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  • Atiku raises alarm over alleged smear campaign

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has raised the alarm on alleged plans by “unscrupulous and anti-democratic elements to contrive skirmishes in the coming weeks aimed at smearing his personality”.

    Abubakar raised the alarm in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mr Paul Ibe, on Friday in Abuja.

    Abubakar who was Vice President from 1999 to 2007, said that it was being revealed the grand plot orchestrated by some agents of evil to stage-manage pockets of upset targeted at attacking his reputation.

    “We wish to blow the whistle as an early warning alert of the grandiose scheme being put together by some unscrupulous elements aimed at jeopardizing the reputation of Abubakar in the coming days and weeks.

    “By the merit of what is beginning to unfold, there are plans to create some upset across the country, whereby alleged perpetrators of such crimes will engage in phantom names dropping of Abubakar and some senior personalities in the PDP.’’

    Ibe said that they were abreast of some other plans to plant fictitious stories in some mushroom media outlets aimed at discrediting Atiku and his political party, the PDP.

    Read Also: Atiku’s motion rejected as court president quits panel

    “It, therefore, becomes preponderant that we alert the public of this demonic plan and to say that it will be imprudent to compromise the peace and security of Nigerians in order to score a cheap political goal.”

    Abubakar, however, called on the Federal Government to be awake to its responsibilities of providing security and ensuring peace, and to desist from actions and utterances capable of exposing “our fault lines.”

    He said that it was unsettling that senior administration officials, would make calculated comments to tarnish the image of Abubakar and with no action from the government.

    Abubakar also demanded that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed tender an apology to him and the PDP.

    NAN

  • Osinbajo, governors raise alarm over increasing population

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and some state governors on Thursday raised alarm over the increasing Nigerian population.

    The population, they warned may double in the next few years with adverse effects on available infrastructures and facilities.

    They spoke during the valedictory session of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the State House, Abuja.

    Osinbajo also called for condemnation of those involved in hate speeches in the country.

    Nigerians, he said, should not take lightly those capable of causing crisis in the country through their utterances.

    He urged the governors whose tenures are coming to end nit to spend their lives sleeping outside power.

    Osinbajo said “The privilege of executive leadership at this level is the one only few of us will ever have. When I say few of us, it is few of us in our nation I have said at a previous forum, 36 governors and their deputies, one President and one Vice President we will be 74 in all men and women of a nation of 200 million. It is on this elite group that the destiny and future of all our people rest.

    “In the next few years our population will double with the attendant challenges of jobs, education, health care, security and infrastructure. Every nation that has move its people from misery to prosperity has depended heavily in fact almost completely on the political elite.

    “Our people have nowhere else to look or to go, it is as they say, at the collective table that the bulk stops.”

    Speaking on those involved in making hate speeches in the country, Osinbajo said “Many of us have led our states for these many years, no one needs to advise us on the importance of unity, on importance of tempering utterances with wisdom, with moderation and conserve expressing concern for those who are the usual victims of the conflicts that are caused by hate speech, the conflicts that are caused by careless and reckless statements.

    “The ordinary Nigerian has no problems with his brothers and sisters of different tribes and religions, they share the same issues, they just want a decent existence, they want food on the table, they want good shelter and security of lives and livelihoods.

    “Unfortunately and frequently our political elite sometimes out of advancing political agendas or simply seeking relevance recklessly stoke the fires of ethnicity and religious conflicts.

    “We as leaders have a duty to keep the peace and welfare of our states, we must not only we rise above the temptation to take advantage of our country’s fault lines, we must definitely condemn and restrain those who do so. We must insist that this country truly belongs to all of us especially those who cannot defend themselves.” he said.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s fight against corruption, insecurity is on — Osinbajo

    He advised the governors to use their influence and reach to the advantage of Nigerian people.

    “You have seen and heard for yourselves the enormity of our national problems very few people have the advantage to see closely as we do the issues that concern our country, the issues that even concern our different states, we here have that unique advantage.

    “So I think that we can help in one way or the other, we can do something in our states and other states in a way of advocacy or action on education and health care in particular and jobs.

