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Thursday 30 April 2015
293 rescued females undergo HIV and pregnancy test
LIB
Governor Ayo Fayose withdraws lawsuit against APC lawmakers
In the suit, the plaintiffs, including speaker of the House of Assembly which is occupied by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) factional Speaker, Olugbemi Joseph Dele; Ekiti State House of Assembly, Fayose and Olusola through their counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), had approached the court seeking to stop impeachment moves against the governor. The suit however had already been struck out by Justice Ahmed Mohammed.
When the matter was called for hearing yesterday, counsel to the plaintiffs, Raji, informed the court of his client’s intention to withdraw the case. The plaintiff’s counsel did not give any reason for the withdrawal.
LIB
Lagos government shuts 24 religious buildings over noise pollution
Lagos state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello pictured left above disclosed this at the 2015 ministerial press briefing held in Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja yesterday April 29th
“We received over 1, 000 petitions in the year under review. But we have been able to resolve some and some have relocated. We have shut about 24 religious outfits in the last one year because they failed to adhere to the state guidelines on noise pollution.”he said.LIB
Fraud: Igbinedion’s aide bags 20-year jail sentence
… Ex-governor’s brother gets six years
A former aide to ex-Edo State governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Patrick Ebogboidin, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment over his involvement in a N25billion money laundering case instituted against him and five others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Also jailed was a younger brother to the ex-governor, Michael, who bagged six years jail term.
They were jailed by a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Mohammend Lima.
The judge, however, gave Michael an option of N1million fine in each of the three charges he was found guilt.
The Nation
A former aide to ex-Edo State governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Patrick Ebogboidin, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment over his involvement in a N25billion money laundering case instituted against him and five others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Also jailed was a younger brother to the ex-governor, Michael, who bagged six years jail term.
They were jailed by a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Mohammend Lima.
The judge, however, gave Michael an option of N1million fine in each of the three charges he was found guilt.
The Nation
President Mugabe refused a handshake from King of Zulu
”It’s only in South Africa that an illiterate villager thinks a qualified Medical Doctor from another African country is the reason for his unemployment”
President R. Mugabe/Zimbabwe
Mayweather focused on game plan, not fight hype
Las Vegas showdown Floyd Mayweather stood nose to nose with Manny Pacquiao for the first time at a news conference, then said he can't promise their mega showdown will live up to all the pre-fight hype.
"I can't say," Mayweather said when asked if the richest fight in boxing history will live up to its blockbuster billing.
"Even if we fought at an extremely high pace, it is not for me to judge. My job is to go out and do my best. Just be Floyd Mayweather."
Mayweather squares off against Filipino boxing icon Pacquiao in the richest fight in boxing history Saturday at the MGM Grand Hotel that is expected to generate some $400 million in revenue.
Mayweather spoke to a small group of reporters following Wednesday's news conference which finished with the two future Hall of Famers getting up close and personal for the cameras in a stare down at the front of the brightly-lit stage in the MGM's Ka Theatre.
Mayweather said weeks of working out, sparring hundreds of rounds and watching film at his Las Vegas gym have prepared him to fight Pacquiao. But he plans to spend the next few days taking his mind off the fight.
"I am going to be watching movies and watching playoff basketball," Mayweather said. "The only thing I can do now is take it one day at a time.
"I am going to go home and rest. The next time I hear anything about boxing will be at the weigh in."
World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association welterweight champion Mayweather and World Boxing Organization champ Pacquiao agreed to the fight in February after years of on and off again speculation over whether the two would ever meet.
Mayweather has been unusually quiet in the build up to the Pacquiao fight. He says he doesn't need to resort to trash talk to sell this one.
"From beginning of my career I have always had a game plan. I make calculated moves inside the ring and outside the ring.
"Me speaking out loud and having personality, I did that in the past. I am a lot older and wiser and this fight sells itself. I don't have to do it.
"Before I would come out and speak in a flamboyant "Money" persona. It was all about entertainment."
- Not good versus evil -
Mayweather says he doesn't want to be portrayed as the bad guy for this fight.
"This fight is not good versus evil. It is one fighter who is at the top and another. I believe in my skills and believe I will be victorious.
"When I went into training camp I worked hard to win this fight and I am sure he did the same.
"I don't take nothing away Pacquiao. He is going to be an intriguing matchup on Saturday.
"He didn't get to where he got by not beating tough competition."
Both fighters are expected to make well over $100 million from the welterweight unification bout with 60 percent of the purse going to Mayweather and Pacquiao collecting the other 40 percent.
Mayweather says the money isn't important because he has everything he wants.
"When you get to this point ... once you make so much money, there is nothing you can buy anymore," he said.
Mayweather dismissed suggestions Wednesday that he would come into the ring Saturday weighing an unofficial 160 pounds (72.57 kg), even after the expected weight gain that will follow the weigh-in for the welterweight limit of 147 pounds (67 kg).
"I have never seen 155 (70.31 kg)," he said. "I just look big because I am working hard. I am the bigger, stronger guy."
AFP
Another Buhari ‘walker’ arrives Gombe with over 70 requests for President-elect
Another walker, Malam Abubakar Umar, 43 years, who started trekking from Yola, Adamawa, on Saturday to celebrate the victory of President-elect, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja arrived Gombe on Thursday where he spent the night.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Umar said he was carrying more than 70 letters of requests from people of the North East region to Buhari which people gave him on his way.
He told NAN that most of the requests he received from the people were urging the president-elect to address insecurity and rebuild the region.
Umar, popularly known as African Duduwalle, said some women had also asked him to appeal to Buhari not to scrap the office of the First Lady.
According to him, the women said the office provided them opportunity to benefit from empowerment opportunities, appointments and other benefits.
“My bag is full of letters and requests from people who said I should give Buhari.
“Women also told me that I should appeal to the president-elect not to scrap the office of the First Lady, which affords women the opportunity to air their views as well as benefit from the government.
“Some people also told me to appeal to the president-elect to do something on the issue of Boko Haram; they even said they would bring photographs of the insurgency to take them to the General,” he said.
The man, who said he was an ardent supporter of Buhari since 2003 when he was a youth leader on the platform of the defunct ANPP, was happy to hear that Buhari had won.
Umar explained that his walk to Abuja was also to identify with notable Adamawa indigenes such as the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Aliyu Mustapha; and wife of the president-elect, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, among others.
The walker said he had earlier planned to ride a bicycle to Abuja, but was encouraged by the trekking of Mr Suleiman Hashimu, who trekked from Lagos to Abuja to celebrate the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate’s victory in the March 28 election.
On his experience on walking a long distance before now, he recalled an instance where he trekked from Adamawa to Cameroun.
NAN reports that officials of Airtel Nigeria received the man and provided him with a smart phone to enhance his communication as he proceeded to his destination, Abuja.
