Wednesday, November 11, 2015

As Fashola Bags Minister of Power , Works & Housing.. See why Buhari Chose him


Amid the inauguration of the new ministers today, Nigerians were on edge to know who will get what. After the minister assigns took their promise of office, the following thing was to know how the ministries would be distributed.


At the point when the president unveiled the ministers and their portfolios, the previous legislative head of Lagos got the lion’s offer as he was given a mix of three ministries, in particular power, works and housing.


Buhari picked Fashola as minister of power, works and housing for the following reasons





1. HIGH SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM


The former governor of Lagos state has always showed his passion for the progress of Nigeria. He believes in the project of a prosperous Nigeria. He proved this when he steered the ship of Lagos for eight years. He had always been at the forefront of Nigeria growing and developing to become the toast of other African countries where investors will come to establish companies and industries.


 


2. FASHOLA IS A WORKAHOLIC


The new minister of power, works and housing is a person who never gets tired of whatever he sets his eyes to achieve. When he came in as governor of Lagos state in 2007, his hair was black. However, after eight years in which he turned Lagos into the state to beat in Nigeria, his hair had all become grey. Likewise, Fashola executed many projects that Lagosians will ever be grateful to him for. Fashola never gets tired of working to get positive results.

3. HIGHLY INNOVATIVE


Fashola is someone who brings new things on board. He used his intelligence to fashion out ways in which the internally generated revenue of Lagos state increased more than 100% while governor. He also came up with the Lagos state security trust fund, which assisted in reducing crime in the state.


The restructuring of the once notorious Oshodi under bridge during his first term as governor is what a good number of Lagosians will never forget in a hurry. Oshodi used to be a haven for all forms of crime, illegal human abode and large traffic jams before Fashola cleaned up the place.


4. A TEAM PLAYER


The former governor of Lagos state never did things without making wide consultations and joining hands with people of like minds to bring progress to Lagos. He ensured that he implemented his predecessor’s idea for a Bus Rapid Transport System which eased the transportation problems of Lagosians. This is one of the things Fashola will bring to bear in his new assignment.

5. BUHARI’S TRUST IN FASHOLA


Before the president selected Fashola as a ministerial nominee, there was a lot of talk from some quarters that Buhari might drop him due to some powerful forces within the ruling All Progressives Congress working against his nomination. However, the president had other ideas. He had so much faith in Fashola. He believed he achieved so much when he governed Lagos state. Moreover, Buhari saw Fashola as a disciplined man just like himself who was ready to work assiduously.



#Fashola

Pro Biafra Seperatist: Buhari Pushing Igbo To Secede –Ezeife


FORMER governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has said President Muhammadu Buhari is pushing the South-East zone to contemplate seceding from Nigeria.
Ezeife observed that the current uprising in the South-East championed by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) was caused by President Buhari’s body language.
The former governor made the remarks yesterday in a telephone interview with the Daily Sun.
He said Buhari’s body language smacks of so much hatred for people of the South East, insisting that current activities by youths in the region is simply a reaction to the president’s indifference to the plight of people of the zone.

BIAFRA: Ohanaeze To Meet With Protesting Youths

South-East govs to meet in Enugu, Friday Protests continue in Port Harcourt, cause gridlock
Opportunity to restructure Nigeria –Ohanaeze youths ….Igbo leaders agree —Ikokwu
WORRIED by the increasing and dangerous dimension that the pro-Republic of Biafra protests are assuming, the umbrella body of Igbo socio-cultural organizations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo will meet with leaders of the protesting groups soon.

Pro-Biafra Separatists: Traders Count Losses As IPOB Shut Markets

IT began like a whirlwind that is now sweeping through the South East states and other states with significant Igbo population. Even though there presently appears to be a temporary lull, the dust raised is yet to settle. But that is not all. The one million protest march embarked upon by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, which shut down markets in most cities in the South-East, took a heavy toll on the dwindling economy of the affected states. The affected traders have also begun to count the losses suffered while the three-day protest lasted.