    “I think is important for those of us who have had the benefit of all of these experience and leadership not to now settle down to a life of business or perhaps of enjoyment or sleeping for eight hours. I need this time for action.” he added

    He thanked the governors for the kind and generous comments made about the outgoing NEC team.

  • Senate okays bill seeking to upgrade Yabatech to varsity status

    The Senate, on Thursday, passed the City University of Technology (Est, etc) Yaba Bill, 2018 for second reading.

    The decision followed a motion by Sen. Gbenga Ashafa (APC-Lagos) at the plenary presided over by Senate President, Bukola Saraki in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill essentially sought to transform the Yaba College Technology (YabaTech) in Lagos State, to the City University of Technology Yaba.

    Leading the debate, Ashafa, who represents Lagos East Senatorial District, argued that if the bill is considered, it would enhance the capability of the institution to achieve its objectives.

    ”Nigeria’s steady march towards education for all in the shortest possible time has taken a giant leap with the introduction of this bill.

    ”I am personally excited by the prospect of transforming this polytechnic to a university of technology because it will motivate both students and academic staff.

    ”It will also upgrade the facilities and enhance it capability to achieve its objectives.

    Read Also: Senate Presidency: ‘Count us out of allege use of EFCC to harass Senators’

    ”Similarly, the new university of technology will encourage the advancement of learning and hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction the opportunity of acquiring a higher and liberal education,” he said.

    Citing instances, the lawmaker noted that in similar circumstances in the United Kingdom, most of the polytechnics were upgraded to universities.

    ”If Nigeria has plan to become one of the world’s leading economies as currently being pursued by government, we must be ready to adjust and position our educational institutions so that its products are geared for the technological challenges inherent in such projections,” he said.

    According to him, the attainment of university status would definitely enhance the operations of the Yaba Polytechnic and clarify its mission and vision.

    Lawmakers, who contributed to the motion, also supported it.

    When the motion was put on a voice vote, it was unanimously adopted by the legislators.

    Saraki, therefore, referred the bill to Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative action and report back within a week.

    Similarly, the Senate also passed a Bill for the Establishment of Federal Polytechnic Iwerekun, Ibeju-Lekki Lagos, sponsored by Ashafa for second reading.

  • Killings: Military chiefs storm Katsina on Buhari orders

    A delegation of Military Chiefs led by Major General B.I Ahanotu on Thursday arrived Katsina to assess the escalation of killings by bandits in the state and to map out strategies aimed at putting a stop to activities of banditry and kidnapping in the state, as ordered by President Muhammad Buhari last Wednesday

    General Ahanotu told the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Manir Yakubu who stood in for Governor Aminu Bello Masari that they were sent to the State by The Chief of Defense Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin and the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, to assess the recent attacks by bandits in the state particularly the killings in Batsari and several other Local government areas of the state

    The General further disclosed that they were also in the state to commiserate with the Government and people of the state and to reiterate the commitment of security agencies to security of lives and property

    Earlier while welcoming the visitors, the deputy governor lamented that Katsina is in a state of mourning because of incessant attacks by bandits, kidnappers, and other security challenges.

    He thanked the President for promptly responding to the distress call from the state, saying the citizens of the state are happy that the President wasted no time in sending an assessment team, especially after receiving a briefing from the Governor on Wednesday

    He said ’’when we came to power we did introduce several initiatives aimed at improving security in the state but Katsina is not an island, it shares border with neighbouring states, so the relative peace we often enjoyed is severally jeopardized’’

    ‘’Certainly, there is a great and urgent need for a quick solution to our predicament and to bring peace in the state. ‘’

    Read Also: Call Oshiomhole to order, NANS tells Buhari

    ‘’Rainy season is here and our people are warming up to go back to the farms, or do we risk insecurity’’

    ‘’Again the Rugu forest may not be accessible again due to heavy rainfall’’

    Alhaji Yakubu assured the military delegation of state Government’s support and assistance to ensure a quick job is done and that the peace in the state is restored

    Other members of the delegation include AVM Ohvo, Director of Operations NAF headquarters, Mr. Bassey Eteng, DSS headquarters, DIG Abdullahi from Police headquarters, Brig.Gen. Omoigee of Army headquarters Abuja and Navy Captain Katagun of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Abuja

  • Court convicts ex-NIMASA chief for converting N378m

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday convicted a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) acting Director-General Calistus Obi for converting the agency’s funds.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun found him guilty of money laundering.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Obi on April 12, 2016 on eight counts of converting N378, 810, 000 from NIMASA.

