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Tag: block

  • Block magnate crush wife to death with Jeep

    Block magnate crush wife to death with Jeep

    •Police arrest suspect

    A Block magnate,  Taibu Ogunbajo,  has  reportedly killed his wife in Ikorodu. He was said to have crushed her with his Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle  (SUV) marked AKD666EW.

    Ogunbajo was arrested over the weekend at Akudo in Ikorodu, Lagos State, after neighbours reported the incident to the police.

    It was gathered that the suspect and his wife, Rotimi,  had an disagreement, following which she destroyed some blocks.

    Their marriage was said to be troubled, with Ogunbanjo reportedly asking for a divorce.

    They were said to be  married for three years with no child, though the deceased was said to have had five children from other men.

    Ogunbanjo was said to have crushed his wife with his SUV after  she broke the  blocks.

    A source said: “They have been having issues. They have been married for only three years. For some months now, the man has been saying he’s tired of the marriage. He claimed that his wife was troublesome and that he was sick of the marriage.

    “They were always fighting. On Thursday morning, they started having their issues at the block industry. In the course of their disagreement, the woman broke some blocks and was walking away.

    “That was how the man entered his car and chased her in top speed and hit her. She died on the spot. The police were notified and they took the body to Epe General Hospital.”

    Police spokesman Chike Oti, a Superintendent (SP), said the suspect had been arrested.  The case, he added, has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti.

    Oti said: “Preliminary findings indicated that the couple had a quarrel before the incident. The woman was killed within the suspect’s block industry, which means the man might have been on top speed. Investigations would not be limited to fatal motor accident. We would go beyond that to find out the motive.”

     

  • Govt to block IPOB funding sources

    Govt to block IPOB funding sources

    The Federal Government says it is aware of the sources of funding of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and is taking steps to block them.

    Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed disclosed yesterday when he appeared on a live TV programme “Good Morning Nigeria”, on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).

    “Terrorists do not publish where their funding are coming from. But we know the countries that are supporting IPOB.

    “We know the sources of their funding, though I am not at liberty to disclose them here.

    “We are taking steps to block them and we are also taking a lot of diplomatic actions in respect of the countries that are supporting them.”

    The minister said that most of the countries supporting the group were doing so based on ignorance, hoodwinked to believing that “Nigeria is a country where Muslims persecute Christians” and a country where there is genocide.

    “As we speak today, IPOB has written letters to many governments outside Nigeria, international parliaments sending fake and cloned videos, claiming there is genocide in Nigeria.

    The minister charged the international community not to adopt double standard in dealing with IPOB and to be more diligent before making any pronouncements.

    He said what the countries would never accept in their territories, should not be condoned or encouraged in Nigeria.

    The minister justified the actions of the military for declaring IPOB a terrorist group as well as its proscription by the South-East governors.

    “There are a lot of arguments regarding the constitutionality of the action of the military and the South East governors.

    “People must realise that we are dealing with issue of national security and I do not think that the military and the governors should fold their arms while the country is set ablaze.

    “I have heard a lot of comments as to whether the military has the right to declare IPOB, a terrorist group.

    “What the military has done is to catalogue all the activities of IPOB, which are not different from that of terrorists groups,” he said.

    Mohammed said IPOB set up a para-military organisation, a parallel military group, Biafra Secret Service and Biafra National Guard.

    He said the group was attacking army installations and soldiers at check points, extorting money from innocent people.

    “IPOB activities are not jokes. If there have not been the proactive actions on the part of the military and the Southeast governors, there would have been retaliations from other regions and the entire country will be set on fire.

    “We cannot be talking of semantics or procedure when the nation is moving towards crises and precipices.

    It is only in a Banana Republic that you can see non-state actors doing what IPOB is doing.

    “The actions by the military and the governors should be seen from the perspective of ensuring internal security and averting chaos,” he said.

