After 104 days on medical vacation…Finally, Buhari returns

After 104 days on medical vacation in the United Kingdom, UK, President Muhammadu Buhari, at exactly 4:48 yesterday afternoon, stepped down from the plane that brought him back, at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari on arrival received by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. AUG 19 2017.

The plane, Nigeria Air Force 001, touched ground some 13 minutes earlier.
The door of the presidential jet, with the coat of arms and the presidential seal inscribed boldly on it, was flung open at exactly 4:40.
Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the National Assembly leadership have sent goodwill messages to the President as he recovers.
The goodwill of the National Assembly was contained in separate messages from the Office of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

By the same token, the President’s party, the All Progressives Congress, APC; the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, as well as leaders of Our Mumu Don Do Movement, which has been agitating for the President to resume or resign, also expressed delight at the President’s return.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said Buhari’s return is a fulfilment of hope.

How Justice Bola Ajibola foretold my ascension to the throne – Oba Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is in the news again as his comment on Crescent University Abeokuta, Ogun State, CUAB, is revisited when he described the now 12-year-old institution of higher learning, founded by retired World Court judge, Justice Bola Ajibola, as a creative and innovative centre impacting sound and qualitative education into the youths.

•Proprietor, Crescent University, Judge Bola Ajibola, the Alaafiin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, and the Vice Chancellor, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Prof. Ibrahim Gbajabiamila, during the installation of the Alaafin as Chancellor of Crescent University

The traditional ruler, who sits on one of Yoruba’s most powerful thrones, during the 11th convocation ceremony of Crescent University, became the first Nigerian traditional ruler to be Chancellor of three universities concurrently with his installation as Chancellor of CUAB at the occasion also attended by a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Alaafin, apart from Crescent University, is also Chancellor of University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri and the Bells University of Technology, Ota.
In his acceptance letter, Adeyemi said he had for the past 10 years been following with keen interest the contributions of Crescent University to the development of education in the country, especially at the tertiary level.
The Iku Baba Yeye said, “I made bold to say that the summary of my observation in the last decade is that Crescent University is not only creative but also innovative as a centre of learning that impacts sound and qualitative education into our youths.”
The monarch, who is also a recipient of honourary degree of Doctor of Science Public Administration of CUAB, expressed his profound gratitude to the proprietor, Ajibola, and the management of the university for the honour bestowed on him.
He added that looking objectively at the background of the university vis-à-vis the character of the proprietor, “one cannot expect anything less than such a creative and imaginative person; an international jurist par excellence who had carved a niche for himself as a pride of the black race by distinguishing himself excellently as the President of the International Court of Justice.”
The Alaafin further explained that he met with the proprietor of the Crescent University over 50 years ago when he came to his office and informed him that the late Chief Akin Olugbade wanted to see him.
While extolling the virtues of Ajibola as a brilliant lawyer, Adeyemi said the Olori Omo Oba Owu pronounced him before Olugbade as the next Alaafin of Oyo.
Meanwhile, the monarch assured the Crescent University board, the governing council, the management, staff and students that he would put his 12 years’ experience as pioneer Chancellor of Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto to play in the university, whose 12th convocation comes in October this year and the Alaafin will be on ground to perform his official duty as Chancellor.

PELLER UNITY CUP FINAL HOLDS ON THURSDAY, 17TH OF AUGUST, 2017.

Congratulations on the success of the Biggest Football Tournament and Entertainment event ever in Oyo state. The Final Journey towards the Grand Finale of the Peller Unity Cup, 2017 has begun!

10 LGAs, 20 teams, breathtaking derby final match (Iseyin United vs. Iseyin City) at the Biggest Indigenous Football tournament in the whole Oyo state- and now The Entertainment Stars are on a train to blow your mind away with energetic and mind blowing performances at the NYSC permanent Orientation Camp, Iseyin, Oyo state on the 17th of August, 2017.

Do not be told! Join us on the #roadtoiseyin and together we shall play! This is to inform all local government representatives that all the players, coaches that participated in the peller unity cup are to come very early for the collection of certificates, team presentations to the dignitaries and talent scouts on Thursday 17th August 2017 @ NYSC Orientation Camp Iseyin.. 10 a.m. 

NB: Representatives will also be presented with certificates. Players and coaches are to be dressed in their sports kits.

Thanks for usual cooperation.

Peller Unity Cup... A jo maa gba nii

7-yr-old girl tied up in sack, dumped on roadside by father, step-mother

A seven-year-old girl has narrated to men of Ogun State Police Command how her father, Nasiru Adeyemo, and step-mother, Idayat, cut off her finger, tied her up, put her in a sack and left her by the roadside to die. Abibat and her father after she was rescued Vanguard gathered that the couple abandoned the girl in the bush to die after cutting off her index finger. In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the couple was arrested following a distress call from members of the public that a strange sack was sighted by the roadside at Asabala area along Papalanto-Sagamu Road. Oyeyemi said: “On the strength of the information, the DPO Owode Egba, CSP Shehu Alao, led his men to the scene, where the white rice sack was untied. “Surprisingly, a seven year-old-girl, whose right index finger was cut off, was found inside the sack and dumped at the roadside since Friday. “Having realised that the girl was still alive, she was quickly taken to the hospital for medical attention. Her story “It was when she regained consciousness that she informed the Police that her father and step-mother were the ones who cut off one of her fingers before tying and putting her inside the sack before dumping her inside the bush to die. “Upon the information from the victim, a manhunt was launched for the father and his wife and they were arrested in the evening of Sunday. The duo are currently undergoing interrogation.” Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has ordered the transfer of the case to Anti-Kidnapping/Cultist section for further investigation and possible prosecution of the suspects.

Implement 2014 National Confab report now, Youth Parliament tells Buhari

Nigeria Youth Parliament yesterday told President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the report of the 2014 National Confab, saying it contained home-grown solutions to economic and political challenges bedeviling the country. The Parliament sought the intervention of the government in the labor sector, submitting that the unemployment rate in the country has hit the rooftops. 

