Thursday, December 3, 2015
PDP Begs Nigerians To Join Party, Holds National Convention March 2016
Jega To Receive Wole Soyinka’s ‘Anti-Corruption Defender’ Award.
The decade anniversary of the Wole Soyinka award for investigative reporting is scheduled for Wednesday 9 December, 2015, by 5pm at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
In his acceptance note to Motunrayo Alaka, coordinator of the Wole Soyinka centre for investigative journalism, Jega appreciated the organisation for finding him worthy of the award.
“Such an honour from a centre named after the great and revered Wole Soyinka is of considerable significance,” he said.
Biafra Separatists: Northern Traders Flee South-East
Most of them residing in Onitsha, Nnewi and other South-Eastern cities doing business have hurriedly relocated to Asaba, Delta State capital seeking refuge.
Pro-Biafra protesters led by member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had last Monday intensified the protest in demand for the release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu by locking down the South-East.
'Allah Decided to Punish Turkey Leaders By Making Them Lose Their Minds' - Putin
Russia's President said that Allah, apparently, decided to punish Turkey's leadership by making them lose their minds.
Russia's president said: "We were ready to cooperate with Turkey on any sensitive issue and were ready to go much further than [Turkey's other] allies were willing to. "
Strange Bedfellows: Does US' Coalition Intentionally Feed Daesh in Syria?
Russia's increased activity along the Syrian-Turkish border indicates clearly that the Syrian conflict has entered its final phase, geopolitical researcher Tony Cartalucci stresses, adding that the true sponsors behind this conflict are now stepping in overtly.
It should be clear now to those, who criticized Russia's air campaign as ineffective, that their prognosis has proved wrong, Bangkok-based geopolitical researcher and writer Tony Cartalucci underscores.
Three Mistakes Turkey Made That Dragged It Into Conflict With Russia
Turkey seems to have fallen into its own trap: its covert support of Daesh has led to indirect confrontation with Russia, but the shootdown of a Russian bomber and a further escalation of relations with Moscow have led to direct confrontation between the two, greatly annoying Ankara’s western partners, according to an article in Le Huffington Post.
Turkey has made a number of “very bad decisions”: by taking up an ambiguous position in Syria, it has started a brawl with Russia and in so doing annoying its western partners, journalist Romain Herreros wrote in his article for the newspaper.
Western Media Calls Russia 'Hostile' for Outing Turkey's Dirty Oil Secret
On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry held a briefing detailing the Turkish government's involvement in the trade of Daesh (ISIL) oil. However, instead of starting their own investigations, many Western media outlets have instead attacked Russia for presenting the evidence, suggesting the revelations were 'hostile' and 'confrontational'.
57 year old man dies onboard an Arik Air flight
According to multiple reports, a 57 year old man identified as Albert Nnadi died on-board an Arik Air Flight that was heading to Lagos from Owerri yesterday December 2nd. The man was on his way to Lagos for medical attention when he was found dead as the passengers were disembarking from the plane after landing in Lagos. Arik Air confirmed the incident happened and said the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Mortuary.
Photos: 6 Dangote trucks burnt during Pro-Biafran protest in Onitsha yesterday
Between 4 to 6 trucks belonging to Dangote group were burnt during the Biafra protest that took place in Onitsha, Anambra state yesterday December 2nd. The Central Mosque in Onitsha was also torched. Continue to see more photos...
DAAR communication releases statement on Dokpesi's arrest
DAAR Communication owners of AIT and Raypower have released a statement over the arrest of their Chairman, Raymond Dokpesi. Find the statement below
On Monday Nov 30, 2015 whilst attending the 70th birthday celebration of former Minister and PDP stalwart, Professor Jerry Gana, the Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc. received a telephone call from the Ag. Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu inviting him to the visit the EFCC Headquarters to provide some clarifications and documentation regarding some transactions involving the Office of the erstwhile NSA during the 2015 Presidential election campaigns.
Dasuki lists ex-governors, PDP chiefs, in $2.1bn deals
According to a report by The Nation, former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki has started opening up about the controversial $2.1 billion arms deal. A source at EFCC who spoke with the newspaper stated that Dasuki decided to open up after a former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Shaibu Salisu who was recently arrested in connection with the probe, made some statements implicating him, Dasuki, in the deal.
