Fuel Scarcity: NNPC increases fuel supply to 80m litres daily

• The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Thursday, disclosed that it has more than doubled the supply of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, across the country from about 30 million litres to 80 million litres per day.

Dr Maikati Baru,Group Managing Director of the NNPC

This was even as the NNPC declared that it can now account for every barrel of crude oil sold by the country, as it has achieved 98 per cent automation of all transactions involving the supply, marketing and sale of the various grades and blends of Nigeria’s crude oil across the world. Commenting on the fuel crisis, the NNPC, in a statement in Abuja, disclosed that the hike in the product supply became necessary after the current hiccup in fuel supply was noticed few days back, adding that these measures would ensure that the fuel crisis comes to an end this week.

According to the statement, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru, disclosed this shortly before the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Corporation and the Benue State Government on the Agasha-Guma Bio-fuels Projects, in Abuja. The biofuels project is expected to create one million direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians on completion and would also produce about 84 million litres of fuel ethanol annually.

 The NNPC said that it plans to mobilize to site by the first quarter of 2018. Baru blamed the current fuel crisis on the rumour about a planned increase in the price of petrol, which made some unscrupulous marketers, wanting to cash in on the situation, to suddenly start hoarding products. He said, “But we swiftly swung into action by doubling our supply nationwide. At the time the rumour started, we had about 30 day sufficiency.

The normal daily supply to the nation is 700 trucks, equaling about 27 million to 30 million litres per day.” Baru noted that the NNPC had enough products sufficiency that will last up to 30 days, adding that at least a billion litre petrol laden cargoes were heading to Nigeria shores at the end of December, which would return the country to a 30-day-plus sufficiency.

Crude oil sales automation Furthermore, speaking on the automation of its crude oil sales processes, Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari, stated that the automation exercise which would be concluded in 2018 had enabled the corporation to achieve an end-to-end monitoring of every barrel of crude oil sold in the country.

“Today at a click of a button we can tell you how much crude oil is sold, at what price, who bought it and where it has gone to among others,” he explained.

He stated that the projection was to operate a complete paperless crude oil data management regime in line with the ongoing transformation of the processes which had witnessed sweeping reforms since 2015.

He listed the reforms to include the open bid process of customer selection for lifting and purchase of Nigeria’s crude oil grades; emplacement of efficient crude for product import processes, leading to savings of $1 billion in one year as well as the introduction of improved pricing system, which has evolved into a robust and auditable pricing mechanism.

He disclosed that the automation had enabled the country to eliminate the perennial disagreement with its major stakeholder, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on actual production and lifting figures.

He also added that the series of reforms had led to the harmonization of Nigeria’s crude oil data and lifting information, providing access to major internationally recognized reporting agencies like Platts and Argus Media to achieve real time reporting of Nigeria’s crude oil transactions.

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Army To Begin Operation Crocodile Smile In Ogun State

• To address the security challenges in Ogun and its environs, the Nigerian Army said on Sunday that it had concluded plans to launch a new security initiative code named “Operation Crocodile Smile.”

The Nigerian Army

The Brigade Commander of the 35  Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Basil Adoke, disclosed this in Abeokuta at a reception organized by the state government as part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 57th independence anniversary.

Adoke, who said that the initiative would commence ” in the next couple of days” across the state and its environs, added that it is targeted at miscreants.

“We are going to start Operation Crocodile Smile in Ogun and it involves series of actions to step up tempo targeted at miscreants,” Adoke said.

The commander, who allayed fears over the initiative, called on residents to be calm, stressing that some miscreants had been identified and would be flushed out.

‘Though the state is relatively peaceful, we still have some miscreants to deal with, so when you see Crocodile Smile, don’t be scared,” he said.

According to him, the exercise is a replica of Operation Python Dance recently carried out in Abia to tackle crime.

Responding, Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, commended the roles of security operatives in the state since he took over in 2011.

Amosun pledged continued support for any program to make the state crime-free.

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BREAKING NEWS: Former Mountain Of Fire Miracles Ministries Pastors Accuses General Overseer Olukoya Of Illegal Importation Of Goods In US Property Dispute

• Daniel Olukoya, General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), is in the spotlight in a US court after his group, one of Nigeria’s foremost Pentecostal churches, dragged some former pastors and members to court over monetary and property disputes. 

• The sued pastor and former church members have in turn accused the General Overseer of engaging in fraudulent activities in the US, including evasion of duties owed to US authorities.

Pastor Daniel Olukoya

In an action filed in the Circuit Court for Prince Georges’ County of Maryland, U.S.A., (Case No. CAL16-26532) on behalf of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International, Lagos, and Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, USA, Nevada, the church is seeking declaratory judgment and damages against Pastors Lawrence Adetunji, Ronke Adetunji, and 11 former members of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Bowie, Maryland. 

Also joined in the suit is Christ the Truth Ministry, the successor of MFM Bowie.At issue are real property described as 5506 and 5503 Church Road in Bowie, Maryland, which were acquired by MFM Bowie in 2001 and 2004 respectively. 

Also in contention are funds for the MFM building in Bowie. MFM International (Lagos) claims that the property acquired with the contributions and offerings of the members of MFM in Bowie, without assistance of any form from Mr. Olukoya or MFM headquarters, are property of MFM headquarters by way of trust. The plaintiffs claim further that when Pastor Adetunji and most members of MFM in Bowie decided not to associate further with the denomination, Pastor Adetunji was under an obligation to hand over the properties and funds to MFM headquarters (copy of MFM Complaints attached).

In their response, the defendants allege that they decided to sever their relationship with MFM and its leadership because of the illegal and fraudulent activities of MFM International, Lagos. They allege that MFM International was in the practice of knowingly and deliberately making false claims to evade U.S. Customs duties and taxes on books exported from Nigeria to U.S.

Upon information and belief, the defendants alleged that the plaintiffs had willfully and intentionally evaded U.S. Customs Service duties and had evaded tax payments to the United States Government. They allege that the plaintiffs carried out these illegal activities for many years.

The nature of the illegal activities stems from the fact that the plaintiffs would ship prayer books (specifically, “70 Days Prayer & Fasting” and “Pray Your Way Into [current year]” to various U.S.-based MFM branches with a cover letter categorizing the books as “donations” to be distributed to local parishioners. However, once delivered to the United States, instructions were then emailed to U.S. pastors by MFM International and /or MFM USA instructing them of the price they must charge parishioners in selling these books. The pastors were then instructed to remit the earnings of their sales to MFM International.

The defendants disclosed that, although this practice had been going on for many years, on or about 2013, MFM International started shipping their books directly to U.S. Customs in Baltimore, along with the cover letter stating that the books were “donations” (page 2-3 of the Defendants’ Amended Answer and Counter Claim).

The Defendants asserted that they did not become aware of the illegal practice until 2015. They stated further that, when they became aware, having no power over MFM and its leadership “to influence or change their behavior had (sic) to sever all ties in order to curtail their (defendants’) unwitting participation in plaintiffs’ illegal actions.”

The defendants also argued that MFM International could not lay claim to the property because they contributed nothing towards the acquisition of the property, not even when the defendants requested for assistance by way of a loan to meet some of their financial obligations. They declared that no valid trust was created over their property for the benefit of the plaintiffs.

The case comes up for hearing on October 14, 2017. Some Officers of MFM International, including the General Overseer, Daniel Olukoya are expected to get into the witness box at the hearing.

In an earlier development, MFM brought a similar action before the Superior Court of Los Angeles, California, against Ade Oyeyemi, a former MFM pastor (Los Angeles County Super. Ct.N0. BC 352398). The Fourth Division of the Second Appellate District of the California State Court of Appeal ultimately decided the case in favor of Pastor Oyeyemi. 

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BREAKING NEWS: I Will Defeat Buhari in 2019, Governor Fayose Vows, Declares For President In Absence Of Party Officials

• Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has expressed confidence that he would defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in a free and fair presidential election, citing his record of having defeated two incumbent governors in separate governorship elections in Ekiti State.

