Don urges agency to enforce standard in garri production

A food science technologist has called for the enforcement of standard in the production of granulated cassava (Garri) to ensure it is safety for consumption.

Dennis Balogu, Professor of Food Science and Technology, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday‎ in Lapai.

Balogu urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to show more concern in the way“Garri’’ was being processed in the interest of the consuming public.

“NAFDAC needs to enforce standard in the production of Garri to ensure that it is safe for consumption in the country."

“Garri should not be dried on the ground even after it has been fried; it must be well-fried for at least 50 minutes to one hour over intense heat to make it safe for drinking or eating,”  Balogu said.

The food science technologist noted that some Garri dealers were in the habit of basking raw Garri on polythene sheets in the sun for hours to cut cost of production.

“With this process, there is the tendency for small air borne particles bearing tiny eggs of microorganisms that are harmful to the health to contaminate the Garri."

“Such microorganisms thrive when they find conducive place in the body,” he said.
He cautioned that solar energy was not suitable for‎ processing some types of food and advised that sun-dried raw food should be re-cooked or re-dried over a cooking device to make it suitable for consumption.

“Members of the public need to always re-fry‎ their Garri and the method of re-frying are simple; pour the quantity of Garri to be consumed in a small pot on the cooking device and stir it until the temperature is 145 degrees centigrade."

“The microorganisms will be eliminated under such intense heat and the Garri will be safe for drinking as porridge or eaten as pudding,” Balogu said.

He also advised Garri retailers to always use transparent polythene to protect it.

Gov Ajimobi speaks on President's health

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has called on Nigerians to continue to pray for the health and wellbeing of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ajimobi described the rumour of President Buhari's death as unfounded and untrue.

He further dismissed allegations that governors were summoned to Abuja over the health of the president.

He emphasised that president Buhari was on a well-deserved vacation to the United Kingdom due to the rigours of governance.

“There is no iota of truth in the rumour making the rounds that governors were summoned to Abuja for an emergency meeting to discuss the health status of our dear President," the governor said told journalists in Ibadan.

He goes on to say: “We should desist from circulating callous insinuations aimed at denting the image of prominent citizens.

 “Instead of peddling unfounded rumour, I will advise Nigerians to continue to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders, including governors, because their well-being is tied to the well-being of the people.

“The rigours of governance require that leaders take time off to relax and recoup for the daunting challenges ahead of them. We should be fair to our leaders because they are also human beings with feelings.

“It is pertinent to state here that the President only went for a break and to use the opportunity to undergo routine medical check-up. To the best of my knowledge, he was not even admitted to any hospital for any ailment.

“There is nothing wrong with the president taking some time off to rest and meet with some people abroad unofficially. I’m reaffirming the fact that our President is hale and hearty.”

President Buhari's wife, Aisha was recently pictured with her husband in London.

National Industrial Court plans to launch mobile app

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, says it plans to launch a mobile app in order to increase access of litigants to information, ease court proceedings and boost speedy delivery of judgments.

Justice Babatunde Adejumo, President of the Court, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja, when he displayed some features of the app through a mobile phone to lawyers in court.

Adejumo noted that his administration would apply modern techniques to ensure that cases were readily handled and justice delivered as at when due.

He said the court was working with a team of consultants to develop the app, which would soon be launched with the new National Industrial Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2017.

Adejumo said it was important for lawyers and judges to improve on their skills especially in labour practice, and stressed the importance of employer, employee relationship in the development of the country.

“Labour issues affect the sacked employee and in turn the family, his landlord, the market woman he buys things from; in fact, labour is the powerhouse of the economy and governance."

“So we will do all that is humanly possible to deliver in line with our mandate."

“This mobile app will display cases for each day, the cause list for the different courts, and hearing notices will be sent via messages from the app and will be recorded as sent."

“Numbers of registrars of each court will be readily available on the app, to which people can reach them easily concerning their cases."

“We will be the first court to employ this innovative idea; we are still working on it and will present it to the public soon,’’ he said.

Read today's newspaper headlines [Friday, January 31, 2017]

Find out what is making headlines all over the country from the covers of The Guardian, Vanguard, The Nation and The Punch.

For today, January 31 2017:

THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

Customs seizes truckload of pump action rifles in Lagos

Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted a truckload of smuggled arms at Apapa Port in Lagos yesterday. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Ahmed Ali, who displayed the suspected exhibits at the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ in Ikeja said the consignment of 49 boxes contained a total of 661 pieces of pump action rifles concealed with steel doors and other goods.