Umar thanked Nigerians from all walks of life that provided him with water, food and other assistance on his way.
Also speaking to NAN, the North East Zonal Business Manager of Airtel Nigeria Ltd, Malam Muhammad Ibrahim, said the company was proud to identify with the man who is an Airtel customer.
Ibrahim said as a social responsibility of the company to the customer who was embarking of such heroic action, the company believed it should support him with means of communication, hence the gift of a smart phone.
He said workers of the company kept contact with him as well as assisted him during his journey and that the assistance would be sustained to ease his burden of his trekking.
NAN also reports that the man, who spent the night in Gombe, continued with his journey to Abuja on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Umar said he was carrying more than 70 letters of requests from people of the North East region to Buhari which people gave him on his way.
He told NAN that most of the requests he received from the people were urging the president-elect to address insecurity and rebuild the region.
According to him, the women said the office provided them opportunity to benefit from empowerment opportunities, appointments and other benefits.
“My bag is full of letters and requests from people who said I should give Buhari.
“Women also told me that I should appeal to the president-elect not to scrap the office of the First Lady, which affords women the opportunity to air their views as well as benefit from the government.
Umar explained that his walk to Abuja was also to identify with notable Adamawa indigenes such as the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Aliyu Mustapha; and wife of the president-elect, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, among others.
The walker said he had earlier planned to ride a bicycle to Abuja, but was encouraged by the trekking of Mr Suleiman Hashimu, who trekked from Lagos to Abuja to celebrate the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate’s victory in the March 28 election.
On his experience on walking a long distance before now, he recalled an instance where he trekked from Adamawa to Cameroun.
NAN reports that officials of Airtel Nigeria received the man and provided him with a smart phone to enhance his communication as he proceeded to his destination, Abuja.
Umar thanked Nigerians from all walks of life that provided him with water, food and other assistance on his way.
Also speaking to NAN, the North East Zonal Business Manager of Airtel Nigeria Ltd, Malam Muhammad Ibrahim, said the company was proud to identify with the man who is an Airtel customer.
Ibrahim said as a social responsibility of the company to the customer who was embarking of such heroic action, the company believed it should support him with means of communication, hence the gift of a smart phone.
He said workers of the company kept contact with him as well as assisted him during his journey and that the assistance would be sustained to ease his burden of his trekking.
NAN also reports that the man, who spent the night in Gombe, continued with his journey to Abuja on Thursday.
Court dissolves three-year-old marriage over wife’s lack of vagina opening
An Abeokuta Customary Court sitting in Ake on Wednesday dissolved a three-year-old marriage between Mr Femi Olayiwole and wife, Kemi, due to the absence of vagina, deceit and frequent fighting.
Olayiwole told the court that his wife deceived him to marry her knowing that she could not bear him a child.
He accused his wife, who had failed to appear in court after being summoned several times, of living a false life, frequent fighting and threatening his life.
“My wife had been deceiving me since we got married I have never seen her pass through menstruation. My wife does not have any vagina opening..
“Anytime I ask her for sex, she would give an excuse to back up her refusal. Meanwhile, we have been praying to God to give us children.
“My wife did not tell me anything about her condition before we got married, until February this year that she confessed to me that she had never experienced menstruation in her life.
“I thought she was lying, so I went to see her parents who told me it was true, and that they thought their daughter explained to me before we got married,” Olayiwole told the court.
He pleaded with the court’s president to dissolve his three-year-old marriage that had nothing to show for both now and in future.
The News Agency Nigeria reports that the defendant was absent in spite several summons by the court.
The court’s president, Mr, Olalekan Akande, dissolved the marriage, saying that both parties had made up their minds to part ways.
Akande said that both parties were free to remarry anybody of their choice, adding that the document of the marriage dissolution should be sent to Kemi.
Daily Post
Olayiwole told the court that his wife deceived him to marry her knowing that she could not bear him a child.
He accused his wife, who had failed to appear in court after being summoned several times, of living a false life, frequent fighting and threatening his life.
“My wife did not tell me anything about her condition before we got married, until February this year that she confessed to me that she had never experienced menstruation in her life.
“I thought she was lying, so I went to see her parents who told me it was true, and that they thought their daughter explained to me before we got married,” Olayiwole told the court.
The News Agency Nigeria reports that the defendant was absent in spite several summons by the court.
The court’s president, Mr, Olalekan Akande, dissolved the marriage, saying that both parties had made up their minds to part ways.
Akande said that both parties were free to remarry anybody of their choice, adding that the document of the marriage dissolution should be sent to Kemi.
Daily Post
NDLEA nabs female Kenyan dancer with cocaine
A 42-year-old Kenyan female dancer, Samira Johnson was on Tuesday apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, with cocaine weighing 5.345kg at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
This was disclosed by the anti-narcotic agency spokesperson, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, in a statement in Lagos.
Ofoyeju noted that female dancer allegedly hid the drugs in some school bags.
He said, “The suspect was found in possession of four blue parcels of white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine weighing 5.345kg.
“Johnson, who was born in Mombasa, travelled with a Kenyan international passport with number A1536020.
“She departed Bujumbura in Burundi en-route Nairobi to Lagos on a Kenyan Airways flight.
“During routine screening, she was found with four parcels of cocaine concealed in school bags. She claimed to be a professional dancer in Kenya.
“She claimed she was given the school bags in Bujumbura by a friend to deliver in Nigeria.
“Two Nigerian auto parts dealers based in Uganda (names withheld) were equally caught importing 6.250kg of cocaine and 1.490kg of heroin, respectively, into the country.
“All the cases are being investigated and I urge members of the public to report suspected drug traffickers to the nearest NDLEA office.
The anti-narcotic agency spokesperson disclosed that the culprit will be arraigned in court soon.
Daily Post
This was disclosed by the anti-narcotic agency spokesperson, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, in a statement in Lagos.
Ofoyeju noted that female dancer allegedly hid the drugs in some school bags.
“She departed Bujumbura in Burundi en-route Nairobi to Lagos on a Kenyan Airways flight.
“During routine screening, she was found with four parcels of cocaine concealed in school bags. She claimed to be a professional dancer in Kenya.
“Two Nigerian auto parts dealers based in Uganda (names withheld) were equally caught importing 6.250kg of cocaine and 1.490kg of heroin, respectively, into the country.
“All the cases are being investigated and I urge members of the public to report suspected drug traffickers to the nearest NDLEA office.
The anti-narcotic agency spokesperson disclosed that the culprit will be arraigned in court soon.
Daily Post
Man butchers father to death in Enugu
Residents of Umuogboagu in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State have been thrown into mourning following the brutal murder of an elder in the community by his son.
DAILY POST gathered that the deceased was butchered to death by his son, identified as Chijioke Onyeke, over yet to be established reason.
A village source hinted that Chijioke had returned home on the ill-fated day and descended on his father with a matchet, giving him several cuts on the head.
