated a free for all fight at the House and thereafter caused them to resume sitting right inside Government house. What a shame!

Other facet of the economy of Rivers State was also crying, workers and pensioners were being owed . Infrastructures were decaying. Roads in the State were all in different bad shapes. Instead of fixing the State, Amaechi rather choose to waste the State's resources in flamboyant avenues, like the white elephant so called monorail project.

Rivers State was almost a pariah state and was in a worse state when His Excellency, Gov. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON came in.

What a man. Right at his inauguration, Gov Wike started correcting the many ills of Amachi. He appointed an Acting Chief Judge and President of the Customary Court of Appeal. The illegally sacked ASUU members from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology were recalled and eventually, the Rivers State House of Assembly was retrieved from Amaech's bedroom to its rightful position at the Assembly location. Today, Rivers State has a substantive Chief Judge, the most senior at the Bench, in line with the age long " seniority" tradition of the legal profession.

Governor Wike began a massive road construction and rehabilitation drive, since May 2015, over 1000 Kilometers of Road has been constructed.

In 100 days of Office, Gov. Wike built and commissioned 50 blocks of low cost Estate at Iriebe, different projects are going on.

Rivers State has become NEW with Gov. Wike. The transformation within just a year is uncommon. The economy of the State has picked up, Rivers State is now working. Workers are paid salaries promptly and pensioners are smiling better. This must be NEW.

As the Bible said, when the righteous rule, the people rejoice, there are smiles all over the faces of Rivers people, every facet of our lives is getting NEW because of the man Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. 

Congratulations Chief Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike on your one year anniversary in office.

Rivers State is NEW and soon we shall have the Newest Rivers State

To God be the glory.

From Newest Rivers Reporters

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3 REASONS WIKE STANDS OUT AS AN ACCOMPLISHED GOVERNOR AND WHY THE APC DESPERATELY WANTS HIM OUT By Oraye St. Franklyn

These are not the best of times for Nigeria. The economy is at its worst in over two decades. Prices of commodities have skyrocketed. There's a resurgence in militancy, which impacts negatively on the fortune of the country. Job losses have become commonplace and many States grapple with the inability to meet obligations as basic as paying workers salaries. The situation is truly bad and the future doesn't seem to inspire hope.

Any State Government that, like the current All Progressives Congress  (APC)-led Federal Government,  chooses to offer excuses for non-performance in the face of the current realities may be justified. The situation is so bad that even the Federal Government can hardly account for any achievement in the last one year in credit to alleged monumental corruption of the previous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration. Although none of the bogus and mind boggling allegations have been substantiated, it is to the credit of the last administration that Nigeria until it was taken over by the APC was Africa's most thriving and lucrative economy. What went wrong after the emergence of the APC-led government is not far-fetched. The Party was clearly unprepared for governance and absolutely clueless with respect to how to maintain the strides achieved by the last PDP-led administration and not give it credit.

A year ago, today, while the case of the Federal Government, was about the challenge of the incoming APC-led government in keeping pace with achievements recorded by the out-going PDP-led government, in Rivers State the reverse was the case. The incoming PDP-led government under the leadership of Chief Nyesom Wike, was saddled with the onerous responsibility of clearing the mess of maladministration, the orgy  of financial malfeasance and the catastrophe of political rascality bequeathed to it by the outgoing APC-led government. The situation was so bad that the outgoing government could not face the shame of handing over the State in any documented or allegorical form. They simply checked out in the dead of the night heralding the dawn of a NEW era without, as much as, handing over a single shred of paper to account for the 8 years of humongous abundance that were largely wasted on trips of vain fantasies.

Fortunately, the NEW dawn encapsulated in the hopes and aspirations of Rivers people for a better deal and invested in the person of Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike took to flight pronto, after his inauguration Governor of Rivers State.

The very moment he took charge as Governor on the sacred grounds of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium (formerly called Liberation Stadium), he announced the opening of the courts with the appointment of an Acting Chief Judge in accordance with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council hitherto jettisoned by the previous APC led government. He flagged off, not just the reconstruction of roads in the State but aslo the regeneration, re-engineering and reNEWal of critical infrastructure. Since his emergence, a year ago, today, Governor Wike has left no stone unturned in ensuring that Rivers State gets back to its pride of place as Nigeria's capital city of hospitality and enjoyment rather than just being the nerve centre of oil its economy and hub of oil and gas.

While it may be argued that the State is not yet at its El Dorado, it cannot be denied that the New Rivers has covered unbelievably enormous grounds on its way back to its epochal status of enviable reckoning among the comity of States in Nigeria.

PASSION FOR DEVELOPMENT

No one is in doubt of Governor Wike's passion for development. Even his detractors acknowledge his passion, drive and uncompromising stance on development. In one year, in spite of the gamut of offensive barrage of strategic and coordinated assaults on him and his government, to both distract and boot him out of office, he has remained largely unruffled and unscathed as a result of his focus on governance rather than in attractive bouts in partisanship.

LOVE FOR GOD

According to Charles Spurgeon, “Nothing teaches us about the preciousness of the Creator as much as when we learn the emptiness of everything else.” This is so true with respect to life and encapsulates the values that the inspiring story of Governor Wike evokes. Every so often, as occasions permit, Governor tells the story of how God saved him; of how he couldn't have been successful but for the mercies, Grace and physical not just metaphysical interventions of Almighty God. His love for God is a strong and guiding  influence of his leadership and it is no secret.

GENUINE INTEREST IN PEOPLE

At the center of Governor Wike's political and governmental duties is his genuine interest in people. This is the secret behind his large following at the grassroots. Empathy for people is his first nature and moderates his strides in politics and governance. Consider his recent action in advising his friend, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff to forgo his ambition in being Chairman of the PDP since it was a source of acrimony and division to the Party. Although, Governor Wike stood the risk of being misunderstood and compromising his relations with Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, he remained resolute in standing with the vast majority within the Party as a democrat and it was on account of his genuine interest in people. For him, politics must be about improving the stakes of the vast majority not just the interests of the strong minority.