    Obi, a former NIMASA Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, took over from Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is also facing multiple money laundering and theft charges.

    Obi was charged with Akpobolokemi’s former aide Dismass Alu Adoon, Grand Pact Limited and Global Sea Investment Limited.

    Justice Olatoregun held that the EFCC proved the case beyond reasonable doubts.

    She found Obi guilty of counts five, six, seven and eight; she found Adoon guilty of counts two and four.

    The judge discharged the defendants of counts one and three, which had to do with conspiracy.

    Justice Olatoregun adjourned until May 28 for allocutus (a plea made in criminal trials in order to mitigate punishment) and sentencing.

    She ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody until then.

    EFCC closed its case on January 31, 2017.

    Read Also: Maritime crimes squeeze NIMASA’s revenue

    The defence made a no-case submission, which was dismissed on February 21, 2017.

    The prosecution said Obi, Global Seal and Grand Pact allegedly converted N42,755,000.00 on December 24, 2013.

    EFCC said Obi, on May 2, 2013, converted N25, 000, 000, as well as N46.3million being “proceeds of stealing” between April 1 and December 11, 2014, among others.

    Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Calistus Nwabueze Obi and Dismass Alu Adoon on or about the 5th day of August, 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: Conversion of the sums of N111,000,000, property of NIMASA, knowing that the said sums were proceeds of stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

  • 9th Speakership race: APC, PDP caucuses to strike deal

    Contrary to speculations that the caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives has endorsed a candidate for the office of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, it has been reported that the caucus has not endorsed any candidate.

    The caucus has also stated that the endorsement of Femi Gbajabiamila by the South East and Rivers State governors during the week has little meaning to it.

    The PDP lawmakers maintained that no one else but members of the House would be there on the day of voting for the principal officers of the 9th House.

    Speaking on Thursday in Abuja after a meeting with the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, who is contesting the Speakership position, Deputy Minority Leader, Chukwuka Onyema said the interaction was meant to have a knowledge of what the aspirant has in place if he eventually wins.

    He said: “Everybody came to tell us why they want to be Speaker; what they are going to do to improve the House and the relationship among the members. That’s the whole essence of the meeting.

    “All the candidates who appeared before us said they know they can’t run the House without the minority parties, especially the PDP, against a statement credited to someone to that effect‎.

    Read Also: Why we’re backing Gbajabiamila, by Rep-elect

    “We don’t have any preferred candidate yet; we are going to sit as a caucus, deliberate on it, analyze it and then, come up with our position.

    “I wish we could strike a deal but no deal yet”.

    However, speaking on the same issue, the Director General (DG) of the Femi Gbajabiamila Campaign Council, Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano), disclosed that an understanding is expected to be reached with the main opposition party within two days as negotiations are ongoing.

    According to him, the understanding has become very pertinent in the interest of the institution and the nation at large, while adding that APC is not averse to ceding some important Committees to the opposition, in contrast to the position of the Party Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

    He said: “On the issue of apportionment responsibilities at the 9th Assembly, we requested the PDP to raise a Committee to meet with the APC caucus in the next 48 hours to cede some positions to the PDP in the spirit of unity.

    “The reality is that after winning the election, it is again, one House. So, we have confirmed to the PDP that we will run an inclusive House and we have commenced a negotiation to see the kind of positions to cede to the PDP members”.‎‎‎

  • Kogi confirms 4 cases of Lassa fever, 2 deaths

    The Kogi Government has confirmed four cases of Lassa fever in the 2019 outbreak of the disease in the state.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu, disclosed this at a joint news conference on Thursday in Lokoja on “Flood, Lassa and other Epidemic Prone Diseases”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the briefing was organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the state ministry of health and other related ministries on public health.

    Represented by Dr Ahmed Attah, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Audu said that 10 suspected cases of Lassa fever were reported out of which four were positive.

    He confirmed that two deaths were recorded among the four positive cases, while the other two were successfully treated.