The spokesman of the police in Enugu State, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, DSP, who confirmed the incident, said “the cuts gave severe injury on the head of the deceased. He was rushed to St. Mary’s Hospital, Ogurute for medical attention, where he was also confirmed dead.
“Meanwhile, the dead body of the deceased is now deposited at the General Hospital mortuary Ogurute Enugu Ezike for autopsy while the suspect having been arrested, is helping the operatives in their investigations”.
Amaraizu further confirmed that one Chidi Agbo of Ette Center in Igboeze North Local Government Area has been arrested for allegedly beating his mother to death over a yet to be identified reason.
It was gathered that the deceased, Mrs. Virginia Agbo, was beaten to death inside her room.
“The suspect is helping the police in their investigations while the dead body of the deceased is now deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary at Ogurute, Enugu Ezike, Enugu State”, the police spokesman disclosed.
Daily Post
DAILY POST gathered that the deceased was butchered to death by his son, identified as Chijioke Onyeke, over yet to be established reason.
A village source hinted that Chijioke had returned home on the ill-fated day and descended on his father with a matchet, giving him several cuts on the head.
Amaraizu further confirmed that one Chidi Agbo of Ette Center in Igboeze North Local Government Area has been arrested for allegedly beating his mother to death over a yet to be identified reason.
It was gathered that the deceased, Mrs. Virginia Agbo, was beaten to death inside her room.
“The suspect is helping the police in their investigations while the dead body of the deceased is now deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary at Ogurute, Enugu Ezike, Enugu State”, the police spokesman disclosed.
Daily Post
Subsidy removal: Nigerians gear up for showdown against Buhari
Barely one month to the end of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, a stage appears set for a showdown between the President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari and the vast majority of Nigerians.
This followed the passage of the 2015 budget of N4.493tr, with allocation for subsidy on petrol conspicuously missing.
The development, which has already started generating tension across the country, is largely seen as a landmine on the way of the incoming administration.
The national budget, which was earlier passed by the House of Representatives last week, was N51bn higher than the N4.425tr submitted to both chambers of the National Assembly by the federal government.
This is also coming barely few days after Buhari’s ally and former petroleum minister, Professor Tam David-West gave Nigerians hope by declaring that the incoming president could reduce petrol pump price for as low as N40 per litre.
However, the senate approval of the budget on Tuesday, has confirmed the non inclusion of fuel subsidy provision in the document but contained N21bn for the funding of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.
The Chairman, Joint Senate Committee on Appropriation and Finance, Mohammed Maccido confirmed that the executive did not make provision for subsidy in the 2015 budget and that the National Assembly left it the way it was presented.
“There was no provision in the budget for subsidy but I believe there should be provision for it especially since there was already, a disagreement between the oil marketers and the federal government over subsidy payment”, he had stated.
DAILY POST recalls that the last time the federal government tried full removal of petrol subsidy, massive protest broke out simultaneously across the country, forcing government to reduce the price from N141 to N97 and later N87, few weeks to the March 28 presidential election.
The protest later led to the arrest of some activists as well as the killing of some protesters by overzealous security men.
One of the foremost critics of President Jonathan’s government, Balarabe Musa, had described the subsidy removal as “imperialist” and warned of “looming anarchy.”
Musa said, “The imperialist guided unilateral, vulgar and mindless removal of oil subsidy by the President of Nigeria, even if the subsidy existed before, has opened the floodgate of anarchy.
“It is also so unfortunate that the president did not have the executive and moral capacity to redirect the outcome associated with the decision.
“As it stands, the National Assembly, the civil society and labour should immediately take up the mandate of leading the people back from the anarchy that is looming. Any one of the above that takes up the mantle first should be supported by others. If not, what is going to happen in Nigeria will be a child’s place to the Arab Springs”.
Considering the above experience of January, 2012, the incoming Buhari’s administration may be heading for a collision course with ordinary Nigerians, who see petrol subsidy as the only major benefit the common man derives from the country as an oil producing nation.
Already, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have warned against any move by the government to remove subsidy from petroleum products.
Speaking on Wednesday, Deputy President of the NLC and chairman of the joint May Day celebration of the NLC and TUC, Peter Adeyemi, told journalists that organised Labour believed that government had never subsidised petroleum products.
The Labour leader lamented that the bane of the sector had been corruption, pointing out that past government tried without success to address the issue.
He said: “If you are asking whether we will back the removal of fuel subsidy, the answer is no. It is not as easy as that. You know that it has been a very contentious issue over the years. We have always said that there is nothing like subsidy. It is all about corruption.
“Let me take your mind back and say that this same issue has been something that numerous government have embarked upon without an end. During the Olusegun Obasanjo’s government, this exercise was embarked upon by the government about 11 times and both the NLC and the TUC engaged the government.
“So, it is like the more you look, the less you see. For us in Labour, we are not going to support that because it is outside our mandate as leaders. We hope that the incoming government, in a desperate bid to look for money, will not look for money in the wrong place”.
Meanwhile, further enquiries by DAILY POST showed that Nigerians are worried because they cannot see any infrastructures established with the funds the Federal Government derived from the partial removal of petrol subsidy in spite of all the juicy promises made by President Goodluck Jonathan, the governors and some of his ministers.
Before the partial removal of petrol subsidy, President Goodluck Jonathan explained that after consultations with segments of the society, “many have now been appreciative of the need to totally deregulate the economy so as to open it for investment as well as stimulate development from the proceeds”.
At the 2011 Christmas Carol held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa Abuja, President Jonathan said the removal of fuel subsidy would bring only temporary pains, which will fade as Nigerians begin to reap the benefits of the removal.
He said, “I promise that the pains will not be the way people are thinking. The pains will be temporary, and after few weeks or months, Nigerians will be better off, the economy will be repositioned”.
The governors under the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, while also advancing support for it, said subsidy removal “will create employments and begged Nigerians to “sacrifice” and “trust” them to properly utilize funds that would be saved through the policy.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor of Rivers State said, “It is a sacrifice that we must make as a nation for the country to move forward”.
However, according to a public affairs analyst, Victor Anya, “it was later revealed that the governors only backed the removal of petrol subsidy so they could have more money to control since the Federal Government would no longer need to make deduction from their share of the Excess Crude proceeds to fund the subsidy scheme.
Anya recalled that, “On January 1st, 2012, when Nigerians were preparing to celebrate the new year, the Federal Government announced the removal of petrol subsidy which caused the price of the commodity to jump from N65:00 to N141:00.
“As the protests persisted across the country, President Goodluck Jonathan mobilized some of his ministers and aides to speak potently in support of the subsidy removal. Prominent among them were the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezanni Alison Madueke, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngonzi Okonjo-Iweala, the then Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi etc.