Every single project he has embarked on as Governor has been about improving the lives of people. The interest of people is truly at the center of his call to public service and also one of the many reasons the opposition APC in the State in cahoots with powerful collaborators at the Federal Government remain determined to oust him from office by every means necessary even if it means to announce results of elections that didn't hold just to decimate his rising profile and reach.

The distractions notwithstanding, Governor Wike has kept faith with his commitment and pledge during his inauguration a year ago, today, to serve the people of Rivers to the best of his abilities and to collaborate with rather than antagonise the Federal Government in the best interest of Rivers people, whose trust and mandate he holds. A pledge that obviously does not go well with those who would rather be pleased, and have done everything possible, to have him at loggerheads with President Muhammadu Buhari.

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WEEK OF SOLIDARITY WITH PEOPLE OF NON SELF GOVERNING TERRITORIES: - Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike

WEEK OF SOLIDARITY WITH PEOPLE OF NON SELF GOVERNING TERRITORIES: 25TH - 31ST MAY, 2016.

The United Nations General Assembly by its resolution in December, 2005 requested a week of solidarity with the peoples of non-self-governing territories to be celebrated annually on every last week of May (25th - 31st). This is aimed at ensuring their political, social, educational advancements and protection against all forms of abuse.

Non self governing territories are those territories whose people have not yet attained full measure of self government due to administering powers. Countries that exercise administering powers on non-self-governing territories are urged to take effective measures of safe guarding and guarantying inalienable rights of such people.

The essence of this week's observance is geared towards campaigning on total eradication of colonialism, racism and violations of human rights which is a clog to the wheels of development and protection of human rights and dignity. Today, more than 2million people still live under colonial rules in about 16 non-self-governing territories. Some of such territories are the Cayman Island, Bermuda, Guam, Falklands etc.

In solidarity with the peoples of non-self-governing territories, we can lend our voices by emphatically stating that people still living under colonial rule deserve better lives. They are entitled to freely enjoy their territories  political status, fundamental tenets of democracy, freedom of human dignity and human rights!

God bless and keep you and your families.

From Her Excellency,
Hon Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike,
The Wife of His Excellency,
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON,
The Governor of Rivers State

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Buhari Is Getting N58.50 From Every Liter of Petrol Sold in Nigeria - Fayose

Ekiti state Governor, Ayo Fayose has rated President Muhammadu Buhari's first year in office.

In a statement titled; “Petrol Price Increment as Buhari’s 1st Year Anniversary Gift to Nigerians” which he personally signed, the governor said, “Despite his electoral promise to reduce petrol pump price from the N87 per litre that he met it, President Muhammadu Buhari increased the price to N145! With this increment, Buhari has further impoverished Nigerians.

“Nigerians should be reminded that on April 14, 2015, President Buhari’s ally and former Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Prof. Tam David-West, told Nigerians that Gen. Mohammed Buhari (who was then President-elect), will reduce the fuel pump price from N87 to N40 per litre. Buhari did not debunk this statement made by his friend and major supporter.

“Also, when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan reduced the petrol pump price from N97 to N87 per litre in January 2015, former Lagos State Governor who is now Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola said N10 reduction of the petrol pump price was too low and that Nigerians will get a better deal under Buhari. Fashola tweeted on January 18, 2015; ‘On PMS price reduction by N10. Now they listen. Oil the raw material drop over 50%, N10 is just about 10%. Good try but Nija can get a beta deal.’

“In rewarding Nigerians for electing him as president, President Buhari opted to increase petrol pump price by N58.50!. The first justification of the increment was removal of subsidy. But Nigerians were later stunned when the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo said pump price of petrol was increased because Nigeria was broke!

“In other words, President Buhari increased petrol pump price because the country was broke and it needed to shore up its revenue base. The N58.50 added to the previous pump price of N86.50 was an Indirect Tax imposed on each litre of petrol purchased by Nigerians.

“Simply put, the Federal Government is indirectly collecting N58.50 naira tax from suffering Nigerians on each litre of petrol they buy. Buhari is no doubt acting like the proverbial Agbalowomeri Baale Jontolo (Aking that exploit his extremely poor subject to further enrich himself).

“It is on record that on May 2 this year, the federal government, in the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Template released in Abuja, told Nigerians that it was subsidising petrol at N12.62 per litre.

''In 2012 when the Dr Jonathan removed fuel subsidy and increased petrol price to N141 per litre, crude oil was selling at $111 per barrel. If not wickedness, how can petrol price be increased to N145 per litre when crude oil is now selling at $49 per barrel?

“Increasing petrol pump price by N58.50 when the federal government claimed it was subsidising the product at N12.62 per litre is clear wickedness on the part of President Buhari.

“In the history of Nigeria, increase in price of petrol has never been as high as it was done by Buhari, putting Nigerians in severe hardship as the product affects every sector of the economy. Too bad, those who opposed removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 and funded the Occupy Nigeria protest are the ones canvassing support for this Buhari’s wicked one year anniversary gift to Nigerians.

“The labour unions are now completely cowed, dashing completely hope of the common people of Nigeria. Interestingly, this is not the first election promise by APC/Buhari that have been jettisoned since they got into office. The N5,000 unemployment benefits promised the downtrodden was derisively put down by this President as “largesse” with the president spurning the emotional plea of his own wife to the contrary. To add salt and insult unto injury, he traveled abroad to make the statement.

“Despite the mindless and indefensible hike in fuel price, the commodity is still not available. Minister of state for Petroleum says there is no forex to pay for fuel import; yet there is forex to indulge Buhari’s foreign-trip profligacy.

