Sahara Weekly Magazine

Category: Business

“It is madness for anybody in our position to be looking for money” – VP, Yemi Osinbajo

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said it was sheer madness for anybody occupying public offices to be looking for money.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari told him repeatedly that at his age, his only heart’s desire was to see a great Nigeria.

He said Buhari had no other objective in office than that.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the Vice-President spoke while receiving a delegation of Christian Ministers Welfare Initiative also known as the Pastors’ Forum, Taraba State, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“This morning, I had a meeting with the President and he repeated to me twice, he said ‘at my age, there is only one thing I am looking for, I want to see a great Nigeria.’ He has no other objective and I feel very inspired by that,” Osinbajo reportedly told his guests.

He said anybody who had the opportunity of being the President of the country should only be thinking of how to improve the lot of the people.

Osinbajo said, “It is madness for anybody in our position to be looking for money.

“According to him, God put people in a position of authority for them to be able to do something for their people.

“I think if any Nigerian gets the chance to be President of the country, there is nothing he/she is looking for anymore, except that, while there, you improve the lot of the people.”

Osinbajo reiterated his position that no economy could tolerate the level of corruption seen in Nigeria without the consequence.

He regretted that while Nigerians were being killed by the Boko Haram fighters, people could not account for $15bn meant for the purchase of security equipment to fight the insurgents.

The Vice-President also explained how vandalism of oil installations had contributed to the recession being witnessed in the country.

He said Nigeria had lost several millions of barrels of crude oil due to the activities of militants in the Niger Delta.

On power, the Vice-President said the country was producing 5,000MW of power for the first time by early 2016, but by February 2016 the Forcados terminal was destroyed by militants.

As a result of the vandalism, he said 40 per cent of the gas used to fire the power plants was lost and the country was down to 2,500MW of power.

He observed that at the time the militants started blowing up oil and gas installations, the amnesty stipends were still being paid, insisting that they went violent because of ongoing investigation of corrupt persons.

“Nothing changed, the only reason is that we are investigating people who have stolen money,” Osinbajo said.

He added that the country was losing one million barrels of oil a day, nothing that, that was 60 per cent of the country’s revenues, and there was nowhere such an amount of revenue would be lost that people would not experience economic challenge and recession.

While expressing optimism that the country would come out of the recession, Osinbajo stated that “there is no question at all, God has a reason for bringing us in at this time and God helping us, we will see a change in this country.”

He urged the Church and all religious leaders to stand up against corruption, stressing that if this government had been doing the right thing by fighting corruption, the Church should support it.

He also assured his guests that the Federal Government was working hard to end the problem of the ravaging herdsmen.

Osinbajo said the President had instructed the police and the military to act and deal with the herdsmen’s menace.

He said those behind the herdsmen’s violence were criminals.

While calling on honest men in the country to work together, Osinbajo said God had structured Nigeria in such a way that no one could dominate another.

September 30, 2016
‘How LASUTH management made my Two-Year Old Son die’ – Star Actor, John Okafor AKA Mr Ibu laments

Most Nigerians who have seen popular comic actor, John Okafor, aka Mr. Ibu, in action will agree that he is a talented comedian and one of a few Nollywood practitioners that are naturally cut out for the roles that they play in the movies.

Okafor has, so far, been able to prove to his fans that he does not only live by making other people to laugh away their sorrows; he is also humour personified.

But the actor, in an interview with our correspondent, also reveals that despite his commitment to making people to laugh, he has had cause to be unhappy, even bitter, on some occasions.

On one of such, Okafor had an axe to grind with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba. He was so bitter that he almost instituted a court action against the management of the hospital.

Recounting what happened, he says, “The matter was actually between the Paediatric Department of the hospital and me. It was in 2011. My wife and our two-year-old son had been kidnapped. After I paid the ransom demanded and they were released by the kidnappers, I returned to Lagos from Enugu.

“Then on January 18, 2011, my son fell ill. He was diagnosed with inflammation of the liver. The hospital suggested that he should be scanned. At the same time, I was informed that I could take my son out of the hospital to get the scan done elsewhere. But the same people later declined, saying that everything had to be done in the hospital because he was too weak to be taken outside.