Ayodele Fayose Declaring

Mr. Fayose made his assertions Thursday in Abuja at his official declaration to contest the 2019 presidential election as a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). PDP party officials were conspicuously absent from the governor’s declaration of his desire to dethrone Mr. Buhari whose close aides have reportedly started organizing his reelection bid.

Governor Fayose vowed to wrest power from the incumbent President under a free and fair election, adding that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had deceived Nigerians for more than two years. He said it was imperative to put an end to the APC’s deceptive government by 2019.

Mr. Fayose promised to steer Nigeria’s economic fortune back to a height of glory and ensure diversification of the country’s economy through agriculture, adequate power supply and creation of jobs for youths.

“Our country is faced with myriads of problems, our economy that was the fastest growing in Africa when our party was in power has gone comatose with the present managers who are completely clueless,” Mr. Fayose stated.

He remarked that Nigeria had never been more divided along ethnic and religious lines as it is now under the present Buhari administration.

“Most worrisome is the fact that our country is now more divided than ever before with the unity of the country being threatened due to nepotism, religious bigotry, and favoritism of the present government,” said the Ekiti State Governor.

Regarding the PDP’s position that it has zoned the presidency to the North, Mr. Fayose maintained that no one had come out to express interest, adding that the PDP should not wait or beg anyone to fly its presidential flag. He said he was also confident of defeating other aspirants in the party, pointing to the Biblical David’s defeat of Goliath.

“I challenged the North to come out with their candidates. I want to challenge all of them to the field. What are you afraid of? Come out. I [have thrown] my hat in the ring. Let them come and face me,” said the Ekiti Governor.

Mr. Fayose said he had no regrets for publicly declaring his support for his Deputy Governor to become the Governor of Ekiti in 2018.  He said that there was nothing stopping anybody to aspire to the highest position in the land if such person was performing.

Fani Kayode sitting next to Ayodele Fayose

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BREAKING NEWS: Order Buratai to produce Kanu dead or alive, Kanu’s lawyers asks court

• A team of lawyers representing the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, ‎IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to produce their client in court dead or alive.

Kanu’s lawyers, led by Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told the court that they have not seen or heard from their client since September 14 when the “Nigerian Army invaded the Applicant’s house on a murderous raid, where life and mortar bullets were fired on unarmed and defenseless populace, leaving 28 persons dead and abducting many”. 

Pursuant to section 40 of the Federal High Court Act, F12, LFN 2005 and section 6(6) (1) (4) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, Kanu’s lawyers applied for “an order of Habeas Corpus ad subjiciendum, commanding the Respondent, to produce the Applicant in Court”. 

The lawyers, in the suit that has Kanu as the Applicant and Buratai as Respondent, told the court that their request was predicated on the following grounds: “That the Applicant is the Leader of th IPOB, a group largely made up of People from South-Eastern part of the Country, mostly Biafra extraction; who are at all times materials lawfully exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights to self determination, freedom of Association and peaceful Assembly. 

“The Applicant was arrested on the 14th day of October, 2015 and consequently arraigned in Court along other Defendants on the 20th day of January, 2016, on 11 (Eleven) Count charge of Treasonable felony, conspiracy to Commit treasonable felony, belonging to an unlawful society, importation of goods, publication of libelous matters, etc. Six out of this eleven count charge had since the 28th day of March 2017, been struck out by the Court, including allegation of belonging to an unlawful Society. 

“The Applicant was granted bail on the 25th day of April, 2017, by His Lordship Hon, Justice Binta Nyanko. The Applicant is still enjoying the bail granted him by the Court seized of the matter, when the Prosecution filed an application on the 25th day of August 2017, requesting the Court to revoke the bail granted the Applicant. e. Hearing on the matter is slated to commence on the 17th day of October, 2017. 

“On the 12th September, 2017, the Nigeria Military Soldiers acting under express command handed down by the Respondent, violently invaded the Applicant’s home in Afara-ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia Abia State, wherein scores of his relative were brutally wounded and many killed. 

“On 14th day of September, 2017, the Nigerian Military led by Soldiers of the Nigerian Army invaded the Applicant’s house on a murderous raid, where life and mortar bullets were fired on unarmed and defenseless populace, leaving 28 persons dead and abducting many. 

“The Applicant who was in the house during this bloody onslaught by the Soldiers, has not been heard from or seen after this bloody attack in his home by the Agents of the Respondent since the 14th day of September 2017. 

“That the invading Soldiers in their desperate bid to ensure that the Applicant is caught in the attack climbed stairs to his bedroom upstairs to shot him; walls of his bedroom were riddled with bullets. j.

The invading Soldiers who had direct contact with the Applicant on this fateful day (14th day of September 2017) should be in a position to produce the Applicant before the court. It is either the Respondent’s rampaging Soldiers abducted the Applicant during this raid or must have killed him in the process. 

“Section 40 of the Federal High Court Act empowers this Court to Order that a Writ of Habeas Corpus ad Subjiciendum; (A Writ directed to someone detaining another person and commanding that the detainee be brought to Court) be issued on the Respondent, to produce the Applicant in Court, particularly now his substantive criminal trial is coming up on the 17th day of October, 2017”. 

They maintained that the Court was vested with inherent powers Under Section 6(6) (a)- (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as (Amended 2011) to entertain the application and grant reliefs sought herein. 

Besides, in a supporting affidavit that was deposed by one Prince Mandela Umegborogu, he told the court that he was told by Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, that on September 12, “Soldiers of Nigerian Army, numbering about 200 ( two hundred) fully armed to the teeth invaded the residential home of the Applicant in Afarauwku- Ibeku, Umuahia, in Abia State”. 

“That the invading Soldiers were deployed to the South-Eastern part of the Country by the Respondent in a covert operation tagged Operation Python dance II (Egwu eke II), an exercise exclusively under the Respondent’s command and control. 

“That the Soldiers who also drove in a purpose-built sophisticated armored personnel carrier, fired live bullets on the relatives of the Applicant, leaving scores brutally wounded, and arrested many. 

“That the said Military deployment to the South-East was approved, without any history of arms resistance by the Applicant’s members or combatant attacks on Military personnel and installation from the civilian populace. 

“That during the bloody attack/invasion of the Applicant’s home, scores were killed and others forced to abandon their sleep and run for cover in nearby bushes, which include nursing mothers, pregnant women, children and the aged. that on that same day, September 12, dozens of supporters of the Applicant who were on a courtesy visit to him, were also barricaded at Isialangwa and tortured on the same day. “That the Applicant was emotionally traumatized and visibly tortured on account of heavy causalities recorded in this unprovoked attack from the invading Soldiers. 

“That on September 14, the Nigerian Soldiers invaded the Applicant’s home for the second time, unfortunately on a brutal but murderous raid that left 28 (twenty eight) persons dead, and over 48 (forty eight) arrested and taken away to an unknown destination. 

“That the Applicant was sitting right inside his bedroom when the Soldiers invaded his home. “That the Soldiers in their desperate efforts to ensure that the Applicant who is their main target is gunned down, climbed the stairs to his bedroom upstairs to shot him. 

“That the wall of the Applicant’s bedroom is riddled with bullets holes till date. Attached and marked as Exhibits EK1, EK2, EK3, EK4, EK5 EK6, EK7 and EK8 are photographs showing with sufficient clarity the impacts of this assault on the Applicant’s home. 

“That the by virtue of this contact the soldiers had with the Applicant in his room on this 14th day of September 2017, the soldiers must know where the Applicant is, his fate and state of health”. He told the court that “the rampaging Soldiers”, busted into Kanu’s room in the course of the “bloody attack and shoot at everything on sight, including living objects”. 

Attached and variously marked Exhibits EK9, EK10, EK11, EK12, EK13 and EK14, in the suit, were photographs and video footage the deponent said was evidence of the “dastardly attack on the home of the Applicant, including the bullets holes in his bedroom”. 