    He added that three of the four confirmed cases were from Ibaji Local Government Area while one case was recorded in Ijumu Local Government Area of the state.

    The commissioner, therefore, advised residents to adopt all the necessary precautions to prevent the outbreak of epidemic prone diseases in the state.

    Earlier, Dr Frances Akpa, the state Director of Public Health, said the essence of the briefing was to bridge the information gap between the technical people and the entire society.

    According to Akpa, lots of activities had happened in the area of control of flood, Lassa fever and epidemic prone diseases, but there had been no forum to provide update to the society.

    He restated that the briefing was an avenue to get the information across to the grassroots in controlling flood, Lassa fever and other epidemic prone diseases.

    Dr Austin Ojotule, the State Epidemiologist, who doubles as representative of WHO, said the unit had performed well in ensuring the prevention of epidemic prone diseases within the state.

    The epidemiologist defined Lassa fever as “a zoonotic illness caused by an arenavirus. It is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness that occurs in parts of West Africa including Nigeria.

    Read Also: Lassa fever: One dies from six cases in Kebbi

    “The Lassa virus is transmitted to man human by an infected multi-mammate rat (rat with multiple breasts)”.

    According to him, the ministry had responded promptly and timely to any outbreak of epidemic prone diseases, sensitised the affected communities and general public on preventive measures.

    “Prevention is better than cure, and when we prevent it becomes better and cheaper,” Ojotule said.

    The expert recalled that the state recorded the highest number of about 12 cases of diagnosed Lassa fever and over 40 suspected cases in 2018.

    He said that the state government had upgraded most of its health facilities in the affected areas, donated drugs and trained surveillance staff.

    The state Commissioners for Agriculture, Mr Kehinde Oloruntoba, and that of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Sanusi Yahaya, also explained the efforts and measures their respective ministries put in place on the issue of public health.

    Oloruntoba said that his ministry had set up a Task Force saddled with the responsibility to curb the use of tires to roast animals for consumption, which he said was dangerous to public health.

  • Boko Haram: 2, 295 teachers killed, 19, 000 displaced in Borno, others – Minister

    Over 2, 295 teachers have been killed and 19, 000 displaced in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in nine years, Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has said.

    The minister said 1, 500 schools have been destroyed by Boko Haram since 2014.

    According to him, this has resulted in 1, 280 casualties among teachers and students.

    This, he explained, has contributed to the number of out-of-school children in the country.

    The minister said: “The greatest challenge of the out-of-school, phenomenon in recent years has been the problem of insurgency. Since the inception of the insurgency in the North-East, education has been under constant and system attack resulting in the killing of both learners and teachers and destruction of education facilities.

    “Over 2,295 teachers have been killed and 19, 000 displaced in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in the last nine years. An estimated 1,500 schools have been destroyed since 2014, with over 1, 280 casualties among teachers and students.

    “This crisis has further devastated the education system as children, teachers and schools are in the frontline of the conflict.”

    Read Also: Police dismiss rumour about vulture signalling impending Boko Haram attack

    To address this, the minister said the Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with UNESCO, UNICEF, NGOs, State Directors of Policy, Research and Statistics in the six geo-political zones formulated a policy on Violence Free School for Children in Nigeria to create zero tolerance national culture towards Violence Against Children in education.

    “The policy will also promote a learning environment where children are respected, protected and empowered. The policy has been developed, critiqued and is undergoing final statutory processes before distribution to all stakeholders for immediate implementation,” he added.

  • Amnesty: ex-militant graduates hit 20,000

    The Special Adviser to the President and the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo on Thursday said the number of ex-militant graduates has hit 20,000 in the last one year.

    He also said 2,577 persons are still in school right now including 1,060 persons in not less than 10 universities (both private and government) locally and 1,517 abroad in over 50 universities spread across Europe, Asia, Africa and Americas.

    He said the Amnesty Programme in the last one year has empowered and facilitated the set-up of small and medium scale businesses for nearly 4,450 ex-militants.

    He said the programme always gets about N65billion to N67billion annually to manage its activities.

    Dokubo, who made the disclosures at a briefing in Abuja on his first year in office, said 30,000 ex-militants are still benefiting from the nation’s amnesty programme.