APC Reps Clash As Dogara, Gbajabiamila Move To Resolve Differences


An argument broke out between two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives yesterday over the issue of 96 standing committees.
Rep Aliyu Magaji (APC, Jigawa) who is a supporter of House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila and Rep Herman Hembe (APC, Benue), a loyalist of Speaker Yakubu Dogara nearly exchanged blows on their way to an APC caucus meeting at the National Assembly.
It was gathered that Hembe nearly slapped Magaji after the latter reportedly uttered something, which the former was not comfortable with.
It was gathered that the argument could have degenerated but for the quick intervention of some lawmakers around.

CBN Asks Banks To Continue BVN Registration.


The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had asked commercial banks in Nigeria to continue bank verification number (BVN) registration, regardless of the October 31 expiration.
Ibrahim Mu’azu, the bank’s director of communications, gave the directive on Tuesday, urging Nigerians to visit their banks to register for BVN.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Gov Dickson Receives 1,000 APC Defectors In Bayelsa.

Bayelsa state governor Seriake Dickson at weekend received about 1, 000 youths from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southern Ijaw local government area into the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking at the event, the governor said the future of the state and the Ijaw nation was in their hands and challenged them to stand firm and defend their votes.  Governor Dickson said that anyone who loved the Ijaw nation would not have anything to do with the APC and congratulated them for dumping it for the PDP.

Buhari Needs Budgetary Provision For N5,000 Stipend – Omoworare

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Babajide Omoworare, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari needs budgetary provision to implement the proposed N5,000 stipend for each youth nationwide.
A statement by the media aide to Omoworare, Mr. Tunde Dairo, on Monday, quoted the representative of Osun-East senatorial district, as blaming the PDP senate caucus for calling for the immediate implementation of the N5,000 palliative for unemployed youths in the country.
The statement said, “The call by the PDP for an immediate implementation of the N5,000 unemployment palliative by the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government is a call to impunity.

Ambode Full Of Excuses, Cannot Solve Lagos Gridlock, Robberies – The Economist


London-based weekly magazine, The Economist, has given a damning verdict on the administration of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
It said Ambode lacked the solution to the traffic congestion and robberies plaguing the state.
The magazine noted that rather than build on the successes of his predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Ambode had continued to fail at his job. It added that the only thing Ambode had been able to do was make excuses for his shortcomings.

Akure To Produce Next Ondo Governor – Deji Of Akure


The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo has said the next governor of Ondo State either from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, or the All Progressives Congress, APC, must emerge from Akure.

The monarch who made the call barely one year to the governorship poll in the state warned that any party that failed to pick an indigene of Akure would not be voted for by the entire people of the Akure division which according to him comprise Akure-South, Akure-North, Ifedore and Idanre local government areas.

Don’t Sell Your Voter Cards To PDP Agents – Audu Tells Electorates.


Prince Abubakar Audu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the November 21 gubernatorial election, on Monday charged electorate not to sell their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Audu, former Governor of Kogi, gave the charge during his campaign at Ceremonial Square, Okpo, Headquarter of Olamaboro Local Government Area.
The former governor told the people of the state that the time had come for them to join the Change train.

Stop Impunity, You Need Peace To Govern, PDP Tells Buhari


ABUJA- NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Tuesday said that the All Progressives Congress, APC led government has come clearly with what it termed, police state policy.

Speaking Tuesday at the PDP National Secretariat when he received briefing from the Taraba state Governor, Ishaku Darius on the recent election tribunal verdict that nullified his status as governor of the state, PDP Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus said that for the love for peace, the PDP failed to challenge the 2015 Presidential election.