Hate speeches 

It also frowned on the pockets of hate speeches making the rounds, urging the National Assembly to enact a legislation to curb it and called on President Buhari to restructure the country in line with the yearnings of the people.

Executive members of the Nigerian Youth Parliament during a press briefing in Abuja 

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, speaker of the Parliament,  Ayodele Obe John, said  dialogue with the people would end agitations across the country. He said: “The Parliament has witnessed with utmost dismay, the unguarded and frivolous proclamations by some disjointed, disgruntled, unpatriotic people seeking cheap popularity through utterances which threatens the sovereign unity and integrity of the country. ‘’The Parliament, as an authentic voice of the Nigerian Youth Constituency hereby sounds a note of warning to all these groups. Consequently, we call on the National Assembly to promulgate a legislation that will address the activities of these groups and set in place the right punishment. “This is because freedom of speech does not imply utterances capable of truncating national peace, unity and cohesion.  However, Nigeria is one united entity and our strength lies in our diversity and on Nigeria’s unity, we stand. 

Unemployment

 “According to the Bureau of Statistics, Our unemployment rate has risen to 14.2 percent, thereby leaving millions of Nigerians, especially youth jobless. This ugly situation seems to have been receiving little policy attention presently. ‘’Therefore, Parliament resolves that the Federal Government should declare a state of emergency on the economic sector, meet every policy statement targeting the recovery of our economy with the right strategic actions, build youth capacity and create jobs in order to avert the impending socio-economic hurricane that may hit the country if no commensurate measures are in place in the right time. 

Restructuring

 ”All around the world, Nations and societies adjust to the realities of every moments and seasons, so as to be able to fix every evolving social challenge. It is worthy of note that Nigerian case should not be different. Apparently, Parliament resolves as follows; “That the outcome of the National Confab be fully implemented, as it reflects the true opinions, consent and goodwill of every Nigerians, having in it, the true home-grown ideations, ideologies and innovative solutions to fix the country and strengthen our unity. “That there should be complete economic and political restructuring of the country; giving the federating constituents the capacity to realize their unique socio-economic and political potentials and grow their prosperity.” “That Federal Government should open sincere dialogue with different genuine groups clamoring for the restructuring of the country and aggregate their opinions for the benefit of stepping up a holistic solution to address the surging agitations.”

NPFL week 34 fixtures

There were five attempts to stop PDP convention – Makarfi

Ahmed Makarfi, the Chairman of National Caretaker Committee, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said there were five failed attempts to stop the Saturday non-elective national convention of the party.

Ahmed Makarfi

Makarfi disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 75th PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party held at the party national Secretariat on Friday in Abuja.
He said that the purpose of the meeting was to enable the NEC members to review all the happening across the country.
“At least there were four or five attempts to this convention through the court but as God will have it we overcame all those attempts.
” So the convention will hold tomorrow.
“Some people never give up. We must not think that we are out of the woods. People will continue with legal minds in our paths.
“We are going to overcome that with our resilience and to do the needful,” Makarfi said.
The Governor of Ekiti and PDP Governors’ Forum, Mr Ayodele Fayose, also speaking at the meeting, pledged the forum’s commitment and submission to PDP decisions.
He urged all NEC members to embrace the spirit of new beginning for the party to make the Saturday convention a success.
The Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BOT), Sen. Wali Jubrin gave the assurance that the board would not allow the party to die.
Jubrin congratulated the party on its victory at the Supreme Court judgment delivered on July 12.(NAN)

YOU ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO LEAD, RESIGN!!! – NIGERIAN BISHOPS TO BUHARI

Some bishops have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign from office because of his ill health.
The bishops also reprimanded the Presidency for persistently refusing to disclose Buhari’s health status, saying they were in support of protesters demanding the President’s resignation.
Speaking on Friday at the second session of the Twelfth Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Owo, the Bishop of Owo Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Revd. James Oladunjoye, asked Buhari to resign and give room for another person to do the job.
Oladunjoye said, “We thank God for the President and for the way he had been ruling according to the law, but there is something wrong that we want him to address.
“He has been ill for so many months in his tenure and so, is it not proper for the country to know his health condition as he is no more a private personality?
“He is public property and if he is not strong enough to continue as the leader of this country, it is better for him to resign so that another qualified individual can take up the office legitimately.”
Speaking based on his personal relationship with Oladunjoye, the Bishop of the Ibadan South Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. Jacob Ajetunmobi, said his counterpart at the Owo Diocese was speaking based on the experience he (Oladunjoye) had.

FaceBook, Google lose $123m to swindler

The Court of Appeal of Lithuania has decided to extradite to the United States a Lithuanian scam artist identified as Evaldas Rimasauskas, who conned $123 million out of FaceBook and Google by sending fake emails.

Evaldas Rimasauskas: the man who swindled Facebook and Google

“Assumption that the damage was done to the companies registered in the United States became the ground for the extradition of Rimasauskas,” the court said in a press release on Friday.
The decision to extradite the scammer was irrevocable, the court said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York accused Rimasauskas of wire transfer fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering, news agency Elta reported.
Evaldas Rimasauskas, right, during his extradition proceedings in Lithuania
It is alleged that Rimasauskas took part in the scam using e-mail correspondence and posed as an Asian computer hardware manufacturer to persuade Google and FaceBook to accept fraudulent invoices and transfer funds to the company established under the same name in Latvia.
The funds were transferred to the latter company’s accounts in banks in Cyprus and Latvia.
The court underlined it has not been assessing the circumstances of the crime and the proof of guilt as it “should trust the information provided by the judicial authority of the country which applied for the extradition.”
Rimasauskas is suspected to have conned 23 million dollars from Google and 100 million dollars from FaceBook.
He was detained in Lithuania on March 16. On April 18, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Lithuania received the U.S. Justice Department’s request to extradite the suspect.
Rimasauskas has denied the charges.
Meanwhile, the attorney of Rimasauskas claimed that the investigation of the suspected crime must take place in Lithuania as the allegedly criminal actions were carried out within the country, local media reported.
Lithuania has a bilateral extradition agreement with the United States and this case “meets all the criteria”, the chairman of the court underlined.