“Presidential spin doctors and APC chieftains labouring to hoodwink the people speak glibly of how so-called deregulation will make products available, reduce cost through competition and the interplay of market forces as well as encourage private sector to build more refineries. But thank God who loves Nigerians so much, the lies of these people was by divine arrangement, I suppose, revealed by no less a person than the junior minister Ibe Kachikwu himself when he said importation of fuel continues till 2019.

“Nigerians should be reminded that the manner of hardship being faced now was also faced during Buhari’s first coming as a military dictator when people had to queue for essential commodities. Now, Nigerians can’t even afford common tomato to prepare soup. So Nigerians you have heard the truth: Under Buhari/APC, it is almost certain that our suffering will continue till 2019.

“Nigerians, remember I warned you before Buhari was elected; I have been warning you since Buhari became president and I am warning now that if nothing is done urgently, the economy of Nigeria will collapse.”

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Nigeria to Sign Visa-free Agreement With 8 Countries

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, says plans have been concluded to sign visa-free pacts with a bloc of eight African countries to promote economic partnership on the continent.

The minister announced this in Abuja on Tuesday at a news confernce to mark one year of President Mohammadu Buhari’s Administration.

The minister, who did not disclose the names of the countries making up the bloc, noted with concern that trading among African countries had been very low.

He, however, said that with the new idea by the President Mohammadu Buhari led administration, “it is expected that there will be upsurge in economic activities. “ Africa is the centrepiece of our foreign policy but it is a paradox that as a Nigerian, you cannot go to an African country without a visa unlike what is obtainable in Western Europe.

“To address this as a leader in the continent, the country is at a point of introducing an initiative to promote African trade as part of the country’s foreign policy of Africa as the centrepiece”, he said.

Onyeama said Nigeria was trying to come up with an initiative, like the one in Western Europe where one could enter any sister country without a visa.

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Now there is no money to run government – Amaechi

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Tuesday appealed to Nigerians to be patient and give the administration more time to achieve its objectives. 

Making the appeal while answering questions at the forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Amaechi said:

“We encountered challenges; were we expecting to encounter those challenges? yes; did we think that we will meet the quantum or volume of those challenges? “We didn’t anticipate that things were this bad. We thought you go to government and there would be money for you to run government and others. “Now you have the situation where there is no money to run government.

I hate to use the word difficult; I hate to use the word impossible but we met things close to difficult and impossibility. “That is why Nigerians are impatient; they want to see results and for them, change is not about change in structure, it is about change in their pocket. “Because their pocket is getting dried and they wanted us to put some more resources in their pocket. “Because of the structural changes that we want to put in place is not getting all that they want to get. 

“ What I usually say to people is that we beg you to give us time; we will achieve our objective if you give us time and we will both thank God for that opportunity.’’ He gave an assurance that money recovered from the ongoing corruption fight, would be used to provide infrastructure. According to him, the government has started paying contractors not appointed by the current administration, noting that such action represents service delivery to the people.

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We are worse than IDPs - Edo pensioners

About 500 pensioners who retired from the public service of the government of Edo, on Monday took to the street in protest of 42 months pension arrears, saying “our conditions are worse than that of the internally displaced persons.

They protested round major roads in Benin and ended up at the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), press centre, and said most of them who retired from the service between 2013 and 2016, were yet to be paid their gratuity, and monthly stipends.

Armed banners with various inscription, such as, “Edo pensioners are more displaced internally than the IDPs” urged the Adams Oshiomhole led government to constitute the state pensions board.

Spokesman of the group, Mr Gabriel Osemwenkha, said as a result of non-payment of their gratuity and pensions, the pensioners have find it difficult to cope with economy reality.

He noted that while some have past away as a result, others have find it difficult to send their children to school due to lack of fund.

“We appeal to our Royal Fathers, Politicians, elder statesmen, mothers, the clergy and all well meaning citizens of the state to prevail on the state Governor to pay arrears of pension entitlements to over one thousand deprived pensioners.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the state government had delayed the payment of arrears of pension ranging from 10 to 42 months as a result of which pensioners have been groaning in penury and pains.

“Contrary to claims that the government does now owe state retirees, the government has refused to commence payment of pension with effect from the date of retirement as stipulated in civil service pension law,” he stated.

The Edo NUJ chairman, Mr Roland Osakwe who received the pensioners, urged them to be calm as they go about their protest.

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GOVERNOR WIKE TO DESIGNATE CENTRES FOR TERMINAL ILL PERSONS

Press Release

RSG TO DESIGNATE CENTRES FOR TERMINAL ILL PERSONS

In line with its vision of providing quality healthcare service to the people of the State, Rivers State Government says it plans to provide designated facilities for terminally ill persons in the State.

The State Deputy Governor stated this while speaking at a one day Stakeholder’s seminar organized for terminally ill persons by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in collaboration with the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent De Paul and the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt, at the Ministry of Justice Complex Port Harcourt.

Represented by her Special Assistant on Research and Social Media, Miss. Uki Asemota, Dr. Banigo said the proposed centres would stop the increase of terminally ill persons being paraded in the streets of Port Harcourt.

She noted that the State Government through its collaboration with International Organizations has been able to achieve sharp decrease in some preventable diseases in the State, adding that Government was putting necessary step to complete all abandoned Hospitals and Health Centre in the State

The Deputy Governor further reiterated Government commitments towards providing affordable, accessible and quality health care for all Rivers people, while commending the efforts of the National Orientation Agency, Daughter of Charity of Saint Vincent De Paul and the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt for supporting governments’ effort in bringing succor to the less privileged ones in the society.

Earlier in his opening address, the State Director of National Orientation Agency Mr. Oliver Wolugbom said the programme was aimed at checking the increasing cases of terminally ill persons who are paraded in the streets by their Care-Givers thereby exposing them to health hazards, exploitation and all other forms of dehumanization. 

Paul Damgbor
Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor
Friday 20th May, 2016.