“After a while, I was told that there was no electricity in the hospital. When I asked if there was no standby generator, they said there was no fuel in it. I offered to pay for fuel only to be told that the man that operated the generator was not around. When I left the place and got back later, the man still had not returned. Then I was advised to write an application and to submit to the admin department.”

After writing the application, Okafor found that there was nobody to receive and treat it. While he was waiting, he was told that his son’s condition required blood transfusion. The actor did everything possible to ensure that the ailing boy was given treatment at the hospital, but his efforts were in vain. Finally, the little boy gave up the ghost.

“That was how my son died. Later, one of the doctors came to me and, without even sympathising with me, asked if I could release my boy’s corpse to him so that they could cut it open and use it to teach other medical students. In that moment, I felt like committing murder for the first time in my life.

“When I told my lawyer what happened at the hospital, he was shocked. He said it was actionable. I told him that I was ready to take the hospital management to court and sue it for $100 million in damages because my son’s death was caused by the carelessness of the professionals whose duty was to save his life. But my lawyer advised me to let go”.

Reflecting on his career, Okafor says he has been publicly embarrassed by fans at different times and in several places. “I quickly forgive them because I was the one that looked for trouble in the first place. On one occasion, somebody came to me and said, ‘Ibu, because of what your jokes have done to me and my family, I promised God that anywhere I meet you, I would slap your face.’ I told him them to go ahead. Then he slapped me so hard that I couldn’t see clearly for two hours,” he says.

Mr. Ibu obviously relishes his status as a popular and relatively comfortable Nollywood actor. It is doubtful that, given a choice, he would have given up acting for any other career. Going down memory lane, the actor reveals that he used to be a boxer and a Karate practitioner. Admitting that only a few people are aware of this aspect of his personal history, he says, “I practised Shotokan Karate for 16 years and I was a member of the Karate Federation of Nigeria. I happen to be the first instructor that was teaching Karate in federal government colleges in Nigeria.”

The actor, no doubt, cuts the picture of a man enjoying a blissful marriage. But, asked if he ever had a girlfriend before he got married, he replied, “I had problems with my relationships with women. Each time I had a new girlfriend, other men would always take her from me. Whenever I fell in love with a girl, somebody would snatch her from me. But I don’t fear any sense of loss because I married the best woman on earth. My wife is a former beauty queen. She was the winner of the 2004 Face of Imo beauty pageant.”

But Okafor says that even now that he is happily married, women have not stopped coming to him for a date. “I don’t woo them, though. They are the ones chasing me. That is part of the price I have to pay for being popular.”

September 30, 2016
Why we rejected Edo Governorship election results – PDP Reveals

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state has declared that the results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today were not genuine, adding that the figures contradicted the ones announced at various units and as collated at various wards across the state.

Read statement below:-

The PDP in Edo State, after carefully reviewing the events of yesterday September 28th, 2016, totally rejects the purported outcome of the voting exercise and the results announced by INEC.

Firstly, we are in total amazement at the details of the results released by INEC because all of them are fake and not the figures announced at various units and as collated at various wards across the state. The fake results announced by INEC are entirely a fabrication which do not reflect the true picture of what transpired during the election. However, we are not totally surprised because long before now, we had anticipated this and had also warned INEC, security agencies and alerted Edo people at various press conferences and statements, on this situation.
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Secondly, based on the results emanating from across the state, PDP won the election fair and square, and with a very comfortable margin. So it is with disgust that we have been receiving fake results which were never recorded in either the units or the ward collation centers.

Our rejection of the results released by INEC so far is based on, but not limited to, the following

We know that a fair turnout of voters was recorded statewide because the weather was very clement and voters were enthusiastic. However, unknown to unsuspecting Edo electorate, INEC had long provided the serial numbers of all result sheets to Adams Oshiomole and his APC government, to print fresh result sheets. This is not a mere allegation.

From the benefit of hindsight, the 18 day period of postponement of the election was to provide enough time for the Governor and his government to print these result sheets and perfect the writing of fake results at the units and at all levels of collation.

This scenario is further buttressed by the fact that on Monday September 26th, 2016, when election materials arrived from the CBN at INEC state office for inspection, agents of the political parties including the APC and PDP were given pre-typed copies of the serial numbers of all result sheets and the ballot papers. This was a clear security breach and an infringement on the credibility of the process, as these are sensitive materials, which should not have been sighted even by INEC officers.