    The minister reiterated his position that IPOB was being sponsored by the association of disgruntled politicians and treasury looters to discredit President Muhammadu Buhari”s Administration.

    He admonished the media and opinion leaders to be circumspect in their publications and discussions on IPOB in order not to aggravate the crises the more.

    “The kind of comments and headlines in the media as well as comments from certain quarters are the types that give oxygen and confidence to the IPOB.

    “They must exercise restraint because the only reason we practice our profession or be a commentator is simply because there is peace in the country,” Muhammed said.

     

  • Dance, new guy on the block, dance

    EVERYBODY, including the professional, has a passion. Some, their passion is for drink binging; some for dancing while for some others, theirs is for women. Whatever one’s passion is, has little, if any, effect on his or her professional competence; the reason why some of the best marksmen in the military are to be found among those of them who believe in not just work but wine and women. Or, some of the finest hands in Nigerian journalism whose writing or editing prowess comes to the fore when they act their passion. Step in Solomon Babatunde Oshuntolu, one of the best sportswriters this country has ever produced, who as “ESBEE” in the glorious Daily Times years, was simply fabulous with his racy sportswriting and uncommon page planning.

    Without his cigarettes and bottle of stout, it was doubtful if he could ever reach his optimum in newspaper production. Chris Ikeokwu, who christened himself “Ayo Alabi” to avoid soldiers harassment in the civil war years for being Igbo, was a damned good newsman on the Daily Times but he came off best only after he must have downed a minimum of 10 bottles of beer.

    Those were their passions but it never affected their professional ability or proficiency on their job. It also reminds me of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Governor Olagunsola Oyinlola before him, who are adept at dancing to local drumming or the ‘dadakwada’ that woe betide the not-toosurefooted who attempt to dare them on the dance floor. I recall all of these because of the videos that had gone viral about a certain boisterous businessman who fate threw up to the centre stage of national politics.

    He was minding his private business while his elder brother was a top notch politician who became senator after serving out a term as the first civilian governor of Osun state. Suddenly, Isiaka Adeleke, otherwise known as Serubawon, died and a frenzy of activities began within and outside the family of the Ede trailblazers; and fate threw up Demola to come and fill the vacuum created by his senior brother’s death. Nurudeen, (the meaning of which in Islam means “imole esin”) Ademola Adeleke has had a reputation for being a bubbly guy whose passion tends towards dancing.

    Elder brother, Deji, a financial whiz kid and shrewd businessman who once owned Pacific Merchant Bank before he moved to other things, is the reticent type who minds his money-making business; but I hear he’s the family’s ATM when it comes to funding his brothers’ political adventures. When some years ago, I met Demola at a party in Lagos and he gyrated to the sounds of King Sunny Ade and his world beat, I knew a dancing champion had come to town. I’m a good dancer myself but I won’t let Demola hear of that, if I don’t want to suffer ribs dislocation. At the party I referred to, Demola was the cynosure of all eyes the way he shook all over, especially to KSA’s special beat: ” o ti serubawon.. eh, eh .. o ti ja won laiya, etc, etc”.

    That was the stuff he displayed on the videos that went viral. Many reactions to the videos tend to believe the new Senator may be a minus in the Red Chamber but I beg to differ; but before I make my point here, let me quickly note that what’s happening now shows the limit of being a public officer holder – your privacy dissolves once you step into the public arena! The Adelekes, from their patriarch who served in his lifetime as a Senator in the Second Republic, are a family of achievers. Dr Deji Adeleke has a reputation for being a focussed, visionary business guru; Isiaka went away with a record no one could take away from him till the end of time as the first civilian governor of Osun State who also had the record of being the second politician after Awolowo to have whirlwind campaigns, shuttling between countless number of towns, villages and hamlets in Osun with an helicopter.