What Jonathan Told US Presidential Precinct Board


Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who arrived the United States of America, yesterday, as a guest of the Presidential Precinct, Challotsville Virginia, has assured the international community that African leaders are displaying more commitment to democracy and good governance, as a means of engendering sustainable development and improving the lives of the people.
Jonathan who arrived the institute accompanied by a delegation from the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, also advocated the readiness of Nigeria and Africa for the sustenance of democratic principles, peace and people-oriented governance.

PDP Apologises To North For Fielding Jonathan.


The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has apologised to Northern leaders for not giving the region the party's presidential ticket in the March/April 2015 general elections.
The party also apologised to all Nigerians whom it stepped on their toes during its 16 years of governance at the federal level, saying it is repositioning to bounce back in 2019 and deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

Justice Eze Ozobu Denounces Radio Biafra And Nnamdi Kanu, IMC Seeks Release Of Protesters


The presumed founder of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Retired Justice Eze Ozobu has denounced the hate speeches and incitement to aggression as being portrayed by persons under the guise of Radio Biafra.
Speaking with Rev Obinna Akukwe, Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress (IMC) who sought his views as part of the group’s ongoing consultations with Igbo leaders on how to put an end to hate speeches characterizing the new face of Radio Biafra, Justice Eze Ozobu said that he doesn’t even know the person called Nnamdi Kanu.

Monday, November 9, 2015

Orubebe Trial: CCB Fails To Produce Witness, Adjourns To Nov 26


The trial of former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged four count charge of false declaration of assets and acceptance of about N70million bribe, took a dramatic turn on Monday, as the prosecution counsel failed to produce witnesses against the ex-minister.

After Orubebe pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him, the counsel to the prosecution, Ibrahim Usman, told the court, that he would like to request an adjournment since his witnesses were not in court.

INEC Job Is Not Difficult – Prof. Yakubu

Newly sworn-in Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday promised to be courageous in taking decisions at the commission.
He however noted that he would be guided by the Electoral Act and the Constitution in the discharge of his duties.
Yakubu, who made the pledge at INEC headquarters, Abuja, on Monday when he assumed office as the new chairman of the commission, doubted the veracity of people’s perception of the INEC job as very difficult.

Eaglets’ Victory Bold Response To Buhari’s Failure To Acknowledge Youths’ Potentials – PDP


The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has told President Muhammadu Buhari that the victory of the Golden Eaglets at the FIFA U-17 World Cup clearly indicates that the nation’s youths are endowed with talents and should be encouraged to excel.

Describing the feat as a bold response by the Nigerian youth to the series of “uninspiring and negative utterances and actions of President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government,” the party accused the current administration of refusing to acknowledge the potentials of the nation’s youths.
The main opposition party, in a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh held that, “The victory is a clear demonstration that Nigeria, as a country is endowed with enormous talents and potentials waiting to be exhibited to the entire world.

Top 5 Wars America Should Have Stayed Well Away From


Regardless of how militarily strong the United States sees itself as, there are a significant number of fights it would have been better to have stayed out of. Robert Farley, an American expert in national security has compiled a list of fights the nation lost, as a little update before it hops head-first into its next foreign adventure.


“As we would expect of any country, not all of America’s wars have been wisely fought, and not all of them were wise to fight,” Farley wrote in an article for The National Interest magazine.  Here is the list of battles the author thinks his country should had kept out of.“As we would expect of any country, not all of America’s wars have been wisely fought, and not all of them were wise to fight,” Farley wrote in an article for The National Interest magazine.  Here is the list of battles the author thinks his country should had kept out of.


5) War of 1812




© AP PHOTO Battle of New Orleans showing General Andrew Jackson and his troops overcoming the British , in 1815, and scoring a victory which gave him a place of great popularity whit the people



The tensions that caused the War of 1812 (June 18, 1812 – February 17, 1815) arose from the French revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1792–1815). During this nearly constant conflict between France and Britain, American interests were injured by the two countries’ endeavors to block the United States from trading with each other’s adversary.


