RHAPSODY OF REALITIES


WEDNESDAY, 22ND AUGUST.

FOCUS ON YOUR HARVEST.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:22).

The purpose of any seed is harvest. A seed is useless if it doesn’t, or isn’t going to produce a harvest. Once this is clear to you, the principle of giving and receiving becomes easy to understand. Sowing and reaping is a spiritual law in the Kingdom of God. When you sow a seed, be it monetary or material, your focus should be on your harvest, not on the seed you’re sowing. Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

When you sow an orange seed, you’re to expect orange fruits, but first the tree will grow and then produce oranges. When you sow a corn seed, your expectation is a harvest of corn. You don’t have to start praying for the earth to produce a harvest if that seed is planted in the right environment. There’s no need for prayer when the law of sowing and reaping has been applied. Thus, in your giving to the Lord, your harvest is guaranteed.

Where many have missed it is not focusing on the harvest in their giving as they should. They sow money-seed and are praying about their seed, even though the harvest is sure, and certainly bigger and greater than the seed itself. Just one seed is able to produce a bountiful harvest.

The Lord Jesus likened this to how the Kingdom of God functions: “…the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come” (Mark 4:26-29).


The task of sowing or giving isn’t, and should never be a mystery to you at all. Sow your seeds with confidence and great expectations with the picture of your harvest in your mind. Don’t ask, “How will the harvest come?” Every time you give, you set an irrevocable law in motion, and according to the law, whatever you give is multiplied back to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over (Luke 6:38).

PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for the knowledge of your Word that has come to my spirit today. Now, when I sow seeds, I know that the law of sowing and reaping is operational. Therefore, my harvest is as sure as your Word is sure. Thank you for multiplying my seeds sown and increasing the fruits of my righteousness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Ecclesiastes 11:1-4 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty [themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

1-Year Bible Reading Plan
1 Corinthians 7 & Psalms 119:113-176

2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Colossians 1:19-29 & Jeremiah 7



#AFFIRMATIONTRAIN

22ND AUGUST.

I affirm that I am alive to God; having been brought into fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I and the Father are one, and I belong in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, where I reign and rule by the power of the Spirit! My address is Christ; I’ve been brought into such a beautiful place of glory, beauty, honour, and prosperity.

Christ has been made unto me wisdom and that wisdom causes me to walk in the will of God, and fulfill my destiny in Christ. I am walking worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in all things as I joyfully anticipate His soon return. I walk in the light of my new life in Christ, conscious of my right standing with God, having received abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness.

I am reigning in life through Jesus Christ, making progress and moving forward; I am heaping success upon success. I am not of this world; therefore I am immune to the negativities and vagaries of the natural world. Glory to God!

SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES NOW

• Be bold to say the same things that God has said concerning you in His Word. That is what takes you beyond salvation, to enjoy the benefits of salvation ~ Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

God bless you.

The President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has urged Christians to be part of the driving change on gender violence across the country. Ayokunle made the appeal in an interview 


He said if the Church (Christians) would embark on such assignment, the nation would feel equipped and empowered to lead change in the area of gender-based violence. “One of the keys that will help to bring about changes is faith leaders. “For a long time, for the desired deep change to become a reality, we need faith leaders to really capture the vision and run with it. “Faith leaders are really well placed to bring people on board and create an enabling environment for transformation in any society. “The leadership of CAN is ready and willing to play their part in preventing violence against women,” he said. He said that a lot of work was needed on violence against women and children across the nation for serious intervention or prosecution of perpetrators. According to him, “faith leaders can often be overlooked, but when they are included then it makes such a huge difference in turning situations around. It will be a game-changer”. “I believe the Church can start conversations in all communities through sermons, Bible studies and by inviting in local experts on family violence. “They can also ensure their church has best practice policies and procedures in place to make it a safe and supportive environment for those experiencing or who have experienced violence,” he added. Ayokunle said: “Through consistent and persistent teaching, preaching and prayers, the violence vulture against women will become history. “The Bible is against violence in any form and the scripture regards women as weaker vessels compared to men. “There is nowhere in the Bible where violence against women is encouraged. Instead, men are warned against maltreating them if they wanted their prayers to be unhindered.” He also admonished men to see their wives as part of their own bodies, adding that those who use violence on women are ungodly, wicked, inhuman and societal unfit. The president of CAN stressed that Christian leaders should lead by example in this regard. According to him, Gender Based Violence (GBV) is the general term used to capture violence that occurs as a result of the normative role expectations associated with each gender along with the unequal power relationships between the two genders, within the context of a specific society. “However, women, girls, men and boys can be victims of GBV, the main focus of this resource package is on violence against women and girls,” the cleric said.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/08/can-urges-christians-to-drive-change-on-gender-violence/

Quote:Yemi Osinbajo: Why Nigeria's favourite leader won't become president - yet

Yemi Osinbajo is basking in the love of many Nigerians at the moment - not a common experience for politicians in this country where they are generally held in low esteem.

The vice-president has been praised for the decisive - and dramatic - actions he has taken while standing in for Muhammadu Buhari during the president's recent 10-day holiday.

The dynamism of the sprightly 61-year-old have been contrasted to the ponderous nature of Mr Buhari, 75, who has been nicknamed "Baba-Go-Slow".

However, as a southerner he is unlikely to be able to stand in next year's presidential elections, due to the country's tradition of alternating power between the mainly Muslim north and largely Christian south.

'Police torture and killings'

Mr Osinbajo's most recent intervention was to order the overhaul of the police's notorious anti-robbery squad, known as Sars, and ask the country's Human Rights Commission to investigate the numerous allegations of abuses committed by the unit.

For more than a year President Buhari has been under pressure to take action against Sars, as stories were shared on social media about extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture and extortion allegedly committed by its officers.

An #EndSars campaign was launched amid calls for the squad to be disbanded.

Mr Osinbajo said he was moved to act because of the "persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars) that border on allegations of human rights violation".

He did not disband the unit but said it would get a new commissioner, be intelligence-driven and its mandate restricted to combating armed robbery and kidnappings.

Members of the squad would also have to wear proper identification while on duty.

Nigerians on Twitter celebrated - and many just seemed relieved to have an efficient politician getting things done.


The previous week, he took the huge step of sacking the controversial head of Nigeria's spy agency after a siege of parliament by men in masks, who turned out to be operatives from the Nigerian equivalent of the FBI.

It was a mysterious affair - and the reasons for the Department of State Security's (DSS) invasion of parliament are still murky, though it is thought to be linked to political machinations ahead of elections next year.

Nonetheless DSS boss Lawal Musa Daura has long been seen as one of the officials denting the government's reputation because of the agency's alleged excesses.

Critics have long wondered why President Buhari, who appointed him, has failed to take action against Mr Daura.

By contrast Mr Osinbajo did not delay. He took the figurative bull by the horns, calling Mr Daura's actions "unacceptable" and "a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all accepted notions of law and order".

Pulse of public opinion

A former law professor, the vice-president comes across as quiet, unassuming and hardworking.

But he is an eloquent and jovial person, who is usually seen with a smile on his face.


He was the state commissioner of justice in Lagos between 1999 and 2007, where he passed several reforms including a body tasked with protecting citizen's rights.

He was also the pastor in charge of the city's Redeemed Christian Church of God.

He has been vice-president since 2015, when Mr Buhari overcame the odds to defeat the incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.

Last year when Mr Buhari went on medical leave, his deputy took some far-reaching economic measures to prop up the country's currency, the naira.

There was a scarcity of US dollars at the time, which is needed by importers.

So he asked the Central Bank to inject millions of dollars into the market to help stabilise the naira on the foreign-exchange market.

Reviving the economy was one of Mr Buhari's main campaign pledges but he has failed to pass many of the reforms which economists say are needed.

Mr Osinbajo never tries to hog the limelight - and maintains that he does not take any decision without first consulting his boss and getting his approval.

Nevertheless his leadership style is winning him fans as he seems to feel the pulse of public opinion.

Selfish aides

Some suggest one reason for this dexterity is that with fewer powerful aides, he can act independently.

On the other hand, President Buhari, finds it very difficult to punish his erring government officials or make rapid institutional reforms.

Some observers say it is unfair to compare the two - stepping in for a few weeks or even months is just not the same as running a country full time.

Nigeria, Africa's most-populous nation, is a complex place and balancing competing political, ethnic, religious and regional interests in a federal state can be difficult.

While many Nigerians do not doubt Mr Buhari's integrity and ambition to solve the country's myriad problems, they say he is surrounded by selfish aides who do not put the interest of the country first.

The health problems he experienced last year are also believed to have hampered his agility and general performance, although he seems much improved recently.

Despite the criticism of the pace of his decision-making, Mr Buhari has been praised for his dogged fight against corruption, tackling the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency and his attempts to diversify the economy.

Nigeria is only months away from elections - and it has left some wondering what it would be like to have Mr Osinbajo permanently in the top job.

But there is no immediate prospect of this happening - and Mr Osinbajo has never spoken of having presidential ambitions.

Image caption President Muhammadu Buhari ® and his deputy Yemi Osinbajo form a united front
Mr Buhari has already indicated his ambition to seek re-election in February - with his loyal deputy once more his running mate and unlikely to challenge him.

There is also Nigeria's informal policy of rotating the presidency - after two terms - between the mainly Muslim north and the largely Christian south to consider.

Mr Buhari, a northerner, is just completing his first term. Mr Osinbajo, a southerner who was born in the mega city of Lagos, would therefore be an unlikely presidential choice for the governing All Progressive Congress (APC) party.

And there is of course, the possibility of an opposition victory which would further remove him from the corridors of power.

While it is unlikely that Mr Osinbajo will be Nigeria's full-time leader any time soon, he is young enough to bide his time until the next poll in 2023, when it might be the turn of a southerner to lead the country.

Quote:The Presidency has said the 800 metres trekking embarked upon by President Muhammadu Buhari from the Eid-ground in Daura to his private residence is an indication of his fitness to seek re-election in 2019.

After the Eid-prayers, President Buhari shunned protocol and opted to trek some 800 metres, acknowledging cheers from Nigerians to catch a glimpse of him.

The President’s action debunked Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state insinuations that the president is “too old’’ to continue to rule the country beyond 2019.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuoDOeIsz6Y

According to Tambuwal, President Muhammadu Buhari is just too old to be Nigeria’s leader, despite his integrity and impeccable character.

Tambuwal stated this during a solidarity visit of students and youth in Sokoto, last week.

He said: “We love President Buhari and that was why we supported him in 2015 unconditionally, and while doing that, we are too sure that he will seek re-election after his first term, but when things are wrong we have to tell him.

“We still believe in his integrity, patriotism and courage but these are not enough for a leader.

“We all know that there is a vacuum in the government occasioned by his disposition probably because of his old age or health condition.

“That is why Nigerians are yearning for younger ones to lead this country.’’

However, Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said the trekking by the president was a response to Tambuwal’s diatribe on the president.

“I think there are two things here; one is to say that the President is responsive to the enormous support and commitment of his own people that had come out in their numbers to see him and he just decided that he couldn’t go on riding in a blacken vehicle and he came out and walked to the distance.

“The second thing, he is curious that these days, one or two people who are aspiring to be president are campaigning on their youthfulness and good health.

“I think the president has done one thing today – that the issue is not how old one is but how fit is he; how healthy is he. Now that the president has proven his fitness and well-being to continue in office is a settled matter

“I think that if people want to campaign against him they should do so on issue that are of significance to Nigerians. The President is fit, he is healthy; he is good to go,’’ he said. (NAN)

Quote:The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has urged Nigerians to resist the temptation of voting for those who will return the country to throes of massive looting, come 2019 elections.
Mohammed made the appeal on Tuesday in a Sallah message delivered at a media briefing at his home town, Oro, near Ilorin in Kwara.

“The year 2019 is the year of decision for Nigeria.

“It is the year that the critical decision will be made as to whether Nigeria will continue along the path of development, in all ramifications (social, economic, political, etc), that this administration has embarked upon since 2015, or the country will retrogress and backslide to the throes of massive and primitive looting and lack of development.”

Mohammed appealed to Nigerians to be vigilant and not yield the space to naysayers, adding that the gains made by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in the past three years must be preserved.

“Nigeria must continue on its present trajectory to sustainable growth and development. Never again must we go back to Egypt.”

The minister thanked Nigerians for their perseverance support for the administration and gave an assurance that their sacrifice for the nation would not be in vain.

He expressed optimism that with the support of the people, the 2019 elections would be a walkover for Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“As we approach this critical fork on the road, I have no iota of doubt that the good people of Nigeria will choose the path of development, having seen the commitment, sincerity and patriotism of this administration.

“It is clear, from all indications, that Nigerians are not going back to Egypt.

“Because of the support of the people, our party will win, even with a wider margin in 2019, thus sealing the fate of the naysayers.”

Mohammed noted that the fear of Buhari’s impending victory in the forthcoming elections explained why naysayers and looters had been running from pillar to post and desperate to thwart the victory of the APC.

On why Buhari should be returned to power, the minister said that the administration had done what no other Administration had done in the history of Nigeria.

He said the APC government was putting the country firmly on the path of sustainable growth and development in all areas, including infrastructure, economy, agriculture and the fight against corruption.

“While the trend in Nigeria had been to put money in the pocket of a few to the detriment of the masses, this aadministration has embarked on a massive redistribution of the nation’s wealth.

“Never again will a privileged few corner the nation’s commonwealth! The nation’s resources are being spent for the benefit of the people.”
He said the administration had embarked in unprecedented massive infrastructural development.

“The whole country is one huge construction site. Roads are being constructed in all the six geo-political zones.

He said the administration had built over 700 kms of roads, rehabilitated about 650 kms and delivering many rail projects.

The minister said the administration championed a huge revolution in agriculture, especially with one of national staples, rice.

“His Administration has employed 500,000 unemployed graduates under its Social Intervention Programme (SIP).

No government in our country’s history has ever done that.

“This administration has been daily feeding 8.5 million school children in 23 states and providing N10,000 every two months to over 300,000 families as social security for the most vulnerable.


He said the administration had recorded unprecedented feat in the power sector, generating to 7,000 megawatts and distributing 5,000 megawatts.

On the fight against corruption, he said the Buhari government had been unrelenting and driving corruption under the table.

Furthermore, he said that the administration was confronting the security challenges with uncommon determination.

“From Benue to Zamfara, the spate of killings has fallen drastically, though this is not making the kind of headlines made by the killings that were mostly orchestrated by those who are mortally opposed to the administration.

Our gallant troops are scoring victory after victory against the vestige of Boko Haram, which has been massively degraded and put on the run,” he said.

NAN reports that the minister earlier joined other Muslim faithful to observe the Sallah prayers at the Oro Central Eid ground.

The Oro monarch, Oba AbdulRafiu Ajiboye and the Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem, were among the dignitaries at the prayer ground.

PMB Addresses NYSC members that paid him homage in Daura.

See thier excitement!
See their severe joy

May God bless PMB!!!

Only inherently evil people would hate this man. 

Quote:This happened today at Vespa Market area in Ijanikin when you are headed towards Badagry.....,this bold snake entered someone's compound and swallowed their sallah meat but it was caught red handed and as you read this,it is inside the pots of several people.....RIP to the goat.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Task Force (ATF) of “Operation LAFIYA DOLE” has neutralised Boko Haram terrorists camps at Zanari and Tunbun Rego, in Borno.
Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja,said that the operation was carried out on Monday.

” The NAF ATF of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has recorded further gains in the ongoing air interdiction operations designed to wipe out remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) within the fringes of Lake Chad.
” This occurred as the ATF on Aug.20 conducted air strikes on BHT camps at Zanari and Tunbun Rego in Borno State.
” The air strikes at Zanari were planned and executed based on intelligence reports indicating that the BHTs had established a training camp in the village and were converging in an area prior to departing for an attack on own troops locations around the Lake Chad area.


“Accordingly, the ATF scrambled II NAF Alpha Jet aircraft for a pre-emptive strike on two specified locations within Zanari, where the BHTs were assembled,” he said.
Daramola said that the fighter aircraft acquired and attacked both locations, neutralizing several BHTs, with only few survivors seen fleeing the area, adding that ” these were later mopped up by follow-on rocket strikes”.
” Similarly, another identified BHT rendezvous point and staging area on the outskirts of Tunbun Rego was also attacked and destroyed by the Alpha Jets,” the spokesman said.
He said that the NAF would continue to deploy its platforms to conduct intensive Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions in the entire Northeast aimed at discovering the possible locations of remnants of BHTs and neutralising them.

[color=var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-color, var(--yt-primary-text-color))]Swagga Like A Mallam | Pulse TV Pranks With MC Makopolo[/color]



[video=youtube]http://https://youtu.be/GVMyOyJ_FAk[/video]

A young girl who was kidnapped when she was two years old, has been found after four years. The girl identified as Onyinyechi Okpala was stolen on 30th November 2014, when she and her mother went for end of year party which was hosted by "Taribo" her uncle in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state. 

They searched everywhere for the little girl all to no avail. The mother couldn't contain her sorrow as she came for the party with her little daughter and went home without her. 

Yesterday, 20th August 2018, the little girl was found by the Imo state police who busted a child trafficking syndicate. The girl was 2-years-old then and now she is 6. 

The Imo State Police Command arrested eight suspects in connection with child stealing and trafficking. The arrests were made between 24/07/2018 and 17/08/2018 at Agbor Park in Benin City Edo State and Imo State respectively.

A total of eleven (11) stolen children were recovered from the suspects some of whom have been identified by their parents. 

Source; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/08/girl-who-was-kidnapped-at-a-party-in-port-harcourt-found-after-4-years-photo.html

My Able President Buhari at the Eid Prayer ground in Katsina being hailed by all and sundry as he takes his Presidential walk through the crowd.

The peoples president.

My President and the receiver of my vote and the votes of 70% to 80% of Nigerians come 2019.

Video shows an overwhelming crowd all scattering the air with shouts of SAI BABA and SAI BUHARI from men, women, children, young and old as he strode majestically through their midst

Video


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te-Ifg5QghE

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1669642739830128&id=100003532533796&ref=content_filter

President of the Senate and Wazirin Ilorin, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at the Eid Praying Ground, New Eid Road, Ilorin, Kwara State.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-saraki-at-eid-praying-ground-ilorin/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday filed charges at an Ikeja High Court against another serving senator, Albert Bassey, for allegedly receiving 12 cars as worth N254 million.

Bassey, 45, who is representing Akwa-Ibom North-East, received the vehicles between 2010 and 2014 from Olajide Omokore, a businessman, when he (Bassey) served as the Akwa-Ibom Commissioner for Finance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC has slammed a 14-count charge bordering on corruption on the duo.

Bassey is to face a seven-count charge of bordering on corruption as a public officer and for inviting bribes as a result of his own action.

On his part, Omokore is also facing a seven-count charge bordering on offering gratification to a public officer and giving bribe on account of the action of a public officer.

The duo as well as their counsel were, however, absent in court on Monday when the case was announced for mention at 4.05 pm on Monday, according to NAN.

Mrs Zainab Ettu, the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, requested a new court date to enable the anti-graft commission arraign the senator and the businessman.

“We do not have the defendants in court today, though we had earlier anticipated that we would have them in court at a later date.