“When Nigerians doubted President Goodluck Jonathan’s sincerity on the proper use of the funds from the removal of petrol subsidy as previous governments have in the past, increased the prices of petroleum products with the same promises to use the proceeds to provide infrastructures but failed to keep their promises after such increases, Dr. Iweala said, ‘We plead for patience. The impact of this will begin to show soon. We intend to start publishing the amount we are saving from this withdrawal of oil subsidy monthly and also where we are directing them. Nigerians will be participants in this process. In few months prices will begin to come down depending on market forces’.
“President Jonathan claimed subsidy had gulped N1.43 trillion by 2011 end. He said the government would realize N1.134 trillion from the removal of petrol subsidy. Thus, as petrol now sells at N97, (and lately N87), which is 50 percent increase from the previous price of N65, the Federal Government would have ranked in about N1 trillion in one year!
“Nevertheless, after making these promises, there is nothing on ground to show for the money which the Federal Government has realized from the removal of petrol subsidy! For instance, the Turn around Maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery scheduled for the First Quarter of 2012 has not yet began. The construction of eight major roads, two bridges, six railways, 19 irrigations, healthcare centers for three million pregnant women, etc are yet to commence.
“Can Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala speak passionately on the benefits from the withdrawal of oil subsidy on Nigerians the way she spoke in its favour when the withdrawal commenced? Where are the buses for the urban mass transit which the Federal Government promised? Where are the palliatives President Jonathan and the governors promised Nigerians?
“Immediately after the removal of petrol subsidy, the Federal Government promised Nigerians better life under the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). Under SURE-P, the government promised the construction of eight major roads and two bridges, provision of healthcare for three million pregnant women, six railway projects, 19 irrigation projects etc. Now, it is time to ask questions and the questions Nigerians are asking are: (a) Where are the eight constructed major roads located? (b) Where are the two constructed major bridges sited? (c) Where are the healthcare centers for the three million pregnant women located? (d) Which part of the country are the 19 irrigation projects situated? Nigerians want President Jonathan, the governors, Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and the then Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to answer these questions because they championed the cause to remove petrol subsidy!”
He added that, “When the Federal Government removed petrol subsidy and promised to use the proceeds to provide the above mentioned infrastructures, Nigerians made it known to the government that the absence of infrastructures in the country was not as a result of lack of money but due to corruption because every year budgets are made for them.
“Also, Nigerians doubted the sincerity of government to use the proceeds from the removal of petrol subsidy for the above mentioned infrastructures since previous governments have also removed subsidy from kerosene and diesel without anything to show for the money the government received. But Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala assured Nigerians of the judicious use of the funds. Now, let her come on air and tell Nigerians where those projects they promised in January 2012 are sited. But I do not blame the likes of Dr. Ngozi Iweala rather I blame the Nigerian masses, Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Save Nigeria Group, Civil Liberty Organization and other civil society groups who have refused to ask questions on how the subsidy funds are being used. Successive governments have failed to keep their promises because Nigerians don’t ask questions!
“With the elimination of petrol subsidy, the standard of living of ordinary citizens of this country has fallen drastically because the price of everything has gone up. A sachet of pure water now cost N10 as against the previous price of N5. Small and large scale businesses are folding up due to high cost of operation; leading to increase in unemployment rate.
“Thus, from all indications, the Federal Government has failed the masses once again because there is nothing to show for the money that was realized from the elimination of petrol subsidy in 2012. Since the Federal Government has failed in its promises, it should therefore revert the pump price of petrol to its former price of N65”.
Expectedly, as days go by, more angry reactions would trail the planned total removal of petrol subsidy. More so when a major petrol scarcity is looming in the country over government’s alleged failure to pay outstanding debt to oil importers.
With this development, it would take Buhari’s administration a supplementary budget to wriggle out of the looming labour action.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Ahmad Lawan, has hinted that despite passing the 2015 Appropriation Bill, the National Assembly was still expecting the President-elect to send a supplementary budget to the 8th Assembly, when he assumes power from May 29, 2015.
Daily Post
This followed the passage of the 2015 budget of N4.493tr, with allocation for subsidy on petrol conspicuously missing.
The national budget, which was earlier passed by the House of Representatives last week, was N51bn higher than the N4.425tr submitted to both chambers of the National Assembly by the federal government.
This is also coming barely few days after Buhari’s ally and former petroleum minister, Professor Tam David-West gave Nigerians hope by declaring that the incoming president could reduce petrol pump price for as low as N40 per litre.
However, the senate approval of the budget on Tuesday, has confirmed the non inclusion of fuel subsidy provision in the document but contained N21bn for the funding of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.
“There was no provision in the budget for subsidy but I believe there should be provision for it especially since there was already, a disagreement between the oil marketers and the federal government over subsidy payment”, he had stated.
DAILY POST recalls that the last time the federal government tried full removal of petrol subsidy, massive protest broke out simultaneously across the country, forcing government to reduce the price from N141 to N97 and later N87, few weeks to the March 28 presidential election.
The protest later led to the arrest of some activists as well as the killing of some protesters by overzealous security men.
One of the foremost critics of President Jonathan’s government, Balarabe Musa, had described the subsidy removal as “imperialist” and warned of “looming anarchy.”
Musa said, “The imperialist guided unilateral, vulgar and mindless removal of oil subsidy by the President of Nigeria, even if the subsidy existed before, has opened the floodgate of anarchy.
“It is also so unfortunate that the president did not have the executive and moral capacity to redirect the outcome associated with the decision.
“As it stands, the National Assembly, the civil society and labour should immediately take up the mandate of leading the people back from the anarchy that is looming. Any one of the above that takes up the mantle first should be supported by others. If not, what is going to happen in Nigeria will be a child’s place to the Arab Springs”.
Considering the above experience of January, 2012, the incoming Buhari’s administration may be heading for a collision course with ordinary Nigerians, who see petrol subsidy as the only major benefit the common man derives from the country as an oil producing nation.
Already, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have warned against any move by the government to remove subsidy from petroleum products.
Speaking on Wednesday, Deputy President of the NLC and chairman of the joint May Day celebration of the NLC and TUC, Peter Adeyemi, told journalists that organised Labour believed that government had never subsidised petroleum products.
The Labour leader lamented that the bane of the sector had been corruption, pointing out that past government tried without success to address the issue.
He said: “If you are asking whether we will back the removal of fuel subsidy, the answer is no. It is not as easy as that. You know that it has been a very contentious issue over the years. We have always said that there is nothing like subsidy. It is all about corruption.
“Let me take your mind back and say that this same issue has been something that numerous government have embarked upon without an end. During the Olusegun Obasanjo’s government, this exercise was embarked upon by the government about 11 times and both the NLC and the TUC engaged the government.
“So, it is like the more you look, the less you see. For us in Labour, we are not going to support that because it is outside our mandate as leaders. We hope that the incoming government, in a desperate bid to look for money, will not look for money in the wrong place”.