Update your data capturing machines, Dep Gov tells INEC

Deputy Governor of Anambra state, Mr Nkem Okeke has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the state to update its data capturing machines during the forthcoming governorship election in the state as well as ensure that voting materials arrive polling booths early enough to ensure a smooth exercise.

INEC

Okeke who gave the charge at a stakeholders’ meeting organized by INEC in Awka, yesterday, said INEC should equally release the new voters cards to their owners on time to enable them use the cards to cast their votes. He therefore appealed to security agencies to ensure adequate security and orderliness during the election, insisting that the state expects the election to be peaceful and transparent devoid of rancour.

Hajj 2017: NAHCON transports 9,347 pilgrims from Madina to Makka

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says it has moved no fewer than 9,347 Nigeria pilgrims to Mekka out of 26,000 pilgrims earlier transported to Madina.
The Deputy Coordinator in Charge of Madina Operations of NAHCON, Malam Ahmad Maigari, disclosed this on Friday in a statement from Madina, Saudi Arabia.
Maigari said that the pilgrims were taken to Medina first to observe the tradition of spending at least eight days observing obligatory prayers in the Prophets Holy Mosque in Madina and visiting some Islamic holy sites.
“So far, both the transportation of intending pilgrims from Nigeria to Madina and their movement to Mekka from Madinah is going on smoothly without any hitch.
“We would have over 10,000 pilgrims in Mekka by the end of this weekend and all of them have settled in their various accommodations,” he said.
According to him, over 26,950 pilgrims have been transported to Madina and Jeddah in 26 flights since the inauguration of the 2017 Hajj exercise through the approved Max Air, Fly Nas and Medview Airlines.
He added that more flights are expected into both Jeddah and Madinah Airports.
The Head of Media Team for 2017 Hajj, Malam Adamu Abdullahi, said NAHCON officials are enjoying mutual relations with pilgrims which had ensured smooth operations so far.
Abdullahi, however, called on pilgrims to notify Hajj official of any concern and challenge for adequate and immediate response.

There is no vacancy in Aso rock, Okorocha insist

The wife of the Acting President of Nigeria, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, yesterday, called on Nigeria youths to prepare themselves to be great.

Imo state Governor, Okorocha

She made this statement, in Owerri, during the official opening ceremony of Elfreeda foundation, founded by the daughter of the Imo state governor, Mrs. Uloama Rochas Nwosu.
While appreciating Uloama, the wife of the acting President said that she emulated her parents.
She briefly said: ” Elfreeda foundation is a dream comes through. Uloama my daughter your dreams are in God’s hands. I am not surprise that of the Elfreeda foundation because you learnt it from your parents.
“I have been with Okorocha’s wife even when she was commissioning houses for indigent women. My advice is that this generation should stand their shoulders high.”
Speaking also, the Governor of Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, said: Few months ago I look at my struggles in life and I say this struggle will one day come to an end.
“When I opened Rochas Foundation I thought that my children will continue from where I stop but little did I know that Uloama my daughter has a vision to open her foundation.
“Let me use this opportunity to say this that the best thing that has happened to the government of Nigeria and APC government is to have Professor Yemi Osinbajo as the Vice President of Nigeria.
“Now that Buhari is on medical vacation, Osinbajo as the Acting Vice President has not allowed any vacancy in the presidency. So there is know vacancy in Aso rock.”
While in her remarks, the Founder of Elfreeda Foundation, Mrs. Uloama Rochas Nwosu, “Elfreeda foundation is an attempt to join the host of others who have helped others in the world created by God. My father told me that your life is nothing when you cannot change the live of others.
“Just like my father has Rochas Foundation which is born out of the inability of to acquire education. I must say that I am a blessed child. I want to say this Elfreeda foundation not a dramatization of wealth. It is to take the less privilage out of the street and feed people who have no food, water. It is not about me, my husband or family.”

FG working hard to fulfill electoral promises – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said contrary to what naysayers want people to believe, this Administration is working assiduously to redeem its electoral pledges, especially in the critical areas of developing the economy as well as fighting corruption and insecurity.
The Minister stated this in Abuja on Friday while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the visiting Chinese Vice Minister of The State Council Information Office, Mr. Guo Weimin, in the area of media and cultural relations.
“Contrary to the lies that are being purveyed daily in the Social Media, this government has been working assiduously to redeem its electoral pledges. Our fight against insecurity is yielding very positive results.

Lai Mohammed

“Our fight against corruption is focused and is ongoing and we are resolute and we have resolved that we are going to fight corruption until corruption goes under. We are happy that in this regards, we have a very good partner in China because we are aware and we know how China fought corruption and how China is fighting corruption.
‘’We have succeeded in nursing a very sick economy and very soon, Nigeria will get out of recession,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed, who said the signing of the MOU will further deepen the already excellent relationship between the two countries, expressed optimism that some provisions of the MOU that encourage the news agencies of Nigeria and China to reflect, in their reporting, the social, economic and cultural development in both countries, will eliminate the phenomenon of fake news.
“This is significant because we are today in the era of fake news. Unlike China, the Social Media here is completely unrestrained.
Therefore it is important that you get your news directly from theofficial source,” he said.
The Minister sought the support of China towards the training of the Ministry’s Resident Information Officers on modern Governance Public Communication methods in order to build their capacity as the respective spokespersons of Ministries, Department and Agencies.
Alhaji Mohammed also sought partnership with China in the areas of film production and distribution, development of community cinema houses and collaboration in the co-production of films as well as
screening of Nigerian films in China and vice versa.
He called for cooperation between the Nigerian Film and Video Censorship Board and the China Censorship Board to curb the importation and exportation of pirated and adulterated movies of both countries.
In his remarks, the Chinese Vice Minister said the signing of the MOU between the two countries marked a new beginning in the relationship between the two countries, particularly in the area of media and cultural relations.