“We will be asking for a further date, most preferably, after vacation,” she said.

Responding, the vacation judge, Justice Obafemi Adamson noted that the case had not been assigned to a judge, making it difficult to adjourn the case after vacation.

The judge ordered that the case file should be sent to the Registry of the High Court for assignment to a judge, who will hear it.

According to the charge sheet, Bassey received the vehicles from Omokore over a five-year period (2010-2014) in Lagos.

Bassey received the bribes while serving as the Akwa-Ibom Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Akwa-Ibom State Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee (IMDLCC).

On May 10, 2010, Bassey also allegedly corruptly received a BMW X5 BP worth N50 million from Omokore in December 2012 and another Infinity QX 56 BP worth N45 million from him.

On November 2013, the serving senator received a Toyota Landcruiser V8 BP valued at N40 million and in March 2014, he received a Range Rover, also valued at N40 million from the businessman as well as in September 2014, another Toyota Hiace High Roof car valued at N27 million.

Others are Toyota Hiace High Roof car valued at N16 million and six units of Toyota Hilux vehicles valued at N36 million.

The anti-graft commission claimed that the car gifts were given to Bassey by Omokore in exchange for contracts from the Akwa-Ibom Government.

The offences, according to the EFCC, contravene Sections 63 (1)(a), 64 (1)(a) and 98(1), (a), (i) of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011.

http://www.metronaija.ng/efcc-to-arraign-senator-for-allegedly-receiving-n254m-car-gifts/

The Imo state FSARS operatives has arrested two suspects Chioma Emeka (34), Happiness Peter (22), “On August 15 at Douglas Road. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Enwerem while confirming the news said the suspects were intercepted on Owerri-Aba Road.

He gave the names of the suspects as Theresa Asiegbu, Chioma Emeka, Happiness Peter, Martina Nwadike and Martha Ojimba.

Enwerem said,
“Immediately the suspects steal a child, they will change his or her name to erase suspicion. So, parents and guardians, whose children are missing, are advised to report to the Public Relations Department of the Imo State Police Command for the identification and collection of their children.

One of the suspects, Eze, said she paid N1.8m through an arrangement, called sceptic pregnancy, to have the twins.

Another suspect, Ojimba, confessed that she sold one of the babies for N300,000.

A man, whose two children were handed over to him during the parade, Mike Nkwo, said they were stolen on their way to a coaching class in 2015.


From Ebiwali---
https://www.ebiwalisgossip.com/2018/08/two-women-buys-day-old-baby-for.html

says economic challenges temporary

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

Quote:President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday promised Nigerians that he would never surrender to corruption.

He said fighting corruption was a task that must be done in order to protect the larger interests of the ordinary Nigerians whom he said were the worst victims of diseases, poverty, malnutritionBuhari spoke in his Eid-el Kabir message to Nigerians made available to journalists by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The President said surrendering to corruption was not an option because it destroyed society and progress of nations.

“Even if some people hate you for fighting corruption, you should not chicken out from the task as a leader because doing so is a betrayal of public trust,” he said.

The President explained that religion was a major factor in influencing human behaviour towards good conduct and action.

He, however, regretted that selfishness, greed and corruption had overwhelmed human beings to the extent that people abandoned their religious beliefs in pursuit of their greed.

On the current economic challenges facing Nigerians, the President reassured Nigerians that such were temporary because the welfare of the people was the main thrust of the change agenda of his administration.

To buttress this point, Buhari cited the many initiatives unfolded by the administration under the Social Investment Programme among which was the recent decision to distribute recovered looted funds to the poor against the past practices of re-looting such funds by some people in authority.

Buhari spoke in his Eid-el Kabir message to Nigerians made available to journalists by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The President said surrendering to corruption was not an option because it destroyed society and progress of nations.

“Even if some people hate you for fighting corruption, you should not chicken out from the task as a leader because doing so is a betrayal of public trust,” he said.

The President explained that religion was a major factor in influencing human behaviour towards good conduct and action.

He, however, regretted that selfishness, greed and corruption had overwhelmed human beings to the extent that people abandoned their religious beliefs in pursuit of their greed.

On the current economic challenges facing Nigerians, the President reassured Nigerians that such were temporary because the welfare of the people was the main thrust of the change agenda of his administration.

To buttress this point, Buhari cited the many initiatives unfolded by the administration under the Social Investment Programme among which was the recent decision to distribute recovered looted funds to the poor against the past practices of re-looting such funds by some people in authority.

Buhari urged Nigerians to rise above personal, group, sectarian and other interests, and promote harmony and tolerance in dealing with one another at all times.

He urged all Muslims to use the Eid-el Kabir for sober reflection and self-examination, and strive to be good ambassadors of their religion by upholding high moral values

He reminded Muslims that this occasion of Eid-ul-Adha is a remembrance of the submission of Prophet Ibrahim Allaihis-Salam to Allah, his Creator, by which he taught the world the value of sacrifice in relating with one another, and when it comes to nation-building.

“We must sacrifice for others and remember always those who are less fortunate than ourselves,” the President declared.

Meanwhile, President Buhari is billed to celebrate this year’s Eid-el Kabir with his kinsmen in his home town, Daura, Katsina State on Tuesday.

The President on Monday left Abuja for the purpose.

His convoy left the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 3.06pm.

Some top government officials saw Buhari off as he left for his home town.

The government officials included his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; the National Security Officer, Babagana Monguno; and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

The President is expected back in Abuja after the Sallah break.

Recall that the Federal Government had earlier declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays to mark the Sallah.

Guy, you cool down na shuo! Abeg face politics make men and their side chicks think how them go do am. Shuoooo! You no dey see as country hard?

And wetin do prostitute sef? If no be prostitute you for get the house of Jesse wey born David wey be the lineage of ….

Omokri, omere, face politics. You sef get side chicks or u must get one day. All this one you dey naked follow facebook, one day one day, if you no dey already….

Na you go tell men wetin dem go use their money do?

Or you no know say once man done marry, girls go begin bill am? Say free done end? Free na bachelor privilege u hear

Or make married men just dey like that? Na so e dey for your Bible and Qoran? David and Solomon wey God give wisdom, e wise reach to stay one place? Guy leave people and their “stupidity”. Them no complain give you. Face your front.

nepabox.com

No guaranty for Nigeria Air if Nigeria Airways settlements remain unresolved’, ATSSSAN fires

• Prepares for concession showdown with FG
  

Minna— National Examinations Council, NECO, has released the June/July 2018 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations, SSCE, with 71 percent of the candidates making five credits and above, inclu-ding English Language and Mathematics.
Similarly, 90.5 percent scored five credits and above, irrespective of English language and Mathematics.
A statement by NECO’s Acting Registrar/Chief Executive of the Council, Alhaji Abubakar Gana, also revealed a decrease in examination malpractices.
Gana said about 9,000 of the candidates that registered for the examinations did not sit for the papers, noting that “1,041,536 registered for the examination, while 1,032,729 sat for it.
“Comparative analysis of candidates with five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics for 2017 and 2018, shows 70.85 percent for 2017 and 71.48 percent for 2018— an increase of 0.63 percent.”
He directed candidates to access their results online.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/08/neco-releases-results-71-score-above-5-credits/

Chief Dele Momodu on a courtesy visit to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki in Ilorin as the famous traditional city prepares for a Durbar of the Ilorin Emirates.

http://www.metronaija.ng/dele-momodu-saraki-photos/

Ahead of the Eid-El-Kabir celebration, transactions on the equity sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), closed on a downward note yesterday, following price losses suffered by virtually all the blue-chip stocks, as market capitalisation dipped by N220billion.

In line with the Federal Government’s declaration of a two-day public holiday to mark the 2018 celebration, the Exchange will be closed down on August 21 and 22.The All Share Index (ASI) shed 602.81 points, representing a loss of 1.71 per cent to close at 37,992.12 points. Similarly, the market capitalisation declined by N220billion to close at N12.655trillion. 

The upward trend recorded on Friday, could not be sustained due to investor’s apathy on the market. More so, the market witnessed more sell pressure ahead of the Muslim festival. 

The downturn was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which were; Nigerian Breweries, Unilever Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, PZ Cussons, and Zenith Bank.

Analysts at United Capital noted that, “given that the second quarter 2018 earnings season is closing out, we expect geopolitical events and policy changes to impact more on global equity indexes. 

“However, in the near term, we expect a stronger economic outlook, and double-digit earnings increases to provide support for rising stock prices in the U.S. markets.
“We also expect the market to remain largely downbeat in the local market due to a continued absence of bullish triggers. Also, we expect investors to take profit during early trades ahead of the holiday.”

Market breadth maintained a negative sentiment to close with 11 gainers to 22 losers. Airline Services and Logistics led the gainers table by 8.99 per cent to close at N4.85 per share. FCMB Groups followed with a gain of 5.88 per cent to close at N1.80, while Regency Insurance appreciated by 4.35 per cent to close at 24kobo per share.

Similarly, Skye Bank went up by 4.17 per cent to close at 50kobo and Lasaco Assurance rose by 3.23 per cent to close at 32kobo per share.On the other hand, UAC Property led the laggards’ table by 8.19 per cent to close at N1.57 per share. Honeywell Flour trailed with a loss of 7.59 per cent to close at N1.46, while Japaul Oil and Maritime Services shed 7.14 per cent to close at 26kobo per share. 

PZ Cussons dipped 7.12 per cent to close at N13.05, while United Capital went down 6.62 per cent to close at N2.82 per share.Also, total volume traded declined by 41.09 per cent to 220.5 million shares valued at N3.19billion, exchanged in 3,054 deals. 

Transactions in the shares of United Bank for Africa (UBA) topped the activity chart with 42.72 million shares valued at N354.78million. Zenith Bank traded 36.66 million shares worth N34.23million, and Access Bank transacted 32.69 million shares valued at N310.43million.Skye Bank followed with 18.32 million shares worth N9.16million, while FBN Holdings traded 15.58 million shares valued at N151.56million.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/stock-market-investors-lose-n220b-ahead.html

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF A ONE DAY ROUND TABLE ON THE 2019 ELECTIONS BUDGET EMPASSE ORGANISED BY THE INDEPENDENT SERVICE DELIVERY MONITORING GROUP (ISDMG) ON MONDAY 20TH AUGUST , 2018 AT THE ISDMG OFFICE , ABUJA.
INTRODUCTION
On August 20, 2018, Stakeholders drawn from different interests who cover the Civil Society, the political class, the media and citizens among others converged on the invitation of the Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group at a Roundtable to review the implications of 2019 elections Budget impasse between the National Assembly and the Executive as the general elections draw near and to enable INEC adequately prepare for the 2019 General Elections in Nigeria.

After robust discussions based on the following allegations;

1. That the budget proposal from Presidency is not same as the INEC proposal.
2. That Police feeding/Per diem was inserted into the budget when they have their own budget and costs.
3. That 700 million naira was budgeted for foreign observers
4 That situation room, outreach activities will cost 587 million naira.
5. That Logistics will cost: 7.4b among others
6. Generally, the allegations of deliberate padding of the INEC budget, inflated rates and that the budget was submitted late by the President in a bid to avoid election.

Stakeholders made observations, identified challenges, and reached resolutions and recommendations as follows:
OBSERVATIONS
• That the Executive delayed the budget that was submitted to it since January, 2018 by INEC.
• That the logjam regarding the INEC Budget is unacceptable and unnecessary as the Executive ought to have submitted the budget to the National Assembly long before now.
• That this is the first time that INEC is bringing its budget to the National Assembly and open for public scrutiny.
• That this is in line with the on-going reforms along the electoral value chain as championed by Professor Mahmood Yakubu?s led team
• That the exchange rate differentials between 2015 and 2019 necessitates the increase in the volume of the current budget.
• That the number of voters and political parties that will participate in the 2019 elections has increased as evidenced by the on-going CVR and the registration of new parties (as at today, there are 91 political parties in Nigeria).
That the concerns on the budget amount and line items are unfounded; such as

That the concerns on the budget amount and line items are unfounded; such as
The 6B provision for feeding of policemen during the election period;
This allegation is false as there is no such provision in the budget at all. What the budget item has is 4.6b (exactly ?4, 689,996,100.00) for feeding allowance paid to security and election personnel at N1, 000 per head for two days ( 2x 1000=2000) and is fully explained and justified in line 26 of the budget proposal.
We note that ?1,000 is a token allowance per official for 2 elections (Presidential and NASS on February 16 and Gubernatorial and State Assembly and FCT Area Councils on 2nd March)
It covers the 180,000 polling units and voting points, 8809 ward collation centers, and 1558 constituency collation centers involving over a million personnel for two elections including provisions for possible run-off elections.
That Ad hoc staff alone is about 1.3m, and does not include INEC main staff, police, DSS, Civil Defence, Soldiers among others. This is not the first time it is done and is without prejudice to the duty tour allowance for all security personnel handled through their various agencies. Nigerians have forgotten that the immediate former Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had to defend a similar provision before the 2015 General Elections

That 700m is provided to cover the cost for foreign observers. ;
This again is false as there is no fee for foreign observers but a provision for their accreditation, briefing and procurement of kits, ID Cards, jackets, folders, stickers for their vehicles and copies of INEC regulations, guidelines and manuals.
This is the standard practice worldwide. Importantly, INEC is not paying for their hotels, transport, and security guides etc
It should be on record that thousands of observers will converge on Nigeria during this period some of whom are long-term observers who will come earlier and stay long after the election,
That Nigerian business (hoteliers, transporters, internet service providers, language translators etc) will benefit from their patronage.
That the kits, publications and identity cards will be produced in Nigeria and Nigerian businesses will benefit from it.

That there is a discrepancy between what INEC submitted and what the president transmitted to the NASS;
We note that there is no discrepancy between the budget INEC submitted and what the President proposed in the budget.
INEC submitted a budget of ?189.2 billion and defended it before the executive, the president satisfied with this proposal sent same to the leadership of the NASS for appropriation.

The president in his submission, proposed the mode of disbursement of the amount i.e. ?143.5 billion in 2018 supplementary budget and ?45.7 billion in the 2019 budget. The sum total is ?189.2 billion. There is no discrepancy whatsoever.

That aside logistics for the elections, clear provisions were made for the following;
Situation Rooms will be activated nationwide in all the States and FCT for state collation and declaration of results and the National Collation Centre located at the ICC in Abuja. Provision has to be made for national and international media and observers, internet connectivity, screens, meeting and briefing rooms etc. Again, this is standard practice nationwide.
Nigerians and commentators should not forget so easily, that after the September, 2016 Edo Governorship election, many observers and the media complained of the small size of the declaration centre in the INEC office in Benin City and even insinuated that it was done deliberately to deny access to some people? Learning from that, INEC provide better facilities in Ondo, Anambra and Ekiti elections?
A similar provision was made in the 2007, 2011 and 2015 General Elections. Nigerians may not be aware of these details because this is the first time ever that the details of election budget is submitted to NASS, defended by INEC and open to scrutiny by citizens.

It is important at this point to note that the provision for logistics took into account the sheer size of the country and the sensitivity of conducting elections in almost 120,000 polling units, involving 1,558 constituencies located in various terrains requiring a combination of land and water transportation for delivery of personnel and materials.

That the possibility of some elections being repeated cannot be ruled out given the disruptive behavior of our politicians as evidenced by the just concluded bye elections in Kogi and Rivers states. We condemn the actions of the Police and other security agencies that were used by unscrupulous politicians to disrupt the elections thereby putting the lives of INEC staff and citizens in danger. This is bizarre, shameful, embarrassing, disgraceful and condemnable. We however, commend INEC for taking quick measures to suspend the election so as to protect the integrity of the election.

CHALLENGES
One of the greatest challenges facing INEC is unnecessary politicking by National Assembly members on matters concerning appropriation for INEC and also bottlenecks and delays by the executive.
Why is the Executive presenting the INEC budget to the National Assembly at this late hour?
Inaccurate, Sensational reportage and deliberate promotion of falsehood by a section of the media has helped in no small way to aggravate this logjam.

The use of thugs and irresponsible police and other security personnel to harass citizens, INEC officials and disruption of elections portrays Nigeria in bad light before the international community.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLU SIONS
The Round Table having discussed, observed and identified the above challenges, we recommend the following;
A. that the National Assembly as a matter of National and public interest passes the INEC budget in order not to jeopardise preparations for the 2019 elections. All forms of intrigues and politics associated with the budget should cease immediately for national interest and good.
B. We commend the openness of the budget process and urge INEC to continue with this practice.
C. We recommend that INEC continues to be proactive by submitting their budget proposal in good time in a transparent and open manner.
D. That suspension of elections where there are infringements and security breaches as was done in the Rivers state constituency bye-election to protect lives and property and the integrity of the electoral process and elections should now be the norm.
E. All perpetrators of election violence must be severely punished according to the law to serve as deterrent to others.
F. We recommend an urgent need to review the appropriation process especially when it involves the needs of INEC knowing the importance and role the Commission plays in the stabilisation of our democracy.
G. We note the hard fact that the INEC budget is not like contracts that can be hidden from public purview as activities of INEC are open and easily verifiable by citizens, stakeholders and in fact, any interested party. We recommend, therefore that this should be encouraged and ask that Nigerians should support INEC as it strives within the ambits of integrity to conduct credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria.

The allegations of budget padding draws from mischief or an inadequate appreciation of the issues involved, therefore ,we recommend that all parties should strive to verify issues and INEC should operate an open door policy for these clarification.

We recommend also that stakeholders should utilize the quarterly stakeholders dialogue by the INEC Chairman to seek for information and clarify issues.

Signed:
1. Dr Chima Amadi ISDMG
2. Faith Nwadishi Centre for Transparency Advocacy
3. Abdul Mahmud Public Interest Lawyers League
4. Comrade Sheriff Mulade Center for Peace and Environmental Justice
5. Okechukwu Nwanguma NOPRIN
6. Ezenwa Nwagwu Partners for Electoral Reforms
7. MacDonald Ekemezie KIF
8. Joseph Olarinde Yoruba Revolutionary Assembly
9. Olufemi Lawson Centre for Public Accountability
10. Babatunde Oluajo Centre for Transparency Advocacy
11. Comrade Anthony Osagbemi Citizens Centre Democratic Governance
12. Darlington Edem Network for Good Governance
13. Nkasi Ikonne Gender Connect

http://thepunditng.com/groups-back-inec-on-budget-decry-electoral-violence/

Former special assistant to former president Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Doyin Okupe has said it will take Nigeria 10 years to recover if Atiku Abubakar rules for a day.

According to the former presidential aide, the country recovery from a one day rule of the former vice president would be 10 days.

However he stated that Nigeria will make history, if it is ruled by senate president Bukola Saraki. The former presidential aide said this via his twitter handle on Monday evening


http://ishowinfo.blogspot.com/2018/08/nigeria-wont-recover-for-10-years-if.html

Quote:If Atiku rules Nigeria for 1 day, it will take us 10 years to recover.

If Saraki rules for a day, Nigeria will (bxexcxoxmxe) MAKE
history

Total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stood at $261.35 million in the second quarter of 2018, growing by 5.97 per cent from the first quarter of the same year, but falling by 4.75 per cent when compared with the corresponding quarter of last year.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ second quarter capital importation report, FDI represented only five per cent of the total capital importation.