Everything that has transpired had been carefully designed by the Adams Oshiomole led Edo State government and their cohorts in INEC. They perfected a scheme to void thousands of ballot papers, to enable them perpetrate their devices. It is widely recorded that over 88% of the voided ballots were PDP votes.

Postings of Commissioners of Police and and removal of officers from their units, even during the voting exercise, was a clear plot to destabilize the security apparatus in various LGAs and Senatorial districts. The same goes for the DSS personnel across the state.

Choice of collation from places they chose as well as the choice of the state returning officer, in the person of a close friend and associate of former Governors Fayemi and Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti State, who are top APC chieftains. They also prevented our agents in many cases from entering collation centers.

There are numerous accounts and records of Police harassment all over the state, designed to strike fear in the hearts of PDP members, using men of the CID (Criminal Investigation Department), SARS, MOPOL 60 Command, DSS and other security agencies. Of particular concern is the atrocious gangsterism demonstrated in Etsako West, the home of the incumbent APC Governor and the deputy governor nominee, where many of our members and agents were assaulted, almost mortally, and some still being detained as we speak.

Those still detained include Michael Etu, Gabriel Etu and Mohammed Sani. Also, a Honda Accord vehicle, with registration number FST 868 BC, belonging to one of our stalwarts was destroyed, and is still lying at the voting center.

There is also the widely reported and recorded case of collation center disruption in Oredo local government, by the notorious Osakpamwan Eriyo, who invaded the venue and released shots in the air, chasing away supporters and people, before making away with the results. This happened in the full glare of the Police, DSS, INEC and other security personnel. Interestingly, neither INEC nor the Police showed any concern or any resistance, even as we speak.

It is on record that the level of open financial inducements was unprecedented and indigent voters were being offered between N2,000 and N5,000 to cast their votes, and also forced to display their ballot prints. Numerous videos were posted on social media showing APC members handing out monies to voters, in the full glare of INEC and security officers.

Deliberate connivance with INEC staff to steal materials and results in various wards. We particularly take note of materials stolen at Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha, Nikorogha, Ovia South West, Urhonigbe in Orhionmwon, Udaba in Etsako Central, Opoji in Esan Central and many others.

To put it mildly, Edo 2016 has turned out to be a travesty of our democracy, and it is calamitous that in spite of all the atrocities committed by APC, nothing happened to thugs like Osakpamwan Eriyo who went to George Idah Primary school in Oredo Local government area, to snatch results in the full glare of the Police, SSS and INEC officials. Shooting, chasing and scaring away voters, and even international observers, is nothing short of a bastardisation of our hard earned democracy.

A few days ago, we mentioned in a press statement, that Adams Oshiomole boasted openly, how he had prepared results already for the election, which will be announced, and PDP can go to court. It has been executed today, but the will of Edo people will never be subverted by Adams Oshiomole and his cohorts.

We will do everything within the law to claim our mandate. In the words of Plato, the penalty we pay for refusing to participate in politics, and to exercise our right, is that we end up being governed and oppressed by evil men. This impunity must end in Edo State!

September 30, 2016
‘Why i raped My 15-Year-Old daughter’ – 49-Year Old Man reveals

49-year-old man, yesterday, gave a graphic description of how he had been sleeping with his 15-year-old daughter in their Oko-Oba home in Abule-Egba area of Lagos State. The suspect, Tony Ehumadu, who hails from Mbaise area of Imo State, was caught in the act by his wife, a Customs officer.

Ehumadu, a businessman, was arrested after one of his brothers-in-law reported the case to the police. He admitted to have slept with his Junior Secondary School 1 daughter twice, adding that the first instance was under the influence of alcohol.

According to him, “I did the abominable act with my eldest daughter. But I only raped her twice. I don’t know what came over me. I am convinced that forces beyond me led me into committing the crime. “Both incidents happened on Fridays. One Friday night, one of my friends invited me to a naming ceremony around Power Line, New Oko-Oba. I came back home drunk but my wife was not around. All my children, except the eldest, were asleep. “Immediately, I rushed in and raped her. I did not meet her as a virgin. But the second time, my wife was at home. “That Friday night, we were all watching a movie, when I suddenly stood up and went straight into my daughter’s room and started raping her. It was at that point that my wife caught me and started shouting. “My wife did not want to go to the police because of the embarrassment it would bring to the family and because of her reputation as a Customs officer. But her brother did.” The suspect, according to the Lagos State Police Command boss, Fatai Owoseni, would be charged to court.