    His electioneering then was dizzying and innovative that Chief Ebenezer Babatope was the first to predict resounding victory for Serubawon Adeleke then when others were still guessing the Governorship could go either his way or his other opponents’. Those records impose a heavy burden on Demola, the new Senator in town not only to live his passion as a fantastic dancer but to paint the Upper Chamber more red with superlative performance and that’s not a tall order, methinks. In the meantime, dance, ol’boy, dance. Or, didn’t someone write that happiness is not something to be postponed; it is something designed for the moment!

  • Ooni: A chip off old block

    Ooni: A chip off old block

    In March last year, Ooni Ogunwusi caused some stir by choosing as his queen, a young cousin of mine-Sonia Otiti (Wuraola) Obanor. That decision and its consummation may well signal the beginning of a new fire that could possibly open a fresh page of history on the pile of the old Benin-Ife fraternal co-operation. But that is subject for another day.

    I remember every now and then this encounter with the Ooni’s father at both Benin City and Ife where the nuptial ceremonies took place. The amiable Ooni Ogunwusi Ojaja11 sent his father and other royal emissaries to fetch his bride. We obliged him and then joined him at the Royal Court of Ife the next day for the final public act.

    What struck me was an uncanny display of meekness and good breeding by the senior Ogunwusi who was flanked by his gorgeously attired and stately queen of a wife. Given our complicated world, together they put simplicity on a pedestal that only the discerning may be able to appreciate. The kind of richness of appearance that can be regarded as simple majesty!

    Baba Ogunwusi navigated through the fluffy end of the ceremony with a stand out comportment, humility and calmness and thoroughly enjoyed the rendition of the Igun eronmwon song at the home of the bride’s father. As soon as I introduced myself to him as a journalist and former Foreign Affairs Editor of the Guardian, he beamed with smile and said with glee and warmth “oh my colleague from the Fourth Estate of the Realm” And anytime we came near each other, he would initiate a handshake. He cut the picture of a man of frankness. I was told he had been a radio and television anchor and star presenter in the eighties and that he had also brought honour to the profession. But it is not every now and then that society witnesses an era of an Ooni with a father…

    Meeting important personalities locally and internationally is one of the things the journalistic trade freely grants. One has had cause to engage presidents, the very cream of the diplomatic, political, business and traditional personalities and to sustain such relationships beyond the confines of offices, summits, conferences and lounges.

    But prior to March last year, I’d had business at the Ile Oodua only once. I recall meeting the late Ooni Okunade Sijuade at his palace on a somewhat different setting from last March’s.

    It was sometime around 2002 when the Federal Government had already awarded the contract to make the Ife-Ibadan highway dual carriageway.

    As a journalist on tour of the western states with Chief Tony Anenih who was then Works Minister, we were at the Ooni’s palace and the very regale and excited Sijuwade pointed at Anenih just as the head of delegation approached his royal dais to take his seat beside him. He spoke some Yoruba and then was very effusive with praises and prayers.

    Something like: “Anenih, you made this possible? This is what we have been asking for, for years now. The Almighty would bless you, you will go far… and whatever you ask of him and us would be granted to you…” he said.

    In both Benin City and Ife, Senior Ogunwusi never sought to throw his weight around using any of the well-known Nigerian ‘big man’ tactic as the father of arguably the biggest traditional ruler in Yoruba land. After all, he has since made history as the first father of a living Ife king. I am convinced that the senior Ogunwusi’s breeding, has most certainly rubbed off on the Ooni leaving Nigeria with a remarkably humble royal personality.

    Back to Ife, the Ooni received everybody that came into his palace as persons related to his new queen and generally, the people who came in from Benin City. You could hold up his hand during a handshake and converse.

    For instance, you could say: Kabieyi, I look forward to meeting you again in Abuja, etc… and being born with grace, he would listen to you give a heartfelt response.

