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Sen. Bukar trains 400 youths on yoghurt making, poultry production

Sen. Mustafah Bukar ( APC-Katsina North ), has commenced the training of 400 unemployed youths in his Senatorial District on yoghourt making and poultry production for self reliance and economic sustainability.

Malam Safiyanu Daifa, his Media Secretary, said at the launching of the exercise in Daura on Monday that it would last for 30 days Daifa said that the resource persons were drawn from the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology ( NARIC ), Zaria.

He said that 33 trainees were registered from each of 12 local government areas in the Senatorial District with Daura getting 37 being the Zonal Headquarters.

READ ALSO: Bukar secures freedom for 60 prisoners

He called on the trainees to make good use of the opportunity to enable them to reap the lofty objectives of the training.

“We would after the training provide them with seed capital to enable them to set up their own businesses,” he said.

The media secretary said Sen. Bukar was determined to make the zone economically viable and independent through innovative projects that would have direct impact on the people.

According to him, the lawmaker is also determined to completely eradicate indolence, idleness and political thuggery in the area.

One of the beneficiaries, Zainab Ahmad, from Ingawa Local Government Area, lauded the efforts of the lawmaker for his youth empowerment projects.

She said Sen. Bukar had made many of them productive and self reliant.

NAN

February 5, 2018
PDP will win the 2019 Presidential election – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) will win the Presidential election in 2019 because Nigerians yearn for the return of pro-people leadership.

The governor declared that though the APC Federal Government and electoral officials are plotting to subvert the will of the people, they will be resisted by Nigerians.

He spoke in Asaba on Sunday night during the meeting of the National Working Committee and PDP Governors Forum.

According to Governor Wike, if democratic principles are respected, those pretending to be seeking a second term after a woeful performance would have declined contesting elections.

“We are going to win the Presidency in 2019. We take it for granted that we have won our governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly seats”, he said.

He said at present, PDP Governors are orphans in Abuja, hence the need to take over leadership at Federal level

The governor added: “Frankly speaking, If Nigeria is a country where democracy is democracy, so many wont talk about contesting election. Because first of all you need to tell the people what you have done for them.

“What will they come to tell Delta people that they have done in the area? Nothing. What is their confidence? What will they say they have done in the Niger Delta?

“What they don’t understand is that we are more prepared now than in the past. Anybody who thinks that he can come and rig us out, will fail.”

Governor Wike said that the fight against corruption must include the struggle for the promotion of a credible democratic electoral process.

He said: “Part of corruption that we must fight is the corruption of stealing people’s mandate. That is the biggest corruption.

“When we get that right, other things will fall in place. It is corruption when you don’t allow those who have won to be declared as winners. “

He regretted that Nigeria goes to smaller countries to observe how elections are conducted, but are unable to conduct credible polls.

The governor said that no matter the antics of the APC Federal Government, Nigerians will insist on credible polls in 2019.

February 5, 2018
Monday Motivation: Don’t throw in the towel!

By Moses Emorinken

Don’t throw in the towel

Sometimes, life deals you a bad hand; throws punches at you and your dreams and brings you to your knees.

Honestly, it will keep you permanently on your knees if you let it.

Just like boxing, It’s really not about how hard you hit, but about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward.

Say to yourself: IT’S NOT OVER UNTIL I WIN!

February 5, 2018
Morocco/Nigeria: Who wins CHAN 2018?

Adeyinka Akintunde

With the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) winding down in Morocco, the trophy is up for grasp for either the home-based team of the Atlas Lions of Morocco or the Super Eagles of Nigeria, at the Complexe Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca on Sunday.

A further reward for the winner is a whopping 1.25 million dollars as against the previous 750,000 dollars in the 2016 edition.

Both sides made it to final for the first time, after conquering Libya and Sudan respectively. Morocco won 3-1 against fellow North African rivals, with Ayoub El Kaabi scoring a brace. Nigeria beat Sudan 1-0 with Gabriel Okechukwu getting the solitary goal in the first half of the match.

The Atlas Lions will be counting on their invincible stance and home advantage which has helped them so far in the competition to help them win their first-ever trophy against Nigeria. They had won their group after two wins and a draw and have reached the final without defeat after quarter-finals and semi-finals win over Namibia and Libya respectively. They have twelve goals in their bag so far, and have conceded only two with Ayoub El Kaabi netting eight of those goals.