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10 SOLID REASONS WHY PDP WILL RECLAIM POWER IN 2019 - By Oraye St. Franklyn

If anyone was in doubt about the capacity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take over power in 2019, the cohesion and singleness of purpose that characterised the just concluded National Convention of the Party in Port Harcourt, has cleared the doubts with emphatic certainty that it would. The entire country saw a new kind of PDP in Port Harcourt. One that had the interest of the vast majority of its members, and indeed Nigerians, over and above the pressing needs of critical stakeholders within it.

The dexterity displayed in the way and manner the Party rallied itself in Port Harcourt in the split moment it faced its single most dangerous challenge to its regeneration and quest to reclaim its national governmental mandate is second to none in the history of the Party.

While, indeed, the naysayers had already ran to town in jubilation, sensing frictions that would necessitate a fraction in the Party arising from heightened agitations against the sole candidacy of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff as the Party’s Chairman which would possibly lead to factions of multidimensional affrays, the Party leadership led by the State Governors set aside their individual interests to prioritise the interest of Nigeria. Their smart, cohesive and quick resolution of what would have snowballed into a major distraction for the PDP in its quest to repossess power and re-engineer the Nigerian nation, instantly put paid to the premature jubilation and aspiration of the All Progressives Congress to hold on to power beyond 2019.

Never in its history, has the PDP stooped to swallow its pride, court the admiration of the people of Nigeria and conquered its challenges in one fell swoop that reverberated in chilling silence and dumbfoundment within the fold of its detractors. It was daring. It was brilliant. It was necessary and the best thing to do in the circumstance. In the razzmatazz of the entire political summersaults, credit must be given to the Chairman of the PDP Convention Planning Committee, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State as well as his brother Governors in the Party for the leadership offered and continue to offer in rallying the Party together at this critical moment in its history.

The action taken by the PDP in its National Convention in Port Harcourt to appoint an Interim National Executive Committee to man the affairs of the Party with a 90 day mandate to unite the Party and organise a new Convention to elect national leaders of the Party, has endeared many Nigerians to it. This is because the action is a marked deviation from what the PDP was reputed for and signals the Party’s adjustment to the new political dynamics of Nigeria. Most importantly, it projects the Party as being more resilient and committed to the success of Nigeria than it is of any unpopular agenda. However, while the emerging PDP inspires confidence in Nigerians, there are more than enough reasons to show that the game is up for the APC, come 2019. 10 solid reasons are hereunder articulated to prove with a definite certainty that should the PDP sustain its current unifying momentum, it will succeed in changing the dubious change imposed by the APC on Nigerians that has left them in worse conditions than they were over 30 years ago and the country in steep recession.

1.       BATTERED ECONOMY

Rather than bettered, the economy inherited by the APC from the PDP, reputed for being Africa’s primus sine paribus at the time of transition, has been so severely battered by poor economic decisions that it has become an issue of amazement, how change can so rapidly extinguish productivity and reverse progress in just a space of a year.

Today, job loses have become commonplace as both the private and public sector grapple with sustaining their enterprise. Companies continue to close shops, the Naira is at its worst ever value in history, prices of commodities blaze on consistently in their astronomic adventure and the mass of Nigerians, the very people for whom government cannot afford to fail, are left to grope in the wilderness of misfortune in credit to the inability of the APC led Federal Government to direct the ship of state on a steady course to progress. It is such a messy situation.

Although the APC continues to blame the PDP for being responsible for its inability to deliver on its much touted campaign promises of change, no proof has so far been established, in a year of APC’s helm at the thrust of governance, of PDP’s culpability in undermining APC’s success either directly or otherwise, leaving many with the disappointing conclusion that the APC was never primed for governance; a fact enunciated in its new christening by Nigerians as ‘APC: ALL PROMISES CANCELLED’ as the promise of change has become change of promise, without apologies.

2.       CORRUPTION

Hopes have been dashed, especially in the international community, since the APC took to power and formed its cabinet. The greatest mockery of its strong anti-corruption campaign was the inclusion of clearly compromised and indicted members of the public in its government. Some of those included were former Governors, of whom credible reports in the public domain appear to show as having bankrolled the presidential election of incumbent President Buhari with misappropriated public funds.

For many, that was the most remarkable betrayal of the trust reposed in the APC led government and also the most significant move to excuse, promote and reward corruption, thus undermining, or at best limiting, the fight against corruption to perceived detractors of the APC, most of whom are innocent PDP members dreaded for their political sagacity.

To this day, not a single investigation has commenced on any of the litany of petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leading to public outcry and the condemnation of the Commission as being biased, partisan and vindictive. The corruption of public morals, by promoting propaganda over truth and reality, cannot also be wished away as an inconsequential factor in sustaining corruption in Nigeria. In spite of the hopes in the APC to sustain the gains by the PDP in deploying institutional measures to tackle corruption, no far-reaching achievement has been attained. In fact, the perception of corruption in Nigeria has become so monumental that the Prime Minister of United Kingdom, David Cameron, opined that Nigeria is fantastically corrupt. And Our President agreed.

3.     APARTHEID POLICY

One of the extreme measures adopted as a policy of the APC is to run government on the basis of exclusionism. For the first time in Nigeria’s history, Nigerians are being segregated against by their own President on the grounds of who voted and didn’t vote for him. The first indication of this policy was made in the full glare of the international community during the President’s maiden visit to the United States of America after being elected. Jaws dropped. Tempers flared. Passions were inflamed and trust got betrayed in that single moment he made the statement excluding sections of Nigeria that didn’t vote for him from benefiting from his government. But it wasn’t a gaffe. It was a stoic and bland indication, although an unintended revelation, of what was to be elevated to officialdom and directive principle of state policy.

Nigeria, sadly, has now deviated from the legacy of the PDP in building cohesion among the diverse peoples within it to become a ‘we-versus-them’, North-versus-South contraption of ethnic-conscious nationalities. APC’s approach to governance clearly sustains the policy of exclusionism and apartheid. In fact, justifications have been made regarding the slant in appointments in favour of the North against the South, a region that has consistently come under attack by Federal institutions.