September 30, 2016
EDO 2016 :58-Year-Old APC agent slumps, dies at Polling unit

An elderly agent of the All Progressives Congress, APC, reportedly slumped and died on Wednesday, at a polling unit in Abico Market unit 10 ward eight in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State. The deceased identified as Mr. Solomon Omorogbe, 58, left his house to his polling unit early in the morning where he was to serve as a polling agent for the just concluded gubernatorial election.
It was further gathered that the deceased slumped shortly after casting his vote. He was rushed to Akugbe hospital by his first son, Charlie and other sympathizers, at the polling unit where he was confirmed dead by the doctor.

Source: Daily Trust

September 30, 2016
Exclusive Pictures from Honorable Elijah Adewale AKA Dr. Jah’s wake-keeping

A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ifako Ijaiye Constituency of Lagos State, Hon. Elijah Adewale who slumped and died in his Abuja resident on July 21, 2016 is currently half-way to be laid to rest.

The hard-working honorable popular known as Dr. Jah was described as a man who was self-less, catered for the poor, willing to serve and for this attributes, he was able to secure a seat in the House of representatives, which has been the envy of many.

Furthermore, his death shook many as no one ever thought it could come early, it was just some months after he came into power before death took him.

Meanwhile, his wake-keeping was carried out today and his body was taken around the streets of Ifako-Ijaiye with undertakers, drummers, causing lot of gridlock, and creating a scene where everyone was stopping by to see what is happening.

According to reports, his body was being taken to his Lagos residence, which is some miles from Ifako.

He was born in 1951. He was a former Special Adviser on Education during the first term of former Governor Babatunde Fashola administration.

PHOTOS:

-Osho Oluwatosin.

September 29, 2016
BREAKING!!! INEC declares APC’s Godwin Obaseki as Winner of Edo State Governorship election

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Godwin Obaseki, has been declared winner of the Edo State governorship election.

The APC candidate won majority of the votes cast, getting a total of 319,483 votes, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announced.

Mr. Obaseki’s closest challenger, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, got 253,173 votes.

Mr. Obaseki also won majority votes in 13 of the 18 local governments in the state, losing the remaining five to the PDP candidate.

The INEC chief returning officer in the state, Professor Kayode Soremekun, who announced the final results, declared Mr. Obaseki the governor-elect of the South-South state.

However, the PDP in the state has rejected the results describing it as adulterated.

“If you go by the results that were announced at the polling units and wards across the state, it shows the PDP would have won by over 30,000 votes,” said Dan Orbih, the party’s state chairman in a press conference.

“What INEC is announcing is clearly different from what we got from our agents and independent observers in the 192 wards and over 2,000 units across the state.”

The PDP agent at the collation centre also refused to sign the final result sheet.

“I cannot endorse it,” he told the INEC officials present. “You said I should get ready for court instead of looking at it here and now. I cannot be a party to that,” he said.

The agent of the Young Democratic Party also refused to sign the final result sheet.

“I have the mandate of the Young Democratic Party not to append my signature on this result sheet,” he said.

September 29, 2016
An Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari written by Barr.Whyte Habeeb

DEAR PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

I would be right to say that you were elected because we got tired with lying and looting personnel in the realm of governance. Our country desperately needs an honest leader at that period. To the glory of God, we got you and our criticism of you should be to avoid the mistakes of GEJ days. As much as we cannot afford a stray administration, we want you to know that we all know that change is not just a word, and it takes collective action. I would not join the bandwagon of those that assume that criticizing a shortcoming of your administration is an expression of regret for ever supporting you. Of course, we must do criticism but what our government needs as at now is criticism that is founded on intellectualism devoid of bigotry, hatred or ethnic sentiments.