The report added that equity Investment dominated FDI in the second quarter, accounting for 97.85 per cent of total FDI received in the second quarter.

Capital Importation in the form of Other Capital saw significant expansion, from only $5,000 as recorded in Q1 to $5.63 million in Q2, an increase of over 1000 per cent compared to the same period of last year.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/fdi-grows-597-to-26135m-in-q2.html

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES


TUESDAY, 21ST AUGUST.


BORN OF GOD.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God… (1 John 3:1).

The word “sons” in our opening verse is the Greek, “teknon,” which means a child or offspring; one that’s born of another. So, John, in the scripture above, lets us know that we’re offspring of God; we’re born of Him.

When you were born again, it was an actual spiritual birth; it wasn’t something “religious” that transpired; you came to life as a new creation, born of the Word, and the Word of God is God: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23).

The reality of our divine origin and identity is incomprehensible to the people of the world. Read our theme verse again, this time into the following verse 2. It says, “…therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him…” (1 John 3:1-2).

We’re associates of the God-kind; this is a presenthour reality. The Bible says as He (Jesus) is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). We have His life, we have His Name, we’re in Him and He’s in us. We’re sons of God “NOW”, not when we get to heaven. Take advantage of your sonship; your rights as one who’s literally and vitally born of God! God is your Father, He owns the world and has made you a joint-heir with Christ. There’s nothing you can’t have. Glory to His Name forever!

Here’s something so profound: The Bible says whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:4); “whatsoever” includes “whosoever.” 1 John 4:4 says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” “Ye are of God” simply means that you hail from God; your origin is in Him; you’re born of Him; thus, you’re more than a conqueror; an overcomer in this life. Hallelujah!

PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for having begotten me in the Gospel through Christ. What an honour and privilege to be called your own, to be an associate of the God-kind. How sublime! I’m one with the Creator of the universe; an heir of the Sovereign! Nothing is too good for me, and nothing good is withheld from me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

John 1:10-13 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

Galatians 4:6-7 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

1-Year Bible Reading Plan
1 Corinthians 6 & Psalms 119:1-112

2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Colossians 1:9-18 & Jeremiah 6




#AFFIRMATIONTRAIN

21ST AUGUST.

I affirm that I am growing in grace and increasing in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Word is prevailing in my life, causing me to prosper in my body, finances and in every area of my life! All things are working together for my good because I love the Lord, and I’ve been called according to His purpose. Everything I require for life and godliness has been delivered unto me, and I am enjoying life to the full.

My life is fashioned for the glory of God and I am the effulgence of His glory, beauty, and grace. I am a legal representative of the heavenly Kingdom, called and separated from the world. I am from above; therefore, I am not subject to the distracting elements and corrupting influences of this world. I belong in God’s Kingdom, where I enjoy the full blessings and privileges of my kingdom inheritance.

I am not ordinary, eternity is set in heart; thus greatness, excellence, and success are in my spirit! I bring forth good things today from within me because I have an excellent mind; I have insight into mysteries and secrets and bring forth creative ideas because Christ has been made unto me wisdom. I initiate success, victory, and prosperity from within. Glory to God. Hallelujah!

SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES NOW

• Be bold to say the same things that God has said concerning you in His Word. That is what takes you beyond salvation, to enjoy the benefits of salvation ~ Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.


God bless you.

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson, returned to Nigeria earlier today after the death of his mother, Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson, popularly known as Mama Gogo in the United States.

He was received on arrival at the Port-Harcourt International Airport by the Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Foster Ogola, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Benson, members of the State House of Assembly and other important dignitaries.

According to reports, the governor became emotional and sorrowful as he broke down in tears in front of those who came to welcome and sympathise with him. 

Mrs Gold Coast Dickson passed away at the age of 72. 

She died of cancer on August 9th at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas where she had been receiving treatment.

Governor Dickson expressed appreciation to the Centre especially the team of medical professionals who did their best to save the life of his mother.

Source; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/08/bayelsa-governor-breaks-down-in-tears-after-arriving-from-us-over-mothers-death.html

A Nigerian man identified as Aniemeka Nwani, has been accused of killing his two younger brothers, Kingsley and Nwayo in Asaba, Delta State on Sunday night.

The suspect who is from the Nwani family of Issele-Uku in Aniocha Local Government Area of the state, an independent marketer of petroleum products in Asaba, killed his younger brothers with a cutlass and dagger.

Before the tragedy occurred, it was gathered that the suspect said to be in his 30s and a patient of a psychiatric home in Uselu, Edo, had a family meeting with his widowed mother alongside his younger brothers.

The incident occurred two weeks after their widowed mother ( a Permanent Secretary in the Delta civil service) returned from Canada, where her daughter lives and where she had gone to for medical checkup.

Okiwelu Chukwudi, a friend to the deceased alleged that the suspect accused his other brothers of ganging up against him. He wrote;

"Both of you were in the church yesterday for your mother's Thanksgiving. Little did you know it was your last days on earth. Little did your mom knew she will see both of you no more. Rest in peace Kingsley and Nwayor Nwani. Eternal rest grant unto them oh Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon them."

"They were stabbed by their eldest brother after a heated argument between Nnamaka and Nwayor. It was in the process that Kingsley was called. When he arrived, Nnamaka (Aniemeka) felt they came to gang up against him. He immediately took a cutlass and cut Kingsley on the hand and neck. Before using a dagger to stab Nwayor on his stomach.

https://lailasnews.com/man-hacks-his-two-younger-brothers-to-death-with-cutlass-and-dagger-in-asaba/

The police in Lagos state have arrested 29 year old Taiwo Akinola pictured above for trying to kill his mother, Alice Akinola so as to further his cyber fraud business ( yahoo.com) to the bloody or ritual level (yahoo plus). 

A statement by the police command spokesperson, CSP Chike Oti, says Taiwo who lives with his mother at No.2 Raji Ajanaku street, Alaja Road, Ayobo, Lagos, is a staunch member of the notorious Aiye confraternity.

At about 8am yesterday Sunday August 19th, Taiwo went to his mother's provision store in front of their apartment and told her to meet him inside the house for an important discussion and at same time sent his nephew, Faruk to go buy him a white handkerchief and a stick of cigarette.



As soon as his mother entered the house, the suspect attacked her, smashing her head with a plank, pressing iron and a UPS charger to ensure she didn't survive the ferocious attack. 

When Faruk returned from the errand, he didn't see his grandmother in the shop so he went into the house only to see the poor woman lying in a pool of blood. Shocked by what he saw, the small boy raised the alarm which attracted neighbours to the scene. 



They called the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ayobo Division who arrived the scene with his team and promptly arrested the suspect and secured the scene for further investigation by the police forensic experts attached to the Homicide section SCIID Panti, Yaba . 

The victim was rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment and was found to be hanging onto life. Right now, the doctors are battling to revive Mrs Alice Akinola presently unconscious Meanwhile the CP has paid the initial hospital cost which enabled the doctors to commence treatment. 

During a brief interrogation, the suspect disclosed that he was asked to kill his mother in order to have more money. When his room was searched, the following exhibits were recovered in it, viz: 

1. Two calabashes with one containing human skull and the other, a mixture of dark concoction;
2. A plank perforated with nails and stained with blood;
3. A pressing iron stained with blood; 
4. A white handkerchief with which he wanted to scoop the victim's blood; 
5. A bottle containing oil and labelled Back To Sender; 

The Commissioner of Police calls on Lagosians to rise against all forms of crime and criminality. He added that the Command defeated the Badoo cult group with the help of people who provided credible and timely information to the police . He added that the time has come to root out the street cult groups. He notes that complacency is not an option in the face of threat to peace and security posed by these nefarious associations. 


http://www.metronaija.ng/yahoo-boy-mothe...os-photos/

SportDab.com.ng

UEFA have officially announced the three final players in the shortlist for the 2017-18 Player Of The Year Award.

Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah has been shortlisted after helping his team reach the Champions League final last season.

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric and former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved to Juventus after winning the Champions League with the Spanish side, are the other players on the three-man shortlist. 

The winner will be named – along with the UEFA Women's Player of the Year and UEFA Champions League positional award winners - during the group stage draw in Monaco on Thursday 30th August. 

According to UEFA,

"The shortlist of three players was selected by a jury comprising the 80 coaches of the clubs that participated in the group stages of the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League (32) and UEFA Europa League (48), along with 55 journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, representing each of UEFA's member associations."

The Top 10 ShortList:

1. Luka Modric (Real Madrid & Croatia) 

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ Juventus & Portugal) 

3. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool & Egypt) 

4 Antoine Griezmann (Atlético & France)

5 Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina) 

6 Kylian Mbappé (Paris & France)

7 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City & Belgium)

8 Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid & France)

9 Eden Hazard (Chelsea & Belgium)

10 Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid & Spain)

Source:>>>https://www.sportdab.com.ng/2018/08/salah-ronaldo-and-modric-shortlisted.html

A man reported to be mentally unstable has stabbed a monarch to death in Ekiti state.

Odo-Oro-Ekiti, a community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti state, was thrown into mourning as its traditional ruler, Oba Gbadebo Ogunsakin, was stabbed to death earlier today.

Some residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the traditional ruler was stabbed with a knife by a man suspected to be insane after a meeting of the traditional council.

A resident of the community, Mr Henry Olu, said the assailant was from the same royal family as the slain traditional ruler.

Olu said the assailant was earlier seen before the council meeting sitting on the throne and was chased away.

The monarch was stabbed by the assailant while he was attempting to enter his vehicle after the council meeting.

Another resident, who did not want his name mentioned, said:

”All we heard was a cry for help from the traditional ruler’s driver shortly after the council meeting.

“On getting there, we saw our traditional ruler in a pool of his blood with a knife in the chest.

”We tried rushing him to the hospital, but Oba Ogunsakin gave up the ghost.” 

Source: http://kikiotolu.com/mentally-unstable-man-stabs-ekiti-monarch-to-death/

Etim Ekpimah, Uyo

Quote:Former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, has expressed regrets for what he called “imposing” the Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, on the people of the state.

Apologising before a crowd at Ikot Ekpene Plaza, Akpabio, who returned from his mother-in-law’s burial at Enugu on Sunday evening, said Emmanuel was the greatest mistake he made in a hurry, and asked to be forgiven.

Akpabio, who represents Akwa Ibom North West in the Senate, noted that Emmanuel “is a mistake that must be corrected in 2019.”

“Udom (Emmanuel) is a mistake that must be corrected in 2019. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the mistake is corrected for a people-oriented leadership under the ruling All Progressives Congress at the centre.”

According to him, “Emmanuel’s administration has failed the people,” forcing him to take decisive actions to correct the anomaly for posterity to be fair on him.

Akpabio spoke of the prevalence of hunger and deprivation in Akwa Ibom State since the Emmanuel administration assumed power, adding that it was time for “holistic action” to liberate the state from the shackles of bad governance.

Akpabio had, in the run up to the 2015 elections, declared Emmanuel, then Secretary to the State Government, next in line to succeed him, even when 26 aspirants jostled for the post.

Some security operatives were killed by unknown gunmen on Monday, 20th of August, while trying to kidnap expatriates in Rivers state.

At least two soldiers, two police officers and a civilian, were gunned down by the hoodlums in a failed attempt to kidnap expatriates at Sterling oil exploration site at Ogbemakoku/Iyak in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers state.

The corpses of the slain men were left laying on the road before the arrival of the police who evacuated them.

The police revealed it has launched a manhunt for the hoodlums responsible for the attack. 

Source; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/08/soldier-police-officers-gunned-down-during-kidnap-attempt-in-rivers-state.html

Quote:The Borno State Police Command said on Monday that Boko Haram insurgents burnt down 40 houses in a reprisal in Mailari Village in Guzamala Local government Area of the state on Sunday.

Mr. Demien Chukwu, the Commissioner of Police in the state, who disclosed this at a news conference said that the terrorists stormed the town at about 8 pm.

Chukwu said that the command had yet to ascertain the casualty figure.

“Two weeks earlier, the vigilante in that community arrested a Boko Haram element with AK47 and after beating him, he was handed over to the military.

“The marauding militants who were pissed with the development decided to lunch the massive attack to avenge the arrest. They passed several villages on their way to Mailari.

“Luckily, about a week ago, we deployed one full unit of policemen including SARS to protect the community.

“Consequently, while they were returning from their mission, they were repelled by our team on patrol, which prevented them from raising down the entire community,” he said.

On the Alau Dam attack, Chukwu said that preliminary investigation revealed that the dam came under attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

The Tinubu Rhetoric: My Response, by Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki

I have always restrained from joining issues in the media with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and this is based on my respect for him. However, I will not allow him to create a wrong, false and mischievous impression about the reasons for my decision to exit the All Progressives Congress (APC) and present his prejudice as facts for public consumption.

I have been consistent in my complaints to all leaders of the APC, including Tinubu, that a situation where the National Assembly is not constructively engaged or carried along in key policy decisions, particularly those that will eventually require legislative approval, is not in the best interest of the nation. No genuine leader of the legislature will be comfortable that the Presidency will simply write a terse letter to the National Assembly on key issues which the federal legislature is expected to later deliberate upon and give its approval. The Buhari administration consistently treats the legislature with contempt and acts as if the lawmaking body should be an appendage of the Executive. To me, this is unacceptable.

In the same way, I find it very objectionable that many stakeholders who worked strenuously to get the administration into office have now been excluded in the government and not consulted on key decisions as necessary and expected. In fact, some of them are treated as pariahs. A party that ignores justice, equity and inclusion as basic pre-conditions for peace, unity and stability cannot sustain its membership and leadership.

Let me redirect the attention of the former Governor of Lagos State to the aspect of my July 31, 2018, statement announcing my exit from APC in which I emphasized that the decision "has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist".

In that statement, I further noted that those APC elements "have done everything to ensure that the basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among the various elements within the party were blatantly disregarded. All governance principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined. And all entreaties for justice, equity and fairness as basic precondition for peace and unity, not only within the party, but also the country at large, were simply ignored, or employed as additional pretext for further exclusion. The experience of my people and associates in the past three years is that they have suffered alienation and have been treated as outsiders in their own party. Thus, many have become disaffected and disenchanted. At the same time, opportunities to seek redress and correct these anomalies were deliberately blocked as a government-within-a-government had formed an impregnable wall and left in the cold, everyone else who was not recognized as “one of us”. This is why my people, like all self-respecting people would do, decided to seek accommodation elsewhere".

Tinubu himself will recall that during the various meetings he had with me at the time he was pursuing reconciliation within the APC, I raised all the above issues. I can also vividly recall that he himself always expressed his displeasure with the style of the government and also mentioned that he had equally suffered disrespect from the same government which we all worked to put in office. I also made the point that whatever travails I have gone through in the last three years belong to the past and will not shape my decisions now and in the future.

However, during those meetings, the point of disagreement between Tinubu and I is that while I expressed my worries that there is nothing on ground to assure me that the administrative style and attitude would change in the next four years in a manner that will enable us to deliver the positive changes we promised to our people, he (Tinubu) expressed a strong opinion that he would rather 'support a Buhari on the hospital stretcher' to get a second term because in 2023, power will shift to the South-west. This viewpoint of Tinubu’s was not only expressed to me but to several of my colleagues. So much for acting in national interest.


It is clear that while my own decision is based on protecting the collective national interest, Tinubu will rather live with the identified inadequacies of the government for the sake of fulfilling and preserving his presidential ambition in 2023. This new position of Tinubu has only demonstrated inconsistency — particularly when one reviews his antecedents over the years. 


Again, let me reiterate my position that my uncertain and complex relationship with Tinubu has been continually defined by the event of 2014 when myself and other leaders of the APC opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement about to be foisted on the APC for the 2015 polls. It should be noted that he has not forgotten the fact that I took the bull by the horns and told him that in the interest of the country, he should accept the need for the party to present a balanced ticket for the 2015 General Elections in terms of religion and geo-political zones. Since that time he has been very active; plotting at every point to undermine me, both within and outside the National Assembly.

It is a surprise to me that Asiwaju Tinubu is still peddling the falsehood about the fact that my defection is about automatic ticket and sharing of resources. Members of the public will recall that when the issue of my decision to quit APC came to the fore and many APC leaders were holding meetings with me, a newspaper owned by the same Tinubu published a false report about the promise of automatic tickets, oil blocks and other benefits. I immediately rebutted their claims and categorically stated that I never discussed any such personal and pecuniary benefits with anybody. My challenge that anybody who has contrary facts should come forward with them still remains open.

It should be known that Democracy is a system that allows people to freely make their choices. It is my choice that I have decided to join others to present a viable alternative platform for Nigerians in the coming elections. Tinubu and leaders of the APC had better respect this decision or lawfully deal with it. As for me, Allah gives power to whom He wishes. Human beings can only aspire and strive to fulfill their aspirations. 

Signed:

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON
President of the Senate

Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja has restrained MultiChoice Nigeria from effecting its recent hike in DSTV subscription.

The company had in July increased the subscription rate for the DSTV Premium package from N14,700 to N15,800, Compact Plus from N9,900 to N10,650, Compact from N6,300 to N6,800, Family from N3,800 to N4,000, and Access from N1,900 to N2,000.

The implementation of the rates commenced on August 1.

However, ruling in a case challenging the hike in subscription on Monday, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba granted an injunction restraining MultiChoice from implementing the new rates.

Also, the court restrained the company from any conduct capable of interfering with the regulatory process of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC).

The orders were granted in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/894/2018 Federal Republic of Nigeria v. MultiChoice Nigeria Limited.

Representing the Federal Government were Babatunde Irukera Esq, Abimbola Ojenike, Eme David-Ojugo, Moray Adebayo, Teniola Medupin and Florence Abebe.

https://www.okayng.com/court-stops-multichoice-from-increasing-dstv-subscription-rates/

Quote:The only politics that Bukola Saraki plays is self, himself only and only himself. The interest and welfare of the people of Nigeria do not mean anything to him. Now it is the Presidency Saraki wants. And we ask with what antecedents is he doing this? Conspiracy, blackmail, treachery and vaulting ambition which overleaps itself and falls on the other, as rightly captured by William Shakespeare. Bukola Saraki will rather rule in hell than serve in paradise."

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says Senate President Bukola Saraki is so selfish with his political ambitions that he "will rather rule in hell than serve in paradise".

Outlining a list of corruption allegations levelled against him, the party urged Nigerians to be wary of Saraki, describing him as a man "whose personal ambition will always supersede the interest of the majority and national interest". 

In a statement by Yekini Nabena, its Acting National Publicity Secretary, the APC blamed the Senate President for refusing to reconvene the National Assembly, an action it said could "sabotage INEC’s ability to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2019".

The statement read: "Nigerians should be wary of a man whose personal ambition will always supersede the interest of the majority and national interest as currently displayed in the National Assembly. While Saraki refuses to reconvene the National Assembly, the 2019 election budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is dangerously delayed, an action deliberately taken to sabotage INEC’s ability to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2019.

"While Saraki refuses to step down as Senate President as rightly and severally demanded by the APC-dominated Senate, he is bent on foisting a PDP-minority rule (Senate President and Deputy Senate President) in the Upper Legislative House.