Cameroon Frees 900 Boko Haram Hostages In Military Operation.
Cameroon's army, with backing from a regional anti-Boko Haram task force, have killed at least 100 militants from the militant group and freed 900 people it had held hostage, the army and defence ministry said on Wednesday.
"In the course of this operation, at least 100 members of Boko Haram were killed. Nine hundred hostages detained by Boko Haram were freed," said army spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck.
The defence ministry also cited the same figures in a brief statement on state television.
War Against Insurgency On Course – COAS
Buratai gave the assurance on Wednesday when he visited a military location at Gajigana in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno, which was recently attacked by Boko Haram insurgents.
He said the recent attacks would not have much effects on the operation geared toward destroying all terrorists’ enclaves on Nigerian territory, describing them as a minor setback that was being addressed.
Transparency International Rates South Africa As Africa’s Most Corrupt.
In a report released by Transparency International (TI), a watchdog group, on Tuesday, South Africa came first among countries where corruption is on the increase.
Citizens of Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia and Ghana were also said to have witnessed the highest levels of corruption.
SSS Disobeys Court Order, Ejects Ex-DG, Kayode Are, From Lagos Home
Operatives of the State Security Service on Wednesday stormed the Lagos residence of one of its former Director Generals, Kayode Are, ejecting his family and throwing out his properties.
“They are right here in my house,” a distraught Mr. Are told PREMIUM TIMES on telephone. “They have pulled down the doors, chased my family away and are throwing out our properties. They are not even giving us time to remove our things.”
The secret police took the action despite a court injunction served on it Tuesday barring it from ejecting Mr. Are from his Ikoyi home.
Kachikwu Replaces Diezani As OPEC President.
Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, has replaced Diezani Alison-Madueke as conference president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Speculations were that Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources, President Muhammadu Buhari, would take the top seat at OPEC, but the body in a recent update named Kachikwu as the head of the OPEC conference.
We Can Confidently Announce That Fuel Scarcity Will End In A Few Days – Lai Mohammed
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured that the current fuel scarcity in the country will be over in a matter of days, following the approval of the subsidy payment by the National Assembly.
”We can confidently announce here today that the scarcity will end in a few days. Subsidy payment till the end of the year has been approved by the National Assembly. As you know we can’t spend money without approval,” the Minister said during a visit to the headquarters of the Daily Trust newspaper in Abuja on Wednesday.Lai-Mohammed
U.S Ready To Help Nigeria Overcome Electricity Shortfall
The envoy stressed that his country identified the private power players as the solution to the several challenges facing the country as regards electricity.
Okonjo-Iweala Tells Buhari To Call Oshiomhole To Order
The Minister stressed that she had absolutely nothing to do with the issue.
She stated that it was an abuse of public office, the judicial process and her human rights for Governor Oshiomhole, whom she stopped from taking a highly suspicious N15 billion loan, to make false allegations against her while hiding behind the constitutional immunity granted state governors.
Biafra: MASSOB,IPOB Deny Setting Onitsha Central Mosque Ablaze
South Africa: Buhari, Xi Jinping To Discuss Railway, Power Projects
President Muhammadu Buhari will be in South Africa , Thursday to participate in the Forum on China/Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) taking place in Johannesburg, December 4-5, 2015. At this forum President Buhari will follow up his meeting with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping which took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in November in New York.
President Buhari had indicated to Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader at the bilateral meeting in New York that he wanted China to re-commence stalled rail projects under new terms that would see China providing nearly all the financing required.
PDP: We’re Battle-Ready For APC In Bayelsa.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Olisa Metuh, spokesman of the PDP, said members had been instructed to defend their votes and counter any attempt to rig the election by the ruling party.
He also alleged that the APC had concluded plans to rig the Bayelsa governorship election “just as it did in the November 21 Kogi governorship election”.
Fuel Scarcity Will Not Happen Again, Says FG.
Federal government has assured Nigerians that the current fuel scarcity in the country will be over in a matter of days, vowing that the situation will not happen again.
“We can confidently announce here today that the scarcity will end in a few days. Subsidy payment till the end of the year has been approved by the national assembly. As you know we can’t spend money without approval,” Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, said in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Segun Adeyemi, special adviser to the minister, Mohammed explained that the N521bn that had been approved by the national assembly, as part of the passed supplementary budget of N574.4bn, would be enough to cover the fuel subsidy till the end of the year.