He said: “That the trigger happy Soldiers shot sporadically into the air, for about forty minutes, before forcing their way into the Applicant’s house. “That the Applicant only managed to alert his Lawyer- Bar Ifeanyi Ejiofor on the war-like deafening sounds of guns, being fired into the air, which shooting was targeted at the unarmed and defenseless members of the Applicant’s household, and IPOB members who were on a visit to the Applicant’s house. 

“That his Lawyer Bar. Ifeanyi Ejiofor quickly issued a statement drawing the attention of the world to the bloody attack going on in the Applicant’s house, which statement was promptly published by reputable online media houses”. According to the affidavit, the soldiers took away many dead bodies and arrested over 48 persons. 

Kanu’s lawyers told the court that search so far conducted by the Applicant’s siblings had not been yielded any fruit, as the Applicant is still missing, adding that the palace of their aged father, housing the Applicant’s apartment, inclusive of the Applicant’s building, was shattered with mortar bullets. 

They told the court that they have made several entreaties to the Respondent to direct his Soldiers to release the Applicant or his body for a befitting burial if he was killed in the onslaught, saying their effort has not yielded fruit. According to them, Kanu was eagerly preparing to appear in court for his trial on October 17, before his house was invaded by soldiers, adding that he was never invited by any security Agency to respon to any criminal allegation, “before this unprovoked bloody assault in his home”. 

The affidavit further read: “That the murderous raid in the home of the Applicant is targeted at eliminating him and not to arrest him. “That if the intention of the Respondent was to arrest the Applicant, they would have quietly done that without killing unarmed and defenseless civilian populace found in the Applicant’s house. 

“That the Applicant and the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are non-violent and unarmed group, agitating for their right to self determination. “That the IPOB do not carry arms neither are they into any form of armed struggle, and do not have history of violence. 

That the present situation is serious, thus requiring the immediate intervention of this Honourable Court. “That unless this Honourable Court intervenes, and command the Respondent or its agents, privies, howsoever called, to produce the Applicant in Court they will still continue to keep the Applicant, without allowing him access to his family members and Solicitors”, it read.

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Nigeria sinking, APC support group alerts Buhari, Tinubu

• THE All Progressives Congress, APC Rebirth 2019, a support group within the party, has raised the alarm that the country was sinking, warning that the party has only two options before it to save the country.

• The group in a letter by national president, Prince Tony Akeni and six others, to President Muhammadu Buhari, national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and others, said: “There is anguish of unprecedented scale and depth among the poor and lower middle class in Nigeria, which must be addressed with a sense of war-time foreboding and urgency… The ship called Nigeria is heading towards sinking grounds.”

Oyegun, Tinubu and Buhari

It said: “As the ruling party at the centre and in the majority of Nigerian states, we have two choices before us. To our own detriment, we can choose to bury our heads in the sand from blame like the preposterous ostrich and flaunt aimless growth and boom statistics like PDP is expert at and used to do in its hey days before its empire fell from its arrogant peak.” 

“We can choose to pretend that all is well with our once teeming but fast thinning supporters, once dedicated but now debilitated and dispersing change campaigners, and once hopeful but now embittered and hate-filled Nigerians as we glide dangerously towards the 2019 Judgment Day in the Supreme Court of Nigeria voters,” the group added. 

The group also said: “Our second choice is to have the courage and soul-searching sober reflections to enable us evolve a sweeping change of fortunes for Nigerians in general, and to do so urgently, diligently and pragmatically with everything it takes in the short time remaining in our hands.” It noted: “The most fruitful channel to achieve the latter, which is the sensible choice, is the immediate convocation of an APC National Political and Economic Retreat. 

Where we are in Nigeria today, we cannot afford to continue to wallow in the sympathy mentality that Nigerians will forever reason with us that the prolonged social-economic meltdown in our country is entirely the fault of others.” “Double-faced blacklegs among us, erroneously planted in sacred places of the President’s heart and installed in the Villa, are also guilty, make no mistake about that. 

“Unlike political retreats we have seen convened in the past by the anti-masses opposition PDP, which consolidate on their avaricious leaders’ well-being and mending party stable cracks to facilitate safe looting of our country, the proposed APC retreat should evolve through three stages. 

“The first retreat should be conducted at the local government area levels on the same date throughout the country, where grassroots supporters’ reports on the state of each local government area and the nation, peculiar challenges, solutions and well-being of Nigerians and party patriots from the local government areas will be collated and aggregated at each state venue on a second day. 

“The retreat’s third day and grand finale should comprise APC national party leadership, authentic APC delegates representing the states, foundational APC federal cabinet ministers and appointees; not opportunistic post-victory joiners and fly-by-night adoptees who found their way through back doors of corrupted appointment lists drawn by Mr. President’s Aso Villa confidants, who exploited and betrayed the innocent trust of the President to get deadly agents of the opposition into government. 

“At the second stage, reports of the state retreat should be aggregated to provide direction, executive compass and acceleration for projects, programmes and policy priorities of the administration for intervention in areas of urgent and optimum impact on electorates in different parts of our country,” it said. Such retreat, the group stated, “will throw up the truly most urgent needs of the people throughout Nigeria and foster the Federal Government’s sense of immediacy on electorate assuring and vote winning interventions.” 

It suggested: “These should include, for instance, expeditiously fixing notoriously failed sections of major inter-regional arterial federal roads as the East-West highways south of the country, Apapa Road, West of the country, and the nightmarish Ekpoma section of federal road, South-South of the country, which has in the last few months of rain turned that section of Ekpoma community to a mud lake.” 

“This should include effectively getting the North’s children back to schools in the post-Boko Haram era by strengthening the school feeding programme which has suffered a blow from the general downturn of federal revenue earnings. 

“The overall outcome of such retreat will accelerate decision processes from the President’s desk to the least APC administered local government council in Nigeria, and help us to put behind us the better part of the last two years during which decisions on virtually everything from budget legislation, executive actions and appointments to the justice dispensation have been a nightmare of excruciating sluggard pace and beggarly delays,” the group said.

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Hospitals To Face Shutdown As Health Workers Commence Indefinite Strike

• Barely a week after the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, suspended a 10-day strike, public hospitals nationwide are facing imminent shutdown as all the major unions of health workers under the umbrella of the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, yesterday, embarked on indefinite strike.

JOHESU and National Association of Allied Health Professionals, NUAHP, had threatened to shut down operations in public hospitals due to the prolonged delay by the Federal Government in meeting their demands dating back to 2012. 

Comprising  unions of nurses, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, among others, that make up about 95 per cent of health workers and care providers in the health sector, JOHESU had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum and declared a nationwide industrial action that it tagged Operation Alligator Bite. 

Demands 

Among the demands are revamp of infrastructure in the tertiary health institutions; report of the inter-ministerial sub-committee on critical matters in the health sector and professional autonomy. 

Others include non-payment of backlog of arrears, residency training; appointments of consultants and payment of specialist allowance; and implementation of the National Health Act, among others. 

Prior to the strike declaration, JOHESU and the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals Associations, AHPA, had urged the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and  Speaker of the House of representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to wade into the lingering crisis. 

22,000 nurses, midwives down tools 

Following expiration of the ultimatum, yesterday, about 22,000 registered nurses and midwives in the public service proceeded on indefinite strike. 

Announcing the strike in a statement, President of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Abdrafiu Adeniyi, directed all nurses and midwives to proceed on indefinite strike from midnight yesterday, saying the decision was in agreement with JOHESU’s position. 

Adeniyi who regretted lack of equipment and medical consumables in all the health facilities, said the development had affected the delivery of quality healthcare. He called for amendment of the existing anti-quackery law to checkmate the proliferation of quacks in the health sector and particularly in the nursing profession.

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Breaking News: Court proscribes IPOB, designates it as terrorists organisation

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted an order declaring the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation and “acts of terrorism and illegality.”

The order, which followed a motion filed by the filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, also proscribed the existence of IPOB throughout Nigeria, with particular attention paid to the South-East and South-South regions.