Nigeria on the other hand started the competition with a goalless draw against Rwanda, before struggling to beat Libya 1-0 in the second group match. A commendable effort from the Super Eagles saw them beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 to advance to the quarter-finals, against Angola. It turned out a stubborn match, with Anthony Okpotu scoring a late goal for Nigeria, dragging the match into extra time. Gabriel Okechukwu scored the winner in the 109th minute, from a fantastic effort.

Read Also: CHAN – Dalung congratulates Super Eagles

Nigeria Coach, Salisu Yusuf will go into the final, ruing the miss of some of his first team players. Emeka Atuloma, Sunday Faleye and Emeka Ogbuh and goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, are out of the clash against Morocco due to injury. Midfielder Ifeanyi Ifeanyi also got a red-card in the semi-finals. He will therefore have to rely on acrobatic Oladele Ajiboye in goal, Ekundayo Ojo, an emerging midfield power house and Gabriel Okechukwu, the Akwa United forward, who has risen to occasion so far in the competition, to win the CHAN trophy. Morocco on the other hand still have Ayoub El Kaabi and Walid El Karti to bank on in the final against the Super Eagles.

Speaking on Nigeria’s chances, Coach Salisu Yusuf affirmed that if the Super Eagles will “do the right things”, Morocco will be beatable.

“For the game against Morocco, every team is beatable. If we do the right things, why not! We can beat Morocco.”

Each player of the home-based Eagles is expected to earn about 20,000 dollars as the bonus and allowances should they win the 2018 CHAN in Morocco.

It remains to be seen who will be crowned the new kings of African local national teams.

February 4, 2018
Herdsmen Menace: NANS charges Buhari to step up security

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Buhari to step up on security in order to stop the incessant killings by herdsmen.

Coming after the herdsmen attack on Taraba state, the students’ body declared that the Cattle Colony proposed by the federal government is dead on arrival and would not hold as government have no right in placing priority in any group of farmers.

The NANS President, Comrade Chinonso Obasi who stated this while speaking to newsmen in Minna frowned at the delay of government towards ensuring that security is sustained in states that are under the attack of herdsmen.

He stated that President Buhari need to stop focusing on 2019 and deal with the security issue at hand.

“A government that cannot proffer security to the people cannot be proud to call itself a government. NANS is charging the President to step up in security, he should stop being presidential and listen to the yearning of the people.

“There are issues and aot of questions that are being unanswered and instead of discussing them, they are busy discussing about 2019 election. It is only those who are alive that will vote in 2019.”

Speaking on the Cattle Colony proposed by the federal government, he said that government have no business doing business pointing that cattle rustling is a business which is not to be imposed on the people.

He called on the government to create an enabling business environment and leave how to run the business to individuals saying that, “a farmer is a farmer. Cattle rearing is farming and there should not be any priority placed on any group of farmers. Imposing cattle herdsmen on the people is not the way forward.

“Every geopolitical zone have it’s own way of farming. If any farmer finds a place habitable, he should negotiate with the owners of the land and if they are satisfied, he can do his business there. Cattle colony will not work.”

Obasi also declared that the people are tired of the strategies being talked about by the military and the police stressing on the need to move beyond strategies to action, “we are tired of hearing the strategies the military and police are bringing to place, we want to see actions in terms of security. ”

He then charged the President to implement the 2014 National Conference report stating that it would proffer a lasting solution to the insecurity issues bedeviling the Nation.

February 3, 2018
Man isn’t playing God with creation of Artificial Intelligence – Prof. Awodele

…Says future children won’t learnt driving

The creation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – robots, gadgets and other technological tools by scientists is not playing God but innovation meant to improve the lots of man on earth, Prof. Awodele Oludele, has said.

Awodele, a professor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, said AI mirrors God’s creative acts and having instructed man to have dominion, the call had been heeded with man “creating machines and putting in them man’s image” to think and act accordingly.

The Dean of Computing and Engineering Sciences, Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State, who made this known on Thursday while delivering the institution’s 19th Inaugural lecture, urged Nigeria and Africa to embrace AI system lest they be left far behind by other nations of the world.

He noted that AI is helping man in the areas of precision medicine, security, agriculture, automobile, teaching and learning among others.

Read Also: Accenture: Artificial Intelligence, others to boost productivity

Delivering lecture titled; ‘Sensing The Future: From Common Sense To Intelligent Systems,’ he predicted that “children born 20 years from now may never have the need to learn driving when they come of age as cars would be autonomous (self – driven).”

