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  • Three killed in rival cult clash in A’Ibom

    Three killed in rival cult clash in A’Ibom

    At least 3 persons have been reportedly killed in Akwa Ibom state following a bloody rival cult clash between Icelaand(the red) and Debam(the white) groups.

    Among the dead is one Okon Nkanang, a retired Police officer from Nkanang compound in Ikot Udobong and Akpan Inyang, from Ntuk compound in the neighbouring Ikot Obioma village.

    Although the motive behind the killing of the retired Policeman could not be ascertained at press time, it was gathered the deceased may have been a security informant or relation to a wanted member of the Debam group.

    The incident occurred at Ikot Udobong, Ikot Obioma and Edem Akai group of villages in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    Our correspondent gathered that several persons have also been injured in the exchange of gunfire between the rival groups.

    There are unconfirmed reports that a commuter bus belonging to the Akwa Ibom Transport Company(AKTC) was also torched even as it could not be ascertained at press time if passengers were killed.

    Just Wednesday, the same rival groups clashed along the Edem Akai axis of Iwukem-Etim Ekpo-Abak highway during which an AKTC driver was killed and his bus burnt with 8 passengers sustaining injuries.

    As cult clashes have affected free movement of persons traveling through the affected communities to Aba and Port Harcourt.

    Worried by the total collapse of security architecture in the parts of the Local Government, concerned stakeholders and elders of the Council had called on governor Udom Emmanuel, to “safe the people from the carnage”.

    Etembom Inyang Inyang Umoh, a community leader in the area currently in exile in Iwukem village, lamented that “those communities will go into extinction if not salvaged from the grip of cultists, kidnappers and criminals”.

    “No one else has the capacity to do this apart from government”, he noted, noting that “we are approaching election year, if these people are totally annihilated, who will vote for the politicians?”, he asked.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Odiko Macdon Ogbeche, said men of the Command were working frantically to restore normalcy in the affected communities and urged the people to always volunteer information on activities of hoodlums in their neighbourhoods.

    “I have spoken with the Area Commander and he assured me that enough men were on ground to battle the criminals”, he said.

  • Reps pass vote of no confidence on Fayemi, Bwari

    Reps pass vote of no confidence on Fayemi, Bwari

     

    The House of Representatives has passed a vote of no confidence on the Minister of  Mines and Steel  Kayode  Fayemi and his deputy, Minister of State, Abubakar Bwari for failing its invitation to address the parliament on the state of the nation’s steel sector with particular reference to the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

    Though the non appearance of the two Ministers did not affect the commencemen of the sectoral debate, the House is to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate the state of Ajaokuta Steel Company that was 98 percent completed since 1993 but has remained stagnated till date.

    The lawmakers said the attitude of the two Ministers has lent credence  to insinuations that there were too many incompetent Ministers in the government of the day.

    The decision of the House followed the adoption of a motion by the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, who said the attitude of the two Ministers amounted to lack of courtesy for the parliament despite being informed of the importance of the debate to the Nigerian economy.

    After his opening remarks, Speaker Yakubu Dogara explained why the need for the sectoral debate was meant to prevent the sector and the steel company from imminent total collapse.

    He said that the Ministers could not claim ignorance of the invitation having been written on 16th February, adding that the Ministry’s  Permanent Secretary replied the letter.

    The lawmakers were angered.

    Reacting to the Ministers’ absence, Hassan Ado Doguwa, Chief Whip of the House said the non-appearance of the two Ministers was an affront on the entire people of Nigeria being their elected representatives.

    “This attitude is unfortunate, unacceptable and we cannot tolerate it, no one should undermine the parliament in the name of being a Minister”, he said.

    Minority Whip, Yakubu Barde said the attitude of the two Ministers has shown that being members of the party in government, the two have no respect for their leaders.

    While he said his reaction was non partisan, he urged his colleagues to apply the law on the two.