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Read Buhari’s full speech at UN’s 72nd session

• #NigeriaUNGA17: STATEMENT DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 72ND SESSION OF UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN NEW YORK, ON TUESDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2017

Mr. President,
Fellow Heads of State and Government,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of my country, Nigeria, I congratulate you Mr. President on your election and Mr. Gutteres on his first General Assembly outing as our Secretary-General. I assure you both of my country’s solidarity and cooperation.

You will indeed need the cooperation of all member States as we are meeting during extra-ordinarily troubled and dangerous times. Let me also thank former Secretary-General Mr. Ban ki Moon for his service to the United Nations and wish him peaceful retirement.

Mr. President, The previous year has witnessed many far-reaching developments. Some of the most significant events include the Iran Nuclear Deal, the Paris Climate Change Agreement and, of grave concern, the North Korean nuclear crisis.

I must also commend the UN’s role in helping to settle thousands of innocent civilians caught in the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. In particular, we must collectively thank the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany under the commendable leadership of Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Governments of Italy, Greece and Turkey for assisting hundreds of thousands of refugees. In an exemplary show of solidarity, the international community came together within my own region to assist the countries and communities in the Sahel and the Lake Chad regions to contain the threats posed by Al Qaida and Boko Haram.

We thank the Security Council for visiting the countries of the Lake Chad Basin to assess the security situation and humanitarian needs, and for pledging assistance to rebuild lives and livelihoods. Indeed, in Nigeria we are providing relief and humanitarian assistance to millions in camps and those afflicted by terrorism, drought, floods and other natural disasters.

In the last year, the international community came together to focus on the need for gender equality, youth empowerment, social inclusion, and the promotion of education, creativity and innovation. The frontiers of good governance, democracy including holding free and fair elections, and enthronement of the rule of law are expanding everywhere, especially in Africa. Our faith in democracy remains firm and unshaken. Our regional organisation ECOWAS came together to uphold democratic principles in The Gambia – as we had done previously in Cote D’Ivoire.

Through our individual national efforts, state institutions are being strengthened to promote accountability, and to combat corruption and asset recovery. These can only be achieved through the international community cooperating and providing critical assistance and material support. We shall also cooperate in addressing the growing transnational crimes such as forced labour, modern day slavery, human trafficking and cybercrime. Mr. President, These cooperative efforts should be sustained.

We must collectively devise strategies and mobilise the required responses to stop fleeing ISIS fighters from mutating and infiltrating into the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, where there are insufficient resources and response capacity is weak. This will require strong UN cooperation with regional organisations, such as the African Union, in conflict prevention and management. The UN should continue to take primary leadership of the maintenance of international peace and security by providing, in a predictable and sustainable manner, adequate funding and other enablers to regional initiatives and peacekeeping operations authorized by the Security Council. Mr. President, New conflicts should not make us lose focus on ongoing unresolved old conflicts. For example, several UN Security Council Resolutions from 1967 on the Middle East crisis remain unimplemented.

Meanwhile, the suffering of the Palestinian people and the blockade of Gaza continue. Additionally, we are now confronted by the desperate human rights and humanitarian situations in Yemen and most tragically in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. The Myanmar crisis is very reminiscent of what happened in Bosnia in 1995 and in Rwanda in 1994. The international community cannot remain silent and not condemn the horrendous suffering caused by what, from all indications is a state-backed programme of brutal depopulation of the Rohingya inhabited areas in Myanmar on the bases of ethnicity and religion.

We fully endorse the call by the Secretary-General on the Government of Myanmar to order a halt to the ongoing ethnic cleansing and ensure the safe return of the displaced Rohingya to their homes in safety and dignity. In all these crises, the primary victims are the people, the most vulnerable being women and children. That is why the theme of this session: Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet” is most apposite.

While the international community grapples to resolve these conflicts, we must be mindful and focus on the widening inequalities within societies, and the gap between the rich and the poor nations. These inequalities and gaps are part of the underlining root causes of competition for resources, frustration and anger leading to spiralling instability. The most pressing threat to international peace and security today is the accelerated nuclear weapons development programme by North Korea.

Since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, we have never come so close to the threat of nuclear war as we have now. All necessary pressure and diplomatic efforts must be brought to bear on North Korea to accept peaceful resolution of the crisis. As Hiroshima and Nagasaki painfully remind us, if we fail, the catastrophic and devastating human loss and environmental degradation cannot be imagined. Mr. President, 18. Nigeria proposes a strong UN delegation to urgently engage the North Korean Leader. The delegation, led by the Security Council, should include members from all the regions.

The crisis in the Korean peninsula underscores the urgency for all member states, guided by the spirit of enthroning a safer and more peaceful world, to ratify without delay the Treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons, which will be open for signature here tomorrow.

Mr. President, I end my remarks by reiterating Nigeria’s abiding commitment to the foundational principles and goals of the United Nations. Since our admission as a member state in 1960, we have always participated in all efforts to bring about global peace, security and development. Nigeria will continue to support the UN in all its efforts, including the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
 I thank you.

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Breaking News: Many injured as troops attack Kanu’s home

• SCORES of youths were allegedly injured, yesterday, as gunmen suspected to be soldiers, who came in Hilux Pick-up vans, allegedly attacked the Umuahia country home of leader of  Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The IPOB claimed, last night, that five people were killed and about 30 others were injured in the attack.

However, videos of the clash showing clubs and stone-wielding youths, who clashed with the troop, indicated that scores were injured. One of the youths, who was shot on his right thigh was seen battling for life as his colleagues administered first aid. IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, told Vanguard that the attackers wore army and police uniforms and drove into the palace of the traditional ruler of Afaraukwu, who is the father of Nnamdi Kanu and started shooting people. 

He said in a statement: “We did not clash with anybody or group. The attackers wore Nigerian soldiers and Nigeria Police uniforms and came to kill our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in his compound at Afaraukwu, Umuahia and started shooting sporadically and killed five people and up to 30 other people had bullet wounds. 

After attacking our people, they drove off. They came in five Hilux vans.” Meanwhile one of the allegedly wounded IPOB members was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where doctors were battling to save his live. A doctor on duty at the emergency unit of the hospital said the IPOB member sustained gunshot injury at “the thigh region.” We neither attacked nor killed anyone — Army However, a statement signed by Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 14 Brigade Nigerian Army said: “The attention of 14 Brigade Nigerian Army, has been drawn to fictitious news going round especially on the social media that troops have invaded the home of Nnamdi Kanu and killed three persons. 

“This is far from the truth. Rather, it was a group of suspected IPOB militants that blocked the road against troops of 145 Battalion while on show of force along FMC-World Bank Road in Umuahia town, Abia State at about 6.00-6.30pm, today (yesterday). 

“They insisted that the military vehicles would not pass and started pelting the soldiers with stones and broken bottles to the point of injuring an innocent female passerby and a soldier, Corporal Kolawole Mathew. “The troops fired warning shots in the air and the hoodlums dispersed. No life was lost. 

“Therefore, the public are kindly enjoined to disregard the rumours going round and the fictitious photographs of purported victims of attack. “Both the soldier and the innocent female passerby have been evacuated to the unit’s Medical Inspection Room and are receiving treatment.

 “We would like to use this opportunity to warn mischief makers threatening the peace and security of the country through falsehood such as above. Members of the public are please requested to go about their lawful business and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or security.” 

Ohanaeze, ECA, MASSOB react Contacted on the issue, President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, declined comments until after consulting with the Abia State Chairman of Ohanaeze and other Igbo leaders. Secretary of the Eastern Consultative Assembly, Evangelist Elliot Uko, wondered if the attack was a prelude to the Operation Python Dance 11 that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, has planned to carry out in the South-East. 

‘’We (ECA) are warning that if the Army did not fish out the culprits who shot at the residence of Nnamdi Kanu, it will be setting a motion for uncontrollable crisis that will overwhelm the country. ‘’The idea of going to shoot at Nnamdi Kanu’s residence will only deepen the anger and bitterness in the land. This will be idiotic and counter-productive,’’ he said. Reacting to the development, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, said the attack was another attempt by the Chief of Army Staff to intimidate the people with an army of occupation. 