Oshiomhole After Me Because I Blocked His ‘Dubious N15bn Loan’ Bid — Okonjo-Iweala
Dasuki Lists Ex-Governors, PDP Chiefs In $2b Deals
FORMER National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki has made some “mind-boggling” revelations on the $2billion “phoney” arms contracts, a source said yesterday.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a Federal Government committee are probing how huge sums of money meant for procurement of arms went down the drain during the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Fayose Bans Tipper Owners
Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has banned tipper owners from operating in the state, following their refusal to comply with the new N1,000 per trip tax imposed on them.
The governor also banned sand excavation in the state, following alleged reported cases of destruction of farmlands, farm produce and other valuables.
Enough Is Enough, IGP Tells MASSOB, IPOB
… Orders massive deployment of mobile police personnel to South-East states, others
INSPECTOR General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, yesterday warned members of Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), not to provoke the will of the police and other security agencies with continuous threat to public peace.
Arase said the warning became necessary following alleged increasing acts of brigandage by MASSOB and IPOB, which threatens national security and public peace in the South-East and conterminous states.
2016 Budget Will Address Nigerians Yearnings – Lai Mohammed
The 2016 budget by the federal government would address the yearnings of Nigerians just as the issue of fuel scarcity will soon be a thing of the past.
The minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the declarations yesterday when he visited the headquarters of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust newspapers, Abuja.
I Will Discipline, Jail Corrupt Officers – Customs CG
Retired Col. Hameed Ali, the Comptroller -General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday warned that he would either discipline, dismiss or jail any officer found guilty of corrupt practices.
Ali gave the warning while addressing officers and men of the NCS in Calabar, capital of Cross River.
He said that there was the need for them to be of good conduct and show professionalism while carrying out their duties.
Minister: We Are Awaiting Buhari’s Decision On MTN $5.2bn Fine
The $5.2 billion fine imposed on MTN by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) six weeks ago over regulatory infraction has not been waived, the Federal Government said yesterday.
There have been speculations that talks on waiving the fine for the MTN may be on the agenda in the meeting between presidents Muhammad Buhari and Jacobs Zuma of South Africa when the former visits the latter later during the week.
Reps Plagiarize Bills, Says Gbajabiamila
Some members of the House of Representatives usually copy bills that had been passed and gazetted by previous Assembly to re-table them for consideration on the floor of the lower chamber, House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila revealed yesterday.
Gbajabiamila who came under matter of privilege at plenary said it was appalling that despite their level of education, some of his colleagues engage in serious plagiarism at the country’s highest lawmaking body, thereby bastardizing and mocking the legislative process.
Okonjo-Iweala: I Have No Hand In $2.1bn Arms Deal
Former coordinating minister of the economy and minister of finance under Goodluck Jonathan administration, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said she has no hand in the arms purchase deals facilitated by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
Nkwonjo-Iweala dismissed the allegations by the Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole who accused her of participating in the deal, calling the Federal Government to call the governor to order.
The Federal Government is currently investigating the arms purchase deal and many prominent persons were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. President Muhammadu Buhari ordered for Dasuki’s arrest on November 17, after a military investigative panel report indicted him in the $2 billion arms scandal.
N200bn Education Fund Diverted In 2 Years –Senate
Orders probe of Jonathan’s govt
SENATE, yesterday, revealed that about N200 billion education tax collected between 2012 and 2013 were diverted to unknown and unspecified uses not recognised in or permitted under the Act setting up the Education Trust Fund.
The funds were diverted during former presidnt Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. A probe was subsequently ordered.
Making the same Mistake ? FG Seeks US, Israel’s Aid To Crush Boko Haram
Is this not making the same mistake as the Previous administration seeking U.S help and Isreal. Why not go straight to Russia and China for help ? Read bellow.
DETERMINED to crush Boko Haram, the Federal Government yesterday made a passionate plea to the United States and Israel for urgent assistance.
The Minister of Interior, Lt- Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (retd), made the plea when he hosted the ambassadors of both countries in his office in Abuja. He spoke of government’s readiness to collaborate with the two countries to defeat Boko Haram.
According to the minister; “as you know, this is the hub of internal security arrangement in the country. With five strategic security institutions, there is no doubt that the ministry has a major challenge of dealing with internal security.