The causes of the war also included the Royal Navy’s impressment of American seamen and America’s desire to expand its territory.


The United States suffered many costly defeats at the hands of British, Canadian and Native American troops over the course of the War of 1812, including the capture and burning of the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., in August 1814.


“It turned out that the United States was ill-prepared for the conflict,” Farley concludes. “The invasions of Canada failed; US Navy frigates scored some notable successes, but in general the Royal Navy did what it wanted, when it wanted; the British burned the American capital, with only heroic resistance preventing the incineration of Baltimore. The Republic nearly collapsed from internal dissension before Washington and London made peace.”



4) The Black Hills War


The Great Sioux War of 1876, also known as the Black Hills War, was a series of battles and negotiations which occurred between 1876 and 1877 involving the Native American tribes of Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne against the United States.



Northern Cheyenne, Little Bighorn Battlefield, June 26, 1876 Little Bighorn River, Montana.

© WIKIPEDIA Battle of the Big Horn. Shows the smoking guns of General Custer and his U. S. Army troops being defeated in battle with Native American Lakota Sioux, and Northern Cheyenne, Little Bighorn Battlefield, June 26, 1876 Little Bighorn River, Montana.



As gold was discovered in the Black Hills, settlers began to encroach onto Native American lands.


“The US government was unable (and largely unwilling) to restrict white migration into the Black Hills, and after unproductive negotiation simply decided to seize some of the most valuable area,” Farley says.


“The war resulted in one of the most serious US military defeats of the Indian Wars, the annihilation of the Seventh Cavalry at the Battle of Little Bighorn.”


“Eventually, however, a combination of military and diplomatic efforts forced most of the Cheyenne and Sioux to surrender, apart from a portion that fled to Canada.”


Sporadic fighting would continue for another fifteen years or so the author says.


In the end, the US government “pacified” the Cheyenne and Sioux and assumed full control over the eastern half of what would become South Dakota.


“The death and destruction caused by the war provided an appropriate coda for US mistreatment of Native American tribes across the 19th century,” he furthermore states.



3) The Great War (World War I)


The World War I (July 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918) was centered in Europe, with the US “watching, and profiting from, the slow incineration of European civilization between 1914 and 1917.”



Madison Square, New York City, 1918

© AP PHOTO Soldiers returned to the U.S. from France after the Great War march in a homecoming parade in Madison Square, New York City, 1918



When the European continent erupted in conflict in 1914, President Wilson declared America’s neutrality.

“German submarines and an ill-advised effort on the part of the German foreign service to enlist Mexico’s support in the war changed that position,” Farley says.


“In eighteen months of war (with the most intense fighting concentrated in the summer of 1918), 116,000 Americans died. Scholars still debate whether US intervention was decisive, but in the end the war resulted in the collapse of four empires (Germany, Russia, Ottoman, Austria-Hungary) and the aggrandizement of two others (Britain and France) without resolving any of the central issues of dispute.”



2) Vietnam War



Vietnam War

© AP PHOTO/ HORST FAAS Hovering U.S. Army helicopters pour machine gun fire into the tree line to cover the advance of South Vietnamese ground troops in an attack on a Viet Cong camp 18 miles north of Tay Ninh, northwest of Saigon near the Cambodian border, in March 1965 during the Vietnam War



The Vietnam War was a long, costly armed conflict that pitted the communist regime of North Vietnam and its southern allies, known as the Viet Cong, against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States.


The war began in 1954 (though conflict in the region stretched back to the mid-1940s), after the rise to power of Ho Chi Minh and his communist Viet Minh party in North Vietnam, and continued against the backdrop of an intense Cold War between two global superpowers: the United States and the Soviet Union.


The war took the lives of 58,000 Americans and ended with the withdrawal of US forces in 1973 and the unification of Vietnam under Communist control two years later.


The conflict led to bitter divisions among Americans, both before and after President Richard Nixon ordered the withdrawal.