"The only politics that Bukola Saraki plays is self, himself only and only himself. The interest and welfare of the people of Nigeria do not mean anything to him. Now it is the Presidency Saraki wants. And we ask with what antecedents is he doing this? Conspiracy, blackmail, treachery and vaulting ambition which overleaps itself and falls on the other, as rightly captured by William Shakespeare. Bukola Saraki will rather rule in hell than serve in paradise."

Restating its earlier position on its call to anti-graft agencies to "check the use of stolen public funds to finance elections in this country," the party also emphasised that the "Nigerian electorate must have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and anti-corruption test."

The APC called on Nigerians to exercise their voting rights in the 2019 elections to ensure that they "never again entrust the leadership of this great country to thieves, whose sole aim is treasury looting and returning us to the dark ages where impunity and institutionalised corruption was the order of the day."

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The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the June/July 2018 Senior Secondary Schools certificate Examination results, out of the 1,041,536 candidates who sat for the examinations, only 742,455 of the candidates got at least five credits including Mathematics and English Language.

In a statement signed by the acting Registrar of the Council, Abubakar Gana, said a total number of 20,181candidates were involved in examination malpractices less than that of 2017.

Source: https://grandmarketsquare.com/breaking-neco-releases-june-july-2018-ssce-results/

Quote:Mr Femi Falana, A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has said that he does not believe in the report that Lagos State was the third most dangerous city to live in the world.

Falana debunked the report on Sunday evening during the investiture of Mr Kayode Opeifa, the former Commissioner for Transport in Lagos State as the President of Rotary Club.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that Opeifa was decorated the 35th President of Rotary Club of Agege District 9110 of Nigeria at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja in Lagos State.

NAN also reports that Falana was reacting to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, EIU, that ranked Lagos State as the third worst city to live in among 140 cities worldwide.

Lagos was ranked 138th out of the 140 countries in the EIU 2018 report.

Part of the EIU report stated: “With a relatively low score of 38.5 percent, the city was just a little above Syria’s war-torn capital, Damascus, and Bangladesh’s Dhaka.”

Falana said, “I don’t believe Lagos is the third dangerous city to live in because there many cities in other countries that are more dangerous than Lagos.

“The Lagos State Government should quickly respond to this report and let people know that the state is safe for people .

“The only challenge we are facing is that the quality of our representation in government is low, at the state, local government and federal levels.

” Lagos alone has 24 members at the Federal House of Representatives, let us be sincere to ourselves how many of them do we hear about?

“We have 40 legislators in the state house of assembly, what is the quality of the debate there? Who are the people representing us at the various local government levels ?”

Falana, therefore, advised the residents of the state to always challenge their representatives at both the National and state assemblies on proactive legislation.

He said that legislators from Lagos and the South West should stand out for the good of their states and not go to the assemblies to dance.

The lawyer also appealed to the Rotary Club members to do what they could to make the society a better place for all.

Also, Mrs Folashade Ayoade, the Secretary to the Government of Kogi , who was the Guest Speaker at the occasion also advised Rotarians to inspire the people around them through their humanitarian services.

Ayoade urged the people to be of good value, truthful and be people of inspiration to others for a better society.

“We must lead an authentic life, truthful and honest, and understand that God created you differently so you need not copy anybody.

“We need to stand for good values since so much is expected from the Rotarians and they need the support of eminent personalities and all of us in the society to succeed.

“I want to urge each and everyone of us to support the great gesture of the Rotary Club,” she said.

Opeifa had earlier in his opening remarks said that Agege Rotarians had identified six areas of focus that were part of the the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

These are: Maternal Child healthcare, prevention of diseases, resolution of conflicts, empowerment programme for our communities and education and literacy.

The rotary president said that the club was also aiming at positively touching the lives of 10 per cent of the people in the community.

He added that the club would also be reaching out to at least 300,000 people p by providing them electricity through its solar power project.

He also said that the club was working toward distributing school bags and uniforms to about 1,000 students.

Opeifa said that he also planned during his tenure to embark on selfless services and get more members admited into the Rotary Club.(NAN)

The ladies in this picture were taken to a hotel by unkown guys and the next morning they were found dead and some parts of their body missing. 

The Gaiki police command is currently investigating the case as the hotel manager and some staffs on duty have been arrested.

Source:
http://nairaplus.com/2018/08/three-girls-found-dead-in-a-hotel-room-in-abuja-photos/

The police in Delta State have arrested a 32-year-old woman for allegedly stabbing her husband to death at Agbarha-Otor town in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident occurred on Friday night when the couple were having a domestic fight over alleged extramarital affairs.

The woman identified as Ese Erigarhe was said to have used a kitchen knife to stab the man identified as Mr Erigarhe when he returned home.

The suspect is being detained at the Ughelli Police Area Command for suspected homicide.

She was alleged to have confronted her husband with the allegation of extramarital affair, which led to an argument between the two.

A source at the Ughelli Central Hospital, who confirmed the arrest of the woman said the 30-year-old man was stabbed during a domestic fight with his wife.

The woman Ese however said her action was in self-defence

A police source at the Ughelli Area Command also confirmed the incident.


From Ebiwali--
https://www.ebiwalisgossip.com/2018/08/woman-stabs-her-husband-today-for.html

Quote:Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari engaged loyalists of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Sunday in a shouting match at the Ilorin International Airport.

Buhari supporters had gone to welcome a Kwara State governorship aspirant, Mr Moddibo Kawu, and a Labour Party governorship aspirant in the state, Mr Issa Aremu while the Peoples Democratic Party supporters were also there to welcome Saraki.


The environment was calm until female supporters of Saraki started singing the praises of the Senate President. While they sang and danced, Buhari supporters who were mainly youths, with their brooms suddenly erupted into a shout of Sai Baba. They sang loudly, raising their brooms as they eulogised Buhari while the Saraki supporters, especially women, tried to out-do them. The atmosphere became charged prompting security officials to maintain orderliness. Also some elders from both camps tried to pacify the apparently overzealous supporters and praise singers.

Kawu and Aremu, whose aircraft had landed waited for some time at the arrival hall for the atmosphere to normalise. After some time, Kawu made his way as the crowd of supporters surged towards him until he was led by security operatives into his vehicle.

Aremu later addressed his supporters.

Aremu and a former Kwara State governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Hakeem Lawal, who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress called on the National Assembly to reconvene.

Lawal, who is a son of a late former Kwara State governor, Mohammed, hopes to actualise his political ambition under the APC.

Speaking to journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on the sidelines of a rousing welcome accorded to him by a crowd, he expressed his support for Buhari.

He also called on the National Assembly to reconvene to address urgent national matters, including the budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He said, “If truly the members of the National Assembly really think about our nation first, then, they need to reconvene and take care of urgent national matters. This is what the people elected them to do. Let us look at the people and the nation first and stop looking at individual and self aggrandising issues. Not reconvening is not in the interest of the nation. We know that elections are coming and things need to be done; the nation needs to move forward. A nation should not stand still. They should sacrifice for the nation and reconvene.”

Aremu called for the renewal of Kwara State.

Aremu said, “Let us be hard on our problems and not on ourselves. Do not allow for any provocation over any issue.

“This is one of the oldest states in Nigeria. Kwara was established in 1967 by General Yakubu Gowon (retd) who created that time 12 states.

“But what is the reality today? There are four of these states that are still in existence: Lagos, Kano, Rivers and Kwara are the states that still retain their names. Last year, these four states marked their golden jubilee anniversary. So Kwara is 51.”

Quote:All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday spoke on the defection of some chieftains from the ruling party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said the defectors, including Senate President Bukola Saraki and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, left the APC because they wanted automatic tickets and “the sharing of the national wealth”, which the party could not guarantee.

Tinubu said those anticipating the decline of the APC on account of the defections will soon be disappointed by their inaccurate predictions, adding that the days and months ahead will reveal that the forecasts were premised on bitterness and not on objective analyses.

In his view, the debate on the current historic national transition should not be reduced to narrow and cunning electoral calculations based on which party maintains the majority in the National Assembly. Nigerians are more concerned about the quality of governance, Tinubu said.



He added: “We are locked in battle to define the future of this nation and the quality of its governance. This battle pits one party, the APC, with all its imperfections, that seeks national reforms against another party, the PDP, which symbolises the perfection of the most selfish designs of the most selfish politicians among us.”

The former Lagos State governor said the defectors, who have presidential ambition, are afraid to face President Muhammadu Buhari at primary.

Tinubu reflected on the gale of defections in a statement in Lagos titled: “They go away because we go the right way”.

He said chieftains who had called it quits with the APC embraced the PDP because of the promise of automatic tickets, offices and privileges, adding that they were not interested in political and governance reforms that are critical to the liberation of Nigeria from the tenement of global poor.

Firing salvos at Tambuwal, Tinubu said his ambition was motivated by a personal ambition predicated on the defeat of the progressive reform and not its advancement.

He stressed: “Governor Tambuwal’s exit can be distilled to one cause. He covets the presidency. However, he had not the stomach to challenge President Buhari in a primary. Tambuwal felt further insulted that he would be compelled to face a direct primary just to retain the governorship nomination.

“But for the promise made by PDP hardliners like Rivers State Governor Wike that he would have the PDP presidential nomination, Tambuwal would not have left. His exit had nothing to do with governance of the nation. It was about forging a personal ambition predicated on the defeat of progressive reform, not the advancement of it.”



Tinubu said it was strange that Saraki could attribute his exit to lack of governance in a government where he wields ample power and influence as the number three citizen.

Chiding him for lack of proper focus, he said the Senate President had concentrated on activities that fuelled his selfish designs, instead of progressive enactments that could catapult the country to progress.

Tinubu added: “He harbours dreams of the presidency, but Tambuwal’s ambition will dwarf Saraki’s when the two collide. If Saraki had remained in the APC, he would be unable to reclaim his Senate seat, let alone the Senate Presidency. He thus bolted because he lusts for the presidency, but was promised by the PDP, at least, a return to his position in the Senate.

“For Saraki to talk about lack of governance is for him to deny who he is and the position he holds. The man stands as Nigeria’s number three citizen. Clothed is he in ample power and influence. If he saw areas where government and the nation needed help, he could have easily applied his energies to these areas. He could have drafted legislation and easily got passed.

Why announcing his defection, Saraki said it was “inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist.

He added: “All governance principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined.”

Speakinmg to his supporters in Ilorin, he lamented that “200 juicy appointments” were made without anyone being given to him and House of Represntatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

Tambuwal also said he was defecting because the APC-led government neglected its promise to Nigerians including “the restructuring of the country as promised and as contained in the APC manifesto”

He added that he could not “boldly point to any meaningful federal projects initiated in the state under the APC government, adding that “Sokoto State is also not being meaningfully carried along in political appointments and in other matters of national importance.

“However, no progressive enactment bears his name, for he cared not for progress. He has been more focused on changing the rules of the Senate to favour himself and changing the order of elections so as to coincide with his selfish designs.”

Noting that the Buhari administration is on course, Tinubu said it is nurturing political and governance reforms that would reposition the polity.

He said: “We steadily close the door on the old practices that have caused a rich nation to reside in the tenement of the global poor. The corruption of the past is ending; for it must end, if we are to fulfill our collective purpose. With this correction, less public money will be diverted to private benefit. More will be afforded to the causes of the people. The economy is being transformed so that the average person will have a better chance of finding a better life.”

Tinubu also said Nigeria is on the path of a steady union where exclusive decision making by a handful of uninformed men and rich persons has become a thing of the past.

He lamented that while some politicians champion the cause of reforms, others are scheming against collective improvement.

Tinubu stressed: “They seek to halt progress toward a fairer nation. They seek to hold the old ways. The difference between the two parties and why some people returned to their PDP conclave must be seen in this light.”

To the former governor, Nigerians have a stark choice to make in 2019. They will exercise the wisdom to make a good choice, he said.

He added: “If they want to relive the certain failure and inequality of the system the PDP had erected against their very interests, the people will walk the way of the defectors. If the people want to give themselves a better chance at an excellent nation, they will adhere to the path elected in 2015 when they voted for reform and the APC.

“I believe in the collective wisdom of the people. They will choose the right way for they are Nigerians, which means they shall do what is right and just

Start with Adeosun, Akpabio, Obasanjo's coalition tells buhari 

...Buhari has no right to jail looters - CSO

...Buhari, APC on same page - Nabena

...Aide defends president's medical trip

Quote:The Peoples Democratic Party has welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to jail treasury looters.

It, however, challenged him to show integrity by starting with the investigation and prosecution of members of his party, the All Progressives Congress.

Buhari had in an interview shortly after his return from London on Saturday said, “Most Nigerians are expecting that we are going to jail more of the thieves that brought an economic problem to the country. I think that is being expected of me and I will do it.”

Commenting on Buhari’s declaration, the PDP specifically asked the President to start by investigating the National Chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole.

The party also challenged President Buhari to allow an investigation into the allegations against the sacked former Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Lawal Daura; a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, and the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof Yusuf Usman.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, added that President Buhari should immediately allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to commence Oshiomhole’s investigation.

He said, “The PDP further challenge President Buhari to allow an investigation into the alleged frittering of over N11tn in the petroleum sector under his direct supervision as minister, including the alleged N9tn illegal oil contract as detailed in the leaked presidency memo, the alleged N1.4tn corrupt subsidy regime and alleged diversion of N1.1tn worth of crude oil, using 18 illegal companies allegedly linked to the Presidency cabal and the APC chieftains.

“The President should also allow the investigation of his ministers, who as former governors, were indicted in stealing billions of naira belonging to their states, particularly, a former governor, who was indicted by his state for allegedly diverting over N40bn to finance APC’s 2015 Presidential campaign.

“Mr President must also investigate how billions of naira allegedly moved from parastatals under his Petroleum Ministry to finance the failed attempt to change the leadership of the National Assembly as well as the certificate scandals among his ministers and special advisers and jail all those involved.

“These are the people Nigerians have been expecting President Buhari to investigate, prosecute and if found wanting send to jail.

“Unfortunately, Mr President has been pursuing perceived political enemies, and innocent opposition members while dining and wining with corrupt persons, a development that has completely called to question the integrity of his anti-corruption fight.”

Ologbondiyan added that since the President Buhari came into office, he had allegedly not allowed an investigation into the corrupt activities under his Presidency.

Instead, he further alleged that the President had been attracting to himself, “all manner of corrupt persons and giving them the perfume of sainthood, once they identify with his APC.”

Start with Adeosun, Akpabio, Obasanjo’s coalition tells Buhari

On its part, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo called on Buhari to begin his anti-corruption war with the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; and a former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The spokesman for the CNM, Mr Akin Osuntokun, it was laughable that a President whose minister had been accused of forging her National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate could claim to be fighting corruption.

The CNM spokesman said the fact that the Chairman of Buhari’s anti-corruption advisory team, Prof Itse Sagay (SAN), could defend such allegation was an indication that the President’s anti-corruption war was only targeted at members of the opposition.

The spokesman for Obasanjo’s coalition said it was ironic that Buhari could threaten corrupt people while at the same time hail Akpabio’s defection to the APC despite the fact that Akpabio was under probe for allegedly diverting N100bn from the Akwa Ibom treasury.

He said, “The President’s threat is not new. He is a man who fails to set a good example. What action has he taken to show that he is a man of integrity? His minister allegedly forged her NYSC discharge certificate. The chairman of his anti-corruption advisory committee, Prof Itse Sagay, defended the finance minister. So, this tells you the kind of war they are fighting.”

“His Special Assistant on corruption, Okoi Obono-Obla, has been shown to have forged WASCCE certificate. While in London, he received Akpabio who his government had accused of stealing billions.”

Testifying before the House of Representatives ad hoc Panel investigating Mr Obono-Obla’s alleged forgery, WAEC Registrar, represented by the Deputy Registrar, Mr Femi Ola, had on June 5, 2018, said, Obono-Obla’s result was “fake, not genuine.”

He has no authority to jail looters –CSO

The Coordinator, Advocate for People’s Rights and Justice, Victor Giwa, described Buhari’s statement as arbitrary, noting that it was capable of undermining the judiciary.

Giwa said, “The statement is arbitrary; he doesn’t have the authority to jail alleged looters, only the court can jail them. He can prosecute the looters, but he cannot jail them except he wants to be dictatorial and that is against the rule of law. It is also a form of threat and should not be encouraged. The pronouncement also has the capacity to undermine the judiciary.”

Buhari, APC on the same page –Nabena

But the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Yekini Nabena, said President Muhammadu Buhari and the party were on the same page in the war against corruption.

Nabena said this in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja, on Sunday.

The party’s spokesperson said, “This has been the position of the President and the party from day one, our position on the anti-corruption war has not changed.

“If the law catches up with you, you will go for it. People should also remember that one of our Senator, Joshua Dariye, is serving his term in prison so there is nobody above the law.

“It doesn’t matter if you are in our party or in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, once you are found guilty of the crime, you will do the time, it is that simple.”

Aide defends President’s medical trip

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters, Mr Gideon Samani, says President Muhammadu Buhari is fit to run for a second term, adding that his recent visit to the United Kingdom was a mere medical checkup.

Samani said this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday on the sidelines of the President’s arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, could not be reached for comments as calls and a text message sent to the phone number of her Media Adviser, Oluyinka Akintunde, were not responded to.

When contacted, the spokesperson for Adams Oshiomhole, Mr Simon Ebegbulem, said, “If those making that allegation have any evidence against the former Comrade Governor, they should take it to the EFCC.”

When contacted, the media aide to Akpabio, Mr Aniete Ekong, said, “Senator Godswill Akpabio has never been charged to court. Like any other Nigerian, that frivolous petition was written to the EFCC against him, he was investigated but nothing has been found against him. His giant strides as Governor of Akwa Ibom State have remained a reference point for development.”

Suspected Fulani Gunmen Kill Pregnant Woman, Rape Others
August 20, 2018  NEW

                             
Unidentified gunmen believed to be Fulani militia have again attacked Tiv farmers, killing a pregnant woman, raping and injuring scores of others in the Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Northern City News gathered that the gunmen shot a 28-year-old woman, Mrs Dorcas Mbagbidi-Akaahan, and injured scores in Tse Shiga, Azara area of Awe LGA.

The attackers were said to have laid siege to the community in the early hours of Monday, shooting sporadically into the air to scare residents, but Mbagbidi-Akaahan was hit by stray bullets leading to her death.

Speaking to our correspondent, a survivor, Obasanjo Akaahan, said the community would have recorded many casualties if the attack had occurred in the daytime.

He said, “Last week Monday night, some Fulani herders suspected to be from Wurgan-Dogo stormed Tse Shiga aka Gidan Soja in their numbers, shooting sporadically as we scampered for our dear lives. One person was killed and many others injured.”

Similarly, a woman was also allegedly raped by the attackers in Kalachi, a Tiv community in the Giza area of Keana LGA.

Our correspondent learnt that two women were going to the farm in the early hours of Tuesday when they ran into suspected Fulani herdsmen who allegedly assaulted them.

It was further gathered that the security operatives in Giza hurriedly swung into action following a tip-off and rescued the women.