MASSOB leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, who frowned at the development, called on President Muhammad Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff to order the withdrawal of soldiers from the South East without further delay or be prepared to face legal action for alleged violation of human rights. MASSOB said: ‘’President Buhari should understand that Nigeria as a signatory and member of United Nations and African Nation on human and people’s right which is enshrined in human and people rights charter, should stop violating peoples right in the name of giving security where there is no threat to security. 

“The operation python dance or Egwu-eke in Biafran land is act of frustration from Nigerian government and the Chief of Army Staff, who has failed to capture the Boko-Haram leader, Shekau on the stipulated date given to him. “General Tukur Buratai has never deemed it fit to launch operation ‘machiji or kunama meaning operation snake bite or scorpion sting respectively against the Hausa/Fulani herdsmen who went about killing people, raping women and young girls, setting people’s houses ablaze; instead, he is coming to Biafra land to launch unnecessary security operation that is needless due to no threat to security. 

“This All Progressives Congress, APC-led government is full of dictators and human right violators. We cannot run away from our fathers’ land, no amount of military and police deployment will deter us from pursuing our legitimate right for self determination which is Biafra actualization. “It is unfortunate that Chief of Army Staff and his troop have failed to restore peace in North East where Boko-Haram has been in control for many years now. 

‘’Nigerian security agents have failed to arrest Alhaji Yerima Shetima of Arewa youths and the sponsors for the quit notice they issued to Ndigbo, yet they are busy hunting for those that are not hunting them or disturbing them in any way.”

 Police confirm clash The Abia police commissioner, Leye Oyebade, who confirmed the incident, said in a text message that: “I have just spoken to the C.O. [Commanding Officer]. He said a repaired Military armoured vehicle was used to patrol the Umuahia metropolis. 

I gathered that they were shooting sporadically, which led to the IPOB group wielding daggers, throwing broken bottles at them. “Unfortunately, a police man on guard duties going to work was macheted by the IPOB group, while a soldier and a civilian were equally injured. 

All are being treated in the Police Clinic for minor injuries sustained. Normalcy has since been restored.” The alleged invasion of Kanu’s home came barely two days after the Army announced a deployment of troops to the region on a special operation it called Operation Python Dance II. Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, who disclosed this, last Friday, at a press conference, hinted also that the exercise, code-named Python Dance II, would be in five South Eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. According to the Army boss, who was represented on the occasion by the Chief of Training and Operations, Maj. Gen D.D Ahmadu, the exercise will be conducted in 82 Division area of responsibility of those five states and the exercise is scheduled to take place from September 15 to October 14, 2017. Buratai said the objective of the exercise was to effectively contain the reported cases of kidnapping and other vices prevalent in the South East every Yuletide season. 

“The need for troops to be exercised, refreshed and imbibe the requisite skills to cope with these emerging security challenges within the 82 Division area of responsibility in aid of civil authority necessitates this exercise, “he added. According to him, emphasis will be placed on raids, cordon and search operations, anti-kidnapping drills, road blocks, check points, patrols, humanitarian relief activities such as medical outreach and show of force to curb the rising threat to national security in the South Eastern part of the country.”

 “Exercise EGWU EKE II has become more expedient due to the mindless assassinations (even in religious places), attacks on security personnel and theft of weapons, kidnappings, armed banditry and violent agitations by secessionist groups, amongst other crimes that have recently bedevilled the region.

 “It is pertinent to mention that the security, safety and well-being of innocent and law-abiding citizens of the states mentioned above have been adequately factored into the planning of the exercise. Thus, the rights of individuals as enshrined in the constitution would be respected and safeguarded. 

“Additionally, EGWU EKE II is also conceptualized to transit into real time operations, thereby fulfilling both training and operational objectives of sharpening operational skills of personnel as well as providing an avenue to conduct operations against violent criminals and agitators when called upon. “As precursor to a peaceful ‘ember’ period and yuletide, provision has already been made for the smooth conduct of the exercise.

EGWU EKE II will be unique with the establishment of Brigade Headquarters in each of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States. “It is noteworthy to mention that EGWU EKE II is set to be another epoch making activity that would make the nation proud of the Nigerian Army’s determination at sustaining its constitutional role of defending the territorial integrity of the nation as well as its commitment to aid the civil authority to bring about peace and security in the south eastern part of our dear country in particular, and the entire nation in general,” he said. 

He, therefore, advised members of the public, especially residents of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states not to panic as their safety and well-being was guaranteed at all times. A similar exercise was conducted  between November 27 and December 27, 2016.

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BREAKING NEWS: FG bans songs by Olamide, Davido, 9ice

• The National Broadcasting Corporation, NBC, has banned five songs by Olamide, Davido and 9ice, having considered them offensive for broadcast, according to online portal, Premium Times. 

• The banned songs are Olamide‘s “Wo” and “Wavy Level“; Davido‘s “Fall” and “If (Remix)“; and 9ice’s “Living Things.”

Olamide, Davido and 9ice

The corporation released the list yesterday, saying it banned the five songs from being aired across the Nigerian airwaves. The Federal Ministry of Health had in a tweet on Friday, said the video to Olamide’s “Wo” violated the Tobacco Control Act 2015. The 28-year-old rapper, who is signed to his own record label, YBNL, had returned to Ladi Lak in Bariga where he was raised to shoot the video of his latest single.

“This is our position: video contravenes the act. Innocently or otherwise, Tobacco Promotion Advertising Sponsorship is banned in all forms,” the NBC said. It could not immediately ascertain why the songs of the two other musicians were banned. In June this year, the federal government, through the Ministry of Health, had launched a campaign to ban smoking in public places, including motor parks, shopping malls and health care centres.

The Health Ministry, in a communiqué, said according to Section 9 of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Act 2015, once convicted, offenders are liable to a fine of at least N50, 000 and/or six months’ imprisonment. Tweeting the information via its official Twitter page, the Ministry claimed that the video, which features ghetto scenes in which youth are seen smoking, encouraged second-hand smoking.

This is not the first time that an Olamide song will be banned by the regulatory agency. In 2016, just a few months after the ban of one of his songs, ‘Shakiti Bobo’, NBC also banned, ‘Don’t Stop’ which is a track off Olamide’s 5th studio album, Eyan Mayweather, for its vulgar lyrics.

Defending the decision at the time, the NBC said the song was banned from being played on the airwaves for its ‘obscenity, being indecent, vulgar languages, lewd and profane expressions like ‘wa gba ponron’, ‘I just want to hit you now’, ‘je kin wo be…” Rapper Falz had also in June, criticized Nigerian musicians who glamourised fraud with their lyrics, a criticism fans took to be directed at 9ice for “Living Things.”

The actor and rapper stated that the recent trend of hailing Internet fraudsters in music is not helping future generations as the young ones are beginning to see this as a normal way of life.

He recounted the personal experience of challenges faced by Nigerians in other countries as a result of cyber crime. “No person shall engage or participate in any tobacco advertising, promotion or sponsorship as a media or event organizer, celebrity or other participant,” it read.

According to the 2015 law, anyone who violates the law faces the risk of a fine and jail term of not more than one year. Persons that produce or publish advertising, promotion or sponsorship content shall attract a fine of not less than N3,000,000 and a term of imprisonment of not more than one year.

If the tenets of the tobacco-control act are followed to the latter, then the rapper is at risk of N3 million fine, one-year jail term over ‘Wo’ video.

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BREAKING NEWS: Buhari orders Service Chiefs to tackle IPOB’s secret army, Boko Haram, others

• Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin, has revealed that the issues of the alleged Secret Service of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Boko Haram menace and the various security threats plaguing the country were among what was discussed at the closed-door meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Service Chiefs.

He said President Buhari has given some directives including tackling the threats, which, he said, would be carried out by the military and the security agencies soon. Recall that a video recently in circulation captured Nnamdi Kanu inspecting a uniformed group said to be Biafra’s Secret Service (BSS).