Dasuki: Buhari Seeking Vengeance With Corruption Fight –Fayose
EKITI State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has described the arrest yesterday, of the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) by men of the Department of State Services (DSS), as continuation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of vengeance. He also said, “disobeying court order and later arresting and detaining the same person the court ordered to be allowed to travel abroad for medicare is the peak of dictatorship.”
Nigeria Has Become A Police State – Fani-Kayode
Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on Wednesday, in a statement issued, raised an alarm over the safety of former Director General, State Security Services, Col Kayode Are whom he said was under attack from some gunmen suspected to be security operatives.
Are who served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo was the acting National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Saraki Clarifies Claim On Senate Bill Proposing Two-Year Jail For Social Media Users.
The Senate has denied introducing any bill aimed at jailing social media users.It made the explanations in a a statement signed by Bamikole Omishore, SA New Media to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, entitled “Clarification on false claim that Senate passed a bill proposing to jail social media users for two years”.
Fayose Warns Buhari, INEC Against Repeating Kogi Debacle In Bayelsa
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against repeating what he described as a “show of shame” that was witnessed in Kogi State governorship election in Bayelsa State.
Fayose warned that “INEC must be mindful of the consequences of perpetrating the same electoral abracabra in Bayelsa State during the Saturday’s December 5 governorship poll.”
Bayelsa Guber: We Will Fight Riggers, Guns Don’t Intimidate Us – PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday in Abuja called on its members in Bayelsa to remain vigilant, focused and fearless throughout the State’s governorship election on Dec. 5.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, gave the advice at a news conference in Abuja.
Metuh said the National Working Committee of the PDP had rallied people of Bayelsa and its members to combat anybody or group planning to rig the election.
He advised all, especially INEC officials, both regular and ad hoc, not to allow themselves to be used for manipulation of the poll.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
German Spies Say Saudis Shifting to More 'Impulsive' Interventionist Action
Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency warned that Saudi Arabia is becoming "impulsive" in its foreign policy.
In a memo published Wednesday, the agency said Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is second in line to the throne, and his father, King Salman, are trying to establish themselves as leaders of the Arab world, the Associated Press reported.
"The thus far cautious diplomatic stance of the elder leaders in the royal family is being replaced by an impulsive interventionist policy," the BND said.
Man Tortured Apprentice To Death Over Allegations Of Poor Sales (pictured)
Family petitions CP over son’s alleged murder
Family members and relatives of Master Tochukwu Nwagbala have called on police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged murder of their son. The late Nwagbala, an apprentice in Benin, Edo State, was allegedly murdered by his master under whom he had served for several years.
The distraught family has petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Ezike, alleging conspiracy among top officers of the state police command over Nwagbala’s death. The family asked Ezike to order investigation to unravel how the body of Ezike was dumped at the Benin by-pass.
Family members and relatives of Master Tochukwu Nwagbala have called on police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged murder of their son. The late Nwagbala, an apprentice in Benin, Edo State, was allegedly murdered by his master under whom he had served for several years.
The distraught family has petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Ezike, alleging conspiracy among top officers of the state police command over Nwagbala’s death. The family asked Ezike to order investigation to unravel how the body of Ezike was dumped at the Benin by-pass.
President Buhari, Xi Jinping To Discuss Railway, Power Projects
President Muhammadu Buhari will be in South Africa , Thursday to take part in the Forum on China/Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) occurring in Johannesburg, December 4-5, 2015. At this forum President Buhari will follow up his meeting with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping which took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in November in New York.
President Buhari had shown to Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader at the bilateral meeting in New York that he needed China to re-initiate slowed down rail ventures under new terms that would see China giving almost all the financing required.
Exceptionally compelling is the coastal railroad task extending for 1402 kilometers connecting Lagos in the West with Calabar in the East; a venture that is relied upon to be financed with 12 billion U.S Dollars Chinese loan and which will create around 200,000 jobs.
Another rail project that will be up for renegotiation is the $8.3bn Lagos-Kano standard gage modernization undertaking, of which is only a segment, Kaduna-Abuja has come to completion stage.
President Buhari is additionally expected to examine methods for uprooting all deterrents in the way for the 3,050 MW Mambila Power Station, considered a key undertaking which was conceived in 1982 yet has not taken off.