Meanwhile, further enquiries by DAILY POST showed that Nigerians are worried because they cannot see any infrastructures established with the funds the Federal Government derived from the partial removal of petrol subsidy in spite of all the juicy promises made by President Goodluck Jonathan, the governors and some of his ministers.
Before the partial removal of petrol subsidy, President Goodluck Jonathan explained that after consultations with segments of the society, “many have now been appreciative of the need to totally deregulate the economy so as to open it for investment as well as stimulate development from the proceeds”.
At the 2011 Christmas Carol held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa Abuja, President Jonathan said the removal of fuel subsidy would bring only temporary pains, which will fade as Nigerians begin to reap the benefits of the removal.
He said, “I promise that the pains will not be the way people are thinking. The pains will be temporary, and after few weeks or months, Nigerians will be better off, the economy will be repositioned”.
The governors under the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, while also advancing support for it, said subsidy removal “will create employments and begged Nigerians to “sacrifice” and “trust” them to properly utilize funds that would be saved through the policy.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor of Rivers State said, “It is a sacrifice that we must make as a nation for the country to move forward”.
Anya recalled that, “On January 1st, 2012, when Nigerians were preparing to celebrate the new year, the Federal Government announced the removal of petrol subsidy which caused the price of the commodity to jump from N65:00 to N141:00.
“As the protests persisted across the country, President Goodluck Jonathan mobilized some of his ministers and aides to speak potently in support of the subsidy removal. Prominent among them were the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezanni Alison Madueke, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngonzi Okonjo-Iweala, the then Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi etc.
“When Nigerians doubted President Goodluck Jonathan’s sincerity on the proper use of the funds from the removal of petrol subsidy as previous governments have in the past, increased the prices of petroleum products with the same promises to use the proceeds to provide infrastructures but failed to keep their promises after such increases, Dr. Iweala said, ‘We plead for patience. The impact of this will begin to show soon. We intend to start publishing the amount we are saving from this withdrawal of oil subsidy monthly and also where we are directing them. Nigerians will be participants in this process. In few months prices will begin to come down depending on market forces’.
“President Jonathan claimed subsidy had gulped N1.43 trillion by 2011 end. He said the government would realize N1.134 trillion from the removal of petrol subsidy. Thus, as petrol now sells at N97, (and lately N87), which is 50 percent increase from the previous price of N65, the Federal Government would have ranked in about N1 trillion in one year!
“Nevertheless, after making these promises, there is nothing on ground to show for the money which the Federal Government has realized from the removal of petrol subsidy! For instance, the Turn around Maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery scheduled for the First Quarter of 2012 has not yet began. The construction of eight major roads, two bridges, six railways, 19 irrigations, healthcare centers for three million pregnant women, etc are yet to commence.
“Can Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala speak passionately on the benefits from the withdrawal of oil subsidy on Nigerians the way she spoke in its favour when the withdrawal commenced? Where are the buses for the urban mass transit which the Federal Government promised? Where are the palliatives President Jonathan and the governors promised Nigerians?
“Immediately after the removal of petrol subsidy, the Federal Government promised Nigerians better life under the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). Under SURE-P, the government promised the construction of eight major roads and two bridges, provision of healthcare for three million pregnant women, six railway projects, 19 irrigation projects etc. Now, it is time to ask questions and the questions Nigerians are asking are: (a) Where are the eight constructed major roads located? (b) Where are the two constructed major bridges sited? (c) Where are the healthcare centers for the three million pregnant women located? (d) Which part of the country are the 19 irrigation projects situated? Nigerians want President Jonathan, the governors, Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and the then Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to answer these questions because they championed the cause to remove petrol subsidy!”
He added that, “When the Federal Government removed petrol subsidy and promised to use the proceeds to provide the above mentioned infrastructures, Nigerians made it known to the government that the absence of infrastructures in the country was not as a result of lack of money but due to corruption because every year budgets are made for them.
“Also, Nigerians doubted the sincerity of government to use the proceeds from the removal of petrol subsidy for the above mentioned infrastructures since previous governments have also removed subsidy from kerosene and diesel without anything to show for the money the government received. But Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala assured Nigerians of the judicious use of the funds. Now, let her come on air and tell Nigerians where those projects they promised in January 2012 are sited. But I do not blame the likes of Dr. Ngozi Iweala rather I blame the Nigerian masses, Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Save Nigeria Group, Civil Liberty Organization and other civil society groups who have refused to ask questions on how the subsidy funds are being used. Successive governments have failed to keep their promises because Nigerians don’t ask questions!
“With the elimination of petrol subsidy, the standard of living of ordinary citizens of this country has fallen drastically because the price of everything has gone up. A sachet of pure water now cost N10 as against the previous price of N5. Small and large scale businesses are folding up due to high cost of operation; leading to increase in unemployment rate.
“Thus, from all indications, the Federal Government has failed the masses once again because there is nothing to show for the money that was realized from the elimination of petrol subsidy in 2012. Since the Federal Government has failed in its promises, it should therefore revert the pump price of petrol to its former price of N65”.
Expectedly, as days go by, more angry reactions would trail the planned total removal of petrol subsidy. More so when a major petrol scarcity is looming in the country over government’s alleged failure to pay outstanding debt to oil importers.
With this development, it would take Buhari’s administration a supplementary budget to wriggle out of the looming labour action.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Ahmad Lawan, has hinted that despite passing the 2015 Appropriation Bill, the National Assembly was still expecting the President-elect to send a supplementary budget to the 8th Assembly, when he assumes power from May 29, 2015.
Daily Post
FG regrets Nigerians’ execution in Indonesia, warns citizens against drugs trafficking
The federal government has expressed disappointment over the execution of Nigerians by Indonesian government on Wednesday.
In a statement by the Ministry of foreign affairs yesterday, it stated, “The Federal Government of Nigeria has received with deep disappointment, news of the execution of 4 (four) Nigerians, Martin Anderson, Okwudili Oyatanze, Jaminu Abashin and Sylvester Obiekwe by the government of Indonesia for drug related offences.
“These executions have taken place despite spirited pleas for clemency made at the highest level by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and more recently, Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali,” It said .
The statement recalled that the Minister of Foreign Affairs on 21st April, 2015 during the 10th Anniversary of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) Summit which took place in Indonesia, Jakarta.
The federal government also expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased.
It has asked the Indonesian Government for the repatriation of the remains of the executed persons so that they could be accorded decent burial in their various communities.
“The federal government seizes this opportunity to once again, warn all Nigerians to desist from drug trafficking and other offences that attract maximum punishment in several countries of the world.
“The federal government will continue to promote the welfare and protect the lives of Nigerians abroad, no matter their circumstances,” it maintained.