Nnamdi Kanu and Biafra Service

The meeting between President Buhari and the national security council lasted three hours at the President’s residence in Abuja. Olonisakin said that Buhari was briefed on issues such as Biafra agitation, Boko Haram, kidnappings and quit notice.

“We have been meeting with Mr. President for the last three hours. We updated him on all security issues around the country, within the country and outside the country, where our troops are.” “Of course, we have just updated him because he is aware of what’s been happening.

He has been receiving regular briefings from the acting president and he has also been going through the print media and electronic media to follow the happenings in the country. “After the meeting, he has directed on some areas we should look at so as to enhance our operations in the country.”

“The issues of security, every security threat, all security threats were treated one after the other ranging from terrorism to kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers clash, to IPOB issue.” “In his address to the nation, he talked about the unity of the nation which is non-negotiable.

We have all been fully instructed to ensure that that directive is carried out to the letter,” he said. “We are going to enhance our operations in all the areas we need to do that. Like I said, he has given the necessary directives which will be carried out by the military and the security agencies.”

Those who attendedthe meeting were all the service chiefs, National Security Adviser, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno and Director-General, Department of State Security, Alhaji Lawal Daura. The Service Chiefs at the meeting were the Chief of Defence, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibot-Ete Ibas.

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BREAKING NEWS: Trump sacks Nigeria’s Ogunlesi as adviser

• Nigerian born international CEO, Adebayo Ogunlesi has now ceased to be an adviser to embattled US President Donald Trump. Trump sacked him today along with other distinguished CEOs counselling him via two councils on how to “Make America Great Again”.

Ogunlesi was a member of Strategic and Policy Forum, one of the two disbanded by the unpredictable president. The other group was the Manufacturing Jobs Initiative Council. Ogunlesi, heads Global Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm and one of Fortune 500 companies. He was the only African on the panel. 

The New York Times reported before Trump’s tweeted dissolution, that members of Ogunlesi’s panel were debating dissolving the body entirely as Trump wallowed deeper into bigotry quagmire. But Trump preempted their move. “Corporate leaders had hoped that President Trump would help businesses by slashing taxes and gutting regulations. 

It is not clear how much he will deliver on that score. On top of that, he is putting many chief executives in the position of answering for a president with an unparalleled track record of outraging people, most recently at a contentious press conference on Tuesday when he drew a false equivalence between the white supremacists who protested in Charlottesville, Va., last weekend and counter-protesters.”, NYT reported. 

Trump had earned rebuke and isolation from business leaders for supporting racial bigotry, White Supremacists and the KKK, following his remarks that failed to blame the tragic violence in Charlottesville, Virginia on the group. Instead, he blamed all the sides and the group that challenged the racists. 

The leaders of three companies — Kenneth Frazier of Merck, Kevin Plank of Under Armour and Brian Krzanich of Intel — were the first to resign from the Manufacturing Jobs Initiative Council. They resigned on Monday because Mr. Trump was slow to condemn the white supremacists during the weekend and blamed “many sides” for the violence. 

When Trump moderated his tone on Monday by saying “racism is evil” and condemning neo-Nazis, he did not assuage some of the CEOs working with him. Scott Paul, the president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, an organization backed by the steel industry and the United Steelworkers resigned. he was followed on Tuesday by Richard Trumka and Thea Lee, the president and deputy chief of staff for the union group A.F.L.-C.I.O.. 

The latter’s resignation followed Trump’s reversed position at a press conference at Trump Tower in New York, in which he said that “not all of those people were neo-Nazis, believe me,” referring to the white nationalists who were chanting “Jews will not replace us” as they marched with tiki-torches. Ogunlesi’s Strategic Forum, composed some of America’s most highly respected and successful business leaders.

 Members of the body were expected to meet with Trump frequently to share their specific experience and knowledge as the president implements his plan to bring back jobs and “Make America Great Again. ” The other members of the forum were: Stephen Schwarzman (forum chairman), chairman, CEO, and cofounder of Blackstone Paul Atkins, CEO of Patomak Global Partners, former commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission Mary Barra, chairwoman and CEO, General Motors Toby Cosgrove, CEO, Cleveland Clinic Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase & Co. 

Larry Fink, chairman and CEO, BlackRock Bob Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company Rich Lesser, president and CEO, Boston Consulting Group Doug McMillon, president and CEO, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Jim McNerney, former chairman, president, and CEO of Boeings Ginni Rometty, chairwoman, president, and CEO of IBM Kevin Warsh, Shepard Family Distinguished Visiting Fellow in economics at the Hoover Institute, former member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Mark Weinberger, global chairman and CEO, EY Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO, General Electric Daniel Yergin, Pulitzer Prize winner, vice chairman of IHS Markit Apart from being managing partner of Global Infrastructure Partners, Ogunlesi also serves on the boards of Callaway Golf Co. and Kosmos Energy Ltd. 

At the same time he’s the chairman of Africa Finance Corp. and serves on the boards of various not-for-profits ranging from New York Presbyterian Hospital to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.

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They stripped my house bare – Jonathan

• Former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, said, yesterday, that his house in Gwarimpa, Abuja, was stripped bare by thieves who carted away all movable items in the house.

• Jonathan, who spoke through a statement issued by his spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, last night, said the theft was discovered last month, after which it was reported to relevant police authorities.

He said six of those arrested by the police were actually policemen guarding the house, contrary to confirmation by FCT Police Command on Monday that only four policemen were arrested in respect of the burglary.
The statement read: “Following series of enquiries from journalists and other concerned Nigerians on the extent of the reported vandalisation and theft in the house of former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan located in Gwarimpa, Abuja, we, therefore, would like to make the following clarifications: The theft was discovered last month upon which a report was duly lodged with the relevant police authorities.
 “The police immediately commenced investigations which led to the arrest and detention of some suspects, six of whom were policemen, even as investigations continue.
“The house, which the former President bought from CITEC estate developers in 2004, was totally stripped bare by the thieves who stole every movable item in the house, including furniture sets, beds, electronics, toilet and electrical fittings, as well as all internal doors and frames.
“However, contrary to exaggerated reports in some media, only six television sets, three refrigerators and one gas cooker were stolen. Being that the house is a modest, a 4-bedroom duplex, it couldn’t have been fitted with “36 Plasma television sets and about 25 refrigerators” as falsely reported by some media outfits.
 “We thank all Nigerians for their show of concern and wish to convey the former President’s goodwill to all Nigerians.” A security source involved in the investigation had said by the time family members of the former President were alerted to the looting early this month, the house had been stripped bare.
The source also said two dealers who had been main recipients of the stolen items were said to have closed down their shops at Panteka market and have since remained at large. The source also revealed that the looting was discovered when a neighbour noticed “severe damage in the house” and called a member of President Jonathan’s family to ask whether the house was undergoing renovation.
The former President was said to have personally gone to inspect the property after which he reported the vandalism to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

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BREAKING NEWS: Anxiety mounts over departure of Presidential jet from London

• THERE was speculation Tuesday night that the Presidential jet in London departed the country perhaps to Nigeria which caused tension within the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

But the media team of President Muhammadu Buhari denied knowledge of such thing, saying that it should be taken as rumour as there was no information available to them suggesting that the President had left London where he is on medical vacation.
 Recall that President Buhari had left the country on 7th May to see his doctors in London, the United Kingdom and had handed the button of leadership to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to act on his behalf.
However, there have been insinuations in some quarters that the President’s health had recorded a remarkable improvement that would warrant him to return to the country soon.
The speculation about the President’s return was rife Tuesday when some sources in London had claimed that Mr. President’s aircraft had taken off from there to Abuja even as it was reported that some staff at the Presidential Villa had been on standby since Monday.
But when Vanguard sought the confirmation of the alleged departure of the Presidential aircraft from London from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, he said he was not aware of such development.
Also in denial of any knowledge of the alleged departure of the Presidential aircraft from London was the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adeshina who said he was not informed of anything like that.
According to him, “BBC also called me and said the president’s aircraft had taken off, I should confirm it.
I said the tradition is that if the president is coming, we will be asked to issue a statement but there has been no such instruction.” As at the time of filing this report late Tuesday night, there was no confirmation to the effect that the presidential aircraft had left London and there was no movement within the Presidential Villa to support the rumour.