Mr. President, I must say as a matter of obvious fact that you are not winning the war against corruption. We have heard various persons been arrested and money been recovered. If am not mistaken, money recovered and money returned willingly by indicted persons its to a tune of millions of dollars. The money with all due respect has had no single impact in our economy. I do not know if the money retrieved are been kept for another purpose or to be added to the little in our foreign reserve. Sir, it would be good if these monies are pumped into the economy. The monies could be used to run bigger part of the 2016 budget that is not working effectively well. I want to say again that the war against corruption which happens to be the focus priority of your administration would be better appreciated if it is brought down to the local levels. Mr. President, I must say that as at now in Nigeria, the rate at which young Nigerians drops out of school to do illegal things to make money is alarming. At first, we thought it would be reduced to the bearest level but sir, the corruption fight is not felt at this level at all. Education should be a priority of young Nigerians not the compulsory money must be made by all means attitude. If this government is truly working and winning the fight against corruption, we should not be having large numbers of our youths involving internet fraud, robbery and kidnapping.

Sir, I am afraid of what tomorrow holds for this country especially the rate at which our youths are making it big illegally. I wonder if at the age of your retirement from office, what persons would you be seeing managing the affairs of the country. The various fraudsters that the anti corruption war did not catch up with? Please think about this sir. I must say that the security personnel and the financial institutions are also aiding young Nigerians in this regard. This is the bitter truth your Excellency. If truly you think you are winning the war, you are not anyway close to it sir.

Sir, I want to tell you that your Ministers are not performing to expectation at all. We all assumed that they would best fit into their various portfolios.

However, the reverse is the case. Sir, a change in your cabinet setting would not be a bad idea at all. It would rather be a blessing to Nigerians and to your esteem person as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I know that over time in the Nigeria Ministerial appointment is basically on the basis of compensation to political allies that have performed or under performed in their various political leadership settings. When these politicians that are Ministers do not give us the right qualities demanded from the various offices they held, I think the best thing to do is to reshuffle the cabinet. I remember the good days of Olusegun Obasanjo, he brought the then Mallam El-Rufai who changed the face of Abuja. He also brought in the likes of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Madam Obiageli Ezekweseli and the host of others. I must point out categorically that these persons were not product of politics as at the time they were appointed by the then President. They were technocrats and professionals who have a mastery of their various disciplines. They indeed created an impact in Nigeria’s governance.

In fact, they were fantastic and Nigerians can testify to that. In essence sir, you need professionals that can handle the economy well. You would agree with me that Akinwunmi Adesina of the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration stood out as the best performing Minister. Adesina was a professional during his appointment and not a politician. He brought his skills and he changed the agriculture sector of the Nigerian economy. You need people like this. You don’t need persons that keep telling or reminding Nigerians that the last administration is the cause of their inefficiencies. That excuse is not tenable anywhere in the world. Some of the present crops of Ministers need to be relieved of their duty for the sake of reviving Nigeria. The needful must be done in this regard.

To wrap this up sir, I quickly want to address the issue of the sale of our National Assets. The only excuse that has been given for the sale of some of these assets is that your administration needs money to run the 2016 budget. Sir, I find this barbaric because this is barely four months to the end of 2016. As you can see that from the beginning of this year, we had no budget running the affairs of this country and Nigerians are surviving through the grace of God. This is not really the kind of change we voted for neither is it the one we wished for. It seems to me sir that some of your advisers do not understand the current economic issues. They are too quick to mix the reality and the fiction of their economic mindset together. Sir, how can the sale of our national assets address economic recession? Sale of our national assets can only address the issue of inefficiencies in the way we manage the performance of these assets and ultimately unlocking the value of these assets in the long run. The benefit of the sale will not come in the short-term. If by any means, the supposed cash flows and value that would be realized are already impaired by our current economic and political realities. Hence your Excellency, the sale of non performing national assets, not assets like NLNG, should be done when we have positive economic indicators and the right economic framework.

Your Excellency, I would be glad if you consider to do the needful on all issued raised. It is important and a matter of fact urgent. Don’t allow self centered people that are in your government destroy this country. Where boasting ends, their dignity begins.

Thanks.

( is a Lawyer, United Nations Award winner, Africa International Arbitration Award winner, Coca cola/ The Nation Campuslife Award Winner, Promasidor Runner-up for the Best Future Writer in Nigeria, i-Hustle Campaign Initiative Ambassador and Editor Egba Youth Awards Foundation.