.Daily Post
In a statement by the Ministry of foreign affairs yesterday, it stated, “The Federal Government of Nigeria has received with deep disappointment, news of the execution of 4 (four) Nigerians, Martin Anderson, Okwudili Oyatanze, Jaminu Abashin and Sylvester Obiekwe by the government of Indonesia for drug related offences.
“These executions have taken place despite spirited pleas for clemency made at the highest level by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and more recently, Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali,” It said .
The federal government also expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased.
It has asked the Indonesian Government for the repatriation of the remains of the executed persons so that they could be accorded decent burial in their various communities.
“The federal government seizes this opportunity to once again, warn all Nigerians to desist from drug trafficking and other offences that attract maximum punishment in several countries of the world.
“The federal government will continue to promote the welfare and protect the lives of Nigerians abroad, no matter their circumstances,” it maintained.
.Daily Post
Leicester 1-3 Chelsea match report: Didier Drogba, John Terry and Ramires complete comeback
Chelsea are just one win away from their first title for five years after coming from behind to beat Leicester.
Two of the key veterans from Jose Mourinho's first League championship in England a decade ago, Didier Drogba and John Terry, made the difference in the second half.
The visitors were heading toward a shock defeat when Leicester, playing with renewed confidence after four straight wins, deservedly took the lead just before half-time through Marc Albrighton.
But one suspects Mourinho had a few stern words to say to his players at the break as Chelsea were unrecognisable after the break.
Drogba arguably performed the biggest U-Turn of all. As bad as he was in the opening 45 minutes, he was at his beastly best after the break.
The 37-year-old fired them level within three minutes of the restart - his first goal for over four months.
Then it was Terry's turn to get into the act, turning the ball in from close range after Kasper Schmeichel had saved from Gary Cahill.
The coup de grace was supplied by Ramires, with a fine strike into the top corner to send the away fans into delirium.
'Boring, boring Chelsea', 'are you watching Arsenal?' and 'we're going to win the League' were sung at the top of their lungs.
This result means another victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday will see them secure top spot with three games to spare.
The Independent
Arsenal Bans Player`s Mother Over `Assault`
Arsenal have reportedly banned the mother of young player Ainsley Maitland-Niles after she allegedly assaulted the club negotiator at an Under-21s game.
Police were called to the Gunners' London Colney training ground last month, and arrested the woman on suspicion of assaulting two people.
No further action was taken.
Arsene Wenger's negotiator, Dick Law, was reportedly struck after having a meeting about the player.
Maitland-Niles has represented the first-team this season, becoming the youngest Arsenal player to appear in a Champions League game in December against Galatasaray, aged just 17 years and 102 days.
He made his Premier League debut against Newcastle four days later.
In pictures:
Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea
His mother, Jule, has been informed she can no longer attend the training ground, despite being released without charge by the police, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Despite the ban, Niles apparently turned up to an U21s game on Friday, and threatened to drag her son off the pitch.
Police were once again called, and she received a warning.
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire police said: “Police were called at 4.11pm on March 20 to the location to reports two people had allegedly been assaulted by a woman.
"They suffered superficial injuries. Officers attended and a 36-year-old woman from Watford was arrested on suspicion of assault.
“She has since been released with no further action to be taken against her. Police were called to the location on Friday, April 24 at 2.40pm to reports a woman was refusing to leave the premises. Officers attended and the woman was issued with a warning.”
In spite of the incidents, the Gunners still have a positive attitude towards Maitland-Niles, who is seen as one of their most prized young assets.
Telegraph
Wednesday 29 April 2015
REGRET: I PRAYED TO GOD TO GET ME OUT OF RELATIONSHIP WITH YETUNDE BUSTLINE-BABA T
Popular Yoruba actor, Babatunde Bernard fondly known as Baba Tee was in the news recently when it was reported that his purported marriage to London-based writer, Yetunde Bustline had packed up.
However, in this CHAT
with E24-7 MAGAZINE’S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BIODUN KUPOLUYI, he insists that he was never married to Yetunde, and that he suffered a lot in the relationship before God got him out of it. Read on…
with E24-7 MAGAZINE’S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BIODUN KUPOLUYI, he insists that he was never married to Yetunde, and that he suffered a lot in the relationship before God got him out of it. Read on…
Are you back in Nigeria now?
Yes, I have always been in Nigeria. I just travel for brief periods, and return, but I’ve been in Nigeria for about eight months now.
How would you describe YOUR experience in the UK?
experience in the UK?
It was full of ups and downs in terms of jobs. Truly, there is no place like Nigeria; we see lots of opportunities HERE, and I’m proud to be a Nigerian.
, and I’m proud to be a Nigerian.
While you were staying in the UK, we got to know much about YOUR relationship with Yetunde Bustline especially on social media; what is really going on, were you married to her?
relationship with Yetunde Bustline especially on social media; what is really going on, were you married to her?
No, never! I was never married to Yetunde Bustline, and I never lived in London. I just go on visits the way normal people do. As for our relationship, I believe age is indeed a barrier in relationships. Every man will be happy when they have control over their woman, but I didn’t have any control over her. Besides, I don’t like people who are too extroverted. She was always quick to expose anything that happened between us. I never caught her with any man, but I just thought I needed to keep a distance from her. Many people thought that I was married to her, but that wasn’t so. Contrary to what people believe, I also didn’t benefit anything from her. Many people even thought that she got me a British stay, and that I’m lazy, but I work and earn my own money. I MAKE MONEY from my movies. People living in London are not necessarily better off than those of us here in Nigeria. I just thank God that I’m not with her again.
from my movies. People living in London are not necessarily better off than those of us here in Nigeria. I just thank God that I’m not with her again.
So you mean you are off her hook?
Yes, I’m off.
What was the attraction in the first place?
When I went to the UK, I was not in any relationship. I also have to advise girls to be careful too. They usually go after internet fraudsters, and the so-called big boys. They usually look down on people like us. But my relationship with Bustline STARTED on a platonic note. I had never met her before, and because I’m not an internet person, I didn’t even know anything about her. It was later that I found out about some of the things she had done. However, I still continued with her, because I believe that I don’t have to judge anyone by his or her past. We continued our normal relationship, but I realised that it couldn’t work, so I opted out. You can check my Facebook page, and other social media, she is not there. I’m not attached to her in any way.
on a platonic note. I had never met her before, and because I’m not an internet person, I didn’t even know anything about her. It was later that I found out about some of the things she had done. However, I still continued with her, because I believe that I don’t have to judge anyone by his or her past. We continued our normal relationship, but I realised that it couldn’t work, so I opted out. You can check my Facebook page, and other social media, she is not there. I’m not attached to her in any way.
Was it easy for you to get out of that relationship?