For instance, the 2015 General Elections in Rivers State and across critical States in the South were not only widely regarded as unduly annulled by the Court of Appeal, the court-ordered rerun elections suffered more attack by the military and would have been compromised but for the resilience of Rivers people. The same strategic crackdown effort played out at the elections in Bayelsa State and across the South, where the EFCC is still being used to harass and victimise innocent PDP members.

The South Eastern States appear the worst hit by the apartheid policy of the APC. The Igbos complain of being alienated from mainstream governance. A situation that has led to renewed and intensified agitations for self-determination by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra.

4.      ESCALATING ETHNOCENTRIC AND EXPANSIONIST TERRORISM

Until recently, Nigerians didn’t know and would never have believed that by voting for the APC, they would be faced with even more daring terrorism than was witnessed and effectively tackled during the Jonathan years, in spite of the promise by APC to end terrorism within its first month in government.

Today, the ethnocentric plague known as Fulani Herdsmen, is ravaging the breadth of the geographical enclave called Nigeria especially Christian dominated sections of the South. Scores have been killed. Many more have lost valuable property by the ravaging fundamentalist scourge. Even a national figure, Chief Olu Falae, was reportedly kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen and to this day, no emphatic measure has been taken to curb the escalating tensions generated by the dastardly activities of the herdsmen.

Insinuations are rife that the terrifying vocation of the herdsmen is beyond being about pastoral preoccupation but part of a grand expansionist plot by Northern fundamentalists to spread their hold on Nigeria to the Atlantic Ocean. Whether the insinuations are right or not remain a thing to be established. But the inability of the APC to unite Nigerians and curb the incursions of the herdsmen on the civil liberties of Nigerians appears to energise the assault on innocent Nigerian citizens, a development that wouldn’t have seen the light of day had the PDP being in power.

It is on record that all Nigerians regardless of faith, creed or origin united under one umbrella in the PDP. Those good days have to return.

5.     IMPUNITY

In today’s Nigeria, all that a criminal or an economic saboteur needs to get off the latch of the law is to establish both his membership of the APC and his connection to a Party bigwig. At the height of PDP’s acclaimed transgressions, nothing like this would have been conceived. But with change came daring bites on values. So much so that the Inspector General of Police will boldly take a stand against the prosecution of a criminal. Never has it been so heard.  Never!

APC members appear to be above the law in Nigeria today. They are as much untouchables as they are liabilities for national development. Thus, creating a crisis for themselves and the need to change the change they brought.

6.     COMPROMISED INSTITUTIONS

It is now common knowledge that State institutions have been compromised in Nigeria under the APC. From the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to even the Directorate of State Security (DSS), it’s been a blaze of compromised values.

INEC now conducts Elections that are for the first time in the history of the country regarded as inconclusive simply because they are or would have been won by the PDP. The EFCC is so afflicted with degenerated myopia that it only sees perceived threats to the APC as being culpable for crimes it is unable to establish and for which the accused are victimised with their rights infringed and without apologies. The DSS, theGeheime Staatspolizei of the change era, only barks at and bites PDP members and but for the existence of the Supreme Court that refused to be compromised, the judiciary would have been crippled under the leadership of the APC led government. All these happening under a government and political party that promised change.

To make matters worse, the APC chooses what court orders to obey and which to frustrate or disregard; a major deviation from the gains of the PDP that had established the rule of law as an intrinsic part of governance.

Thankfully, Nigerians now understand the language of Change.

7.            DEARTH IN GOVERNMENTAL CAPACITY

APC has achieved nothing inspiring or substantial in a year because it lacks the capacity to do so. It has no plan to develop Nigeria and has clearly shown a lack of capacity in that regard beyond thriving in partisanship. There’s no gainsaying the fact and it has to be left as simple as it is.

8.     QUESTIONABLE MANDATE

It is still being doubted if the APC truly obtained its acclaimed mandate by securing a majority vote in the 2015 General Elections or by cutting corners and blackmailing the members of the PDP especially of Northern origin to submission. For instance, consider the controversy that surrounded the death of Alhaji Munkaila Abdullahi, the Kano State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in a fire incident in his home along with his wife and two children a day after Kano delivered the largest number of votes to the APC with just an infinitesimal number of voided votes. The Police is yet to make public its findings from the investigation of the Kano REC’s death.

Almost a year later, whether by criminal conspiracy or karma, Youths in Kano have set ablaze the residences of serving members of the National Assembly over unfulfilled campaign promises raising suspicions about the credibility of APC’s acclaimed popularity.

Besides the above, the vast majority of Nigerians especially those who were caught unawares by the change mantra and APC propaganda feel misled and raped. Most of them do not need to be courted by the PDP. They have made up their mind to change the vicious change of the APC.

9.     GLOBAL DISTRUST

The inability of the APC to match words with action and deliver on campaign promises did not only pitch it against Nigerians who feel betrayed but also resulted in global distrust for the Party and government. To this day, no concrete achievement has resulted from the frequent international visits and no one hears about the then popular and controversial shopping list of the APC. There is an apparent reluctance by the global community to commit to the APC led government and it is not for nothing. There is a complete lack of confidence in the Party.

10.      RISK OF NIGERIA’S DISINTEGRATION

The emergence and approach to governance of the APC-led government has further divided Nigerians without any concerted or deliberate move to build national cohesion. Every region in the country is faced with either agitations for self-determination or monumental terrorism. The gaping holes of disunity are expanding daily and no strategic measure is being taken to address the issue. Most recently, militancy, which was hitherto curbed by the PDP, has again reared its head with blows to the nation’s fortune.

From all indications, the APC has lost the plot and only PDP holds the ace to save the country from being decimated. It is for this reasons and many more that Nigerians will surely entrust the country back to the hands of the PDP, which history shows has a mastery for having things flow in society.