According to a survey by the Veterans Administration, some 500,000 of the 3 million troops who served in Vietnam suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and rates of divorce, suicide, alcoholism and drug addiction were markedly higher among veterans.



1) Operation Iraqi Freedom



Iraq

© AFP 2015/ RAMZI HAIDAR US marines sit on their tanks behind the wreckage of destroyed cars on al-Jumhuriya bridge in Baghdad 11 April 2003



“In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq in order to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein, establish a friendly, democratic state in its place, and prevent the distribution of weapons of mass destruction to Iraqi-affiliated terrorist networks. In hindsight, every aspect of that sentence seems absurd,” Farley says.


According to official estimates, a total of 4,493 US service members were killed in Iraq between 2003 and 2014. Official figures claim 32,021 were wounded. However, according to Antiwar.com website, the unofficial estimation shows as much as 100,000.


Given the above, Farly concludes that “the United States should take great care to stay out of unnecessary wars, and aloof from foreign entanglements. America’s leaders would be best advised to pay great heed to this advice when they consider further foreign adventures.”



World News



#USA

Wanted Boko Haram Suspect Arrested In Abuja Airport


One of the 100 suspected Boko Haram members declared wanted by the military, Chindo Bello was on Sunday arrested in Abuja while attempting to flee.

According to reports, Bello was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja while trying to board an Aero Contractors’ Airline flight billed for Lagos.
Following his arrest, he was handed over to the military intelligence for interrogation and prosecution.
A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman expressed appreciation to the eagle eyed and patriotic security agents at the airport, as well as good citizens of the country, for the tip-off that led to the arrest of Chindo Bello.

Photos: Nigerian Army destroys more terrorist camps


Press statement the military...
In furtherance to the ongoing offensive operations to clear Boko Haram terrorists activities in the North East, troops of 25 Task Force Brigade yesterday (Sunday), conducted clearance and confidence building operations in Bale along Bitta and Damboa axis. The Boko Haram terrorists on sighting the advancing troops towards their location, they fled in disarray abandoning looted food items and other personal effects.

Photos: Presicent Buhari, Osinbajo, Saraki at the searing-in ceremony of new INEC chairman and commissioners


President Buhari early today performed the swearing-in function of the new INEC Chairman Professor Mahmud Yakubu and also five INEC Commissioners in particular Antonla Taiye Okoosi Simbine for North-central, Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo for North-east, Mohammed Mustafa Lecky for South-south, Amina Zakari for North East and Soyebi Adedeji Solomon for South-west. See more pics bellow....

Mass Protest Against Oshiomhole Administration Rocks Benin City

Residents Benin City, Edo State, on Monday expressed their rejection of the policies of the state government by embarking on a peaceful mass protest in major streets of the city. The protesters marched the streets over Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s policies on tax and school fees hike, as well as growing number abandoned roads projects. They also frowned at the ‎what they called the dictatorial tendencies of the Government.

Sifiso Dabengwa dumps his post as MTN CEO over N1.04 trillion Nigeria fine


Sifiso Dabengwa, the embattled chief executive of MTN, has announced his resignation following sanctioned by the Nigerian government for failing to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered subscribers.

N1.04 trillion ($5.2 billion) fine imposed on the telecom giant by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.

However, rumors suggested he might be replaced by Non-Executive Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko, will act as executive chairman for a maximum period of six months while the company identifies a successor to Mr. Dabengwa, MTN said in a statement issued in Johannesburg on Monday.

Sunday, November 8, 2015

A new war began on October 31…

The most up-to-date information indicates the October 31 tragedy was the result of a terrorist act on board the Airbus A321. If that supposition is confirmed, and considering the reaction by the Russian authorities, one might say that Qatar finally got what it wanted—a war.
Incidentally, Qatar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Khaled al-Atyya publicly threatened Russia with “World War Three”. We can’t speak for Russia, but as far as Qatari clans are concerned, the war is on.