    Umar Bago (APC, Niger) said the unnecessary romance of the House with the Executive arm of governmwnt has ended with the attitude of the Ministers.

    “Its time to draw the line, because they have over crossed the line,” he added.

    Aminu Shagari (APC, Sokoto) said the event of the day was the constatnt frustration of Committees of the House go through in the hands of Chief Executive Officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government,

    Uzoma Nkem-Abonta(PDP, Abia) said the attitude of the Ministers was not only painful but worrisome, describing  the absence as executive rascality, “I don’t think they know the effect of this affront on the Legislature  because of the effect this is likely to generate.

    “There must be a sanction, they are just ignorant because they ought to know the provisions of the constitution to know the implications of their actions.

    “This confirms the insinuations that we have too many incompetent Ministers. I suggest that they be made to appear immediately,” he said.

    Zakari Mohammed (APC, Kwara) said it was the obligation of the parliament to check the excesses of the legislature, “They must tender an apology and be summoned to appear before us and be arrested if they refused again” he said.

    The Speaker said the House has all the tools to make the Ministers appear before the House at plenary after which he put to the motion to vote and was unanimously adopted.

     

  • China criticises U.S. over Taiwan travel bill

    China criticises U.S. over Taiwan travel bill

    China on Thursday expressed its disapproval with the United States over a bill passed by the U.S. Senate seeking closer ties with Taiwan.

    “Although the bill is not legally binding, China strongly and resolutely opposes it and has lodged formal protests with Washington,’’ Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Hua Chunying, said.

    The bill, passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, allows U.S. officials at all levels to travel to Taiwan for meetings.

    It also permits high-level Taiwanese officials to enter the U.S. “under respectful conditions’’ to meet with their U.S. counterparts.

    Read Also:  China Devt Bank, UBA sign $100m loan for SMEs in Africa

    Report says the legislation now only needs U.S. President Donald Trump’s signature.

    Beijing, through its “One China’’ policy, prevents other nations from having formal ties with self-governing Taiwan, which it regards as a breakaway province.

    The spat came amid rising trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

    Top Chinese economic advisor Liu He is currently in Washington, reportedly to avert a trade war between the two countries.

    NAN

  • I will spend my security vote to feed Ekiti people – Olowoporoku

    I will spend my security vote to feed Ekiti people – Olowoporoku

    A governorship aspirant of Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN) in Ekiti State, Senator Bode Olowoporoku, has promised to spend out of his security vote to feed the people if elected in the July 14 poll.

    Olowoporoku regretted that a massive hunger is afflicting the people of Ekiti State which he said the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has failed to address.

    He spoke with reporters on Thursday in his hometown, Ilawe-Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area, during a sensitization rally ahead of the governorship election.

    The former Minister of Science and Technology promised to immediately address hunger by distributing 100 bags of rice to each of the 177 wards in the state every month for four years.

    To address hunger on a long term, Olowoporoku promised to launch Agriculture Revolution which will enjoy a huge investment from government with the sole aim of firmly establishing commercial farming.

    Read Also: Ekiti govt denies getting N11b refund on roads

    The former Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture said the commercial farming initiative would generate thousands of jobs, create cottage industries and generate revenue into government coffers.

    This, he said, are better ways to tackle hunger than “the three or four cups of rice given to people by Governor Ayo Fayose once in four years.

    Olowoporoku said: “What has he been using to win? Two or three cups of rice but now I man saying I will be giving them 100 bags of rice, every ward, every month.

    “Even if you are taking it from the central purse in seven years, is not up to what Fayose spent on his useless flyover to nowhere.

    “And this is the money you can get from the security vote and you use the money to feed the people because the state belongs to them.”

  • Russia deploys hypersonic missile system to south of country

    Russia deploys hypersonic missile system to south of country

    The new Russian hypersonic aviation and missile system dubbed Kinzhal (Dagger) has been successfully tested and deployed to the south of the country, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

    “The creation of the high-precision hypersonic aviation and missile system, which has no analogues in the world, is very important.