It’s N500/$ at black market despite rising reserves

The local currency’s value fell to N500/$ yesterday, defying the anticipated support of the resurging foreign exchange (forex) reserves’ volume, now at $27.9 billion.

Police seal Ondo State House of Assembly as leadership crisis deepens

The Ondo State Police Command yesterday sealed the House of Assembly complex to avert what could have generated into a bloody battlefield. The 26-member legislature has last Friday been embroiled in a leadership tussle with both the embattled Speaker, Jumoke Akindele and Coker Malachi, laying claim to the seat.

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VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

DSS, Suleiman in ding-dong drama over invitation

THERE was drama, yesterday, as the Department of State Services, DSS, rescheduled its appointment with the embattled  Senior Pastor of the Omega Fire Ministry, OFM, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, twice.

Vampire: Police raid prison, recover 264 mobile phones

As security agencies trade words over the sensational escape of the alleged dreaded criminal, Chibuzor Henry, alias Vampire at the High Court premises in Owerri, Imo State, the state police command weekend raided the Owerri Prisons and recovered 264 mobile telephone sets from the prison inmates.

S-South govs not interacting with each other

ASABA—DESPITE the cry by worried citizens of the South-South region for their governors to bury their differences and work together in the interest of the geo-political zone, there is still a disconnect among the governors, who continue to give each other the cold shoulder,  Niger Delta Voice, NDV, investigation has revealed.

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THE NATION NEWSPAPER

Trump defends travel ban as Obama backs protes

Former United States President Barack Obama yesterday gave his backing to the global protests against the travel ban by President Donald Trump.

Police seal Ondo House of Assembly over crisis

The police yesterday sealed the Ondo State House of Assembly to prevent a fracas between Malachi Coker and Jumoke Akindele factions, laying claim to the speakership.

Customs seizes 661 pump action guns

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 661 pump action rifles in Lagos following a tip- off. The guns, concealed in a 40-foot container with number PONU 825914(3)45G1, were seized on Mile 2 Oshodi/Apapa Expressway by Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone “A” Ikeja operatives.

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THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

Officers held as Customs seize 661 riffles in Lagos

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, has intercepted a container loaded with 49 boxes of 661 pump-action rifles along the Mile 2 Apapa Road of Lagos State.

Trump’s travel ban discriminatory — Obama

A former US President, Barack Obama, has criticised President Donald Trump’s executive order to  curb immigration, backing protesters who have taken to the nation’s airports to express their displeasure.

DSS quizzes Apostle Suleman over alleged inciting comment

Operatives of the Department of State Services in Abuja, on Monday, interrogated the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, for several hours.

3 Jigawa LGs vaccinate 183,726 children against disease

NAN reports that the councils include Birniwa, Kafinhausa and Kirikasamma.

The children were administered Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) and antigens against other child killer diseases in the ongoing January round of Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) exercise.

Malam Umar Bello, the Manager, National Programme on Immunisation (NPI) in charge of Birniwa, said that 42,000 children were immunised against the disease in the area.

Bello said that the National Primary Healthcare Agency had supplied 45,000 doses of OPV to facilitate smooth conduct of the exercise.

He explained that some 315 health workers were deployed for the conduct of the exercise in the area.

In Kafin-Hausa, more than 88,726 children were inoculated against Wild Polio Virus (WPV) in the exercise.

The Immunisation Officer in the area, Mr Muhammad Sarawa, said that over 90,000 doses of oral vaccines were provided to ensure successful campaign against the disease.

Sarawa explained that some 527 health workers were deployed to the eight districts for the exercise in the area.

He called on parents to present their children for immunisation to protect them against polio and other diseases.

The manager commended the council, religious and community leaders for mobilising participation in the exercise.

Meanwhile, the Kirikasamma Local Government Council said it had targeted 53,000 children for immunisation against polio in the ongoing exercise.

The Immunisation Officer of the council, Mr Ibrahim Bura, commended parents for presenting their children for the exercise.

Bura called on communities to cooperate with the health personnel to facilitate total eradication of the disease.

High unemployment may fuel school shootings: study

Surges in US school and university shootings strongly overlap with periods of economic insecurity, said researchers Monday, offering a partial explanation for a phenomenon experts have been grappling to understand.

Researchers from Illinois gathered statistics on shootings at schools, universities and colleges from 1990 to 2013, and compared these to unemployment and other economic data for the same period.

There were more shootings in periods of economic hardship, they said.