    When the Ooni left the reception hall with the usual ululation by praise singers and his band of gong-beating bards, it appeared as though he was retiring for the day. With his pose, he went round the rebuilt reception area to the left of his main residence where some other royal fathers were being feted, he greeted them one after the other before entering the mansion containing his inner chamber within the palace grounds-an imposing edifice completed in 1937 by the late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi. Here, as you would expect are on display some paraphernalia of royalty. The entire floor is white carpeted with the seal of the Ooni embossed on it.

    Remarkably, after about an hour and half, Ooni Ogunwusi came back into the reception Marquee upon learning that the big groove in honour of his wedding was still on. Oba or no Oba, the Ooni did not betray his constituency as he swung gracefully to the delight of the young men and women, including students of the Obafemi Awolowo University as they played Kabiyesi by Dr. Sid and Don Jazy.

    This Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi has the entire imperial swagger and then something more: A calm mien, ability to relate with people irrespective of caste/class permutations. That he could connect well, were all on display at Ife.

    You might argue that for a persona occupying the exalted Ife stool, the humility of king Adeyeye stems from the fact that he is a very young man. But he was not born last night either. That “young man’s” talks count for nothing in the circumstance when good breeding is on display.

    And never mind that before the wedding, there were some disturbing, maybe sinisterly sponsored media publications. The Ooni refused to join the throng who wanted to condemn what was revealed later to be a sacrosanct choice. He instead restored his Olori preferring to walk the lane of men of uncanny wisdom.

    What is on the diary is that the people of Ife, ‘migrants’ and visitors alike, had unlimited fun inside the Ooni’s reception marquee. And the way he is going, he would continue to win more friends. He will be disarming many with his humility and gracefulness beyond his handsome face and lotus eyes

    Surely, if as it is said that the Ooni does not measure the amount of olive oil in his salad, then a combination of factors: Good breeding, divine fortune, distinctive personality, a man at home with his people, and an obvious heart of gold marks him out as someone who would be loved and respected by the people of Ile-Ife. In the days to come, the people of Ife and those who lay claim to the Oduduwa House would regard the coming into history of Ooni Ojaja 11 as something to be especially cherished.

    With King Ogunwusi, Ife should never be the same again. Besides the mythic validation by predestination, his father prince Oluropo Ogunwusi must have been carefully chosen also as the vessel to nurse such an important personality for his people. Meaning, as the Ooni reigns, we must always remember his father. It has to be, that so much of the good breeding was imparted on the king by the patron father.

  • $1.04bn block: How Diezani ceded OPL 245 to Malabu Oil in 2010

    $1.04bn block: How Diezani ceded OPL 245 to Malabu Oil in 2010

    •What Mohammed Abacha told FG on the firm’s shareholders’ crisis

    More trouble awaits a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, following fresh revelations yesterday that she has been fingered in the ceding of the controversial $1.04billion OPL 245 to Malabu Oil.

    It was also learnt that contrary to their claim, the Abacha family in December 2012 sought  the Federal Government intervention in the shareholders’ dispute in Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.

    But the government in January 2013 asked aggrieved shareholders to go to court, a development which was unacceptable to the Abachas at that time.

    These facts have emanated from the  ongoing investigation of the controversial oil block by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

    Findings by our correspondent revealed that detectives have obtained more documents, implicating Diezani in the oil block deal and confirming the interest of the Abacha family.

    Although the ex-minister is still holed up in London pending a trial in a UK court, it was learnt that she has a case to answer on the Malabu Oil block.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The ongoing probe of the controversial oil block has shown that Diezani was central to the ceding of the oil block to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.

    “Some documents available to detectives have clearly shown that she has some explanation to give on how the oil block was returned to Malabu.

    “At the appropriate time, the EFCC may seek inter-agency collaboration with the appropriate authorities in the United Kingdom to enable its detectives to interrogate Diezani.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “There are many suspects we are closing in on the Malabu Oil block. More will still face trial.”

    In a July 2nd 2010 letter to the Managing Director of Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Diezani asked the company to pay US$210million as signature bonus.