Shell denies allegation of neglect as youths occupy flow station

SHELL has denied allegations of neglect levied against it by some members of Kula, Belema communities in Akukutoru local government area, stressing that it had continued to discharge its corporate social responsibilities to communities in the area.
Meantime, some members of the community yesterday occupied the oil giant’s flow station and gas plant in the community, demanding that its license be revoked and re awarded to an indigenous oil firm.

Shell engineer

Spokesman of Shell, Joseph Obari in a statement said the firm through Kula Project Implementation and Monitoring Committee, PIMC had spent several millions of naira on social investment projects and university scholarship programmess for students of the area
The statement reads in part, : “SPDC JV restates commitment to development of host communities, as it debunks allegations of neglect of Kula, Belema communities
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd operated Joint Venture (SPDC JV) has said its commitment to the welfare of host communities in the Niger Delta remains unshaken, even as it decried the illegal occupation of Belema Flow Station and Gas Plant today (August 11) by some persons. SPDC has informed the authorities of the illegal occupation and is working towards resuming safe operations.
Debunking allegations of neglect of communities in Kula kingdom and Belema in Rivers State, SPDC said it had implemented a Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) in the area that led to a wide variety of social investment projects including university scholarships awards

Why Abacha sentenced me to 30yrs in prison – Obasanjo

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has revealed why the ex-Head of state, General Sani Abacha, jailed him for 30 years, though, later reduced it to 15 years.
On 17 November 1993, Abacha overthrew the short-lived transitional government of Chief Ernest Shonekan. In September 1994, he issued a decree that placed his government above the jurisdiction of the courts, effectively giving him absolute power. Another decree gave him the right to detain anyone for up to three months without trial.
However, Chief Obasanjo said, despite his ordeals in the hands of Abacha, he never wished the then head of state anything bad. Chief Obasanjo said, in fact, he wrote a condolence letter to Abacha when the son of the head of state died and equally wrote another condolence letter to Abacha’s wife when Abacha died.

Obasanjo & Abacha

Obasanjo said he was even surprised when he came out of the prison to hear that his oppressor was dead.
Chief Obasanjo also gave reasons why General Gowon was overthrown in a coup that brought him (Obasanjo) and Muritala to government.
He said, “That later brought about what was termed as Muritala/Obasanjo regime. But we were careless as regard security in which Muritala was killed like chicken and I would have been killed but God’s grace preserved me and I was later persuaded to take over.
“We stabilized the country, conducted election and handed over. But when there was incessant coup in different parts of the country, I spoke against Military in general and Abacha’s in particular.
“The consequence was that I was arrested, tried and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment which Abacha later reduced to 15 years but God in his mercy, I only spent 3 years, three months and three days.
He pointed out that the person who sent him to prison was not alive by the time he came out.
“But when I was in prison in Jos, Abacha’s son died and I wrote a condolence letter to him and also when he died, I also wrote a letter of condolence to his wife of which the prison authority found unbelievable but delivered all my letters.
Obasanjo who spoke on the topic, “God in my Life” under the auspices of Torchbearers Society termed his educational career as God’s destiny.
He disclosed that the respect he has for his biological father made him slap his teacher on his first day in school after his teacher asked him the name of his father.
“I do follow my father to farm but one day, he asked me what I wished to do and I told him I would prefer to be a mechanic. But he suggested education and I bought into it.
“We both went to Abeokuta and visited five different schools of which they rejected me because the school season was already in the middle.
“Later, I was taken to another school in the beginning of a new season. But, on my first day in school, they asked of my name and I gave them but when they asked of my father’s name, I found it irritating.
“By my own training in the village, to mention your father’s name is an insult and for him to ask for my father’s name is an insult. So, I slapped him and I was punished for that.
He said that would have been the end of his educational career but God’s plan made him rise to his present level.

Why we overthrew Gowon – Obasanjo

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has revealed why Former Head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, was overthrown in a bloodless coup on July 29, 1975, ushering in the government that came to be known as the Muritala/Obasanjo regime.
General Gowon was overthrown and replaced by Brigadier Murtala Muhammad as head of the new government, and Brigadier Olusegun Obasanjo as his deputy when he was attending an OAU summit in Kampala.
Chief Obasanjo who gave a chronological account of his life at the Diocese of Lagos West, Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral in Lagos, also said that despite the evil thought of the later head of state, General Sani Abacha against him, he did not, for a day, wish anything bad for the general.

Gowon and Obasanjo

“After the war, General Gowon said that military will go by 1976 but later said that it will not be realistic again and that was the major reason why he was unseated.
“That later brought about what was termed as Muritala/Obasanjo regime. But we were careless as regard security in which Muritala was killed like chicken and I would have been killed but God’s grace preserved me and I was later persuaded to take over.
“We stabilized the country, conducted election and handed over. But when there was incessant coup in different parts of the country, I spoke against Military in general and Abacha’s in particular.
“The consequence was that I was arrested, tried and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment which Abacha later reduced to 15 years but God in his mercy, I only spent 3 years, three months and three days.
He pointed out that the person who sent him to prison was not alive by the time he came out.
“But when I was in prison in Jos, Abacha’s son died and I wrote a condolence letter to him and also when he died, I also wrote a letter of condolence to his wife of which the prison authority found unbelievable but delivered all my letters.
Obasanjo who spoke on the topic, “God in my Life” under the auspices of Torchbearers Society, said his educational career was God’s destiny.
He disclosed that the respect he had for his biological father made him slap his teacher on his first day in school, after his teacher had asked him the name of his father.
“I do follow my father to farm but one day, he asked me what I wished to do and I told him I would prefer to be a mechanic. But he suggested education and I bought into it.
“We both went to Abeokuta and visited five different schools of which they rejected me because the school season was already in the middle.
“Later, I was taken to another school in the beginning of a new season. But, on my first day in school, they asked of my name and I gave them but when they asked of my father’s name, I found it irritating.
“By my own training in the village, to mention your father’s name is an insult and for him to ask for my father’s name is an insult. So, I slapped him and I was punished for that.
He said that would have been the end of his educational career but God’s plan made him rise to his present level.