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BREAKING NEWS: No to regionalism, yes to resource control —Igala leaders

• We need more groups to achieve Biafra — BIM Shettima cautions agitators of secession, restructuring Boycott of Anambra election, inimical to Biafra struggle —Group
   

• THE Biafra Reformation Movement, BRM, has said the call by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to boycott Anambra governorship election is not in the interest of agitation for a separatist state of Biafra.

The group argued that such a call is an invitation to anarchy and an opportunity for Igbo enemies to unleash their desire on the Igbo nation.
It also suspected that IPOB has a hidden agenda and may be working for the Igbo enemy to declare a state of emegency in Anambra.
The group spoke as the leadership of Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, yesterday, said more pro-biafra groups were needed to ensure the realisation of the sovereign state of Biafra in the country.
This is even as Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State warned secessionist groups in the country against trying to plunge the nation into chaos, saying a refugee situation in Nigeria might be very difficult for the world to handle.

Anambra polls must hold—BRM 

Leader of BRM, Comrade Ndubuisi Igwekani (aka Agu Biafra), in a press briefing in Enugu, therefore, declared that governorship election must hold in Anambra State come November 18, 2017.
He recalled that the last time the Movememt for Actualization of Soverign State of Biafra, MASSOB, stopped Ndigbo from participating in a national census, the Igbo have continued to suffer the consequences of that careless decision.
He said: “Most Igbo were not counted and our number continued to decrease. So, we must be careful in our decisions and tactful in some actions we take, especially those that will not benefit us.
 “Asking our people to boycott elections in Anambra may be an opportunity for an enemy to rule the state and I don’t see how beneficial it is to the Biafra struggle. It is rather against the interest of our people.
 “The person championing that cause, I am even suspecting him because whether we boycott or not, elections will still hold and boycotting will not help us achieve Biafra.
Rather, we will be creating room for our enemies to come in.” On the notice of quit by Arewa youths, Igwekani, a founding member of BRM, said it is an empty threat and urged South-East governors to take steps to safeguard the lives of easterners in the north.
The group warned that should anything happen to any easterner in the North from October 1, there will be no guarantee that northerners in the east will be protected.”

We need more groups to achieve Biafra — BIM 

The leader of BIM in Ebonyi State, Mr. Nwifuru John, who stated this in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen on the activities of the group added that BIM was not against the formation of more pro-Biafra groups but that any emerging group should be non-violent.
According to Nwifuru, the emergence of more groups would help to inform the world that Ndigbo were not relenting until the struggle for Biafra is achieved. He said: “Uwazuruike has done many things since then.
 He brought back Biafra currency, even Biafra uniform we are wearing now. He has achieved so many things before other groups came out and he still loves the groups because he cannot do it alone.
 “We need more pro-Biafra groups. We cannot carry out the agitation alone and we are not against the present ones. We need more agitators to tell the world that we need Biafra.”

Shettima cautions agitators of secession, restructuring 

Shettima, who spoke with journalists, yesterday, in Abuja also noted that the elite calling for restructuring were even more divided than the people in whose interest they claim to be making such calls.
 He said many elite were today afraid of visiting the rural areas to meet with the common man for fear of being molested, noting that there is a growing wave of discontent among the masses.
“Syria has only two million refugees knocking on the gates of Europe and the whole of Europe is shaking. Imagine what would happen if we were to have 30 million refugees. All the countries around us cannot take us, especially as they are also having their own challenges,” he stated.
The governor noted that unless the country’s leadership began to think towards improving the lot of the common man in the society and working for the people, the situation would deteriorate.

No to regionalism, yes to resource control—Igala leaders 

Meantime, Igala leaders, under the aegis of Uk’omu Igala, an apolitical umbrella body of all Igala socio-cultural groups, also called for resource control as well as the creation of Okura State from the present Kogi State.
National Leader of Uk’omu Igala, Maj. Gen. Patrick Akpa (retd), said “rather than return to regional government, the Igala nation supports the federal system as it is today, but that government should create Okura State in the interest of equity, justice and fairness.”
 He said, “We reject any proposal for restructuring Nigeria, which takes us back to the idea of regionalism as if we are so forgetful about the ugly experiences of the First Republic.
“Regional governments in the First Republic squeezed and emasculated the minority ethnic nationalities in the North, West and East, and the bitterness associated with the report of the Willink Commission, which rejected the quest of minorities for separate states did not die until the premature collapse of the republic.”
 Akpa expressed Igala nation’s rejection of the proposal by the North-Central Caucus at the 2014 National Political Conference, which called for the creation of Kainji State from Niger and Kebbi States, instead of recommending the creation of Okura State, which he said has been on the front burner of political discourse since 1981.

Agitations, reflection of political temperature —YCE 

Also yesterday, a Yoruba sociocultural group, Yoruba Council of Elders, described the notice of quit by Arewa Youths and agitation for state of Biafra by IPOB as a reflection of political temperature of the country which signifies uneasiness.
 They said this after the 19th executive members meeting in Ibadan, yesterday. While speaking with newsmen, Secretary-General of the council, Dr Kunle Olajide said: “We are sitting on a keg of gunpowder because no part of the country, except the South-West, is at peace and that peace in the South-West is a peace of the graveyard.
We have the largest number of unemployed graduates and our infrastructure have collapsed. “As far as we (YCE) are concerned, the notice of quit by the Arewa Youths and the call for Biafra by IPOB are a reflection of political thermometer and temperature of Nigeria. It shows there is uneasiness in every part of this nation.”

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Update: 8 dead, 16 rescued in Lagos building collapse

• Death tolls in Tuesday Lagos collapsed building at No 3 Massey Street Lagos Island has risen from five to six while 16 other trapped victims have been rescued alive so far.

Among the dead victims also, included, 11 year old boy whose body was recovered at about midnight. According to eyewitness, the building came down totally, at about 2.43 pm during rainstorm.

Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, General Manager, Mr. Adeshina Tiamiyu, who confirmed the incident said recovery operation were on going by LASEMA Response Unit, NEMA, LASAMBUS, Lagos State Fire Service and other rescue team to save the lives of possible trapped victims.

According to Tiamiyu, heavy duty equipment presently searching through the rubble. Tiamiyu said: “We have deployed heavy duty to the scene to search through the rubble to ensure no one is left under.”

Source told our correspondent that the structure was initially on a three-storey building before another one storey was added making it four Also confirming the tragedy, Director of Lagos state fire service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, said that 13 persons have been rescued, noting that efforts were still ongoing to rescue others feared trapped under the rubble.

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BREAKING NEWS: Order Kanu’s arrest for threatening Nigeria’s existence, Arewa youths tell Osinbajo