Awodele advised skeptics who still think this may take many years to happen, to readjust their thinking as automated devices, robots and gadgets taking the role of man are already here.

He said “legislation is mostly what remains for auto makers like Tesla to roll – out level 5 self – driven cars.”

According to him, the technology is ready but humanity seems hesitant to embrace it.

He noted that AI is capital intensive but urged Babcock University to establish a laboratory that would spear head research in AI systems.

February 3, 2018
Ballot recount shows I won governorship poll, says Ize-Iyamu

Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has told party supporters that the recounting of ballot papers ordered by the tribunal showed that he defeated Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu who assured party supporters that the PDP would bounce back to power in 2019 urged the party leaders to get more youths and women involved in party politics.

Ize-Iyamu who spoke at a town hall meeting with PDP leaders in Ovia South West local government said there were huge differences in the figures written in the INEC result sheet and the votes from the ballot papers.

Read Also: Supporters urge Fayemi to join governorship race

He said he was satisfied that the ballot recount exposed the rigging of the governorship polls.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu urged the PDP supporters to mobilize more members saying next year’s Presidential election would change the political dynamics in Edo.

Ize-Iyamu said several members of the APC have contacted him that they want to defect to the PDP.

His words, “The ballot recount showed that we won despite their having all the agencies to support them.

“We must all be prepared. The next election is too important for us. If you give APC 50 years, they will still be talking about the PDP. Since they don’t have solution to the problems, let us bring back PDP.”

February 3, 2018
Gateman narrates how retired US military personnel was killed

A 25-year old man, Felix Simon, who worked as a gateman to a retired military personnel has narrated how he led his friends to rob and kill his boss, Mrs. Vivian Rafatu Ajibua aged 61.

The incident happened at Ugiagbe Street, Off Ogbonmwan Street, Off Ugbor Road, Government Reservation Area.

Checks showed that other landlords in the area have chased their security guard away after the incident.

Felix had raised alarm on January 28, 2018 at about 3am that a mysterious fire had engulfed his boss’s apartment.

Sympathizers rushed to put out the fire and Mrs. Ajibua, a widow was found dead with severe burnt on her body inside her bedroom.

The neighbours called the police and relatives who took her corpse to a mortuary and luck ran out of Felix when he was seen throwing his belongings and household items of his late boss over the fence to a nearby uncompleted building.

He was caught as he attempted to flee and handed over to the police.

It was during interrogations by the police that Felix opened up on how he recruited one Peter Zachariah and eight other gatemen in the area to commit the crime.

Felix claimed that he hailed from Mada village in Igon local government area of Nasarawa State and was employed seven months ago.

He said it was one Musa and Isah who are now on the run that killed his boss inside her room.

The suspect said Musa and Idah worked as gatemen in the building opposite his madam’s house and they usually help his boss with some house work.

He stated that they entered the apartment at about 3am after he opened the gate for them adding that he attempted to flee because of fear.

“When my madam was not in the house they came and told me that they want to rob madam. I told them that madam was not at home. They left and returned in the night. Musa just slapped my face and told me to sit by the gate as they entered the house.

“After some minutes they left. Then I saw fire inside the house. I started shouting for help.

“I didn’t know they will kill her. I don’t know what came over me. This is evil”.

It was learnt that the gang had earlier cut the burglary proof at the second door to the woman’s apartment while she was away during the day.

Felix said he told the gang the best time to enter the house was when his late boss was cooking at about 3am because that was the time electricity is supplied to the area

Police sources said Musa and Isah from Iyibadu in Nasarawa State attacked and killed the woman after which they informed Felix.

After thinking on how to cover their deed, Felix was said to have told them to use the petrol reserved for generator in the house to burn the woman’s corpse to give the impression that she died from the fire incident.

State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo said the suspects would be arraigned for robbery murder and arson.

February 3, 2018
FG Accuses IPOB of Using Fake Videos To Hoodwink International Community

The Federal Government has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ) of using fake videos of mass killings, harvested from other parts of Africa and doctored to look current, to mislead the international community and win their support.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this when he addressed Online Publishers in Lagos on Monday.

”We must warn the nation against IPOB’s next line of action, which is to externalize their lies and propaganda. Now they are writing to the governments and the national parliaments of some Western nations to give the impression that they are victims of an ethno-sectarian violence orchestrated by the government, hence they need protection.