PDP is coming back except it fails to unite. It would be most unfortunate for it to miss this opportunity to bounce back. The PDP has everything going for it right now. It must seize this moment to return Nigeria to the path of true prosperity. Nothing else would serve the nation’s interest best.

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INTERESTING!! UAE Fines Woman $40,843 For Checking Husband's Phone

A woman was fined and ordered to be deported from the United Arab Emirates after she 'breached her husband’s privacy by checking his cell phone to see if he was cheating on her.

The unnamed Arab expatriate was fined 150,000 dirhams ($40,843) by the criminal court in the emirate of Ajman, the English-language newspaper Gulf News said.

Her lawyer told the paper she had accused her husband of having an affair. She admitted she had accessed his phone without his permission and transferred pics to her device, the lawyer added.

The husband lodged a complaint with the court, which convicted her last week under a cybercrime law that penalizes “the invasion of privacy of another person” using information technology, the paper said.

It said the couple were in their 30s but gave no other information.

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How I was betrayed at PDP’s national convention in Port Harcourt — Ali Modu Sheriff

The crisis within the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party is far from over, with Ali Modu Sheriff claiming he remained the national chairman of the party, despite being sacked by a national convention.

Mr. Sheriff was sacked at the PDP convention held on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and the National Executive Committee which he headed, replaced with a caretaker committee.

Inuwa Bwala, the spokesperson for Mr. Sheriff, stated around 8.41pm on Saturday that Mr. Sheriff remained opposed to what happened at the Port Harcourt convention, since he had announced its suspension after consulting with members of the National Working Committee of the party.

“Immediately the chairman (Sheriff) received another court injunction, he called a meeting of the National Working Committee and told them that it wasn’t safe to continue with the convention of the party, especially since the court had forbidden elections virtually into all the offices,” Mr. Bwala said.
“He announced the suspension of the convention at a press briefing, only for some people to go behind and claim that there was convention.

“There was no organ of the party that was represented at the convention.

“The convention was cancelled, and it remains cancelled until such a time the matters in court are resolved, for us to convene another national convention.”

Mr. Bwala said Mr. Sheriff remained the national chairman of the PDP, going by the pronouncement of the court.

“The court had said the office of the chairman would become vacant only in 2018, and that is parts of the reasons we shelved the convention,” said Mr. Bwala.

When asked why the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, and the Senate Minority Leader, Godwill Akpabio, parted ways with Mr. Sheriff, Mr. Bwala responded, “Some of them wanted to go on with the convention even with the subsisting court orders, and Sheriff said no. And that was their point of departure.”

Mr. Bwala said Mr. Sheriff felt betrayed in Port Harcourt.

“Naturally, you will feel betrayed if you are working with some people, only for them to go behind you to work against what you all agreed to do.”

The motion to sack Mr. Sheriff was moved at the convention by Mr. Akpabio, at the Port Harcourt Civic Centre.

In his motion, Mr. Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, asked the convention to approve the appointment of a committee to manage the affairs of the PDP for a period not exceeding 90 days.
“The committee shall be known as the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party,” Mr. Akpabio said, while addressing delegates at the convention.

Mr. Akpabio said the caretaker committee would also work to foster peace and reconciliation of all party members, as part of its terms of reference.

The motion was seconded by the Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, thereby paving the way for the election of a seven-man caretaker committee headed by the former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi.

The voice vote was conducted by the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.

Ben Obi, who represents the South East in the caretaker committee, is the secretary. Other members of the committee include Odion Ugbesia, a former senator from Edo State, and Abdul Ahmed Ningi, from Bauchi.

The convention, which had all the 12 governors of the PDP-controlled states in attendance, went up till about 6pm.

There was an understanding that no member of the caretaker committee would contest for election into the National Executive Committee.

The immediate past senate president, David Mark, was present at the convention.

The Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, revealed that what happened at the Port Harcourt convention was “for the purpose of inclusion.”

Mr. Luke said, “The convention was fixed by NEC, and therefore it is only NEC that has the power to suspend the convention.

“I am a loyal party man. So, I go with the party.”

As the convention drew to a close around 6 pm, delegates hurried out of the venue even before the national anthem was sang, and the idle ballot boxes, beautifully designed, stood out as a reminded that the biggest opposition party in Africa still had a major inconclusive business at hand.

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Militants blow up Agip pipeline in Bayelsa again

Armed men have again struck in the swamp of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State blowing up a section of the Tebidaba-Brass pipeline along the Azuzuama- Ikienghenbiri creek

The facility, owned by oil giant, Nigerian Agip Oil Company NAOC is currently on fire.

More later.

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NLC to call off Strike

After three days of what it called nationwide warning strike last week, the Nigeria Labour Congress has scheduled a meeting of its National Executive Council, NEC, for Monday in Abuja.

The meeting on Monday is expected to be preceded by another by the National Administrative Council NAC, an organ of elected officers and the NEC, comprising representatives of all the Congress affiliates across the country.

That first meeting is scheduled for Sunday also in Abuja.

The warning strike began on Wednesday following government’s failure to accede to its demands to revert to the old fuel price of N86.50 per litre as well as reverse the electricity tariff hike imposed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission last January.

The strike action appeared to have been largely a failure in most states of the federation, as Nigerians ignored the call by the NLC and went about their normal businesses throughout the three days of the strike.

Although well meaning Nigerians have been making entreaties to the NLC to prevail on its members to shelve the strike, the scheduled meeting appears to be a forum for labour to consider these pleas, review its position and consider calling off the strike and return to the negotiation table with government on their demands.

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said Sunday’s meeting would discuss­ the proposal by a national leader of the All Progressives Con­gress, Bola Tinubu, during his visit to the NLC secretariat in Abuja on Friday to appeal for the calling off of ­the strike.

During the visit, Mr. Wabba had said the decision to suspend or call off the strike could only be taken by the appropriate organ of the congress empowered to negotiate with government.