Confirming the incident to our correspondent, the Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Command, ASP Samaila Usman, said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the crime, adding that the command had commenced investigation to apprehend other suspects still at large.

He said, “So far, two suspects in connection with the crime have been arrested and investigation is still going on to ensure that the prime suspect is arrested.”

HI’18: Manufacturing firms’ incur more costs, up by 20.2%
August 20, 2018  BUSINESS

                             
Despite the steady decline in the inflation rate over the past 18 months, leading manufacturers quoted in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, which operate across sectors have recorded significant upsurge of 20.2 percent in their operating expenses, OPEX, in the first half of 2018, HI’18. The figure rose to N233.9 billion from N194.6 billion recorded in H1’17.

The firms numbering 36, operated on short term borrowings amount to over N101 billion during the period, just about 1.8 percent up from N99.2 billion in 2017. Given the political uncertainty which is likely to fuel an upsurge in inflation, market analysts and stakeholders in the Nigerian capital market have cautioned companies to be cautious and prudent in their expenditure as the country moves into the 2019 election, stressing that election will spike costs without a corresponding increase in turnover and margins, thereby reducing profitability at the end of the financial year 2018 and thus affect shareholders’ return on investment. 

They further admonished that companies should weigh the cost of borrowing from banks and the capital market to be able to take prudent decision with regards to borrowing to run the companies. Sectoral Review of Expenses Meanwhile, Financial Vanguard’s review of the HI’18 of the 36 companies’ performance show that manufacturing companies in the Industrial Goods sector recorded the highest expenses in absolute term with N116.9 billion in HI’18, up by 19.4 percent from N97.978 billion in H1’17. A review of the sector’s performance shows that out of the 12 companies captured in the study, Dangote Cement recorded N86.863 billion, representing an increase of 19.3 percent from N 72.840 billion in HI’17. It was followed by Lafarge which expenses stood at N22.725 billion, indicating an increase of 24.9 percent from N18.194 billion in HI’17, while Vitafoam Nigeria recorded N 2.021 billion, representing an increase 1.1 percent from N1.999 billion in H1’17. Consumer Goods sector came second on the sectoral chart, recording N87.7 billion, representing a growth of 23.6 percent from N70.9 billion in HI’17. 

A review of the sector shows that out of the 10 companies captured in the study, Nigerian Breweries, recorded N24.323 billion, which represents 9.2 percent growth from N 22.269 billion in H1’17. Nestle Nigeria came second recording N 23.425 billion, indicating 8.2 percent growth from N21.644 billion in H1’17. International Breweries occupied the third position recording N16.352 billion, representing a growth of 265.6 percent from N4.473 billion in H1’17. The Conglomerates sector took the third position on sectoral performance, recording N15.733 billion, an upsurge of 20.1 percent from N13.1 billion in H1’17. Out of the six companies captured in the sector, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, Transcorp led the chart with N7.617 billion, representing 34.5percent growth from N5.664 billion in HI’17. It was followed by UACN which recorded N5.657 billion, representing a growth of 8.7 percent from N 5.205 billion in H1’17, while AG Leventis recorded N1.749 billion, representing an increase of 10.8 percent from N 1.579 billion in H1’17. 

The Agriculture sector occupied the fourth position on sectoral chart, recording N7.454 billion, representing a growth of 13.5percent from N6.565 billion in H1’17. A review of the sector’s performance shows that out of the three companies captured in the study, Okomu Oil Palm recorded the highest expenses with N4.174 billion, representing a growth of 28.1 percent from N 3.258 billion in H1’17. It was followed by Presco , recording N3.011 billion, dropping by -0.1 percent from N 3.014 billion in H1’17, while Livestock Feeds recorded N0.269 billion, representing a decline of -8.2 percent from N 0.293 billion recorded in H1’17. Health Care sector occupied the fifth position on the sectotal chart, recording N6.087 billion, an upsurge of 1.2 percent from N6.015 billion recorded in H1’17. Bank borrowings On the bank borrowings the companies in the Industrial Goods sector dominated with N78.6 billion, representing an increase of 2.9 percent from N76.4 billion recorded in H1’17. Further analysis of the sector shows that Meyer Plc led the borrowing chart with N28.930 billion, increasing by 5.4 percent from N27.453 billion in H1’17. It was followed by Lafarge recording N 23.716 billion, representing an increase of 105.7 percent from N11.532 billion in H1’17, while Dangote Cement occupied the third position recording N 18.565 billion, representing a drop of -23.9 percent from N 24.404 billion in H1’17. 

The Consumer Goods sector came second in the sectoral borrowing chart, recording N11.639 billion, representing a drop by 1.1 percent from N11.768 billion in H1’17. A review of the sector shows that International Breweries led borrowing recording N 7.132 billion, an increase of 210.2 percent from N2.299 billion recorded in H1’17. It was followed by Nigerian Breweries recording N 1.835 billion, representing a decline of -48.1percent from N 3.535 billion in H1’17, while Dangote Flour Mills came third recording N 1.719 billion, representing a drop of -7.3 percent from N 1.855 billion in H1’17. The Conglomerates sector occupied the third position on sectoral borrowing chart, recording N8.989 billion, indicating a drop of -5.3 percent from N9.493 billion in H1’17. Topping the sector on the chart was Transcorp recording N 5.403 billion, representing a growth of 8.3 percent from N 4.989 billion in H1’17. It was followed by UACN recording N2.412 billion, representing a decline of -31.2 percent from N 3.507 billion in H1’17, while Scoa Nigeria came third recording N0.597 billion, representing an increase of 14.1 percent from N 0.523 billion in H1’17. Analysts /Stakeholders Reactions Reacting, the Head of Research & Investment, FSL Securities Limited, Mr. Victor Chiazor, said: “ The direct implication of rising expenses to any firm will be that the firm may see its profitability reduce especially when the firms’ expenses are growing faster than its revenue base. Most firms have seen expenses rise as a result of increased competition and general increase in the cost of doing business. There has been a general rise in the cost of selling and distribution of products, a rise in the cost of running campaigns and innovations as well as a rise in brand marketing all in a bid to increase sales volume. While some companies have immediately benefited from increased brand awareness by growing their sales volumes, some companies have not had similar successes and it may take a few more quarters for them to reap the reward and this would directly impact the profitability of such companies.” Continuing, he said: “When rising expenses affects the profitability of a number of firms, it sends negative signals to investors especially for firms listed on the Exchange as both local and foreign investors may decide to exit their holdings in those firms to safer stocks or totally pull out of the market for fear of losing their investments and this would have a negative effect on the economy as currency outflows may increase if foreign investors fail to see any other viable investment options.” While reacting to the inflationary trend in the country as it affects companies’ performance, he said: “We don’t believe the rate of inflation significantly impacted on any of these firms under the current period compared to the corresponding period of 2017. Finance cost has been a major drag on earnings for most of the companies as the high cost of borrowing has continued to exert negative pressure on the profits of these firms. Except for the companies that have been able to raise capital in the form of equity in a bid to reduce their interest expense, most companies are also projecting a reduction in interest rate in the near term and as such instead of raising long term funds at significantly high interest rates, most have decided to raise short term funds to support their business obligation, while they await the era of a lower interest rate regime which should reduce their interest payment obligations and improve profitability given that most policy parameters suggest a possibility of lower interest rate in the short term provided that other factors or circumstances remain the same. 

“The CBN (Central Bank Of Nigeria) in its last MPC meeting stated that it would support good companies who come out to raise funding through CP’s (Commercial Papers) with single digit interest rate in a bid to reduce the high borrowing rate in the country and we advise firms to look in that direction for funding at decent rates that would not be harmful to their businesses.” Commenting as well, Managing Director, APT Securities & Funds Limited, Mallam Garba Kurfi, said : “ What is happening in the market is very unusual especially when the exchange rate is stable, the price of crude oil is high, the inflation is coming down , the Treasury bill and FGN Bonds rates are crashing yet the capital market is still going down. We lost to date almost one percent per week. Probably, investors are reacting to the political uncertainty in the country.” The spokesperson for Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, ISAN, Mr Moses Igbrude said: “Expenses are incurred in companies operation in order to create values, so an increase generally depends on the rates of activities within a period of time. Does this increase brought about a corresponding increase in turnover? Or is the reverse the case.? If such increase brings value along with it then stakeholders will be better off and if not them they will be worst of. Then, the question will be; why should management increase expenses without creating a corresponding value? 

My advice to companies is to try their best to control and manage their cost in order to survive in this present harsh economic environment with high uncertainties and inflation. Certainly, an increase in expenses without corresponding in value will surely have serious impact on companies and economic.” Commenting on finance cost, he said: “Finance cost is huge and a serious problem affecting companies and the country economic growth. An economy where interest rates are high as 23 percent to 30 percent, compounded with government policies inconsistent is limiting business growth in the country. My sincere advice to companies is to be very prudent and cautious in their business decisions as it relates to borrowings so that banks will not take over our companies because of bad debts. Where it is so critical they should try the capital market for cheaper funds.” In his reaction as well, Chairman, Concerned Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr Segun Owolabi said; “The rising expenses by these firms without a corresponding increase in turnover and profitability is not good for the shareholders who expect maximum returns on their investment. Companies should device means of reducing their expenditure on things that will not increase in turnover. There is some inevitable expenditure and there are some that evitable. So management should also cost benefit analysis when embarking on huge expenditure. Although, there is some expenditure that will bring benefit in the long run, so such expenses can also be considered.” On finance cost, he said: “We do tell the companies not to rely much on banks’ borrowing because of the high cost involved. When companies and using short term loan to finance medium term or long term expenditure, it is not good. It is a mismatch of funding. The capital market is the best option to consider when you need to finance medium or long term expenditure. In your report, I think the firms only increase their finance cost marginally which still better than when it is on the high side. Furthermore, companies should begin to use their internally generated revenue to finance most of their expenses as we have seen in some companies that have not recorded any finance cost so far in the period under review.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/hi18-...e.html?m=1

Boko Haram Kill Atleast 19 In Borno Early Hours Sunday Morning - Reuters
August 20, 2018  NEW

                            
At least 19 people were killed in an Islamist militant attack on a village in northeast Nigeria in the early hours of Sunday, a survivor of the attack said.

The strike is the latest blow to Nigeria’s efforts to defeat insurgencies by the Nigerian Islamist Boko Haram group and Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA). In recent months, the military has suffered its heaviest defeats in years, commanders have been repeatedly replaced, and special forces soldiers have mutinied.

The militants attacked the village of Mailari in the Guzamala region of Borno state at around 2 a.m., according to the survivor, Abatcha Umar. He said he had not been able to tell whether they belonged to Boko Haram or to ISWA.

Umar said he had counted 19 people killed, including his younger brother. An aid worker at a camp that received the survivors, and who declined to be identified, put the death toll at 63.

The Islamist militants had been spotted around the village three days before their attack, said Umar. Locals had warned Nigerian troops stationed in the nearby town of Gudumbali, but no action was taken, he said.

The aid worker said hundreds of people from villages in the area had fled to the camp for displaced people where he worked, in Monguno.
https://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/boko-...o.html?m=1

Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Isah Hamma Misau and his counterpart in the Committee on Banking, Finance and other Financial Insitutions, Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim have advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leaders to desist from looking for scapegoats for the failure to fulfill their promises to the electorate by constantly blaming Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.


Misau and Rafiu, in a statement on Sunday, stated that APC leaders have continued to whine about what Saraki did or did not do to ensure the Buhari government failed without caring whether it was reasonable to believe that one single individual who had been continuously assailed by the government would at the same time be in a position to ground the government.

“APC leaders are being clever by half. They have spent most of the last 38 months harassing Saraki and sponsoring media attacks against him. Now that the man has been vindicated by the courts and he has decided to leave their party, they have devised another propaganda stunt to start heaping the blames of their failure to bring positive change to Nigeria on Saraki.


“For three years of the APC administration, former President Goodluck Jonathan was the scapegoat they blamed. Now that it dawned on them that nobody is listening to that tale by moonlight again, their propaganda machinery has shifted focus to Saraki as the new man to blame. These are characters who cannot take responsibility for their inability to provide good governance as they promised.

“Must these people blame somebody all the time? Were they elected to bring in positive change or to shift blames? It is irresponsible for people invested with popular mandate to always look for somebody to be held responsible for their failure to fulfill their promises and give expression to the mandate they were given.

“Instead of concentrating on how to use the next six months before the general elections to hasten the completion of infrastructure projects, enunciation of policies and initiation of programmes which can improve the standard of living of the people and ameliorate the consistent failure of the last three years, the APC is now led by demagogues who seem not to care if they bring the entire country down.


“The new leadership of the APC have continued to advertise the inability of the party to manage victory, their penchant for violence as a way of saving their faces and their lack of the much needed temperament to wield together a country with diverse culture, ethinicity and religion like Nigeria.

“When they continue to blame Saraki for their failure, was the man responsible for their failure to appoint ministers for the first five months of the administration when the economy was just straying without direction? Is he responsible for the constant demarketing of the economy in international circles by the President of the country? Is Saraki responsible for the refusal of the government to prosecute its members indicted of corrupt practices, thereby destroying its anti-corruption campaign?

“Is he responsible for the high level incompetence and lack of capacity which sign-post the activities of the government? Is Saraki responsible for condoning the inability of the security agencies to appropriately respond to the security challenges which are now pervasive across the country? Did Saraki set up the ‘government within government’ which has continued to ground the administration?

“We can go on and on to query the logic of this APC blame game. However, we need to warn them to stop this cheap antics and face the real task of governance. Nigerians did not elect them to be giving excuses. Very soon, they will have to give account to the people and nobody will listen to the constant thrash about Saraki this, Saraki that.

“If the best strategy the APC ideas team can come up with on how to pre-occupy Saraki and prevent him from rallying his fellow party members in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for victory in next year’s general election as well as prevent him from pursuing his legitimate ambition in the 2019 elections, then they need to return to the drawing board. Saraki is unfazed and he is not even bothered,” the Senators stated.

GIST VIA - https://nairatrend.com.ng/saraki-senators-lambast-apc/

Quote:500 kidnapped for ransom

Emir: We need solutions, not sympathy

The ongoing banditry in Zamfara State has claimed over 3,000 lives and destruction of over 2,000 homes in the past seven years. Also, the bandits have burnt over 500 cars while 500 people were kidnapped for ransom within the same period. The state government has spent N17 billion on fighting the problem. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi, made the disclosure yesterday in Gusau at a town hall meeting, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The meeting was called to find a lasting solution to the worsening insecurity in the state. Speaking at the event, the Emir of Zurmi in Zamfara, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, said the people of the emirate need solution to the persistent banditry in the town and not sympathy or condolences.

Mohammed, who spoke in Hausa, which was later translated to English, complained that there had been too many of such visits without any solution to the problem. He said that the bandits, who were in the community, were constantly calling people of the area and threatening to kidnap them or their relations for ransom. He called on the NBA, the government and other stakeholders to evolve practical solutions to the problem as they were living in constant fear.The emir berated lawyers in the state, saying that their conduct was fuelling the crisis, accusing them of securing bail for the bandits each time they were arrested.

He said that the released bandits usually went back into the society to haunt those they suspected of being informants as well as their relations. On his part, Shinkafi said that the N17 billion was spent from 2011 to date, to procure vehicles for security agencies, pay allowances to security operatives, provide accommodation for soldiers of the 232 Battalion and other logistics.

“When you hear N17 billion, it sounds huge. But when you break it down to the various components in tackling insecurity, you will see that it is not even enough. “In 2011, we provided 457 vehicles for security agencies; in 2012, we provided 2,250 vehicles; in 2014, 77 vehicles and 50 vehicles each in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. “We also have to give funds to those affected by these attacks to at least help them in some way.” According to Shinkafi, the state has been sitting on a time bomb for long and there is need for citizens, the state and Federal Government to be more concerned and find ways to stop the bomb from exploding.

He recalled that the crisis, which started as a minor clash between herders and farmers, had been taken over by armed bandits, who had carried out about 40 attacks. Calling on parents in the state to take proper care of their children, the SSG implored men not to marry more than one wife where it was clear they didn’t have the means.

“When as parents you do not attend to your children, the bandits hijack them and recruit them to work for them. And as a man, you don’t have to marry four wives if you know you don’t have the means,” he said. He attributed the banditry to shortage of manpower in the state, stressing the need for more indigenes to show interest in joining the security services to protect the state.

The National President of the NBA, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), wondered why the Federal Government would allow the state to spend so much of its funds on security. He argued that the sum would have been used to build infrastructure and grow the state’s economy, adding that security opera-tions should be funded by the Federal Government and not the states. He, however, noted the need for the Zamfara Government to show leadership in the fight against insecurity. According to him, providing funds without being present to monitor how the funds are spent cannot not yield the desired results. Mahmoud said the visit by the NBA was not political, but a move aimed at promoting peace, resolving the conflict and upholding the Nigerian Constitution.

He assured that the association would dialogue with Governor Abdulaziz Yari on various allegations against him, particularly that he was never present in the state to attend to state matters. Some of the participants who spoke at the meeting, accused Yari of running the administration in absentia and called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state. Senator Saidu Dansadau, a former lawmaker, said that management of security was capital intensive and that the leadership must be on ground to monitor how such money was spent. Dansadau also argued that the only solution to the crisis in Zamfara was to declare a state of emergency in the state. “For Zamfara to be peaceful again, a state of emergency must be declared.



It is no longer an issue of getting adequate arms and ammunition or security personnel,” Dansadau was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). For Mr. Aliyu Gusau, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Federal Ministry of Justice, the issue was that the people of the state no longer trusted the government.

“The communities are more loyal to the bandits because promises and assurances given by the government are never fulfilled,” he lamented. He also blamed lawyers in the state for being too quick to defend and secure bail for arrested bandits and attributed this to the failure of justice delivery in the state. Other speakers also identified poverty, unemployment, corruption, ignorance, ethnic and religious sentiment as some of the factors fuelling insecurity in the state.

The NBA president admonished lawyers and cautioned them to represent accused persons within the ambits of the law. He said that other issues raised by the emir and stakeholders would be investigated with a view to ensuring that peace returned to Zurmi and the entire Zamfara.

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES


MONDAY, 20TH AUGUST.


THE BASICS OF SALVATION.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10).

Every man, woman, boy, and girl ever born, and that’ll ever be born into this world has already been “saved” by Jesus Christ. When He died, He died to save all humanity.

However, salvation is only a vital experience in the life of the one who has consciously affirmed the lordship of Jesus over his or her life. You receive salvation, or are saved, not just by believing in Jesus, but by taking the further step of affirming His lordship.

Read our opening scripture again and notice that it didn’t say, “if thou shall cry and ask God to save you, you shall be saved.” The Bible way to receive salvation isn’t by your tears or good works. Salvation is a gift from God: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

The Bible tells us about a Roman centurion named Cornelius. He was a devout and generous man; yet he wasn’t saved (Acts 10:2).
One day, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “...Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved” (Acts 11:13-14).

Salvation is a gift received by the affirmation of the right words. Once you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and confess with your mouth that He’s Lord over your life, instantly, you become a child of God; eternal life is imparted to your spirit. It’s an extraordinary miracle!