Email: [email protected]

@whytehabeeb‎

September 29, 2016
Fulani Herdsmen kidnaps Catholic priest, demand N2.5million ransom

The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, yesterday alleged that suspected Fulani herdsmen armed with dangerous weapons including guns, attacked and kidnapped the Rector of Tansi Major Seminary, Rev. Fr. Dr. Emmanuel Dim, while two other priests Rev. Frs. Jude Chukwuneke and Jude Ezeokana who were in the same vehicle with him escaped with various degrees of gun shot wounds.

Addressing reporters at the Nnewi Catholic Diocese Media House, located in Assumption Cathedral Nnewi, Director of Communication of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Hyginus Aghaulor, alleged that the herdsmen called, and demanded for a ransom of N2.5 million. He said: “Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has decided and directed that ransom should not be paid for the kidnap of any of its priests and anybody that is demanding for ransom for the release of any priest kidnapped is wasting time. “If anybody or group goes ahead to pay ransom for the release of any priest, the person or the group is on his own.” In a statement issued after addressing reporters, titled “Fulani herdsmen kidnap Rector of Tansi Major Seminary, Onitsha, demands for ransom,” the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi said the incident happened on the September 26, 2016, around 7pm along Nkpologwu/Nimbo Road Enugu State. According to the statement, “the three Catholic priests were returning from Nsukka to Onitsha and Nnewi, after a condolence visit to Rev. Fr. Uchenna Ezeh of Nsukka Diocese who lost his mother, before they were attacked and while Rev. Fr. Dim is still being held by the herdsmen- kidnappers who are demanding a ransom of N2.5 million, Rev. Fr. Ezeokana, who lectures in both Fr. Tansi Major Seminary Onitsha and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, received treatment briefly at a hospital in Nsukka, but is now recuperating at Awka his home Diocese. “Rev. Fr. Chukwuemeka, who is the Chaplin of St Camillus de Lellis Chaplaincy, College of Health Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi ,who was shot on the head has been transferred from Memphis Specialist Hospital Enugu to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, where he is currently receiving treatment.” “On a separate place the same Monday 26th September, 2016, a Vincentian priest whose name is yet to be confirmed was also kidnapped with his brother along Abuja Lokoja express way, another Catholic priest Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ugwu was kidnapped on August 9,2014 along Ugwuogo-Nike-Opi and few weeks back a senior seminarian was killed in cold blooded in Attakwu, Enugu State, and one begins to wonder if Catholic priest have become endangered species”. The visibly angry Rev. Fr. Aghaulor lashed out on South East Governors for doing nothing to protect people they are governing, “while their counterparts in the North are influencing the Federal Government in spending billions of naira to contain the Boko Haram insurgents, when something more worrisome and sinister than the activities of Boko Haram is being done in the South East by the Fulani Herdsmen”. “The South East Governors and their Chairman have done nothing to protect the people of South East, the Enugu State Governor whose state is where the menacing activities of the of the herdsmen is worst and the state legislators have not done anything to protect the people there, they should borrow a leaf from Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State. “We are in Federalism, and each state have right to make certain law governing them, what prevents Enugu State Government from making laws that can protect the people there, Governors of South East and their State Assembly’s should make laws that will protect their people”.

Rev. Fr. Aghaulor lamented that since the existence of Nigeria, nobody has seen the level of killing spree that is being perpetrated by the Fulani herdsmen, adding that “while innocent people are left unprotected, we have seen barrage of military wares and personnel protecting the pipelines in Niger Delta, as if oil is more important than people’s life. Why should people be killed without provocation in their own traditional lands? “We are asking the government for how long would this continue, is this the type of country we all signed up for, is this part of the change, is there no rules and laws in this country , all over Nigeria women are being raped, people are intimidated, innocent Nigerians are being slaughtered and property worth billions of Naira destroyed by the suspected Fulani Herdsmen”.

September 29, 2016
Independence Day : Federal Government declares October 3 as Public holiday

The Federal Government has declared Monday, October 3, as Public Holiday to mark Nigeria’s 56th Independence Anniversary.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido and issued to Vanguard Thursday in Abuja. “The Minister of Interior, Lt Gen (rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, while making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulates Nigerians at home and abroad on the commemoration of this year’s independence anniversary and assures them that Government is working assiduously to put in place various palliative measures to cushion the effects of the current economic challenges. “The Minister enjoins all Nigerians to continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his avowed determination to build a strong, virile and united country in line with the dream of the country’s founding fathers”, the statement added.

September 29, 2016