Other appeals that have gone to the NLC to shelve the strike came from the leadership of the National Assembly.

Key affiliates of the NLC, including the influential oil workers’ unions, namely the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, opted not to join the strike.

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BAD RIVERS STATE ROADS. *Rivers State Roads Maintenance and Rehabilitation Agency (RSRMRA)

In other Countries, roads are not being reconstructed in every administration. This is because there is an effective system and bodies that are saddled with the responsibility of maintaining their roads.

But in Nigeria, reconstruction of the same road every 2/3 years or by every new government is what is obtainable.

So many bad roads in Rivers State today, started with a pothole that was neglected which later turned to a gully and extended to other parts of the road, thereby making the road unmotorable.

This is because there was no system put in place to handle that or that the system was not functioning or probably dead, which past administrations never looked into.

Roads are to be maintained for a long period of time to allow for the development of new roads and the state in general. Money put into reconstructing our roads, if channeled to other areas will help in developing the state further.

It is in this respect that we want to thank the Executive Governor of Rivers State, an administrator and a man who knows about governance Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for reviving the Rivers State Roads Maintenance and Rehabilitation Agency (RSRMRA) with the charge to maintain & rehabilitate our roads.

We also commend the management of the revived Agency led by Chief Okey Okah for the tremendous job they are doing.

We wish to also use this medium to advice that the roads being rehabilitated last long as to avoid coming back to the same spot done.

Lastly, we thank the Governor of Rivers State in general on the way he has been piloting the affairs of the state, as we are indeed seeing positive change. As we also ask that the Agency should not die within a short period.

It is obvious that a NEW Rivers State is on cause and at the end we shall have a Newest Rivers State.

From
Newest Rivers Reporters.

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Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to create thousands of jobs for Nigerians

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on Friday announced that he would establish an animal feeds factory in Abuja as part of his contribution towards boosting employment in the country.

In a statement released to newsmen in Abuja by his Head of Media, Paul Ibe, Atiku said arrangement for the take-off of the factory was at an advanced stage.

Mr. Ibe said the factory would complement Federal Government’s efforts at creating more jobs.

According to the statement, the factory called Rico Gardo, when operational, will produce animal feeds of various types, including for cattle, small ruminants, horse and poultry.

It said that Rico Gardo was already existing in Adamawa State and would ”provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs’’.
”It will also conserve scarce foreign exchange for the country by providing high quality made-in-Nigeria animal feed for the nation’s livestock sector.

”Based on the success and impact of the Numan factory, the Abuja factory when operational, will play a significant role in providing feed for millions of cattle that presently roam the country in search of pasture,” it said.

It stated that the company was jointly owned by Atiku and Rico Gardo, and specialised in livestock feeds production and distribution throughout Europe and the Middle-East.

The statement said that presently, the factory catered for animal food supplement needs in Adamawa, the North-East and beyond.

According to it, when produced in abundance, the supplement will aid the plan of the Federal Government to limit and control the movement of cattle through the provision of ranches in selected locations across the country.
(NAN)

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PDP will carry everybody along — Ali-Modu Sheriff

Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the party will carry everybody along because it belongs to the people.

Sheriff made this assertion on Friday in Port Harcourt after being screened for the post of national chairman with other candidates, ahead of Saturday’s National Convention of the party.

Sheriff said: “PDP is the only party that belongs to Nigerians and owned by Nigerians.

“There is no sole owner of PDP. PDP is for you, PDP is for our brothers in the village, PDP is for the elders in Abuja, PDP is for everybody.

“Therefore, we will carry everyone along,” he said.

Sheriff, former governor of Borno, also said that the party would embark on an aggressive reconciliation process after the convention to carry all groups along.

According to him, the way forward is for everybody to be united. Anybody that is aggrieved, we will work towards getting our members on one page.

“We want a united house. In party politics, it is natural that all views must not be the same.

“As much as possible, we try to unite all views for everyone to have a sense of belonging,” he said.

The Chairman of the PDP National Convention Screening committee, Mr Emmanuel Aguma, said that the exercise was done in line with the party’s constitution.
Aguma, who is the Rivers Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, said that the exercise was thorough.
The committee also screened its Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Seondus.

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Buhari warns Niger Delta militants - 'Don’t confront my administration'

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, urged militants in the Niger Delta to drop their confrontational stance and work with his government to review the Amnesty Programme initiated by the Late ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua Administration.

President Buhari assured oil companies operating in the Niger Delta that the Federal Government is taking all necessary actions to protect strategic assets in the region from vandals and criminals.

Speaking at a meeting with the Global Director (Upstream) of the Royal Dutch Shell Group, Andrew Brown, President Buhari said that he had directed the Chief of Naval Staff to reorganise and strengthen the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta to deal effectively with the resurgence of militancy and the sabotage of oil installations.

The President told Mr. Brown that the operations of the JTF were also being enhanced with increased support and cooperation from the United States and Europe in the areas of training, intelligence, equipment and logistics. He said: “We have to be very serious with the situation in the Niger Delta because it threatens the national economy.

I assure you that everything possible will be done to protect personnel and oil assets in the region.” The president urged aggrieved persons, militants and communities in the Niger Delta to drop their confrontational stance and work with those who have been charged by the Federal Government to review the Amnesty Programme initiated by the Yar’Adua Administration for the benefit of all parties. President Buhari praised the resilience and staying power of Shell in Nigeria despite the operational challenges of the environment .

He urged the company to do its best to end gas flaring in the Niger Delta quickly and produce more gas for electricity generation to support manufacturing and job creation in the country.

Mr. Brown had appealed for an urgent solution to rising crime and militancy in the Niger Delta. The Shell Executive also dispelled speculations that the company was pulling out of Nigeria. He said that contrary to such speculations, Shell was currently in discussions with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on new joint oil and gas projects.