    He said the Federal Government still pays N65,000 to former militants on its roll.

    He said the next phase of the programme will focus on job placement for its graduates who will later be exited from the roll once they are fully working and earning better pay.

    Dokubo said: “Furthermore, since taking over, the number of ex-militants that have graduated has increased geometrically to over 20,000.

    Read Also: Why Buhari is committed to amnesty programme, by Dokubo

    “On my watch, about 3, 243 persons are at present undergoing training while 5, 578 are at the same time awaiting training (this is because the PAP does the training in batches).

    “With regards to education, a breakdown shows that, of 2,577 persons are in school right now, 1,060 persons are studying in not less than 10 universities (both private and government) locally, while 1,517 are studying abroad in over 50 universities spread across Europe, Asia, Africa and Americas.

    “Deriving from that, therefore, under my watch, a total of 18,602 received vocational training in specialised courses.

    “This is the breakdown: agriculture, 2,265; automobile mechanics, 1,171; welding/fabrication 4,686; entrepreneurship, 2,074; carpentry, plumbing & pipe fitting, 402; electrical installation/maintenance, 714; Information and Communications Technology-ICT, 401; Crane/heavy duty operations, 1,536; health safety & environment-HSE, 249; music/fashion/entertainment/catering, 1688; others, 2,185; aviation, 187; and Boat building, 152; Out of the 3243 in training, 3,006 are receiving education; 2,799 in universities in Nigeria, and 207 students in universities and colleges abroad.

    “Also, at the moment, 237 are receiving specialised vocational training, 217 in vocational/skills acquisition in Nigeria, and, 20 undergoing specialised training Aviation training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology-NCAT. This shows that the training component of the reintegration programme have had modest impact on human capacity development in the Niger Delta.”

    Dokubo explained why the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) is investing in education.
    Continue on Page 2

  • Call Oshiomhole to order, NANS tells Buhari

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Thursday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to call the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to order over his alleged plan to impose his candidates as principal officers of the 9th National Assembly.

    The student body who staged a protest at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja also asked the party to immediately convey a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and issue a stern warning to the party National Chairman.

    The student carried various placards with inscriptions such as “No to open balloting at 9th Senate and Reps election”, “Asiwaju Tinubu, as a democrat, allow each candidate to ride on his/ her credibility”, “Adams Oshiomhole, you are derailing our hard-earned democracy” among others, also took a copy of the protest letter to Lagos House in Asokoro, for onward delivery to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Addressing newsmen during the protest, NANS Senate President, Gambo Mohammed, said that federal character principle suggests that no part of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria should be marginalized especially with regards to principal positions of the National Assembly.

    Presenting an eight-paragraph protest letter to a representative of APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Mohammed said that students are interested in politics because human beings are political animals and the 2019 general elections suggested that youths represented a greater percentage of registered voters in the country.

    The letter reads in part: “The leadership of the Senate NANS, acting closely with the Coalition of Youths Organization, having met and thoroughly examined the underlying dynamics in the election of the 9th National Assembly, and arising from a critical stakeholders meeting where it deliberated on matters arising at the National Assembly, have resolved that our lives begin to end the day we keep mute on the things that matter to us.

    “History has it that the imposition of candidates was a key factor that destroyed the PDP, thus NANS Senate hereby cautions the leadership of APC to tread carefully on the imposition of sponsored candidates as this negatively impact their ratings and public image, while threatening the coherence of the 9th National Assembly.

    Read Also: How my wife died of wrong diagnosis, by Oshiomhole

    “Having zoned the Senate presidency to the North East, in clear accordance with the preamble of the APC constitution, the best practice is to allow all inherently qualified members thereto to participate in the election. NANS Senate is well aware of the inherent imposition which holds sway at party levels, but is of the position that party politics imposition is not superior to what is constitutionally established.

    “While NANS Senate is of the opinion that the leadership of the National Assembly at all time should be a matter with no bearing on party imposition, it concedes that our experience as a people has been that the majority party holds the trump card in these matters as stated earlier. This reiteration is to drive home the point that Nigerians are looking up to the APC to set the right template for emulation by other arms and tiers of government.”