The world needs to know that it’s not difficult at all to receive salvation; it’s no use trying fruitlessly to atone for your sins or impress God with your “good works.” It makes no difference that you’re the nicest or meekest person around; you can’t trust in your good deeds to save you. There’s a definite act required for salvation: it’s the confession of the Lordship of Jesus, believing in your heart that God raised him from the dead.

PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for the efficacy of your Word in my life. I’m one with the Father, therefore I’m one with divinity. Health, wealth, prosperity, life, and success are my daily experience. I live in the fullness of the blessings of the glorious Gospel of Christ. I’m an overcomer, because greater is He that’s in me than he that’s in the world, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Romans 10:6-10 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down [from above] 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Hebrews 13:5-6 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.


1-Year Bible Reading Plan
1 Corinthians 5 & Psalms 117-118

2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Colossians 1:1-8 & Jeremiah 5



#AFFIRMATIONTRAIN

20TH AUGUST.

I affirm that the Word is in my heart and in my mouth; I meditate upon it day and night and thereby make my way prosperous. God’s Word saturates my entire mind, spirit, and body, leaving no room for negative thoughts to steal in. It is my defence, my foundation and the strength of my life. As I stay on the Word, God’s grace and peace are multiplied in my life.

Excellence, glory, virtue, and success exude from me today because of God’s grace that’s at work in me. Everywhere I go today, I am accepted and highly favoured, for I carry God’s divine presence with me. I am growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! I am not moved by the physical circumstances, but I stand firmly on God’s Word, taking advantage of the faith that has been imparted to my spirit to ward off the fiery missiles of the adversary. I affirm that the power of God is released to cause the desired change as I put my faith to work.

I am fully persuaded that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. There’s no adversity or adverse circumstance can overwhelm me because I am more than a conqueror. I am convinced of my eternal victory over Satan and the world, therefore I rejoice in the Lord my God, for I am created for success and the good life; I have in me the indestructible life. Blessed be God! Hallelujah!

SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES NOW

• Be bold to say the same things that God has said concerning you in His Word. That is what takes you beyond salvation, to enjoy the benefits of salvation ~ Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

God bless you.

Some eminent lawyers yesterday came down heavily on the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, over his recent utterances since he assumed his new position.

Specifically, among the utterances lawyers raised issue on was the one credited to Oshiomhole saying that, “No Court will save Saraki.”

The lawyers, who spoke, noted that such statement was a sign of disrespect to the nation’s judiciary.

They, however, reminded him that he cannot be a judge in his own case.

Oshiomhole had been calling for the resignation of the Senate President Bukola Saraki since he defected from the APC to the PDP.

He had stressed several times that Saraki ought to vacate his seat, having left the party on which platform he assumed the seat of the Senate President.

He had also threatened that the APC senators will impeach him and that no court can save him.

Commenting, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome and a Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Monday Ubani, both cautioned the APC national chairman to be wary of his utterances in his party’s quest to ensure the impeachment of Saraki.

Oshiomhole had while addressing APC’s caucus in the National Assembly on Tuesday stated that no court could save the Senate’s President.

However, in his reaction, Ozekhome, disclosed that the APC national chairman ought to know that court’s decision on any matter is final and no executive fiat can override it.

He said: “A court’s decision on any matter is final. No executive fiat can override it. The tripartite doctrine of separation of powers is found in Sections 4 (Legislation), 5 (Executive) and 6 (Judiciary), of the 1999 Constitution as amended. None of these arms of government can act in disobedience of the other.

“That doctrine of separation of powers was mostly popularised in 1748 by a great French philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu. Once a court gives a judgment, all governments, persons and authorities must obey it. Not to do so is a ready recipe for anarchy and chaos. Such torpedoes democracy and conscripts the democratic space.”

In his submissions, Ubani urged Oshiomhole to be circumspect in his approach to issues.

He said: “Mr. Chairman, note that I am not a fan of Mr. Saraki and I have not hidden my disdain for his personality and activities in the upper chamber, but try to be wise in some of your utterances and note that we have intelligent and educated people in Nigeria. We are not all fools, for God’s sake.

“The four ways for Mr. Saraki to leave the present seat as required by law are (1) Death (2) Resignation (3) Dissolution and (4) Impeachment by two – third majority of the entire membership of the Senate, approximately 73 senators. See Section 50(2) © of 1999 Constitution as amended:

“Section 50 (1) says, There shall be:-(a) a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves; and

(b) A Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.

(2) The President or Deputy President of the Senate or the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall vacate his office –

(a) if he ceases to be a member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, otherwise than by reason of a dissolution of the Senate or the House of Representatives; or

(b) When the House of which he was a member first sits after any dissolution of that House; or

© If he is removed from office by a resolution of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of that House.

“The present status though not confirmed hundred percent in the Senate is, PDP 49 senators and APC 52, the remaining for APGA and ADC.

“So, I ask, how will the APC senators as presently constituted impeach Mr. Saraki, the Senate President? Is Mr. Oshiomhole planning an impeachment that will not comply with the strict provisions of the ground norm, the 1999 Constitution as amended?

“How do they intend to muster the 73 senators as required by law or is he engaging in intimidation, bullying and noise making which reduces his personality before right thinking members of the society?

“The “monster” Saraki was created by APC in their naive political engineering and I think the best approach would have been to handle him with wisdom and intelligence in order to get the best out of him in the interest of Nigeria.

“With the present configuration, the Senate cannot also impeach Mr. President, it is impossible legally. They can’t even try it,” Ubani said.

Another Abuja based lawyer, Kingdom Okere, noted that in the constitution which calls for amendment, it did not specifically provide that the presiding officers shall be elected from the majority political party.

“It is just a matter of convention, harmony and understanding among members of the majority party in both chambers that presiding officers had emerged from majority political party over the years,” he stated.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/08/sarakis-impeachment-ozekhome-nba-chief-others-caution-oshiomhole/

Operation Python Dance 3: South-East govs, Ohanaeze sacrificing Igbo – IPOB
August 19, 2018  Biafra

                              
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Sunday accused Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and South-East governors of using people of the region as “necessary sacrifice” for their political survival.


IPOB alleged that the best way Igbo politicians think they can demonstrate their support for “one Nigeria credentials” was to allow the intrusion of Army into the region under the guise of Operation Python Dance III to “slaughter” people of the South-East.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the pro-Biafra group warned that the leadership of Ohanaeze and governors of the region will be held responsible if anybody is killed during the soon-to-start military drill in the region.


The statement reads, “Following a recent statement by the Fulani Islamic dominated Nigerian Army led by Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai regarding the impending commencement of another murderous season of Operation Python Dance across Biafraland, we the family members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and it’s leadership worldwide wish to alert the public that Nnia Nwodo led Ohanaeze Ndigbo/South East governors sponsored Islamic massacre of innocent Biafrans is once again in the pipeline.

“Let no one be deceived as to the real motives of the so-called Igbo leaders and Abuja based politicians, behind this latest round of impending slaughter of Biafrans.

“The bitter truth is that South-East governors, Lagos-Abuja based Igbo politicians who are dependent on the political patronage of their Fulani godfathers, with the active connivance of Ohaneze Ndigbo, are the people behind every Operation Python Dance that ever took place. These Igbo politicians see the periodic military massacre of their own people as a necessary sacrifice that must be made to ease their Fulani masters and ensure their political survival, electoral victory and relevance because they know in Nigeria true power belongs to the Fulani caliphate.


“To Nnia Nwodo’s Ohaneze Ndigbo and South East governors, especially Dave Umahi, Okezie Ikpeazu and Willie Obiano, the best way an Igbo politician can demonstrate his one Nigeria credentials is to actively participate or facilitate the wholesale slaughter of his own people. Should Buratai’s Islamic soldiers march on the streets of Biafraland anytime in 2018 and beyond, Biafrans must hold Gov. Dave Umahi, Okezie Ikpeazu, Willie Obiano and Nnia Nwodo led Ohaneze Ndigbo responsible.

“More unarmed, peaceful IPOB family members has been killed in the past year than all Boko Haram terrorists and genocidal Fulani herdsmen put together. When Fulani herdsmen attacked and killed unarmed villagers in Nimbo Enugu State, no Igbo governor or Ohaneze Ndigbo asked for Operation Python Dance to defend the people.

“In fact they became dumb. It is common knowledge that Aso Rock refused to take the calls of Gov. Ugwuanyi. Commander of 82 Division Enugu and various leaders of state security agencies that litter couldn’t be reached until the Fulani killers left.

“When it comes to the killing of peaceful IPOB family members, phone calls from Igbo governors and Nnia Nwodo are promptly answered and soldiers deployed immediately. Isn’t it ironic that Igbo governors, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Fulani officers and soldiers that make up the bulk of the Nigerian Army, have chosen to ignore the murderous tendencies of Islamic extremism perpetrated by their own kith and kin in Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen but have instead turned their rage and guns on unarmed IPOB fighting for their God given right to self determination?

“To make matters worse, the newly announced Operation Python Dance for the ember months of 2018 is coming on the heels of the discovery of yet more dead bodies of victims of Operation Python Dance from last year, in mass graves in Ukwa Ngwa Abia State in the past week. Ohaneze Ndigbo and Igbo governors will not even allow IPOB to finish burying those their Fulani masters killed last year before inviting them to come and kill us again. They have no regard for even the dead.

“The criminal and conspiratorial silence of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, Igbo governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo in the face of the discovery of mass graves in Abia State is damning proof that these men we regard as political and traditional leaders in Igboland especially are nothing more than lilly-livered traitors, quislings and cowards, only interest in serving the will of their Fulani masters.

“The number of IPOB family members killed extra judicially as a result of Operation Python Dance and associated military operations in the South East/South South by northern Islamic dominated Nigerian Army, run into hundreds, with many still missing and unaccounted for till date. Igbo governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo is silent on these atrocities because they are part of it as confirmed by IPOB intelligence that intercepted Gov. Wille Obiano’s conversation with a top northern military commander in Onitsha Barracks.

“We wish to alert the public that the same Igbo men involved in the planning and execution of Operation Python Dance across Biafraland last year are at it again this year. South East governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo should be held responsible should Buratai decide to march his Fulani Islamic soldiers into our land on another killing expedition designed to reduce the population of the South East.

“We wish to place it on record that Ohaneze Ndigbo led by Nnia Nwodo, current crop of South East governors and Igbo political contractors in Abuja and Lagos, will never be forgiven for their crimes and atrocities against our people. For the sake of electoral victory, money, contracts and political appointments, they have helped in the further enslavement of a long suffering people. They are fighting against IPOB because they don’t want the people to be set free.

“Biafraland has become a colonial outpost of the Fulani caliphate thanks to these men. Those of them that planned Operation Python Dance last year and seeking to do same this year because of their hatred for Biafra; the Lagos/Abuja errand boys that sold their soul to the Devil in return for political office, must know that judgment is fast approaching. They and their families will be held accountable at the appointed time. There will be no mercy. Let them not say they were not warned.”

Chelsea star, Eden Hazard, has said he will not leave the club this summer because they won’t be able to sign a replacement.

Hazard hinted that his time at Chelsea could be coming to an end after the World Cup, when he said he wanted to “discover something different,” amid rumours of a move to Real Madrid.

But the 27-year-old has now pledged commitment to Chelsea for the foreseeable future.


“Everybody knows what I have said after the World Cup. But I’m happy here,” he told RMC Sport after the 3-2 win over Arsenal.

“A lot has been said. A lot of stupidity too. But at the moment I’m happy.

“I have two years left on my contract and we’ll see what happens. Leaving this year? I won’t go. The transfer market in England is closed. Clubs can still sell players, but not sign new ones anymore. It would be a bit strange that they would sell me now while they can’t sign a replacement.

“We could see today that fans love me. I’m fine here. We’ll see what happens in a year or two.”



https://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/hazar...l.html?m=1

Why we blew 2 goals lead against Arsenal – Chelsea left-back, Alonso

                          
Chelsea defender, Marcos Alonso has disclosed that his side’s lack of tactical discipline made them blow 2 goals in the early minutes of the first half against Arsenal in Saturday’s Premier League fixture.

Two goals from Pedro and Alvaro Morata gave the home side the lead earlier in the first half before Mkitaryan and Alex Iwobi levelled for the visitors.

Hazard’s introduction helped the home team to a perfect start to the new season after the Belgian’s cross in the box found Marcos Alonso who slotted past Petr Cech to make it 3-2.


“They have good players, they have the quality and we saw that if we don’t press and don’t stick together it is not easy,” Metro UK quoted Alonso as saying at post-match.

“We just gave them too much space and didn’t press at the right times after losing the ball.

“That gave them time to play and counter-attack. They have the quality and the speed to give us troubles, but we came back strongly in the second half and it is a very important three points for us.


“I think it was a bit of a crazy game, which is usual in the Premier League. These things happen, but the way we came back in the second half, it was very important to have this personality, to play and to come back after a bad end to the first half.

“I think that was very important and shows we are working well and focused on winning.”

The result against Unai Emery’s side means the Blues currently top the EPL table with six points from two games.

Yesterday, hundreds of women suspected to be members of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), protested in Owerri, the Imo State capital, demanding the whereabouts of the missing IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kalu. They equally demanded a referendum for an Independent state of Biafra by the Federal Government.

The woman adorned in black attire with Biafra insignia such as flags and caps sang pro Biafra songs. They accused the Federal Government of “deliberately marginalising Biafran people”.

Trouble started at the Government House roundabout, Owerri, when policemen on sighting the demonstrators fired teargas canisters at them. The women defied the police action and continued with their march.

At Warehouse Junction, policemen in operational vehicles intercepted the women, fired another round of teargas canisters and arrested many of them.

While some of them fled to safety and started jeering at the policemen, the cops took the arrested protesters who are said to be 44 in number to the state command headquarters.

The CP said the protesters were arrested for unlawful assembly and disrupting the public peace, adding that they would be charged to court.

Source; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/08/arrested-ipob-women-pictured-at-police-cell-in-imo-state.html

Quote:It has emerged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is seeking to interrogate the sacked Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, has spread its investigations to cover spendings by the service under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and the funds inherited by Daura from his predecessor.

Sources close to commission told the Sunday Tribune at the weekend that investigators of the EFCC have zeroed on funds Daura received from the previous administration and what exactly happened to the funds.

Following the interrogation of the former Director General of the DSS, Mr. Ita Ekpeyong, it emerged that the service actually returned more than N3 billion unspent operations funds during the period.

The EFCC has also received details of the funds inherited by Daura.

A source in the commission said following the failure of the investigators to make expected discoveries when the searched the home of Daura, attention has now been zeroed in on what happened to the funds he inherited from Ekpetong.

It was learnt that the need to get to the roots of every kobo handed over by Ekpeyong necessitated the search of his house, his interrogation and the decision to place him on stand by for further investigations.

A source in the know said: “With the apparent lack of substantial evidence in the searches conducted so far in the residences and guest houses of Daura, investigating authorities are holding on to suspected depletion of funds he took over from his predecessor, Ekpenyong Ita.

“The monies handed over are a public knowledge. When the director general of such Service hands over, copies are customarily sent to the President, the National Security Adviser, the Service itself, the incoming and outgoing directors general would have their copies.”

The source said that some of the funds already accounted for included the various sums $21.23m and N12.96 billion in pension fund, N2.2 billion in serial account, and another N2.2 billion earmarked for insurance.

There are different other us heads totaling about 20, a source at the EFCC said, adding that Ekpeyong has actually been cooperating with investigators by appearing at the Commission’s headquarters almost every other day.

Sources said while the EFCC was actually not probing the operations accounts of the DSS, it’s investigators were worried about some bulk movements.

For instance, a source said that there may be questions as to why the accounts of the commission stood at about N6 billion as of June this year from the N12.9 billion that was handed over by Ekpeyong.

The investigators are concerned and checking out if the funds were diverted and who authorised such

“The EFCC is only interested in just some basic questions that he (Daura) may need to provide answers to. Mind you, this is not a probe of the DSS, we are only seeking clarifications,” a source said.

The ongoing probe is, however, said to be causing some confusion in Intelligence circles following reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had last year given a directive that probes of DSS, the National Intelligence Agency(NIA) and other Secret services would only be undertaken by close insiders in order not to expose Nigeria to ridicule and suspicion by the global Intelligence networks.

Sources in the administration said at the weekend that if the ongoing probe continues, it could go against against the tide in inquiry into intelligence matters all over the world.

It was also gathered that the Ambassador Babagana Kingibe-led Committee, which investigated the NIA funds discovered in Lagos, had also recommended as such.

It was learnt that the confusion reigning so far could stall further probe and questioning of Daura by the EFCC.

A source familiar with the situation said: “The committee had advised the President, and it was approved, that matters of intelligence should be discreetly handled by a special body of former members of the community and the report turned in to the President for necessary actions.

“This (investigations of DSS) would be a clear case of blatant disregard of the Presidential directive arising from the report of the committee, and the norm all over the world.

“If it goes this way, nobody would volunteer information that could be processed into intelligence, there may be no bilateral collaboration between Nigeria intelligence agencies and some known cracked foreign agencies in the world like the FBI, CIA, MI5, MI6 and more, for fear that they could be exposed, compromised and the lives of their operatives compromised in the course of open probe. And I know that we (Nigeria) have enjoyed that goodwill over years.

“An open investigation by outsiders might just be penny wise, pound foolish. A bubble of pyrrhic victory that would evaporate and expose Nigeria to ridicule.

“Either way, even if there’s misdemeanour anywhere, any inquiry without a presidential imprimatur in line with the world best practices and as recommended by the committee would be a bastardized effort.”

In furtherance of the ongoing probe of the blockade of the National Assembly on July 24, sources have confirmed that suspected collaborators have been cleverly placed on watchlist.

It was confirmed that some of the collaborators allegedly mentioned in the interim report have been placed on watchlist.

The list of those placed on close watch was said to have been longer then expected as according to sources, it contained top officials of the administration suspected to have held secret meetings that led to the blockade of the legislature are also on the list.

The unusual thing about this move is that the agency in charge of the close watch is not your usual agency and the administration is keeping the identity of the agency under wraps, a source said, adding that the suspects include heads of some parastatals, and agencies.

“Those involved cannot leave the country for now,” the source said.

Talindo Steak House is an Italian restaurant that serve delicious steak, Italian dishes, brownies, apple pie and gourmet. The restaurant atmosphere is friendly and the interior is beautifully decorated. Talindo Steak House is regarded as a hidden gem in the 'oasis' of Lagos by those who have been there.

Located in Victoria Island, Lagos, Talindo's steaks and desserts, is among the best on the Island. If you are tired of local dishes this is a must-try while in Nigeria. The serivce is also very good and their staff are attentive and friendly. They are quite affordable and cool for a family dinner, romantic date with spouse and chilling with friends.

A monster dad strangled his two young children before hiding their bodies along with that of their pregnant mother in crude oil tanks. 

Lawyers for Christopher Lee Watts, 33, filed a motion on Friday in Weld County, Colorado, asking for DNA to be taken from the necks of the little girls’ bodies, and it strongly suggested they were strangled.

There has been no official cause of death announced in the case, after the bodies of Shanann Watts, 34, and the couple's two daughters, four-year-old Bella and three-year-old Celeste, were recovered on Thursday from the crude oil field where Christopher worked.