PDP will reconcile but Sheriff men will not go unpunished – Bode George

CHIEF Olabode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in this interview, bares his mind on the Supreme Court judgment that authenticated the leadership of Senator Ahmed Makarfi and steps taken by the leadership to ensure genuine reconciliation in the party.

Bode George

With the Supreme Court handing over the leadership of the PDP to the Makarfi-led executive, what is the next line of action?
It is like you were in your mansion and suddenly there was a storm and you had to leave your mansion for about 18 months to live on a rented two-bedroom apartment. When you now know the mansion has now been vacated, you need to restructure it, you need to re-paint, you need change the furnishing, you have to do some fumigation to allow all the cockroaches and lizards to get out of the house; that is the kind of situation we are in.
You know we don’t have time but we had very successful meetings: The caucus meetings, the Board of Trustee meeting and the National Executive Council meeting. We took a lot of decisions. First, we realized that the tenure of the caretaker committee will wind up very soon. So, there was need to have a special convention with a single agenda and that agenda is to extend the tenure of the caretaker committee. In the meantime, there are some states that have not done their congresses and there are other ones which have one issue or the other.
Before you get to the convention, every state must be stabilized, and that is the immediate step we are going to take. So, arrangements are in place for the August 12 special convention.
And in the South-West, we realized that there are some areas of concern. Governor Ayo Fayose called a few elders to meet with the caretaker committee immediately after the NEC meeting to reassure them that we will be able to handle most of our problems in the zone. We have experienced and highly committed people in the region. Very soon, the managers of the party in the zone, headed by Dr Eddy Olafeso, will call a meeting in Ibadan, which is the central state for all of us to meet, and resolve the crisis in some of those states and do what is needful.
Again, those people who have been doing things that are inimical to good order and discipline as far as PDP is concerned, we cannot allow them to go without being queried and, if necessary, punish them because no individual is bigger than the party. So, those are things the party must do, but before we rose from the NEC, there are two major committees that we decided to set up, one of which is the National Disciplinary Committee that will look at those who have continually derided the party. The essence is to signal that there is zero tolerance for indiscipline in the party. The second committee is the Reconciliation Committee. We want to know those who are still committed to the party.
Those who left because of the complaint of impunity in the party, we will be too happy to have them back in the party.
How true is the claim that those loyal to the Modu Ali Sheriff-led PDP are planning to leave for a mega party?
They fought us. If they are genuine members of the party, they will not leave. Immediately we left the Supreme Court, the first comment made by Senator Makarfi was that there was ‘no victor and no vanquished.’ That is an olive branch sent to them. The choice to come or leave is theirs and if they cannot be convinced to stay, what can we do? If we had lost at the Court of Appeal, I am sure they would have expelled all of us. I wouldn’t have waited for expulsion anyway. I would have announced retirement from politics right at the door steps of the Supreme Court that day, but I am glad that justice has been done and God is with us.
Those who want to go to a mega party, I wish them best of luck. We know we have the capacity, we have a constitution and we have a deep and strong taproot that can withstand any storm.
This is a lesson for us, we must never forget what we went through; if we repeat the mistakes of the past, we will be consigned into the dustbin of history.
After the Supreme Court judgement, Mr Segun Adewale, who led the Sheriff group in the PDP in Lagos, insisted that he remained the state Chairman of the party.
I don’t know how long he has been in the party or if he has read the party’s constitution. His pronouncement is totally against the decisions made by the National Executive Committee.
My advice to him, if he still wants to remain in the party, is to read the communique issued by the NEC. He is flouting the orders of NEC and already committing an offense listed in the constitution of the party.
He was never elected at any congress; he was nominated and appointed by Sheriff. I don’t know which PDP appoints people rather than elect through congress. The NEC has approved that the Lagos State exco is headed by Moshood Salvador.
I am advising him as a veteran that he should not bite the fingers that fed him. I will advise him to move away from the precipice, come back home and put on his thinking cap. Any action, public or private, that runs contrary to our constitution will be viewed with seriousness. The press conference he did is an offense.

3 robbery suspects arrested with weapons in Enugu

Operatives of the Nigerian Police, Oji River Division, Enugu State Command, have arrested three members of a robbery gang that have been terrorising motorists along Ugwuoba, Awka, Oji Road and its environs.

The suspects

According to a Police source at the Command, the suspects were arrested, weekend, at their hideout in Gariki Ugwuoba area with dangerous weapons. The names of the culprits were given as Sale, Emmanuel and Uduku.
The source said: “These suspects, alongside with other gang members who are now at large, have variously robbed and inflicted gun, machetes and dagger injuries on motorists and commuters along Enugu-Onitsha Expressway by Ugwuoba axis.
“This arrest was based on intelligence-led policing, community relations and partnership as well as raid of all suspected criminal hideouts or areas likely to be used by hoodlums.”

Shell releases $10m, reaffirms commitment to Ogoni cleanup

SHELL Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, SPDC, has said it will continue to support the cleanup process of Ogoni communities in Rivers State, adding that it had released $10 million take-off fund to the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Agency, HYPREP.

Shell engineer

The firm’s General Manager, External Relations, Mr. Igo Weli, who spoke, weekend, in Port Harcourt at an interactive session with the media on the Ogoni cleanup project, said the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, recommendation encouraged a multi-stakeholder efforts driven by the Federal Government.
He added that the oil company will continue to play its role alongside other stakeholders under a transparent governance framework.
He said that 15 SPDC JV sites, specifically mentioned in the report that needed attention, had been remediated in the communities and certified by government, adding that the firm had also raised its standard on remediation approaches in line with industry best practices.
Igo assured that “SPDC JV remains fully committed to continue supporting and contributing its share within the appropriate framework and governance structures.
“We encourage all relevant stakeholders to also remain committed to contributing their share.”