"When it becomes more difficult for people coming out of school to find jobs, the rate of gun violence at schools increases," said a statement from Northwestern University, whose experts participated in the study.

Sociologist John Hagan, who co-authored the paper, said gun violence appears to result from "disappointment and despair" in periods "when getting an education does not necessarily lead to finding work."

The team compiled a dataset of 381 shootings at primary and secondary schools over 23 years, as well as universities and colleges.

To be included, the incident had to involve a firearm being discharged, even by accident, had to occur on a school campus, and had to involve students or school employees.

There was one death per shooting on average, and two or more deaths in 6.3 percent of cases, the study found. Gang-related violence accounted for 6.6 percent of shootings.

The team compared the shooting data to statistics on joblessness, consumer confidence and rates of foreclosure -- taking possession of a mortgaged property for which loan repayments have fallen behind.

"In the last 25 years, there have been two periods of elevated gun violence at schools in the United States and the timing of these periods significantly correlates with increased economic insecurity," the team wrote.

These were the periods 1992-94 and 2007-13.

The results suggest it may be useful to boost vigilance at colleges and universities during periods of heightened unemployment, the researchers said.

But while the study may point to a cause for school shooting surges, "it does not explain why such a... rate of gun violence should exist at all in the United States", they added.

Other key findings included that school shootings have not become deadlier over time, and that most were targeted at a specific person.

The study was published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour

US President says he will announce Supreme Court pick Tuesday

US President Donald Trump said he will announce his nomination to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, a pick likely to tilt the court to conservatives on crucial issues such as abortion and gun control.

Trump's choice will fill a vacancy left by the sudden death last year of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, which left the court evenly divided between four conservative and four liberal justices.

"I have made my decision on who I will nominate for The United States Supreme Court. It will be announced live on Tuesday at 8:00 P.M. (W.H.)," Trump said on his Twitter account.

Abortion, gay marriage, gun control -- the Supreme Court is the final arbiter of many of the most sensitive issues of American life and law.

Its members, who must be confirmed by the Senate, are named to life terms so their influence is long lasting.

Trump has said he wants a candidate who is against abortion and firmly backs Americans' right to own guns.

Among those tipped as frontrunners for the post are Neil Gorsuch, a respected appellate court judge who is considered an ideological match to Scalia, and William Pryor, an Alabama appellate court judge considered an opponent of abortion rights.

Trump had said he would announce his pick on Thursday, but has moved the date up amid a raging controversy and confusion over his order to temporarily bar travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States.

His Supreme Court pick is certain to set off another pitched battle with Democrats.

Former president Barack Obama had named Merrick Garland, an appellate court judge, to fill Scalia's seat but Republicans used their control of the Senate to keep his nomination from being considered.

Govt sacks 8 directors over alleged misconduct

The Taraba Government on Monday said it had sacked eight directors over allegation bordering on misconduct, even as workers give strike notice.

Addressing newsmen on Monday in Jalingo, Alhaji Bello Yero and Mr Yakubu Agbaizo, Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Executive Secretary, State Primary Education Board, respectively, said the development had caused delay in payment of salaries.

They told Journalists that the sacked officials were being responsible for the delay in the payment of salaries of some local government workers, teachers and pensioners in the state.

The officials however assured that government had taken measures to correct the situation.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Taraba State has a workforce of 16,500.

Workers in the state had issued a warning to the state government that they will embark on strike this Thursday, if their outstanding eight salary arrears were not paid.

They spoke at the maiden edition of “Face the Press’’ programme, an initiative of Mr Emmanuel Bello, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Darius Ishaku on Public Affairs, to enhance interaction between government and the media.

Bello alleged that some directors of finance, clerks, cashiers and some officials in the local government councils, colluded with the 16 local government councils to short change junior workers.

“Following some discoveries, government embarked on biometric verification exercise to ascertain the actual number of staff on its payroll.

“Critical stakeholders including the organised labour were contacted and they have endorsed the exercise,’’Bello said.

According to him, when the exercise began, some directors of finance, clerks and cashiers who were benefiting from the system, began moves to frustrate the exercise including mobilising some staff to come to the bureau to protest.

“As we speak, many of those cleared by the exercise have been paid, those still complaining are those with BVN issues or different names on their documents which we are working hard to resolve,” he said.

According to Bello, the government has sacked eight directors so far over the matter while other necessary action will be taken to serve as a deterrent to others.

Also speaking, Agbaizo accused some education secretaries, directors of finance and other senior officials of the board of short changing primary school teachers in the state.