Christopher, 33, is being held without bail and faces three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of evidence tampering.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6073087/Dad-killed-pregnant-wife-STRANGLED-two-young-daughters.html

A female Nigerian soldier has been accused of maltreating her house help in Ikeja.The news was shared by DPA Admin with the caption below....

'A NIGERIAN SOLDIER CAUGHT ABUSING HER UNDERAGED HOUSE-HELP 

DPA will follow up on this. The first screenshot is the report we received. Then you see the pictures of young victim. And then the pictures of the soldier, Esther Onyinye Ozoekwu'


Source: http://www.trezzyhelm.com/2018/08/female-soldier-allegedly-brutalises-her.html





Re: Female Soldier Brutalizes Her Househelp In Ikeja (Pics) by stephenduru: 8:15pm On Aug 18
Read more. http://www.trezzyhelm.com/2018/08/female-soldier-allegedly-brutalises-her.html
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Group award Kwara governor as worst in history
https://mrrightsng.blogspot.com/2018/08/group-award-kwara-governor-as-worse-in.html

Kwara Must Change, a pro-Democracy group is using this opportunity to notify the general public that our movement shall be conferring an award of the worst governor in the history of Nigeria on his Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State.

Kwara Must Change believe very strongly that only the people can truly rate the performance of an administration and without any iota of doubt, all Kwarans, including those serving in government are anonymous in their conclusion of the devastating failure of Abdulfatai Ahmed led government of Kwara State.

Apart from the absolute lack of leadership by the governor and his dummy like followership of a misguided godfather, evidences of misappropriation, endemic corruption, infrastructural degradation, educational decimation, poverty domestication, political irresponsibility, rascality of the highest order plus other shameful conducts of the governor are too numerous to mention.

We believe that such mind blowing failure needed to be symbolically recognized for the purpose of history, hence the need to confer on the governor, the award of worst Governor not only in the history of Kwara State, but also in the history of Nigeria.

Though, we are aware that Governor Ahmed’s suitability for the award of worst governor in the history of Nigeria is arguable, but most certainly, no one can debate about his undisputable qualification for the award of worst governor In the history of Kwara State.

In term of quality Education, It was under Governor Ahmed that Kwara Must Change discovered several schools across all senatorial district having only one staff, who doubles as head master, cleaner, teacher for all classes from primary 1-6 and teaching all subjects including English and Mathematics.

In term of Grassroot development, It was under Governor Ahmed that Kwara Must Change discovered that some Kwarans in Baruten Local Government are already claiming Benin Republic, not because they wanted to secede to another country, but because they have been totally abandoned in such a manner that they wonder if they are still a part of the state, because there is no road linking them to the rest of the state and they even go to Benin Republic for basic things such as medication because there is no hospital in the whole environment. In this same local government, there has never been electricity for the past 20years. The only time they came close to having electricity was between 1999-2003, when late Governor Alabi Lawal provided all necessary equipment, but upon assumption of office by his successor, all the project was shutdown.

In term of water supply, Under Governor Ahmed’s predecessor, Bukola Saraki, an almost completed water project by late Governor Lawal was halted and another water project was said to have been awarded for N4billion. After 8 years of Saraki administration without any drop of water, Governor Ahmed took over and also continued the imaginary water project, by re-awarding it for another N5billion in his first tenure. Till this day, after a combined N9billion wasted on a so called water project, the Governor is rounding up 8years tenure without any drop of water. The whole state, including the state capital cannot boost of having potable water.

In term of accessible motorable road across the state, Kwara Must Change had also toured the state and found no single state road that is motorable, except the road to the Government house. We had in the past challenged the state government to mention just one state road that is motorable, but even they could not. As it stands today, there is no one single road in Kwara state without pothole.

In term of Workers welfarism, it is no longer news that Kwara state pay the lowest salary in Nigeria, but to make matter worst, even the least salary is not being paid, including non-payment of sweepers salaries who earn maximum of N7000 per month. Just few weeks ago, the dignified sweepers marched in protest to call for public help in getting their 2 years salaries, state owned institution workers also protested last week due to none payment of over a year salary.

These are just the few examples we can cite due to space, but there are many more.

It is in recognition of the monumental failure of Governor Ahmed, that Kwara Must Change deemed it fit to honor the governor, with an award of the worst governor in the history and we hope to ensure this award is properly recorded in history as example to all bad leaders.

Details of the award program shall be made public very soon.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
Kwara Must Change

Buhari’s kinsmen pressurising President to reinstate sacked DSS boss — Junaid Mohammed

Quote:A federal lawmaker in the Second Republic, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, tells JOHN ALECHENU that the handling of the current crisis in the National Assembly will determine the fate of the country’s democracy


What do you make of the invasion of the National Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Services?


From what we have heard so far, the Director-General of the State Security Services who was at the centre of it all hasn’t confirmed his loyalty either to the President, Acting President, or for that matter, to the Senate and other institutions of governance in this country. There are suggestions out there that he is acting in cahoots with Bukola Saraki. 

Well in Nigeria, nothing could be too surprising because there are quite a number of double agents in virtually every branch of government, in every ministry and every department and these are people who are for sale or have their own ambitions to service and they don’t care about the national interest. One has to be very careful about evaluating what actually happened, what was supposed to happen and what didn’t happen. While there was noise about locking down the Senate, there were people within and they were senators.

Is it being suggested that these people went in and said lock us in? The question is, if there was an intention to lock everybody out, how come some people found their ways in and sat there? The story making the rounds is that some people decided they would come early in order to be part of the agenda of what they were going to do that morning.


Whatever the theory being peddled about the incident what does it portend for our democracy?


What happened was very unfortunate and whichever side you want to blame or give credit to, it has really reduced our country, our democracy to that of a banana republic and the fact that since the event happened, there has been no statement-except the one which came from the office of the Acting President, denying any involvement in what happened.

Now, this Lawan Daura has been arrested and all the noise about searches being conducted in his house or houses either in Abuja or other places. What happened or did not happen to him is a story for another day. As far as I am concerned, the event itself has been a great disservice to this country and as I said, it has reduced us to the place of a banana republic which is very, very unfortunate. 

This democracy has cost us so much in terms of money, in terms of labour, in terms of political argumentation for it to be seen to be threatened this way by a gangster and a few of his service men holding huge Israeli guns, it is really unfortunate and it speaks volumes about the kind of government we are running and the kind of leadership we have.

Since the event happened and the dismissal and arrest of Lawan Daura there has been no statement from Buhari himself, only guess work. There is also the spin that what (Yemi) Osinbajo did; he did it with the knowledge and blessings of Buhari.

There is an ethnic attempt by those who are related to Buhari, who are from Daura, who must be related to Lawan Daura, who now want to travel to the United Kingdom to ask Buhari to reverse himself and virtually bring back Lawan Daura and then sack the National Security Adviser who was supposed to be Lawan Daura’s boss but who he never respected and who he was not even in speaking terms with.

You can see that the whole thing now is becoming a typical Nigerian football game where everybody kicks it the way he likes. It is very unfortunate and it is more or less heading towards a climax of the kind of Presidency we chose for ourselves in 2015 and the kind of situation Nigeria now finds itself. It speaks volumes about the incompetence and the irresponsibility of this Presidency, the ruling party and the main opposition party and all seems to be a bloody mess. 

If you recall, like I told you before the elections and thereafter, that there is no difference between the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, which are in fact two sides of the same coin. This is now becoming absolutely clear. This kind of two-party system and close to one hundred others calling themselves political parties being registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, will not serve our democracy well. 

We, as Nigerians, will have to start thinking about a way out. I have had occasions to talk to people in the media to say look, since this Saraki fellow sneaked into the Senate under the cover of darkness to cut a deal with the PDP, the Senate has known no peace. When you undermine the Senate, you essentially undermine the two chambers of the National Assembly. Why is it that every time anything concerns Bukola Saraki it becomes a crisis, why?


Do you think the leadership style the new National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has employed will bring about the cohesion the party is seeking to get before going into the 2019 elections? 


No. To the contrary, it will add to the existing confusion and acts of gangsterism and the use of uncouth language synonymous with the lifestyle of gangsters, he is bringing it into our political scene. What we had before he became national chairman of the party was already too much. Bringing Oshiomhole and making him chairman of the party, add that to the blunders of President Muhammadu Buhari and his presidency; simply means Nigeria and the political system should be ready to pay a high price.

Nobody in his right senses will look at this fellow (Oshiomhole) and think he can be a political party leader who can maintain some harmony, some level-headed approach to sorting out problems. He has now become more or less the glorified National Publicity Secretary of the APC.

In Nigeria, if you are the publicity secretary of a party, your job is to go and abuse everybody other than your own party and that is what he has been doing. Nobody for example, now knows that the APC has a publicity secretary other than him. He has been abusing other parties and their leaders and the others return the favour by abusing him, the government, the President and everything thereafter.

I don’t believe Adams Oshiomhole has the qualities of a political party leader and that in addition to so many other blunders and display of bad faith by Buhari himself has further complicated matters. I would have thought that if you are a president of a country, you have a vested interest in the maintenance of peace and measure of civility in the political system.

But this President seems to be the kind of person that encourages corrupt, abusive rogues and scoundrels to be the major players in the political system. This does the country no good; it doesn’t do the ruling party any good. Oshiomhole is now in the middle of this crisis. In fact, he is making his own reputation by the way he is behaving. 

I can assure you, he has a more hard-line posture than those people in the Senate that have a vested interest in their political careers than him because he is a spent force. Here in Nigeria if you mess up in a job, you get promoted to a higher job that is typical of the Buhari administration.


The legislators have also had a cause to complain about the President’s slow response to national issues requiring urgency. Do you share their concerns?


It takes a while to build a reputation. If somebody handles certain sensitive and strategic assignments badly, insensitively, corruptly and without due international interest, it will be expecting too much to think the same person under similar circumstances will come up with something better. Essentially, from 2015 to date, Buhari has been governing the country the only way he knows and you and I will agree that his best is not good enough for Nigeria. In a democracy, you don’t blame people for their electoral choices.

You must have seen it in the news media that people are blaming President Donald Trump for every crisis the global economy is going through. It is the same problem we have since we chose Buhari as president without taking a look at his capacity and allowing his relatives and friends deliberately choosing to hide the truth about his health status physically and mentally from the rest of Nigeria, this is what we are reaping. To make matters worse, he is now determined to return for a second term to repeat the same thing.

It took him six months to appoint a ministerial team what do we have? He promised to change his cabinet over one year ago, what has happened? This is the worse cabinet ever assembled in Nigeria since 1914.

Quote:President Muhammadu has written a letter to the two arms of the legislature, the Senate and the House of Representatives, informing them that he has resumed his duties as President and Commander-in- Chief, upon the completion of his 10-day working leave.

In the letter titled “RESUMPTION OF OFFICE” personally signed by him, today Saturday 18th August, President Buhari said “In compliance with Section 145 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), I write to intimate the Senate (House of Representatives) that I have resumed my functions as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from today, Saturday 18th August, 2018,after my vacation.

A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu also stated “Please accept, Distinguished Senate President, (Hon.Speaker, House of Representatives)the assurances of my highest consideration.”

SERAP accuses Oyo gov Ajimobi of executive rascality over demolition of Ayefele’s Fresh FM



Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has accused the Governor of Oyo State Senator Abiola Ajimobi of executive rascality and strongly condemned “the unlawful demolition of Fresh FM building owned by Yinka Ayefele, and the forced evictions of residents by the Oyo State government”, describing it as a “grave violation of fundamental human rights and contrary to international law.”

The Oyo State Government early on Sunday morning stormed the Music House belonging to artiste, Yinka Ayefele. Government bulldozers arrived the Challenge area of Ibadan where the building was located and pulled it down, despite pending court action to stop the demolition. Ayefele had sued Oyo State government, and the court had ruled that ‘there are serious issues to be determined, and adjourned the case to August 20. The Oyo State government had been duly served.

SERAP in a statement today signed by its deputy director Timothy Adewale said, “This is a gross abuse of powers by the Oyo State government and governor Ajimobi against a radio station simply doing their job. The action is politically motivated, patently arbitrary and entirely inconsistent with international human rights standards and national laws. The action amounts to executive rascality and seriously undermines the integrity and authority of our courts. This kind of action has no place in a democratic society that is based on the rule of law.”

The organization said “the destruction of a radio station on the grounds that the Oyo state government dislikes their work is a textbook case of repression of media freedom and violation of the right to adequate housing. The authorities must immediately stop the demolition, ensure appropriate repairs of the building and adequate compensation, and guarantee of non-repetition. SERAP will challenge this violent and reckless destruction of Ayefele’s Fresh FM in court.”

The statement read in part: “The Oyo State government has not only engaged in forced eviction but also violated the right to adequate housing, the right to freedom of expression and media freedom.”

“It is the obligation of Oyo State government to ensure that Ayefele and everyone affected by this act of illegality is adequately compensated for the property of Fresh FM that has been demolished.”

“Nigeria is a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which requires Oyo State government to refrain from arbitrary forced evictions and arbitrary destruction of resources that individuals and families have invested in building their homes.”

“Nigeria has also ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects individuals from arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, and guarantees everyone the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attack.”

“In its "Resolution on Forced Evictions," the U.N. Commission on Human Rights affirmed that forced evictions constitute a gross violation of human rights. The term "forced eviction" is defined for the purposes of international law as the permanent or temporary removal against their will of individuals, families and/or communities from the homes and/or land which they occupy, without the provision of, and access to, appropriate forms of legal or other protection.”

“It is important to note that international standards focus on protecting individuals who occupy homes and land and do not depend on any particular form of ownership title to the land or house, nor on the legality of the occupancy.”

http://serap-nigeria.org/serap-accuses-oyo-gov-ajimobi-of-executive-rascality-over-demolition-of-ayefeles-fresh-fm.ngo/

Quote:John Alechenu , John Ameh and
Sunday Aborisade



Senators loyal to the Senate President , Bukola Saraki, have perfected a strategy to stop his impeachment and that of his deputy , Ike Ekweremadu , according to SUNDAY PUNCH
investigations.

Findings by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that apart from keeping vigil at the National Assembly to prevent the All Progressives Congress senators from sitting , the Peoples Democratic Party members in the Senate have mapped out an arrangement to keep the red chamber save for Saraki until September 25 and beyond .


How Saraki, Dogara planned ‘ coup’ to abort reconvening

Findings by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that Saraki reached out to the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Yakubu Dogara , last Sunday night to suspend any form of reconvening last Tuesday , as earlier agreed by both presiding officers.

The sudden change of mind , according to some senators who spoke on condition of anonymity , was to save Saraki from impeachment because it was discovered that many of his loyalists had travelled to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage.

A senator from the North-Central geopolitical zone said , “ Our calculation was that the APC senators can never get two - thirds of the majority of the entire membership of the Senate to carry out any impeachment , but we had to be careful when they started arguing that the two - thirds could also be based on the numbers of senators at plenary .

“ We were aware that many members of the House of Representatives got notice of resumption last Saturday , so both presiding officers met and agreed that the resumption should be postponed indefinitely . ”

Strategies adopted to extend reconvening
SUNDAY PUNCH investigations further revealed that Saraki and Dogara agreed that only members of the Committee on Electoral Matters in both chambers should be recalled to hold joint meetings with officials of the Independent National Electoral Committee between Wednesday and Friday last week .

The committees of both chambers would thereafter hold a joint meeting with INEC officials to consider Buhari ’ s request .

The joint Senate / Reps committees on Appropriation , Loans and Debts were also involved in the timetable as the members were also recalled to deliberate on the Eurobond request .

The two presiding officers agreed not to reconvene until the reports are ready .


The Joint plenary idea

The latest strategy which is expected to keep the seats of Saraki and Ekweremadu safe till the end of September is the idea of a joint sitting .

The two presiding officers have agreed to reconvene a joint plenary for the presentation and consideration of the committees ’ reports .

A senator from the South - West geopolitical zone , who also spoke on condition of anonymity said , “ Since the reports of the presidential requests were jointly treated by committees of the two chambers , it would be proper for the passage to be done at a joint sitting .

“ Besides, everybody would be at the joint session to discuss the INEC budget and the Eurobond request , so no motion for impeachment would be moved because it is not permitted in such arrangement. ”

Further investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that Saraki and Dogara agreed to reconvene a joint sitting of both chambers sometime after the Sallah celebrations and adjourn afterwards.

The calculation , according to sources, was that many of the senators on the APC side would have seen the handwriting clearly on the walls , that the automatic tickets being dangled before them was nothing but a mere deceit.

A senator , who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party said , “ By the time the Senate would eventually reconvene , it would be clear that many of the APC senators would have lost their tickets to either their state governors or another preferred candidate . ”

He cited the case of Oyo , Ogun , Kaduna, and Ondo states , among others, where the governors are currently at loggerheads with some of their senators .

He said , “ There is no way that the APC senators in Oyo , Ondo , Ogun , and Kaduna states would make their ways back to the Senate because their governors are eyeing some of their seats especially in Oyo and Ogun states .

“ No APC senator would still take the Chairman of the APC (Adams Oshiomhole), seriously by September 25 if he is still promising return tickets if they could impeach Saraki. ”


National Assembly may not resume until after primaries

Meanwhile , strong indications have emerged that the leadership of both chambers may extend the resumption of plenary beyond the initial agreed date of September 25 to enable members to participate in their party primaries .

According to the timetable released by INEC , party primaries for the presidential , governorship , federal and state assembly elections would run between August 18 and October 7 , 2018.

With this arrangement, a principal officer confided in one of our correspondents that since members would be busy in their states for the primaries , it would be proper to extend the resumption by at least two weeks.


No group can stop joint sitting – PDP lawmakers

But some PDP senators and House of Representatives members have vowed to support the leadership of both chambers to convene a joint session for the consideration of the presidential requests pending before the lawmakers .

They insisted that since the committees of the two chambers are jointly handling the issues at the moment , the best thing would be for a joint session to treat the executive communication and give it a joint approval.

A senator from the North- East geopolitical zone , who spoke on condition of anonymity , dismissed insinuations that the joint session was aimed at preventing Saraki from impeachment .

He said , “It is not possible for the APC senators to impeach Saraki and Ekweremadu because they don’ t have the figure . Where will they get 73 members to carry out the impeachment ? The idea of joint sitting is just to save time , and we would ensure that it holds. ”

The most vocal member of the Saraki’ s camp in the senate , Senator Rafiu Ibrahim , said it was a waste of time for any group to try to resist the lawful action of the National Assembly leadership .

He said , “ They are entitled to their opinion . But any step that is constitutional and is according to our rules can ’ t be resisted by any lawmaker that is worth his salt .

“ We advise these Executive hatchet men to tread carefully as history is watching all of us . ”


Joint session with Senate is pure imagination — Reps

The House of Representatives has responded to claims that the Senate and the House plan to reconvene and sit at a joint session the same day to consider the report on the 2019 elections budget and other financial proposals by President Muhammadu Buhari .

It is rumoured that the purpose of the alleged joint session is to prevent any plot to impeach Saraki, and Ekweremadu , from succeeding .

But , the House described the claims as “ pure imagination ” and not a possibility , because a joint session as envisaged could not be sustained by any standing rules of the National Assembly.