FG withdraws nomination of ICPC board members facing probe

The Federal Government has removed Maimuna Aliyu and Sa’ad Alanamu from the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission, ICPC.

Laolu Akande, spokesman of Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, disclosed this, yesterday.
In a series of tweets, Akande said the government had confirmed that the individuals were undergoing probe.
He said: “We are stepping down two of the new ICPC board nominees who have ongoing investigation issues with the commission as this presents a conflict.
“This case presents a peculiarity as we have confirmed that the agency in which they are to serve is, indeed, investigating the two of them.
“A basic check showed no court convictions against them. But when weighty petitions come up this administration will always do the right thing.”
“While existence of allegations or petitions against someone shouldn’t necessarily disqualify them from considerations for appointments…”

Falana asks Saraki to return pension, house given to him by Kwara govt

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, has called on Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to return the entire pension he received since 2007 from Kwara State government to the state.

Femi Falana

Falana also asked the Senate president to relinquish the house the state government bought for him in Abuja.
Following allegation by the Socio-Economic and Accountability Project, SERAP, that the Senate president and some former governors, who hold political office, were receiving double pay, Saraki said last week that he had written to the state government to stop his pension.
But Falana in a statement, yesterday, however, commended Saraki for doing the right thing and urged him to prevail on 20 other senators, who are former governors, to stop receiving pension from their states.
He said: “The Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, announced last week that he had stopped collecting pension as a former governor of Kwara State following the protest by the Socio-Economic and Accountability Project, SERAP.
“According to the Senate president, the moment his attention was drawn to the allegation of the payment of double salaries, he wrote to the Kwara State government to stop the payment of his pension.
“In like manner, three serving ministers in the Buhari administration who are former governors have disclosed that they are not being paid pensions from any of the state governments.
“Other ministers and legislators who are former governors and deputy governors should speak out so that Nigerians can know the public officers who are involved in the illegal collection of pension from state governments and salaries from the Federal Government at the same time.
“Apart from writing to the Kwara state government to stop further payment of the pension due to him under the former governors pension law of Kwara State, Dr Saraki decided to contribute to the debate on double payment of salaries by some ex-governors.
“Since Dr Saraki has come to the conclusion that the collection of the pension is immoral, he is advised to refund the pension he had collected from the Kwara State government since he became a senator in June 2007.
“He should also relinquish the house bought for him in Abuja by Kwara State government since he is said to be receiving housing allowance as president of the Senate.”
‘’However, while Dr Saraki is commended for demonstrating leadership by example with respect to the illegal collection of the ex-governors’ pension he should proceed to use his position as the president of the Senate to prevail on the 20 other senators who are former governors and deputy-governors to stop further collecting pension from their state governments since they are currently receiving jumbo salaries and allowances from the national assembly.”

Julius Berger: Diversification to oil sector’ll change financial fortune

The plan by Julius Berger, JB Plc to veer into the oil and gas business will lead to a change of financial fortune for the company, investment analysts have said.
According to the analysts the move would end the company’s over dependence on construction, especially government contracts, which is not forthcoming due to the recession in the country.
Recall that JB recently said that it has signed a strategic partnership with Petralon Energy Limited for the acquisition and development of oil field. According to the company, the alliance is in line with its goal to diversify into the oil and gas sector.
Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Aigboje Higo, Managing Director, Capital Bancorp Plc, who lauded the initiative, said it is not surprising that JB has decided to diversify more due to the constraints in the construction and engineering sector.
He said that the choice of partner for the oil and gas project, as well as plan to build independent power plant was commendable.
He stated: “Because of the recession in 2016, Julius Berger had challenges with their business and it made a loss. The turnover was down and a lot of people were owing because the government was not able to pay. There was no new or too many new projects because people did not really have money to start new projects. There were too many uncompleted or ongoing projects not to talk of starting new projects. So, it is not surprise that they decided to engage in another business transaction that will not be too dependent on the government.
“They also want to do power and civil works; they want to do independent power plant. They are also looking at opportunities in power sector. So, for the shareholders, I think it is good because they now have diversified revenue stream. The company will do a lot better and survive a very turbulent time. However, this kind of project take time to yield good result because a pipeline takes two to three years to construct; oil and gas project also has a long gestation period, but it can be very lucrative.
In his comments, Tola Odukoya, Managing Director/CEO, FSL Assets Management, stated: “The move bolsters the strategic statement of the company regarding its intention to diversify and expand its business activities significantly, thereby reducing its reliance on its core area i.e. construction.
“Barring any unforeseen and unpleasant developments, one would expect such an initiative to bode well for the company, its businesses and shareholders. In my opinion, this is based on the expected synergistic effect that could result from the combination of both companies i.e. Petralon and Julius Berger, and what this could mean for latter in terms of revenues and profitability in the years ahead.
“My view has taken into consideration Julius Berger’s existing business activities and how they tie into the various areas of acquisition and developments of oil fields.”
Charles Fakrogha, a stockbroker and Chief Relationship Officer, Foresight Securities and Investment, said the company will earn additional income, while shareholders value would be enhanced.
“We need to also realize that Julius Berger has done and is still doing a lot for the oil and gas sector. I believed that their experience in construction in the oil industry will give them easy operation in their new role,” he stated.
For David Adonri, MD/CEO, Highcap Securities, the diversification would add value to JB’s business, while the price sensitive information will increase demand for the share.
JB ended 2016 with loss before tax and loss after tax of N1.5 billion and N3.82 billion, representing 123.05 per cent and 256.05 per cent decline compared to profit before tax and profit after tax of N6.5 billion and N2.44 billion in 2015 respectively.
Though the situation has started to ebb in the second quarter, Q2, to June, 2017, the half year, H1, result for the year still showed losses in the company’s books. For Q2 ended June 30, 2017, the company bounced back to profitability with N82.94 million PBT and N72.27 million PAT, but the H1 result showed loss after tax of N364.73 million.