    The letter, ICSID Case No. ARE/07/18, said: “Further to the Settlement Agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd dated  November 2006, your company is hereby allocated OPI 245 subject to the payment of the sum of US$210million as signature bonus into the Federal Government designated account less the sum of US$2,040,000 already paid by your company in respect of the said block within ninety days (90 days) from the date of receipt of this letter.

    “Please note that failure to pay the above mentioned within the stipulated period will amount to forfeiture of the allocation without further notice from the office.

    “Please, accept the assurance of my highest regards.”

    As at press time, findings confirmed that the Abacha family begged the Federal Government to intervene in the shareholders’ dispute in Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.

    But  after failure by shareholders to meet, the government asked those aggrieved to go to court.

    It was learnt that a company, ‘Enervate Consult Limited’, approached the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), for “urgent intervention in the dispute among shareholders of Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.

    The AGF through a letter,  HAGF/GEN/SA3/2012/1 of December 18, 2012 and signed by a Special Assistant to the ex-minister, Mr. Pius Oteh, sought clarification from the Abachas on the status of Enervate Consult Limited.

    The letter said: “I am directed to you that the Honourable Attoney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (HAGF) is in receipt of a letter dated today, 18th December, 2012 from a certain ‘Enervate Consult Limited’ in respect of the above described matter.

    “The said company has indicated in the said letter that it is representing your interests towards the resolution of the alleged dispute among shareholders of Malabu Oil and Gas Limited over ownership rights.

    “The HAGF requests that you confirm that the said ‘Enervate Consult Limited’ has been so instructed by you to represent your interests in the matter.

    “Please, accept the assurance of the good wishes of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.”

    But  Mohammed Abacha disowned the consulting firm and chose to handle the shareholding crisis through two representatives-Abdullahi Haruna and Reuben Okpanachi Atabo Esq.

    In a December 18, 2012 letter to the ex-AGF and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN), the scion of Abacha family, Alh. Mohammed Abacha said: “I acknowledge the receipt of your letter with reference no. HAGF/GEN/SA3/2012/1 dated 18th December, 2012 on the above subject and want to thank you immensely for the warm reception accorded me and my team in your office today.

    “I want to formally inform you that I want to directly handle the current stage of efforts to resolve the outstanding shareholders dispute would want to be presented at all meetings by Abdullahi Haruna and Reuben Okpanachi Atabo Esq.”

    On March 21, 2017, Mohammed Abacha approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, asking it to declare him and a firm, Pecos Energy Ltd, as genuine owners of Malabu Oil & Gas Limited.

    The EFCC had filed two  charges against some people suspected to have played some roles in the auctioning of the oil block.

    The commission on  December 20, 2016 filed nine charges bordering on alleged mismanagement of $1,616,690,656.78 Malabu Oil cash against a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Dan Etete, a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Bello Adoke (SAN), a businessman, Aliyu Abubakar, Malabu Oil and Gas Limited; Rocky  Top Resources Limited; Imperial Union Limited; Novel Properties and Development Company Limited, Group Construction Limited and Megatech Engineering Limited.

    The nine-count charge was filed  at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    In another separate charge, the EFCC sued  Etete, Adoke, Abubakar and eight others over alleged $801million bribe in respect of the auctioning of the Malabu Oil block.

    The others are Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited;  Nigeria Agip  Exploration Limited; ENI SPA; Malabu Oil and Gas Limited; Ralph Wetzels (ex- Director of SNEPCO), Casula Roberto(Italian) whilst being the Director of AGIP; Pujatti Stefeno(Italian) while being the Director in AGIP; and Burafato Sebastiano (Italian).

    All the suspects have denied the charges.

  • Block makers hail Dangote on cement standard

    Block makers hail Dangote on cement standard

    Block moulders have hailed Dangote Cement Plc for its leading role in enlightening stakeholders in the building and construction industry on cement standardisation and other allied products undertaken by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

    President of the North zone of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NABMON), Alhaji Rasheed Adebowale, spoke at the weekend at the Obajana cement plant of the company after a tour of the facility by the members of the national association.