• As the tension generated by the quit notice handed Igbo in the north is yet to settle, Arewa youths on Thursday stirred another controversy by asking the Presidency to order the immediate arrest and detention of the self-acclaimed Biafran leader, Nnamdi Kanu, over what they called threats to Nigeria’s corporate existence.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the Speaker of the Arewa Youth Assembly, AYA, Mohammed Salihu and the Clerk, Desmond Minakaro, accused the federal government of aiding and abetting the IPOB leader to breach the bail conditions handed him by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja and inciting Nigerians against the government at major rallies in the South South and South East states.
The Northern youth leaders wondered why the government has allowed Kanu to grow wings and threaten national peace and security with inciting statements capable of destroying the country without calling him to order.
The Arewa youths said it was disappointing that despite the clear bail conditions reeled out by Justice Nyako, Kanu had brazenly violated all including the ban on organising rallies and press conference and being with any crowd of more than ten persons at any time.
 The youth leaders said, “The Leadership of Arewa Youth Assembly has observed with keen interest the high level of lawlessness exhibited by Nnamdi Kanu since he was granted bail in June this year and the conspiracy of silence displayed by the federal government and its security agencies in the face of such affront by the IPOB leader. No doubt, this lawlessness is capable of disintegrating this country.
 “The level of insecurity and youth agitations calls for concern by all well meaning Nigerians. These threats have turned our country in a place of uncertainty and now a laughing stock within the international communities.
 Nigerians now live in a state of fear and trauma for the fear of the unknown. “Any nation or institution which cannot abide by its own laws, rules and regulations is bound to fail and not worthy of being a nation or institution. It is on record that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja presided by Honourable Justice Binta Nyako on the 28th April, 2017, granted bail to one Mr. Nnamdi Kanu on health grounds with about 12 conditions attached to his Bail.
 “Gentlemen of press, you will all agree with us that the said Nnamdi Kanu has openly violated his bail conditions, chief among which are that he should not address a press conference; a rally and should not be in a gathering of not more than ten persons.
 “The most surprising and amazing of this is that the Federal Government is watching while Nnamdi Kanu is creating a state within a State, threatening to stop Anambra State gubernatorial election by holding rallies in South South and South East states and using provocative and inciting words, granting interviews to the press, which pose a threat to national unity and security.
“This level of lawlessness has left us with no option than to doubt the ability of our Acting President to successfully preside over the affairs of our country. Our Acting President seems to be under the control of some cabals when it comes to decision-making.
 “We therefore, wish to advise the Acting President to sit up and be in firm control of the government of Nigeria and begin to address the myriads of issues threatening the unity of this great nation,” the Arewa youths said.
The youths said they were planning a national peace summit in Abuja early next month as a means of bringing together youths from all parts of the country to brainstorm on the way forward for Nigeria instead of seeking to divide the nation for selfish interest.

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BREAKING NEWS: 7 govs leave for London to see Buhari

• SEVEN Governors led by the Chairman of Governors Forum Abdulaziz Yari departs to London this evening to see President Muhammadu Buhari who is on medical vacation.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Other members of the Zamfara State governor entourage include Governor Kasim Shetima of Borno State, Udoh Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Dave Umahi, Abiola Ajimobi and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu who disclosed this to State House Correspondents in Abuja, said the visit was a goodwill visit from the governors.

 Details soon.

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BREAKING NEWS: Storm over Buhari’s picture with APC chiefs: It’s collective insult on Nigerians— PDP

• The hope-lifting picture of President Muhammadu Buhari dining with chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, turned into a political storm, yesterday, after the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, described it as a collective insult on Nigerians.

The PDP’s reaction followed an equally blistering denunciation of the picture by former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who described the picture as fake, alleging it was an arrangement to sustain the cabal in power as he blasted the media and the National Assembly for remaining docile in the face of what he called a conspiracy.
 Fani-Kayode further alleged that any message conveyed by Governor Rochas Okorocha, who was said to be in the delegation cannot pass the barometer of truth. He insists he would not believe anything that comes from the Imo State governor. Okorocha in a swift reaction, blasted Fani-Kayode, calling him a spoilt child whose only connection to humanity is the name of his father.
The brewing storm followed the publication of the picture of President Buhari in a meeting with chieftains of the APC and governors of the party. An insult to Nigerians — PDP Reacting to the development, yesterday, PDP spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said: “It is an insult to Nigerians because they don’t think that we are important; once they meet with the president that is all, and they will come and show us a picture.
 “They don’t even think that it is necessary for the president to send message to Nigerians or for themselves to come and tell us what happened during that meeting. They merely planted pictures in the front pages of all the newspapers, and they think that is alright.
“That is not the way to behave in a civilised country. At least, ordinarily we should have been having daily bulletins on the president’s health, the man is being treated there in London with tax payers’ money, and we elected him to do a job.”
While affirming that the PDP wished the president well, the party spokesman nevertheless faulted the attitude of his handlers, saying: “We wish him well, and we want him to live, but it is pure contempt for Nigerians for a group of people, party leaders to just go and meet the president and come and show us pictures without saying anything either from them or from the president to Nigerians. It is pure contempt; it is an insult to our collective intelligence.”

The picture is fake — Fani-Kayode Fani-Kayode

 On his part debunked the picture as a fake on the point that the elements on the table comprised Nigerian products. He said: “The picture of a handful of APC Governors and President Muhammadu Buhari, which was purportedly taken in London, yesterday (Sunday), is old and fake.
I have been reliably informed that they were taken during Ramadan in Abuja some time back and not yesterday in London. “Quite apart from that, though the picture was meant to have been taken in London, curiously, all the drinks on the table are Nigerian products and Nigerian-made. Did the Governors take all those drinks along with them to London when they went to see the President?
“We do not wish the President dead, but we have a right to know the truth. As a matter of fact, we demand to know that truth because, as he once said himself, he “belongs to us all.”
For those who still believe that the meeting actually took place there are some nagging questions that need to be answered.
For example, why were the Nigerian and foreign media not allowed to cover the proceedings and participate in this celebrated photo-shoot and merry London feast?
“Why did the Villa press corps not take one of their own camera men to London and make a short video of this “historic” event?
 Why were the whole proceedings shrouded in so much secrecy? Why is it that only one picture was taken? Why were more pictures not shot? Why was Buhari not put on audio tape and interviewed while he was with his celebrated and important guests? Why did he not offer a few words of hope and encouragement to the Nigerian people to ease the tension that has been generated in the land by his prolonged absence?”
Querying Governor Okorocha’s capacity to convey truth, he added: “How can they expect us to take Governor Rochas Okorocha’s word for anything without any solid proof or evidence to back those words up or give them a measure of veracity or credibility? I for one would not believe a word that a man like Rochas tells me. If he told me that it was day outside I would have to assume that it was night. It is that bad. “Again why did Buhari not shake anyone’s hands during the photo-shoot? Why did he not get up from his chair, say “cheese” and give us a big Daura smile? Why was he just sitting there? Why all the tall tales that he is getting much better?”
 On what he pointed as the conspiracy of ignorance between the media and the National Assembly, he said: “Worse still, we have a media that is so fawning in its attitude when it comes to the Federal Government, and that is so easily intimidated that they simply refuse to ask the right questions about this matter or undertake to carry out the necessary investigations with a view to establishing the truth.
“This is the greatest tragedy of all, and it results in total impunity on the part of the government because the media is not prepared to keep them on their toes.
 Yet, it doesn’t stop there. We have a Senate with 109 distinguished and able Senators and a House of Representatives with over 300 honourable legislators and yet not one of them has the fortitude or guts to call for the resignation of this ailing man who is clearly no longer well enough to lead our nation.
“The following questions must be answered: Are the Nigerian people under a blinding and binding spell? Is this the unholy work of voodoo-merchants, witch-doctors, and necromancers? Have our people been bound up and charmed by these broom-loving APC wizards and witches?
“The morbid obsession with retaining power at all costs which has afflicted those in the Presidency that Mrs. Aisha Buhari has graphically described as the “hyenas and jackals” in the body politic of our nation, must cease forthwith. Nigerians are gracious, kind, long-suffering, resilient, loving, patient and compassionate people who wish the best for their President but that does not mean that they should be taken for granted, taken for a ride or treated like fools.
“They are not children, and they are not stupid. It is time for this horrendous madness and hideous nightmare to stop! It is time for Buhari’s seat to be declared vacant and it is time for Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to fully take over and be sworn in as the new and substantive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” The presidency declined to respond to the issues raised by the PDP and Fani-Kayode while the APC spokesman was not available as calls to his known phone number did not go through.

Okorocha blasts Fani-Kayode 

However, Governor Okorocha blasted Fani-Kayode, describing him as a spoilt child. The governor who responded through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo said: “The guy (Fani-Kayode) is a spoilt child, one of those whose parents over pampered they hardly talk like human beings. Apart from somebody who went into government, he is not known for doing business.
 I wonder if he has ever worked and all of a sudden he had political appointment.
He has nothing else to brandish apart from the father’s name. Remove his father’s name; I don’t think he is a human being. Rochas grew from the scratch. By the grace of God and hard work, he is where he is today. But that one apart from coming to politics what else does he have to brandish?”

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