Ministry of Power: Eligible customer declaration

In 2001 California suffered an electricity crisis because its largest electric utilities were not sufficiently credit worthy to enter new long-term power contracts with generation companies, and were financially unable to purchase electricity in the spot markets due to extraordinary increases in wholesale energy prices. Consequently, the State’s Legislature passed an Emergency Law that, among other things, effectively barred any eligible customer from departing the distribution companies’ load until the crisis was contained. Today, Nigeria is essentially facing the same crisis California suffered in 2001, but Nigeria’s response is to open the gates for eligible customers to depart load.
Why is a path that was antithetical to California’s efforts to achieve reliability in 2001, helpful to Nigeria under the same or similar circumstances in 2017? Neither the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) nor the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing examined this issue before the Minister’s declaration was made.
On May 19, 2017, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing declared Nigeria electricity distribution network ready for eligible customers to purchase power directly from Generation Companies (Gencos). The good news is that until this decision to allow eligible customers is examined in an independent, stakeholder driven, fact determinative process, no properly run business not otherwise connected to Gencos would submit itself to this declaration. NERC cannot develop an effective eligible customer framework until it has an effective, stakeholder driven regulatory process. Such a process must be independent, transparent, stakeholder driven, and fact determinative. NERC has not yet developed such a process since its inception in 2015.
An effective regulatory process on the Minister’s declaration starts with examining the question: Who wants to be an eligible customer?
This data driven question not only examines the willingness of potential eligible customers but also collects data on the level of their commitment as well as the value and cost to meet that commitment both to the potential customer and the system. In the absence of actionable data on the question of who wants to be an eligible customer, one must assume that Nigeria’s power system administrators have not yet asked this simple question.
Further, an effective regulatory question also asks: How many eligible customers can each distribution area reliably and cost-effectively take? Can some distribution areas have eligible customers while others do not? If so, what non-discriminatory criteria would NERC employ to determine which regions should and which regions should not have eligible customers? These questions are separate from the technical questions of connectivity, distribution side metering, and open access requirements and “rights”, all of which are also preliminary questions an effective regulatory process must examine and understand before the mandate set forth in the Electric Power Supply Regulatory Act (EPSR) can be implemented.
The EPSR contemplated that the exit of eligible customers would have a debilitating effect on Distribution system’s reliability, which is why it provided for a customer transition charge in the event of an eligible customer declaration. Eligible customers must realize that this charge is to be imposed on them, in part to pay for investments that were made on their behalf while they were on the Distribution company’s system. Further, should they decide to return to the fold of the distribution company after leaving, there is a further charge, indeed a penalty that applies for that reconnection, and they must agree to both charges before exiting. Where at least one large electricity jurisdiction in the world has considered such declaration and concluded that it would be especially onerous to existing customers left on the grid, particularly the small residential and small commercial interests, Nigeria must tread carefully and equip its regulator with the right tools to make an independent assessment of the declaration.
Hopefully, all those who can be eligible customers are successfully run businesses, like banks, hotels, manufacturers and processing facilities, shopping malls, and so on. These businesses understand that “reliability” is achieved with guarantees not directives. Therefore, they should be asking the question: What “reliability guarantee” would the eligible customer get from Gencos that would be different from their current service? Absent an adequate response to this “reliability” question, the eligible customer declaration will not change anything. Further, in giving Gencos the license to supply retail electricity, NERC must realize that it has ventured into a precarious model that is highly susceptible to market manipulation, in any competitive electricity market that ultimately emerges, and NERC must establish safeguards against this vulnerability,

CHELSEA HAVE TREATED DIEGO BADLY; WE’LL TAKE LEGAL ACTION – DIEGO COSTA’S LAWYER

Diego Costa’s lawyer, Ricardo Cardoso, has vowed to “hold Chelsea accountable” for forcing the striker out of the club.
Cardoso has threatened legal action, after the Premier League champions vetoed a loan move to AC Milan, ahead of a January return to Atletico Madrid.
He said: “We are going to use all legal mechanisms to hold Chelsea accountable for this behaviour, making it possible for Diego Costa to leave.”
Manager Antonio Conte asked the Spain striker to leave Stamford Bridge by text message two months ago.
Cardoso added: “He will formally request the transfer.
“When he was with the Spanish national team in June, he was dismissed from Chelsea by Antonio Conte through an SMS message…
“The way in which it was carried out and the fact that it came out in public shows unfair behaviour and a lack of respect for the player and it is inadmissible and inexcusable on Antonio Conte’s part.
“Not only have Chelsea not intervened or denied it either in public or in private, but they have renewed Conte’s contract, demonstrating they agree with the dismissal of Diego Costa and the way in which it was processed.
“This discriminatory behaviour makes it impossible for Diego Costa to return to Chelsea while Antonio Conte is the coach.
“There is no condition for him to continue playing at Chelsea, which has already been passed on to those responsible several times.
“At the moment moment, he does not want to play for a club other than Atletico Madrid.”

Neymar Jr: Why I joined PSG

Neymar was unveiled as a Paris Saint-Germain player on Friday and he thereafter said he had left Barcelona not for money but a “bigger challenge” in France.