It wasn’t, and at the same time, it was. That was the first relationship I had that my every move was being tracked. I prayed to God to GET me out of the relationship. My big brothers in the media like Biodun Kupoluyi, Seun Oloketuyi, and Femi Davids also advised me on how to handle the issue because this lady we’re talking about did a lot of things to me in the UK. She went about threatening me; you know I was a new comer then, and I was scared, but they told me that since I did not commit any crime, she can’t just threaten to deal with me with immigration. I yielded to all the advice they gave me, and I found out that God has done it for me. I kept on thinking about the best way to opt out, so there’s a lady I met about two years ago, and we came back together. We STARTED a relationship in Nigeria, though I first met her in UK. Since she has been with me, Yetunde could not call, and when she calls, my girlfriend will pick it and that was how God ended it for me.
me out of the relationship. My big brothers in the media like Biodun Kupoluyi, Seun Oloketuyi, and Femi Davids also advised me on how to handle the issue because this lady we’re talking about did a lot of things to me in the UK. She went about threatening me; you know I was a new comer then, and I was scared, but they told me that since I did not commit any crime, she can’t just threaten to deal with me with immigration. I yielded to all the advice they gave me, and I found out that God has done it for me. I kept on thinking about the best way to opt out, so there’s a lady I met about two years ago, and we came back together. We STARTED a relationship in Nigeria, though I first met her in UK. Since she has been with me, Yetunde could not call, and when she calls, my girlfriend will pick it and that was how God ended it for me.
You’ve been out of that relationship for how long now?
I’ve been out of that relationship for eight months now.
What did you learn from the relationship?
I learnt a lot of things from that relationship. I learnt that age difference is a barrier in a relationship. I also learnt that it’s good to keep some things secret in a relationship, because by the time you expose everything, people will START telling you how to live YOUR life. Though some might be lucky in relationships with wide age difference, but I think it doesn’t usually work, especially when there is distance between you two. It’s even okay if your partner is a little bit older than you, but when it’s a gap of eight years, I’m telling you it’s something else.
telling you how to live YOUR life. Though some might be lucky in relationships with wide age difference, but I think it doesn’t usually work, especially when there is distance between you two. It’s even okay if your partner is a little bit older than you, but when it’s a gap of eight years, I’m telling you it’s something else.
Did your parents or siblings warn you about the relationship?
Of course that is expected of them. Everyone was concerned because I was just STARTING my life, and I was already hooked with a mother of two who lives in the UK and threatens me with immigration. It’s always good to hook up with a woman who listens to you. Someone you can tell to sit down, and she will sit down. Though I’m an orphan, my sisters really tried for me, especially Bose Akinremi and even Pasuma.
my life, and I was already hooked with a mother of two who lives in the UK and threatens me with immigration. It’s always good to hook up with a woman who listens to you. Someone you can tell to sit down, and she will sit down. Though I’m an orphan, my sisters really tried for me, especially Bose Akinremi and even Pasuma.
What is Baba T up to now?
I just completed work on my movie. I also have plans to release some songs because I have musical talent similar to the likes of Gbenga Adeboye.
C: E24-7 MAGAZINE’S
I did not ask anyone to bar AIT from covering my activities - Buhari
"The time for change has come and we must avoid making the same mistakes that the outgoing government made" the statement read in part.The statement also stated that Gen Buhari instructed his staff to"steer clear of all dealings with the media, and leave all media affairs to his official media team. "I would like everyone to henceforth stay within his/her defined area of responsibility,” Buhari said.
LIB
None of the rescued 293 females is from Chibok - Borno govt
Speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri today April 29th, the state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Mohammed Bulama, say the rescued females are from Bumsiri village in Damboa Local government area and were all kidnapped from the village by the sect members.
"These girls and women rescued are still our daughters as much as the Chibok girls and we have to commend the military for liberating them, hoping that the rest will equally be liberated. Though everyone had thought they were the Chibok girls because of the hype surrounding the abduction of the girls, but we should not lose sight of the fact that they are as important as the Chibok girls and those that are still in captivity, which we hope would be liberated soon. But at the moment, we are looking up to the time the 293 women and girls would be handed to us so that we can begin the process of rehabilitating and reintegrating them back into the society.” he saidLIB
FG demands return of corpses of 4 Nigerians executed in Indonesia
In a statement released by the Public Communications Division of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, FG condemned their execution and condoled with their families. The statement below...
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has received with deep disappointment, news of the execution of four Nigerians, Messrs Martin Anderson, Okwudili Oyatanze, Jaminu Abashin and Sylvester Obiekwe by the government of Indonesia for drug-related offences. These executions have taken place despite spirited pleas for clemency made at the highest level by President Goodluck Jonathan, and more recently Ambassador Aminu Wali, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on April 21, during the 10th Anniversary of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership Summit, which took place in Jakarta, Indonesia,
The Federal Government wishes to express its condolences to the families of the deceased. It has asked the Indonesian Government for the repatriation of the remains of the executed persons, so that they can be accorded decent burial in their various communities. The Federal Government seizes this opportunity to once again, warn all Nigerians to desist from drug trafficking and other offences that attract maximum punishment in several countries of the world. The Federal Government will continue to promote the welfare and protect the lives of Nigerians abroad, no matter their circumstances. Furthermore, government is committed to engage the government of Indonesia and other friendly countries regarding the conclusion of Prisoner Transfer Agreements and other bilateral means of safeguarding the interest and welfare of Nigerians.”the statement read.LIB
Real Madrid eye Bale-Hazard swap deal
Real Madrid may offer Gareth Bale to Chelsea in a straight swap for Eden Hazard this summer.
Bale has endured a difficult second season at the Santiago Bernabeu, plagued by bad form, injuries and regular assault from fans.
Last week, Madrid Castilla coach, Zinedine Zidane, admitted that he likes Hazard a lot and is keeping an eye on the Chelsea forward.
The Belgian has been in amazing form for the Premier League leaders this season, netting 18 goals and providing 10 assists. On Sunday, he was named PFA Player of the Year, ahead of Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Manchester United’s David De Gea.
“There are players I keep an eye on and who I like a lot, like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, of course. They’re fantastic players, but I like Eden Hazard a lot too,” Zidane told Fifa.com.
“I enjoy everything he does on the pitch. I like the way he carries himself, that decisive streak in him and the fact that he’s improving every year. He can still get better too.
“I think he’s a big reason why Chelsea are on top of the table.”
Chelsea recently tied Hazard’s long-term future to the club, by ensuring he signed a bumper five-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge.
However, the 24-year-old has now emerged as a potential transfer target for the La Liga giants
Daily Post
Bale has endured a difficult second season at the Santiago Bernabeu, plagued by bad form, injuries and regular assault from fans.
Last week, Madrid Castilla coach, Zinedine Zidane, admitted that he likes Hazard a lot and is keeping an eye on the Chelsea forward.
“I enjoy everything he does on the pitch. I like the way he carries himself, that decisive streak in him and the fact that he’s improving every year. He can still get better too.