    “Its tests have successfully been concluded. Moreover, since Dec. 1, 2017, the system has been on the mission at the airfields of the South military district,” Putin said during his annual address to the parliament.

    The unique characteristics of the high-speed carrier aircraft allow for delivering the missile within minutes, Putin continued.

    Putin said the missile, the speed of which exceeds the speed of the sound by 10 times, is able to overcome the existing and potentially-created air defence and anti-missile systems, reaching the target located up to 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) away with ordinary and nuclear warheads.

    Read Also:   Russia Olympic ban after Pyeongchang

    “The creation of the strategic missile system with the essentially new military equipment, which is the maneuvering winged unit, the tests of which have already been completed, is a true technological breakthrough,” Putin pointed out.

    He said the work to strengthen Russia’s defence capability is carried out within the framework of international agreements.

    “For my part, I will note that all work to strengthen Russia’s defense capability has been carried out within the framework of existing arms control agreements. We do not violate anything,” Putin said.

    He said it took other countries centuries to achieve what Russia has achieved over the past 30 years.
    NAN

  • Wike swears in 15 LG Caretaker Committee Chairmen

    Wike swears in 15 LG Caretaker Committee Chairmen

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has sworn-in 15 Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen who were screened and confirmed by the State House of Assembly.

    Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday, Wike charged the caretaker committee chairmen to pay the salaries of December 2017, January 2018 and February 2018.

    He explained that the funds were not released to the immediate past council administrators because the tenures of the former councils had expired.

    The governor said: “The payment of salaries of workers must be given priority attention.  As you take over the councils, pay the outstanding three months salaries.

    Read Also: Wike is the type of leader Nigeria needs – Former Speaker

    “Do not pay the salaries in batches. We did not release the funds because the tenure of the former councils had expired “.

    Governor Wike charged the urban local government areas to focus on sanitation of different suburbs. He urged the chairmen to engage youths to promote environmental sanitation.

    He also advised the newly appointed caretaker committee chairmen to work with security agencies to maintain security across the state.

    The governor said: “We are enjoying relative peace across the state. All caretaker committee chairmen should work with the security agencies to ensure there is no security breach.

    “Don’t go to your local government area and take actions that will negatively affect the  security infrastructure in the local government “.

    Governor Wike stated that any caretaker committee chairman involved in using council funds to service his political godfather will be sanctioned.

    The governor later held a closed door meeting with the Caretaker Committee Chairmen.

    In an interview, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Mrs Beatrice Awala stated that she will unite the local government and ensure that good governance is entrenched in the area.

  • Fear of poverty made me think out of box – D’banj

    Fear of poverty made me think out of box – D’banj

    Nigeria’s music star and entrepreneur, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo  (a.ka. D’banj) says fear of poverty made him to think out of the box to create wealth, urging youths to follow suit.

    D’banj said in Lagos on Wednesday that Nigerian youths must go the extra mile, be creative and have a new perspective to be relevant and make wealth.

    He spoke at the 2018 Social Media Week ( SMW ) Lagos which began on Monday.

    D’banj spoke on the topic: “Changing the Game: Artistes are leaders”.

    The music star said that fame might not bring wealth but thinking out of the box will.

    “The fear of being poor made me to think out of the box to create wealth for myself and remain relevant.

    “Fame will not guarantee you money; fame will not give you wealth, but it can give you what you need if you channel it properly.

    Read Also:  Reviewing D’Banj’s ‘It’s Not A Lie’

    “Channelling your fame properly to create wealth is another advantage that stands you out,” D’banj said.

    He said that it was high time artistes created brands for themselves and be ambassadors of their own brand.

    Mr Uzoma Dozie, Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, said that the bank would invest in artistes if information and data available on their revenue flow would be available.

    Dozie called for professionalism in the music industry especially as more people would be going digital.

    “What you do to inspire people and how you do it matter,” he said.