The Chairman , House Committee on Media and Public Affairs , Mr Abdulrazak Namdas , who gave the official position of the House in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, said there were no precedents or rules to make a joint session under the circumstances possible .

Namdas explained that what the rules covered was for each chamber to sit separately and consider a report .

He added that where there were differences in the separate reports by the two chambers , a conference committee would be raised to sit and harmonise the differences outside the plenary .

He noted that the report of the conference committee would again be sent back to each chamber to sit separately and adopt it.

Namdas added , “ This is pure imagination and honestly , we don’ t know where this one is coming from . This has never happened before ; that the Senate and the House will reconvene and sit together , instead of doing so in their separate chambers .

“ We are not aware of this and it ’ s not a possibility . Recall that even when the two chambers hold a joint session to receive the annual budget presentation by Mr President, it is for the purpose of taking the address only .

“ The two chambers revert to their separate ways to work on the budget and consider the report separately . It is only when there are differences between what one chamber has passed and the other one that we set up a conference committee for harmonisation .

“ If it was possible to be done in a joint session , what is the need of the conference committee, which is a provision of our rules? There is no rule on joint session in the circumstances envisaged , and therefore , there will be none . ”

He added that the claims were part of the “ongoing bid to continue to paint the National Assembly in a bad light .

He urged Nigerians to discountenance it .
Namdas also pointed out that members of the House would have no voting rights in the impeachment of a presiding officer of the Senate , neither did senators have any role to play in the House if the presiding officer of the House were to face impeachment .

On the allegation of shifting full resumption to October 12 , the spokesman responded that lawmakers would follow the directive of their leadership on the matter, after the various committees had turned in their reports on the polls budget , virement proposals and Eurobond request by Buhari.

“ This one is not for speculation . Committees have started working and it is hoped that they will conclude soon and produce their reports .

“ Instead of the spins and twists that we hear every day , especially on the social media , let us allow the parliamentary procedure to follow through , ” he said .


Buhari’ s senators plan offensive action

However , the Parliamentary Support Group , a body of the APC members in the National Assembly loyal to President Buhari , has vowed to take necessary legal and constitutional actions to stop the idea of a joint sitting rather than boycotting it .

Two prominent members of the group , senators Adesoji Akanbi and Ovie Omo - Agege , in separate interviews with
SUNDAY PUNCH, said the APC caucus in both chambers would insist on separate reconvening of chambers to discuss the two proposals from the Executive .

Akanbi described the joint session idea to consider a budget as alien and that the action was not being taken in the best interest of the country.

“ It is a bit alien to treat MDAs budgets in a joint session . Some people already have an agenda before they proposed such idea . 
However , the minority will have their say but the majority would have their way.

“ We are definitely going to meet and fashion out a proper legal way to stop it so that we won ’ t lose out . Definitely we are not planning to boycott the session but we are already planning how to prevent it from taking place .

Also , Omo - Agege said the APC senators had met with the National Chairman of the ruling party , Adams Oshiomhole , during the week on the matter.

He said , “ We have the information that they want to reconvene a joint session and that is completely unacceptable to us . Of course , we won ’ t accept it . The Senate itself has to be reconvened for this purpose.

“ The reason (for postponing the planned recall on Tuesday) is that he (Saraki) knows that we have the numbers now – and indeed we have the numbers now to remove him . Any opportunity that we have right now , we will get rid of him . ”

“ We, as a caucus, are very resolute to removing him and at the slightest opportunity he gives to us , he is gone . We have said that he ought to do the honourable thing ; the right thing , . by stepping down , otherwise he would be humiliated . We have the numbers and we are going to remove him . ”

However , a member of the House of Representatives , Bode Ayorinde, said the constitution did not support a joint sitting to consider the presidential requests before both chambers .


We will follow due process to reconvene – Saraki

However , Saraki has said due process would be followed to reconvene the Senate which is currently on recess.

Saraki spoke through his Special Adviser (Media ) Yusuf Olaniyonu, in a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, in Abuja , on Saturday .

He was responding to a question on an alleged plan to reconvene the National Assembly and hold a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives , to consider the 2019 Budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

According to him , there are procedures to be followed in the consideration of bills and requests for funding . He explained that the issue of reconvening had yet to arise because the committees working on the INEC budget had yet to submit their report for consideration .

He said , “ Due process will be followed in the consideration of all requests . There has to be a report before you can reconvene to consider it .

“ Has the INEC Committee submitted its report , has its report been worked on by the committees on Appropriations? These are the processes that will be followed if the Senate is to reconvene for the sole purpose of considering the INEC budget . ”

@Talkgeria

Following the the demolition of Freash fm 105.9 (Ayefele radio), at last the Oyo state government demolished the the multimilloin naira building.

Yinka Ayefele took to his facebook page said..

Oyo state government did at last......my pains my sweat ....So help me God.

https://talkgeria.com/tag/yinka-ayefele/

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES;

19 AUGUST, 2018;

CREATED FOR GOOD WORKS;

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live] ( Ephesians 2:10 AMPC).


Did you know that just as the iPhone for example, is the workmanship or product of Apple Inc., you’re the workmanship or product of God? Think about that for a moment: you’re God’s product; He made you. God has His label on you, and He couldn’t have made anything that’s not perfect, which means you’re perfect; you’re excellent all the way.

God didn’t create you for sickness, poverty or for you to be a nobody; rather, He fashioned you for good works, and to live the good life. Read our theme scripture again: “For “For we are God’s [own] handiwork.

(His (His workmanship), workmanship), recreated in Christ, Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”

You’re not in the world by chance; God has a plan for your life, and it’s for your life to be an unending stream of works that please Him—works of faith and righteousness. That’s what your life is for. You’re peculiar; crafted for excellence; you’re a success!
Therefore, in your neighborhood, home, workplace, school—everywhere you find yourself—manifest the glory of God! Preach the Gospel with boldness. Heal the sick, cast out devils, cleanse the lepers, and raise the dead! You’re the bearer and effulgence of His glory today, the icon of His righteousness, and dispenser of His manifold wisdom and graces.
Hallelujah!


CONFESSION

I’m walking in in preordained pathways, manifesting the glory of God; I’m a success. My life is for the glory of God, and I produce and express His righteousness in I do, pleasing Him in all things, in in Jesus’ Name. Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Acts 10:38 ; John 14:12 ; Titus 2:13-14
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
1 Corinthians 4 & Psalms 113-116

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Philippians 4:14-23 & Jeremiah 4





#AFFIRMATIONTRAIN

19TH AUGUST.

I affirm that my life is for the glory of God. The Spirit of God has granted me everything I require to live triumphantly on earth. I am excellent, sound, fruitful and productive in every good work. Christ is glorified in me today, and His righteousness is unveiled through me.

I am the workmanship of God in Christ Jesus; I am created for good works. I am bearing fruits of righteousness, pleasing the Father in all things. Hallelujah! The Word of God is alive in me; I am making progress and profiting in all areas of my life through the Word. I am healthy, strong, excellent and vibrant! I experience, even now, the supply and ministry of the Spirit to be effective in the ministry of the Gospel, communicating God’s divine presence to my world.

My heart is a fertile ground and the Word of God is producing great results in every area of my life! As Jesus is, so am I; I am one with Him! In Him, I live, and move and have my being. I have His righteousness, life, and nature in me. I am the effulgence of His glory and the express image of His person. Therefore, I think, act, and live as His perfect representation. Glory to God. Hallelujah!

SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES NOW

• Be bold to say the same things that God has said concerning you in His Word. That is what takes you beyond salvation, to enjoy the benefits of salvation ~ Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.


God bless you

A wise man once said that the future only belongs to those who have the ability to foresee it and sacrifice the pleasures of the present in order to gain it. 
As I read through a financial report that Apple (Company) has entered the trillion dollars realm, I was curious to know more about the company. In my search, I stumbled into a pathetic story concerning one of the co-founders of Apple by name, Ronald Wayne. This man co-founded Apple Computers (now Apple Inc.) with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. He drew the first Apple logo, drafted the first original agreement between the founders and wrote the first manual for their first computer. He held a 10% share in the company but soon decided to relinquish it for $800 and was given additional $1500 to forfeit all right of ownership two weeks after the company was officially registered in 1976. His reason for that decision was that the company was financially demanding. Today, if Ronald Wayne had kept his 10% share, he would have been worth over a 100 billion dollars. That would have made him the richest or second richest man on earth. But the total value of what Ronald Wayne collected in 1976 stands at $ 9,498 in 2017. Today Ronald Wayne is worth $ 300,000 less than the million dollar mark, yet the agreement he drafted was sold for over a million dollars after he left. The first Apple product he ever owned was iPad 2 given to him in 2011. 
Ronald Wayne said it was demanding on him financially. If only he saw today, his decision of 1976 would have been so different. 
Everything of lasting value is highly demanding. Greatness is not a product of convenience. The greatness of tomorrow begins with the sacrifice of today. 
If you need to live in a one room apartment today to own an estate tomorrow do!
If you need to ride a tricycle today in order to distribute a Rolls Royce tomorrow Pls do!
If you need to patronize fairly used clothes today to own a boutique tomorrow Pls do!  
The pain of knowing you had the opportunity at a point in life to change the course of your life is the greatest pain of regret to live with. 
Today Ronald Wayne in his right will be said to be financially OK at $300,000 but hearing the news that the company he cofounded is the first company to hit the trillion dollars mark will send many thoughts to his mind. And the children? Had our father....... Only God can describe what will be going on in their minds.
My counsel: 
Where you see a future don't fail to invest
Where you see a future don't fail to sacrifice 
Where you see a future don't fail to endure. 
Where you see a future don't fail to persist 
Where you see a future don't fail to believe. 

The future truly belongs to those who can foresee it and give all it takes to get there. If you don't remember anything I have said so far, don't ever forget that " Greatness in life is not a product of convenience.” It takes sacrifice.

Copied/Edited.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Wayne

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have made their relationship official with a roka ceremony.

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas perform rituals at their roka ceremony. 
After months of rumours and speculation, Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra and American singer Nick Jonas made their relationship official with a roka ceremony held on Saturday morning. The roka ceremony will be followed by a star-studded party later tonight where Nick will meet Priyanka’s friends and colleagues.
Nick Jonas’ parents are also in the country to attend the bash along with the Chopra family. A close source revealed that the Chopras booked 200 rooms in a hotel for the guests, many of whom are arriving from the United States. Ranveer Singh, Karan Johar, Manish Malhotra, Sophie Choudry and Raveena Tandon are expected to attend the ceremony tonight.

Sharing the photo on Instagram, VJ Anusha Dandekar wrote, "I always knew one thing was certain, she deserved true love.❤️ Then her Prince came along for real... not to rescue her because god knows she does that all on her own and HOW! #globaldomination #newagefairytale ... But someone to love her the way she loves, laugh with her endlessly, keep it ? & live the happily ever after that everyone who wants to love and be loved deserve. We’ve had many chats on love over pancakes & in planes & you know I’ve always wanted you to shine in love the way you do now! I am beyond happy for you @priyankachopra @nickjonas you make love look so easy, beautiful & special... Congratulations ❤️ #roka #happytears ??"

Inside photos from Priyanka Chopra’s roka ceremony





Sharing the photos, Priyanka Chopra wrote, "The only way to do this... with Family and God. Thank you all for your wishes and blessings"

Priyanka Chopra just found her man, says Nick Jonas

Sharing the photo, screenwriter Mushtaq Shiekh wrote, "Love just got a partner. @priyankachopra just found her man- @nickjonas They now are engaged to each other. The smile in her eyes tells a story...Yes, love stories still are alive & blushing red these 2 loverbirds confirm that for me. Happiness was the chief guest of the day!?"

Karan Patel on Priyanka Chopra's roka
Karan Patel‏ tweeted, "The #Engagement is the first step towards a lifetime of happieness ...!Congratulations @priyankachopra and @nickjonas ... may this new journey of yours be filled with nothing but happieness and joy ...! #PriyankaNickEngagement"

PHOTOS: Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas' roka ceremony




Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas' roka ceremony was a close-knit affair. Family members and close friends posed for photographers after the ceremony.

Comment of the day

Fiance Nick Jonas too commented on Priyanka Chopra's latest Instagram post.


Meet Future Mrs. Jonas

Sharing the photo, Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra wrote, "Taken...With all my heart and soul." Fiance Nick Jonas followed suit and shared the same photo on Instagram. He wrote, "Future Mrs. Jonas. My heart. My love."

Ghanaian who served as secretary general between 1997 and 2006, dies aged 80
       
Kofi Annan was awarded the Nobel peace prize for his humanitarian work with the UN. Photograph: Allison Joyce/Reuters 
The former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, has died at the age of 80 after a short illness, his family and foundation announced on Saturday.
The Ghanaian was the seventh secretary general and served for two terms between 1997 and 2006. He was awarded the Nobel peace prize for his humanitarian work jointly with the UN as an organisation in 2001.
He died in hospital in Bern, Switzerland in the early hours of Saturday with his wife, Nane, and three children Ama, Kojo and Nina, by his side. He had retired to Geneva and later lived in a Swiss village.
Annan’s foundation issued a statement on his Twitter account on Saturday that described him as a “global statesman and deeply committed internationalist who fought throughout his life for a fairer and more peaceful world”.
The statement added that Annan, who succeeded Boutros Boutros-Ghali as UN leader, was a “son of Ghana and felt a special responsibility towards Africa”.
The current UN secretary general, António Guterres, whom Annan appointed to lead its refugee agency, said: “In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organisation into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination.”
 
Kofi Annan: 'Sometimes you don't have to pick a fight to get your way' 

The former UK prime minister Tony Blair said on Twitter that he was shocked and distressed by Annan’s death. “He was a good friend whom I saw only weeks ago. Kofi Annan was a great diplomat, a true statesman and a wonderful colleague who was widely respected and will be greatly missed. My deepest sympathy go to Nane and his family,” he said.
Theresa May, the UK prime minister, said on Twitter:

Theresa May (@theresa_may)

Sad to hear of the death of Kofi Annan. A great leader and reformer of the UN, he made a huge contribution to making the world he has left a better place than the one he was born into. My thoughts and condolences are with his family. pic.twitter.com/P0SWagShJM
August 18, 2018 

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted:

Annan was chair of The Elders, an independent group of global leaders working for peace and human rights founded by Nelson Mandela. Gro Harlem Brundtland, the former prime minister of Norway and the body’s deputy chair, said she and her colleagues were devastated by Annan’s death.
“Kofi was a strong and inspiring presence to us all, and The Elders would not be where it is today without his leadership. Throughout his life, Kofi worked unceasingly to improve the lives of millions of people around the world,” she said.
Kumi Naidoo, Amnesty International’s secretary general, said the world had lost a great leader: “Kofi’s dedication and drive for a more peaceful and just world, his lifelong championing of human rights, and the dignity and grace with which he led will be sorely missed in a world which needs these characteristics more than ever.”

Kofi Annan is awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2001

Born in Kumasi, Ghana, on 8 April 1938, Annan joined the UN system in 1962 as an administrative officer with the World Health Organization in Geneva. He later served with the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, the UN Emergency Force in Ismailia, the UN high commissioner for refugees in Geneva and in several senior posts at its headquarters in New York.
Before becoming secretary general, he was under-secretary general for peacekeeping and also served as special representative of the secretary general to the former Yugoslavia between 1995 and 1996.
The UN peacekeeping operation faced two of its most criticised incidents under Annan’s leadership for its conduct during the Rwanda genocide in 1994 and the massacre in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica in July 1995.
In both cases, the UN had deployed troops under Annan’s command, but they failed to save the lives of the civilians they were mandated to protect. After becoming secretary general, he ordered UN reports on both debacles that were highly critical of his management.
His tenure as secretary general, which began six years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and also covered the 11 September 2001 attacks and subsequent US-led war against Iraq, was one of the UN’s most turbulent periods since its founding in 1945. 
Annan used his final speech as secretary general in December 2006 to deliver a parting shot at the administration of George W Bush, accusing the US of committing human rights abuses in the name of fighting terrorism.
The Guardian concluded at the time that the speech amounted to a broad condemnation of the neoconservative ideology guiding US foreign policy under Bush and was a clear break with protocol for a departing UN chief. US forces invaded Iraq in March 2003 without the approval of the UN security council.
“When power, especially military force, is used, the world will consider it legitimate only when convinced that it is being used for the right purpose – for broadly shared aims in accordance with broadly accepted norms,” he said in the speech delivered at the Harry Truman presidential library in Independence, Missouri.
He acknowledged more recently that the UN still had its faults. “The UN can be improved, it is not perfect but if it didn’t exist you would have to create it,” he told the BBC during an interview for his 80th birthday in April. “I am a stubborn optimist, I was born an optimist and will remain an optimist.”

Since you’re here… 
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The Guardian is editorially independent, meaning we set our own agenda. Our journalism is free from commercial bias and not influenced by billionaire owners, politicians or shareholders. No one edits our Editor. No one steers our opinion. This is important because it enables us to give a voice to the voiceless, challenge the powerful and hold them to account. It’s what makes us different to so many others in the media, at a time when factual, honest reporting is critical.

Source theguardian

CCTV has showed a knife-wielding Louis Vuitton model, 24, chasing catwalk rival before stabbing him to death in fight over a girlfriend.

The Louis Vuitton model faces a life jail sentence after being convicted of stabbing his rival to death in a row over a girlfriend.
George Koh was obsessed with catwalk rival Harry Uzoka’s success and had boasted in Instagram messages he had slept with the GQ star’s girlfriend Ruby Campbell.
Mr Uzoka was knifed in the heart, shoulder and back after a confrontation with Koh, 24, in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, in January this year.
The 25-year-old was chased and cornered around a parked car by Koh and three friends before his rival knifed him three times.

Wounded, Mr Uzoka stumbled towards his Shepherd’s Bush home, but collapsed and died on the pavement outside.
Described in court as Britain’s ‘most famous black model’, Mr Uzoka and his music video editor pal Adrian Harper took dumbbell bars for extra protection.
But it turned out their rivals were armed with knives and what they thought was a gun during the stand-off.
He starred in a GQ photoshoot shortly before his death which saw him stand in front of a Mercedes Benz feature for the magazine.
Mr Uzoka also starred in campaigns for Zara and Mercedes and regularly modelled for clothing line Everlane.
He was signed up by world renowned agent Premiere Model Management, who helped launched the career of Naomi Campbell.

Koh, a former Louis Vuitton and Paul Smith model, previously posted a photo on Instagram of David Beckham standing in front of his photo at London Fashion Week.
The defendant claimed he acted in self-defence and only wanted to meet face to face for him to apologise to his rival for thinking he had bedded Ms Campbell.
All three defendants, including Koh, and his two friends who were also at the scene, Jonathan Okigbo and Merse Dikanda, all denied murder.

Koh had already pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of two knives, but Dikanda denied having an offensive weapon, a machete and knife.

At the Old Bailey today a jury found Koh and Dikanda guilty of murder after 18 hours of deliberation. Okigbo was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Dikanda was also found guilty of two counts of possessing a bladed weapon. None of the defendants reacted as the verdicts were returned.

Source lailasnews