“I think he’s a big reason why Chelsea are on top of the table.”
Chelsea recently tied Hazard’s long-term future to the club, by ensuring he signed a bumper five-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge.
However, the 24-year-old has now emerged as a potential transfer target for the La Liga giants
Daily Post
Remove fuel subsidy, face our wrath – NLC, TUC warn Buhari
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have warned against any move by the government to remove subsidy from petroleum products.
Nigeria’s National Assembly had passed the 2015 appropriation bill without allocating any money for subsidy payment.
Speaking on Wednesday, Deputy President of the NLC and chairman of the joint May Day celebration of the NLC and TUC, Peter Adeyemi, told journalists that organised Labour believed that government had never subsidised petroleum products.
The Labour leader lamented that the bane of the sector had been corruption, pointing out that past government tried without success to address the issue.
He said: “If you are asking whether we will back the removal of fuel subsidy, the answer is no. It is not as easy as that. You know that it has been a very contentious issue over the years. We have always said that there is nothing like subsidy. It is all about corruption.
“Let me take your mind back and say that this same issue has been something that numerous government have embarked upon without an end. During the Olusegun Obasanjo’s government, this exercise was embarked upon by the government about 11 times and both the NLC and the TUC engaged the government.
“So, it is like the more you look, the less you see. For us in Labour, we are not going to support that because it is outside our mandate as leaders. We hope that the incoming government, in a desperate bid to look for money, will not look for money in the wrong place”.
Daily Post
Nigeria’s National Assembly had passed the 2015 appropriation bill without allocating any money for subsidy payment.
Speaking on Wednesday, Deputy President of the NLC and chairman of the joint May Day celebration of the NLC and TUC, Peter Adeyemi, told journalists that organised Labour believed that government had never subsidised petroleum products.
“Let me take your mind back and say that this same issue has been something that numerous government have embarked upon without an end. During the Olusegun Obasanjo’s government, this exercise was embarked upon by the government about 11 times and both the NLC and the TUC engaged the government.
“So, it is like the more you look, the less you see. For us in Labour, we are not going to support that because it is outside our mandate as leaders. We hope that the incoming government, in a desperate bid to look for money, will not look for money in the wrong place”.
Daily Post
We are not on Witch-hunting mission- Buhari tells transition committee
The President-Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has charged members of his transition committee to refrain from witch-hunting anybody or going on a fault finding mission.
Buhari gave the charge as he inaugurated the 19-member in Abuja on Wednesday, adding that his administration will not engage in witch-hunting because he recognises that government is a continuum.
Appreciating members of the committee for their willingness to serve, the President-elect said that changing from one government to another involves complicated operational challenges, necessitating the incoming government to understand where the outgoing stopped and where to start from.
He said: “This assignment though onerous, it is well within your ability to accomplish, you are required to assess the information provided to you and advise me on its quality and accuracy.”
“It is a simple matter but you must have the right information if you are to shape appropriate policy decisions. Needless to repeat; that your committee and our government are not to witch-hunt or engage in fault finding.
“We want the facts and nothing but the facts, what has been done cannot be undone, our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past in an attempt to avoid similar errors.
“The time given for you to complete your assignment, two weeks, is short but because of the postponement of the election for six weeks from February 14 to March 28, the transition period has been truncated, we are obliged therefore to fast track steps to May 29.”
He however reminded members of the Ahmed Joda committee that not witch-hunting does not mean they should ignore essential aspects of their work.
On the chairman of the committee, Buhari said Joda is one of the surviving links between first republic civil service and the present day, encouraging members of the committee to prepare for hard work because Joda can be exerting at work.
Responding on behalf of the members, Mallam Ahmed Joda appreciated the President-Elect for considering them worthy of the assignment.
He said: “We as a committee are determined to do the best we can within the time that is allowed to accomplish your wishes and to make it possible for you to achieve your vision and all that you wish for our country.
“When I met you and you briefed me about this assignment, about the composition of the committee, I did observe that I’ve never served on a committee so weighty like this.
“I have people who are distinguished in their professions, who have their own enterprises and have their own businesses to look after and even serving governors and people in active service to the service of your incoming government and to the service of our motherland.”
According to Joda, the committee is committed and willing to work long hours to deliver on their tasks.
“I promise you that we’ll do our best because we are not only serving you, we are serving our people. We are going to try to begin to lay the foundation for a strong country where justice and peace prevail.”
Other members of the committee included Dr. Doyin Salami, Adamu Adamu,Wale Edun, Mrs. Bola Adesola, Dr. Festus Odumegu and Mrs. Nike Aboderin as well as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Oyegun.
Others are Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Boss Mustapha, Sen. Hadi Sirika, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, Alh. Abubakar Malami, Gen. Lawal Jafar Isa, Mohammed Hayatudeen, Solomon Dalong, Prof. Tam David West and the national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Daily Post
Buhari gave the charge as he inaugurated the 19-member in Abuja on Wednesday, adding that his administration will not engage in witch-hunting because he recognises that government is a continuum.
Appreciating members of the committee for their willingness to serve, the President-elect said that changing from one government to another involves complicated operational challenges, necessitating the incoming government to understand where the outgoing stopped and where to start from.
“It is a simple matter but you must have the right information if you are to shape appropriate policy decisions. Needless to repeat; that your committee and our government are not to witch-hunt or engage in fault finding.
“We want the facts and nothing but the facts, what has been done cannot be undone, our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past in an attempt to avoid similar errors.
“The time given for you to complete your assignment, two weeks, is short but because of the postponement of the election for six weeks from February 14 to March 28, the transition period has been truncated, we are obliged therefore to fast track steps to May 29.”
Responding on behalf of the members, Mallam Ahmed Joda appreciated the President-Elect for considering them worthy of the assignment.
He said: “We as a committee are determined to do the best we can within the time that is allowed to accomplish your wishes and to make it possible for you to achieve your vision and all that you wish for our country.
“When I met you and you briefed me about this assignment, about the composition of the committee, I did observe that I’ve never served on a committee so weighty like this.
“I have people who are distinguished in their professions, who have their own enterprises and have their own businesses to look after and even serving governors and people in active service to the service of your incoming government and to the service of our motherland.”
According to Joda, the committee is committed and willing to work long hours to deliver on their tasks.
“I promise you that we’ll do our best because we are not only serving you, we are serving our people. We are going to try to begin to lay the foundation for a strong country where justice and peace prevail.”
Other members of the committee included Dr. Doyin Salami, Adamu Adamu,Wale Edun, Mrs. Bola Adesola, Dr. Festus Odumegu and Mrs. Nike Aboderin as well as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Oyegun.
Others are Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Boss Mustapha, Sen. Hadi Sirika, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, Alh. Abubakar Malami, Gen. Lawal Jafar Isa, Mohammed Hayatudeen, Solomon Dalong, Prof. Tam David West and the national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
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