    The News men reports that Social Media Week Lagos is currently in its sixth edition with the theme: ‘Closer’.

    The event which will end on March 2 is featuring discussions covering the future of the media, tourism, governance, gender inclusion, entertainment and emerging ideas and trends across the globe.

    NAN

  • JAMB releases mock UTME result

    JAMB releases mock UTME result

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB on Thursday released the results of the just-conducted Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with our reporters on Thursday in Lagos.

    According to him, candidates are to check their results on line by visiting www.jamb .org.ng with their registration numbers.

    Benjamin described the conduct of the examination nationwide as hitch-free.

    A total of 245,753 candidates registered for the mock examination which took place on Monday.

    Mock UTME is optional for UTME candidates.

    The main UTME is expected to hold from March 9 to March 17.

     

    NAN

  • Mechanic to Court: My wife is having affair with herbalist

    Mechanic to Court: My wife is having affair with herbalist

    A 50-year-old mechanic, Gafau Shogaolu has begged an Iyana-Ipaja Customary Court, to dissolve his 25-year-old marriage to his wife, Maria, for alleged adulterous and fetish lifestyle.

    Gafau, of No. 13, Sijuade St., Abesan, Ipaja, Lagos, told the court that his wife once left him for another man and came back 15 years after, pleading for a second chance.

    “My wife had a child for me before she left for another man, and came back 15 years after, begging me to take her back, which I did.

    “I married another woman while she was away. When she came back, I got an apartment for her.

    “I introduced her to the herbalist that took deliveries of the three children she gave birth to after she came back.

    “Unknown to me, my wife went back and started having an affair with the herbalist,” he said.

    Gafau told the court that he once caught his wife when she was about to enter the herbalist’s car.

    “After my younger brother told me about my wife’s infidelity, I decided to keep a close watch on her. I caught her when she was about to enter the herbalist’s car.

    “I reported the case at a police station and the herbalist was made to write an undertaken twice, never to call and have a secret affair with her again,” he said.

    The petitioner further accused his wife of being fetish and failed in her responsibility to take care of the children.

    “My wife is fetish. There was a time I found a padlock tied with a red cloth in her wardrobe.

    “One of our children also found a small gourd in her wardrobe and brought it to me. My life is no longer save, please separate us,” he begged the court.

    Maria, 44, a businesswoman, denied being fetish and adulterous, but admitted that the herbalist asked her out.

    “I am not having an affair with the herbalist, he only asked me out and I rejected his offer. I felt it was not necessary to inform my husband about the issue.

    “I am not fetish. The small gourd is not mine. I asked Michael, my younger brother, who came to pay me a visit and he said he is the owner of the small gourd,” Maria told the court.

    The respondent, however, urged the court to save her marriage and reconcile her to her husband.

    The President of the court, Mr Adekunle Hassan, urged the husband to allow his wife to remain in his apartment until the case is disposed off.

    Hassan urged the wife to ensure that there was peace in the house, adding she would be held responsible if anything happens to her husband.

    He adjourned the petition until May 22.

    NAN

  • UN says 4 peacekeepers killed in Mali were from Bangladesh

    UN says 4 peacekeepers killed in Mali were from Bangladesh

    The UN says four of its peacekeepers killed by a roadside bomb in central Mali on Wednesday were from Bangladesh.

    The UN said four peacekeepers seriously wounded in the blast which occurred in the central Mopti region, where attacks by Islamist militants have surged in recent months.

    UN officials did not however say who was responsible for the blast.

    Six Malian soldiers were killed nearby a day earlier when their vehicle struck a landmine.

    Read Also: UN envoy sees difficult talks on Syria ceasefire deal

    “The Secretary-General conveys his condolences to the Governments of Bangladesh and Mali and his profound sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims,” a spokesman for Antonio Guterres said in a statement.

    Bangladesh is the world’s second-biggest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations with some 7,000 uniformed personnel deployed to missions around the world.

    NAN