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Russia's 2nd-richest man Mikhail Fridman to leave all his fortune to charity

Billionaire Mikhail Fridman, whose net worth is $13.3 billion according to Forbes, is to leave his children out of his will.

The businessman said he wants his children to create something on their own.

“I'm not a big fan of such public statements, but I can say that I am going to transfer all my money to charity. I don’t plan to transfer any money to my children,” Fridman said, responding to a question from the audience at the Forbes club.

He says giving a young person large amounts of money risks ruining his life. He also doesn’t want his children to participate in his Alfa Group business.

Fridman said he wants his children to follow his footsteps and create something of their own. Another reason for that is that he doesn’t want his elder daughter Laura, who is now 22, to become a focus of people with bad intentions.

The tycoon added that the same decision was made by his business partners. Fridman has four children. The youngest is 10 years old, the eldest is 22.

In 2016, Forbes Russia estimated Fridman’s wealth at $13.3 billion; he is ranked second among the richest Russians. He is the principal owner of Alfa Group, which includes Russia’s largest private commercial bank Alfa Bank, X5 Retail Group that has a chain of supermarkets in Russia, A1 TV Channel and the LetterOne investment holding.

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Cancer-Causing Tomato Paste Now In Nigeria - Reps To Nigerians

THE House of Representatives on Wednesday alerted Nigerians on the alleged existence of cancer-causing tomato pastes imported into the country by some unscrupulous people with a promised to unmask those behind the dastardly act.

It has therefore mandated its Committee on Health Services and Drug and Narcotics to investigate the alleged importation of the said fake, substandard and cancerous products into the country with a view to identifying them, their importers as well as promoters and distributors said to have circulated the nation's market with the products at very cheap prices.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent public importance moved on the floor of the House yesterday by Hon Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta State).

Hon Osai while referring to a publication in a national newspaper of May 9, 2016, alleged that there was a cabal who had boasted that nothing could stop them from importing the fake and substandard tomato paste into the country.

According to him, "this ugly development of importation of cancer infested tomato paste is killing a lot of Nigerians and it is reported that this mafia group is collaborating with few indigenous manufacturers in Nigeria who are being used as a cover up to distribute the killer products."

Hon Ossai expressed worries that the "fake, substandard and cancer-causing tomato paste" has flooded the Nigerian markets with low prices, which had compelled the closing down of ingenious tomato companies in Nigeria and had led to the laying off of over 50 per cent of their workforce.

The motion was unanimously passed with the committees given three weeks to report back to the House for further legislative input.

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NYSC Postpones 2016 Batch A Stream II Orientation Course

National Youth Service Corps, NYSC has officially announced the postponement of its 2016 Batch A Stream II orientation course scheduled to begin 21st of May, 2016.


The information as posted on the NYSC official website reads: -


ATTENTION: 2016 Batch 'A' Stream II Prospective Corps Members

NYSC Management regrets to inform you that 2016 Batch 'A' Stream II Orientation Course in all states including Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in stream I has been postponed due to logistic reasons. A new date will be communicated to you in due course.

Pls accept our sincere apologies

» Management

We also heard, text messages has been sent to the prospective corps members via their mobile numbers.

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Trekking From Lagos to Abuja For Buhari Was A Big Mistake - Suleiman

Hashimu Suleiman, the man who trekked from Lagos to Abuja in celebration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in 2015 presidential election has described his action as a big mistake.


Suleiman said he regretted trekking for Buhari who has now made life unbearable for the masses.

According to Dailypost, the man expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the president has been ruling Nigeria in the last one year.

Reports quoted him saying, “Removing fuel subsidy at this hard time is not palatable to hear, when so many workers and labourers can hardly put food on their table, many companies have folded up, and cost of living is very high.

“Nigerians have been hoping for a positive change for a very long time, enduring hardship and now the Federal government wants to make things worse for the masses.”

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GOVERNOR WIKE CONFUSED US - By Isiocha Blessing

A friend of mine who is preparing for her wedding called me on Tuesday last week 10th May, 2016 to ask if I know where she can buy quality wedding card in Diobu.

I actually told her yes, because I used to know a particular shop that sells good wedding cards when I worked at Diobu, although is been long; like six years.

We agreed to go buy the card yesterday, I know tracing the place will be a little difficult for me, but I remembered a road that was bad and forgotten that I do follow to work then.
So I was so confident of knowing the shop using that bad road, the road was so bad that you wouldn’t believe it was a tarred road.

So at about 9:43am yesterday morning, we both headed for the shop, and I was confidently directing until we got to education bus- stop and headed for the road I was expecting to see and for about 4mins we were still driving inside without me seeing the road.

At that moment, it was obvious, we have missed our way. So we decided to ask someone by the road, where Odi Street is, which was the street with the very bad road I was looking for. We were told we have passed the road, and we were directed to go back, when I got there and looked at a shop signboard, it was truly Odi-Street.

The road has been tarred with solar-powered street lights. When I inquired, I was told it was Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration that came to their rescue immediately he assumed office.

At this point, we just asked the shop owner where to buy quality wedding card in order not to get more confused as I discovered that so many roads has been worked in Diobu by this administration.

We finally got a very beautiful wedding card just what my friend wanted with a new experience.

Indeed we were confused by Governor Nyesom Wike with good roads.

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OKOCHA NETS INCREDIBLE HAT-TRICK ON BOLTON WANDERERS RETURN

The Nigerian legend gets his treble in the legends match played at the Macron Stadium evoking his piece of footballing magic

Austine Okocha scored a hat-trick in the Bolton Wanderers legends match played at the Macron Stadium as John McGinlay’s All Star XI ran out 6-2 winners over Tony Kelly’s side.

Okocha who captained the Trotters during his four-season spell with the team where he got 24 goals in 124 appearances was the star of the novelty game with his treble, while John McGinlay, Fabian de Freitas, Fabrice Muamba, John Thomas and Sam Stubbs were all on the scoresheet

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