    He noted that Dangote Cement’s efforts would create the desired awareness on how members of the association would always ensure better quality for the blocks they make.

    The union leader said NABMON would remain grateful to Dangote Cement for enlightening block moulders throughout the country to enable them understanding how quality blocks could be produced.

    Adebowale decried the spate of building collapse and regretted that the blocks his colleagues made were the first of the items in building that people usually point accusing fingers at.

    The NABMON president noted that Dangote Cement’s enlightenment would enable the members to make stronger blocks.

    He said in line with NABMON’s motto of “Quality is our goal,” quality and zero tolerance for using poor and substandard materials to mould blocks remained topmost in the association’s agenda.

    Adebowale said: “We are grateful to Dangote Cement. We have a better understanding of how blocks are produced and what it takes to produce quality blocks. The presentation afterwards have also revealed to us why it is not in our interest to produce substandard blocks that would later give way and cause loss of lives and property.”

    Dangote Cement’s Sales Director for the Northwest, Obasola Alo said the company was creating a platform for stakeholders to be happy in their business.

  • Akwa block Ekpai’s Pillars move

    Akwa block Ekpai’s Pillars move

    Akwa United have suspended striker Ubong Ekpai and declared that he will not be allowed to join Kano Pillars.

    Ekpai was one of the standout performers for the Uyo club during the first round, but failed to return when the club resumed after the two-week mid-season break.

    Media reports later emerged claiming the player had teamed up with Kano Pillars.

    Akwa United chairman Isong Isang reacted angrily. “These kind of things can only happen in Nigerian football,” Isang told KickOffNigeria.com.

    “How can a player under contract just get up and move to another club without permission from his club? How can Kano Pillars just take our player without permission from us?

    “Up till now nobody from Kano Pillars has come to us or called anybody at Akwa United to discuss the player’s clearance or anything at all relating to the player, so we are only aware of him being at Pillars from newspaper quotes attributed to him.”

    Isang said the player would be suspended while the matter is taken to the LMC for adjudication.

    “Ubong is our player, and we cannot block his progress but things have to be done through the right channels.

    “If Kano Pillars like our player they should approach us and both parties will try and reach an agreement, otherwise no deal.

    “Officially, we have suspended him for leaving his duty post. We have also notified LMC and the NFF. We patiently wait to see the outcome of this, but unless Kano Pillars come to us and meet our terms, they cannot register Ukpai this season.”

  • Umeh to block Keshi

    Umeh to block Keshi

    Acting President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mike Umeh insists that Stephen Keshi would be persuaded to stay on as coach of the Super Eagles.

    Keshi’s contract with the NFF lapsed after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil with reports claiming that the trainer was set to take over as coach of South Africa’s national team, the Bafana Bafana.

    Umeh, who took the reins of the NFF in acting capacity following the impeachment of former president, Aminu Maigari, however believes Keshi would be convinced to stay on as Nigeria head coach.

    “We (NFF) want Keshi to stay. We love him and everyone knows he did a fantastic job with the Super Eagles,” Umeh told supersport.com.

    The NFF chief added that he was “aware” of speculations linking Keshi to the vacant coaching post in South Africa while adding that “no stone will be left unturned” to dissuade Keshi from jumping ship.

    “Well, like other Nigerians, I have heard about the rumours of Keshi taking over the Bafana Bafana but all those stories are rumours as far as I am concerned. We cannot force Keshi to coach Nigeria because as a grown man, we expect him to make independent decisions. But on our part, we will leave no stone  unturned in our desire to keep him here,” he said.

    Keshi took over as Nigeria coach in 2011 taking over from Samson Siasia who was sacked after failing to guide Nigeria to a place at the 2012 AFCON in Gabon and Equatoria Guinea.