The Chinese President had informed President Buhari of the eagerness of his nation to back the entire project through an extraordinary loan agreement.
The President, who will be joined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema; Minister of Transportation, Chubuike Amaechi; and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, will return to Abuja on Saturday, December 5.
#China, #Nigeria
No Enemy Needed: US Jammed Its Own Satellites 261 Times This Year Alone
A high-ranking US general confessed that the most dangerous adversary of the United States in the realm of electronic warfare these days just may be… the United States itself.
He also indicated he has no clue how many times American satellites were jammed by China or Russia.
“I really don’t know. My guess is zero,” General John Hyten, head of Air Force Space Command, at the Association of Old Crows electronic warfare conference, according to Breaking Defense.
These Are the Weapons the UK May Use to Bomb Syria
As British Prime Minister David Cameron pushes Parliament to approve Syrian airstrikes, here’s a look at the weapons that could be used if lawmakers vote to extend the bombing campaign beyond Iraq.
The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force currently uses two bases for manned bombing flights over Iraq and surveillance flights over Syria. One of these is Al Udeid air base in Qatar, while the other is RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The British military also launches drones out of Ali Al Salem in Kuwait, though these are controlled remotely from the UK and the United States.
Depots Sell Petrol To Marketers Above Official Price
Nigerians may face a bleak Yuletide as indications have emerged that the current scarcity of petrol across the country may spill into the New Year unless an urgent solution is found to the lingering problem.
Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that petroleum product depots were selling Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise called petrol, to marketers above the ex-depot price of N77.66 per litre.
This is despite a recent warning by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that marketers whose retail outlets sell above the regulated pump price of N87 per litre would be sanctioned accordingly with their products given to consumers for free.
One of the marketers said, “Product loaded at the regulated N77.66 is later being traded at up to N110 to third parties who later sell at N120 in some filling stations in the South and N114 in the North.”
Findings by our correspondent showed that even the marketers who were getting PMS supply from the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company at the official ex-depot price were selling the product at exorbitant prices to truck owners and filling stations, who then sell above N100 per litre to consumers.
The situation prompted a visit by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to tank farms in Apapa, Lagos on Tuesday.
Add Tinubu’s Politics Into Curriculum, Ashafa Urges UK Varsity
The senator representing Lagos-East senatorial district, Gbenga Ashafa, has urged the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom to dedicate an academic course to the study of the politics style of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Ashafa said this after the investiture of Tinubu as patron of the university’s Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership on Monday.
Kano Blast: Boko Haram Not Responsible –Zakzaky
Leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky has said last week’s bomb explosion in Kano which killed 24 persons during Arba’een symbolic trek, was not carried out by Boko Haram even when it claimed responsibility for the attack.
Spokesperson for the group, Ibrahim Usman in a statement, quoted Zakzaky as saying, “we know the names of the contractors and those contracted to commit the massacre; their identity is not hidden from us.
Nigeria Blew N2.7trn On Electricity – Dogara
• How NERC raised salaries unilaterally, Reps panel told
Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, yesterday revealed that it is a shame that N2.7 trillion was wasted to generate power which remained epileptic since 1999.
He spoke in Abuja when he opened the House Committee on Power investigating the payment of N2.7 billion severance package to the Chairman and seven commissioners of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Dasuki Arrest Is The Peak Of Buhari’s Dictatorship – Fayose
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has described the arrest Tuesday, of the immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, by the Department of State Services (DSS), as continuation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime of vengeance, saying “disobeying court order and later arresting and detaining the same person the court ordered to be allowed to travel abroad for medicare is the peak of dictatorship”.
Governor Fayose, who reiterated his support for the fight against corruption, maintained that it must be done within the ambit of the law and must not be used to seek vengeance.
He declared support for Mr. Dasuki’s demand for an open trial as against the federal government’s demand for a secret trial.
“We Saw Hell On Asaba-Onitsha Road” – Motorists, Passengers Lament Biafra Protest In Anambra
Travellers were held to a stand still for hours on Tuesday along Asaba road as the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, shutdown activities in Onistha, Africa’s largest commercial hub.
The protest was organised to warn the Federal Government of Nigeria on the need to free their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu without delay.
The protesters also affirmed that they needed their independence as a nation.
DAILY POST gathered that the eastern gateway, River Niger was blocked for several hours as nobody was allowed to enter or go out of the state.
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