”Some of the tools that have been employed by IPOB include blatant lies and cheap propaganda, and the medium of choice for the organization is the Social Media. IPOB has harvested gory videos and pictures from other lands and the distant past, which they are now circulating via the Social Media, to deceive the international community into believing that the people of the South-east are being subjected to state-sponsored, ethno-religious violence.

”Such videos, which have very high emotive quotient, are circulating on the Social Media as we speak. These videos are doctored to make them look current. They are fake!” he said.

Read Also: IPOB warn against Benue recurrence in Abia

Alhaji Mohammed said some ill-informed foreign individuals are already trumpeting IPOB’s lies and propaganda and even alleging genocide, adding: ”It is either they do not understand the meaning of genocide or are being mischievous. Either way, there is nothing like genocide anywhere in our country today. What we have in the South-east is a clampdown on a band of lawless people who have no regard for the laws of the land.”

He appealed to the Online Publishers to help counter the fake narrative on the Social Media on the situation in the South-east

”In the interest of the nation and your own interest, you must counter this fake narrative, report the issues responsibly and without sensationalism and present the truth to the public. If the Social Media, your platform, is discredited because of the activities of quacks and Internet Trollers, you too will be discredited and your publications will simply go down.

”That is why you must distinguish yourselves, as trained and tested

professionals, from the charlatans who have seized the Social Media by the jugular, those who have no regard for the truth and who do not care whether their fake posts set the nation ablaze,” the Minister said.

He reiterated his earlier statement that IPOB is being sponsored by a coalition of politically-disgruntled and treasury looters, and that the organization is a contraption against the Buhari Administration.

February 3, 2018
Impeachment plot against Saraki will fail, says Baraje

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and member of the party’s board of trustees (BoT), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje yesterday said the alleged plot to impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki will not stand.

He asked those hatching the plot to be wary of their machination as it may boomerang.

Baraje, a one-time acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spoke with reporters inc, the Kwara state capital at the sideline of a prayer session to commemorate his 67th Birthday.

The politician said he was aware of the ongoing gimmicks by certain forces but warned that those behind the impeachment plot should tarry because of the dire consequences.

He stated that the Saraki’s camp would be watching to know the length with which the plotters would go to achieve their target.

The political associate of Senator Saraki added that the former governor of the state has had a firm grip of the upper chamber of the National Assembly like never before, insisting that he cannot be intimidated owing to the fact that he enjoys the confidence of his colleagues.

He recalled that a group within the Senate, who vehemently resisted Saraki leadership at inception, had aligned and stood solidly behind him.

He maintained that the President of the Senate was brilliant and full of hope and dream for Nigeria, warning that such lofty hope should not be destroyed on the altar of politics.

Read Also: Separation of powers key to survival of democracy – Saraki

Said he: “Many of us helped to build APC. I’m one of them, he (Saraki) was and still one of them. We are still building the party. I think the party has not made a statement about the so called threat to impeach him. We only learnt from the news that we read and from hearsays. And I think very sincerely, there must be ground before you impeach somebody like him, and they (Senators) have their own rules and regulations and we all have constitutions that guide impeachment.

“If the Senate President is seen to have violated such rules, why not? But sincerely as of today and to the best of my knowledge, I don’t think any Senate President in the past, in the immediate-past or long past, has held the Senate like Bukola Saraki has been holding it. He has been seeing to be a team player, he has been seeing to be leader that carries the Senate along and he has been seeing to be somebody, who can endure, give and sacrifice for this nation.

“Remember that he got to that position like a war, as if he was fighting a war. Today, even those people, who opposed him, are the most fanatical people, who are his supporters today. So, what reason do you want to say you have to want to impeach such a person.

“I’m aware there is lot of gimmicks, but the worst one that would boomerang against anybody who is planning anything, is to say they want to impeach Bukola Saraki. That Senate is solid as I have never seen. I believe it would keep bouncing. There are other ways that the gimmicks are going, let us all keep watching. We can only wish Nigeria well.

“But I only hope and pray that Nigerians will not be destroyers of their hope. Bukola Saraki is young that is what I mean by hope; he has age on his side; he is brilliant; he knows Nigeria; he has dream for Nigeria. If today, we now stand to say we want to destroy such people, then that is why I said I hope and pray that Nigeria will not destroy its own future.”

February 3, 2018