Neymar

The 25-year-old Brazilian superstar flew into Le Bourget airport, north-east of Paris, in a private jet on Friday morning before heading into the city in a motorcade.
He was presented to the international media at PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium just after 1:30pm (1130 GMT) in his first public appearance since buying out his contract at Barcelona for a world-record 222 million euros ($264 million) on Thursday.
“I want something bigger, a greater challenge. I am here to give my best and help the club win titles,” said Neymar, who has signed a five-year contract with the Qatar-owned club expected to be worth 30 million euros net per year.
He insisted he had come to France “for the ambition of the club, which is very similar to mine.”
But Neymar admitted that leaving Barcelona, where he formed part of a lethal attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, was not a decision he took lightly.
“It was one of my most difficult decisions. In Barcelona I had adapted well to the city and the team. I had friends there and it has not been easy,” he said.
“It was a tense time, thinking about what I should do in my life. I have left behind a lot of friends, but things go very fast in football.”
Neymar will be presented to the PSG support on Saturday prior to his new team’s first game of the Ligue 1 season against promoted Amiens.
A ceremony will begin from 3:45pm (1345 GMT) with the kick-off put back quarter of an hour to 5:15pm to allow extra time for the player’s unveiling before an expected sell-out crowd of more than 45,000.
Neymar got a taste of what is to come when he stepped outside the Parc des Princes on Friday in his new team’s kit, to be greeted by hundreds of ecstatic supporters.
Neymar, whose last game for Barcelona was in a friendly against bitter rivals Real Madrid last weekend in Miami, insisted he is ready to make his debut against Amiens.
“I always want to play, so I am ready to do so tomorrow. I have trained in pre-season. I stopped for two days, but I am ready, I’ve seen the pitch and I want to put the PSG shirt on and play,” he said.
On Thursday, the French league’s governing body, the LFP, said it would work to ensure Neymar’s contract was ratified “as soon as possible”.
At 30 million euros a year, that contract will make Neymar the second highest-paid player in the world — behind Carlos Tevez and his 38 million euros a year at Shanghai Shenhua in China but ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s 23.6 million euros annual salary at Real Madrid.
The transfer fee shatters the previous world record of 105 million euros set by Manchester United in signing France midfielder Paul Pogba last year from Juventus.
It is an eye-watering sum, but one that PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi insisted will eventually look like a bargain for the player who came third in the Ballon d’Or in 2015 behind Messi and Ronaldo.
“There are not two Neymars in the world. I would love for us to meet in two years and see what his value will be compared to today. At least the double,” said Al-Khelaifi.
There is scepticism at the role played by PSG’s owners Oryx Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) at a time of political crisis for the energy-rich state which has been boycotted by its Gulf neighbours in recent months and will play host to the World Cup in 2022.

4 effective ways to make money online

Thanks to technology’s ‘ever-pervading permeation’ into every part of our lives and society, there are now ways to make money online, aside the traditional and conventional ways. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 effective ways to make money online.

Internet money

Doing Freelance Work

You can pick up on some online freelance work to help you make money online, all you need to have is a skill to sell for freelance work. If you are writer, web designer or you have any other sellable skill, you can begin to sell your skill right away on social media platforms etc. If you don’t have a sellable skill, you can pick one up and develop on it till you become very good at it. Aside social media platforms, there are also many ‘freelance marketplaces’ online that you can take advantage of. These marketplaces are all designed with the aim of providing you with a place to sell your services and provide clients with a place to find good quality freelancers.

Blogging

This is a common way of making money online and basically involves setting up a blog, keeping it regularly updated with content relevant to your intended audience and sticking with it until you are able to gain a regular readership base. Once you are able to gain a regular readership base, you’ll be able to monetize the blog. One way of monetizing your blog includes the use Google Adsense for standard advert rates. Also, as your blog grows you are more likely to be approached by companies and brands looking to advertise their products or services and do publicity through your blog, and of course you are free to charge them for this. After a while, running your own blog will become financially beneficially to you and well worth your time.

Affiliate Marketing

Here you don’t need to have a product before you can earn because there are a lot of products already available for you to market or promote, and you get a commission for every sale made through your link. You can consider sites like clickbank.com or amazon.com to sell these products or services. There are of course other legitimate sites you can consider, you only need to do your research. In addition, if you can afford it, you can also buy a website, work on improving the SEO for the website and use it to promote thousands of products.

Sell Photos Online

If you’re into photography, and you have cache of nice photos, you can consider selling them through sites like Shutterstock and iStockPhoto, which are two of the biggest photo resources online. All of you need to do is proper research to find out the terms and conditions guiding the use of these sites, and also their terms of payment. The competition on these sites might be stiff, but if you believe your pictures are very good, then with creativity and persistence, you’ll eventually succeed with them.

NEYMAR SEALS WORLD-RECORD £200M DEAL TO PARIS ST-GERMAIN

Paris St-Germain have signed Brazil forward Neymar for a world record fee of 222m euros (£200m) from Barcelona.
The deal for the 25-year-old smashes the previous record set when Paul Pogba returned to Manchester United from Juventus for £89m in August 2016.
He will earn 45m euros (£40.7m) a year – 865,000 euros (£782,000) a week – before tax from the initial five-year deal, a total outlay of £400m.
Neymar said he has joined “one of the most ambitious clubs in Europe”.

“Paris St-Germain’s ambition attracted me to the club, along with the passion and the energy this brings,” he added.
“I feel ready to take the challenge. From today, I will do everything I can to help my new team-mates.”
The French side have arranged a news conference for 12:30 BST on Friday. Neymar will then be introduced to fans on Saturday at PSG’s first game of the season against Amiens at Parc des Princes.
PSG reached the last eight of the Champions League last season – knocked out by a Neymar-inspired Barcelona – and were beaten to the French title by Monaco.

How it happened
After weeks of speculation, Neymar arrived for training with Barcelona on Wednesday with his father and representative, and told the Spanish club he wanted to leave.
He was then given permission by Barca manager Ernesto Valverde to leave to “sort out his future”.
In Spain, a release clause can only be activated by a player buying himself out of his contract.
But when Neymar’s lawyers attempted to make the deposit on Thursday, La Liga officials rejected the payment. Further statements followed from all sides as the negotiations continued.
La Liga believes French club PSG are violating Uefa’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules and Barcelona previously said they would report PSG to European football’s governing body Uefa for a FFP breach.
PSG believes La Liga was acting unlawfully, while the French league (LFP) said it was “surprised” and urged its Spanish counterpart to “abide by the Fifa rules”.
Unable to get La Liga to take the payment, Neymar’s representatives paid the 222m euros (£200m) fee at Barca’s offices instead.