    Keshi led Nigeria to AFCON success as well as a place in the second round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

  • Peterside: I didn’t block Minimah’s confirmation

    The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Dakuku Peterside, has denied blocking the confirmation of Maj-Gen Kenneth Minimah as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

    Peterside, in a statement yesterday, said the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made the allegation.

    The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the allegation was “deliberate falsehood and malicious mischief”.

    The statement of the lawmaker, who represents Andoni/ Opobo/ Nkoro Constituency, reads: “Nothing can be further from the truth. This is cheap lies by the PDP to curry Favour from pay their masters in Abuja that have consistently promoted division amongst people and promoted impunity to new heights. Common sense will tell any broad minded person that I am one person out of 360 members of the House of Representatives thus cannot on my own block the clearance of anybody in National Assembly more so my constituent , friend and relative . My duty in National Assembly is primarily lawmaking and representational. That duty of representation I owe primarily to my constituents, including Gen Mininmah whom I have related with over the years and have come to have great respect for as a gentleman, honest and hardworking patriot.

    “To make it more laughable and expose the ignorance of the PDP desperadoes, Gen Minimah and his colleagues have been cleared by the Senate and House Committee on Defence . Thus cannot understand where this story of blocking Gen Minimah’s clearance is coming from. This further exposes the PDP Rivers State as a bunch of confused people who are desperate to drag decent people to join them in the mud they pulled themselves in. I have had a solid relationship with Gen Kenneth Minimah for fifteen years running and our relationship can only wax stronger. PDP owes me an apology. I urge all members of society to ignore them as they don’t deserve any attention.“

     

  • New fellows on the block

    New fellows on the block

    Despite last Saturday’s rain, guests still turned out in large number for the 2013 Batch A induction for graduating students of the Chattered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN).

    The programme, which started at 11am, was held at Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The event featured award of certificates, award of final professional graduate diploma and investiture of academy fellows.

    No fewer than 202 were admitted into graduate membership, two, professional fellows and eight, honorary fellows.

    CIPSMN Zonal Co-ordinator, Southeast, Prof Augustine Madu said the ceremony was a major item in the Institute’s calendar.

    CIPSMN President, Mohammed Aliyu, who presented certificates to the inductees, urged them to contribute meaningfully to various organisations and to develop the institute.

    Aliyu advised them to ensure that they applied the knowledge gained during the training in handling assignments for the benefit of the organisation.

    He noted that the institute still requires more serious development in terms of the offices in Abuja and Lagos, lacking equipment, communication facilities, finance, library facilities, operational vehicles and ICT facilities among others.

    “The challenge in the nation has been that there are no professionals. Now that we have churned out over 200 professionals who are skilled enough to handle the job appropriately, the problem of procurement would be minimised’’, he said.

    He said more needs to be done by the Jonathan administration and the political class to ensure that those not qualified in handling procurement activities are not given job.

    ‘It is wrong for non-professionals to be in the field of procurement and supply chain management, saddled with the responsibility to manage the bureau of public procurement. It is in the light of this that the institution has graduated qualified professionals to handle procurement’’.

    He further said that the policy on procurement should not be treated half heartedly. “90 per cent of corruption in Nigeria comes from procurement of goods, works and services. It is, therefore, disturbing that the legal system of this country is held to ransom by a few persons kicking against the full implementation of the law,” he said.

    Deputy Registrar of the institute, Felix Aribiade said procurement is one of the key ingredients to effective budget implementation in Nigeria.

    Nigeria, Aribisala said, is in need of people who will drive and reflect the activity that will bring productivity to the economic development and revival.

    A fellow of the institute, Mr Kayode Tinubu said except experienced and certified procurement professionals were given greater roles in governance, concerns over the dividends of democracy will constantly be a question.

    The involvement of more procurement professionals in the running of the nation, Tinubu said, would correct major pitfalls in the national development.