The secretary explained that over 1,200 teachers were illegally recruited before he assumed office in 2015, leading to an increase in wage bill of the board to over N734 million monthly.

“We are currently doing biometric exercise to ascertain the actual number of teachers.

“Those who were successfully screened and have collected their salaries, we are working hard to sort out those with BVN issues and address them,” he said.

According to him, some of them went as far as establishing ghost schools with ghost teachers in areas with difficult terrains.

Agbaizo expressed confidence that all the abnormalities would be corrected by the time the ongoing biometric exercise was completed.

The workers’ union is also demanding the removal of consultant on ground of gross incompetence in handling salary issues of the state.

NAN also reports that workers in the state had in 2016, embarked on a six week strike over the non-implementation of a new salary structure for workers.

Ex-Gov's former media aide murdered in Owerri

Unknown gunmen on Sunday night shot dead Ben Onyechere, the former Media Adviser to former Governor Theodore Orji of Abia.

A source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Owerri that Onyechere was kidnapped around 8 p.m in Ikenegbu axis of Owerri where he had gone with his driver to do some shopping.

The source who spoke under condition of anonymity, said “the gunmen numbering five trailed Onyechere to a popular supper market in Ikenegbu and forced his driver out of his car before they sped off with Onyechere’’.

It is sad, the following day for the lifeless body of Oncheyere to be found a few streets away from Maris Junction, Ikenegbu Owerri after he was shot several times,’’ the source revealed.

The source added that his driver who put up initial resistance was shot twice on the legs before Onyechere was kidnapped.

The details of the assassination are still sketchy as at the time of filling this report.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP. Andrew Enwerem said he was informed of the incident, but could not confirm the identity of the victim.

Latest quarrel over helicopters is actually childish

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike and his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, are at it again.

This time, they are at each other's throats over helicopters.

It all began when two Bell 412 security surveillance helicopters, found their way to the country's premier port in Apapa, Lagos.

Early reports suggested that the helicopters had been impounded by Customs because no one had come forward to claim them.

That bit of news riled Wike who tongue-lashed Customs for choosing to play politics with property belonging to the people of Rivers State

According to Wike, the helicopters were purchased by the Amaechi led administration. However, he couldn't claim them because the State couldn't afford what was required in custom duties.

The Rivers Governor also said he wrote a letter to President Buhari demanding that the helicopters be handed over to the Air Force  since the federal government had refused to grant waivers on the helicopters.

And then, it all went political from here.

According to Wike, Amaechi bought the helicopters because he couldn't deliver good governance to the people of Rivers during his spell as Governor.

“The immediate past Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, could not provide  the  people of  Rivers State with good governance  that was why he had to recourse to the purchase of Armoured Helicopters", Wike said in a statement signed by his aide, Simeon Nwakaudu.

The statement continued: “Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike  has no need for Armoured  helicopters because  he has provided the good people of Rivers State with good governance  and they are happy with him.

“In any case, Rivers State is not at war with any country, hence  there is no need for armoured  helicopters".

Amaechi would have none of it, though.

The current Minister of Transport said he acquired the helicopters to curb the criminal activities of kidnappers and militants in Rivers.

Amaechi also lamented that Wike had chosen to play politics with the 'birds'.

The former Rivers Governor said he procured the helicopters in collaboration with the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

“To show their support, the Federal government through the office of the NSA contributed $15million, about half of the total sum, towards the purchase of the helicopters.

“Also, the then former President Goodluck Jonathan administration granted waivers to the Rivers State government to purchase and import the helicopters,” Amaechi clarified.

The minister said Wike (who served as Minister of Education in the Jonathan cabinet) convinced the former President not to have anything to do with the helicopters afterwards.

“It was obvious why the President Goodluck Jonathan administration acted the way it did and Nyesom Wike, the present Governor of Rivers State was an integral part, a major player in the whole conspiracy to block and prevent Rivers State government from taking possession of the helicopters.

“Then, as a minister in President Jonathan’s cabinet, Wike inundated President Jonathan with fake stories of how then Governor Amaechi wanted to use the helicopters for Presidential campaigns against Jonathan, how Amaechi will use the helicopters to support President Jonathan’s opponents before and during the presidential elections and all sorts of concocted tales that created a false impression that the Amaechi government in Rivers State would use the helicopters against and to fight President Jonathan, and not to secure lives and property.

“Wike then, was already nursing the ambition to run for the office of Governor of Rivers State. He didn’t care about the security of lives and property.

“The helicopters were procured by the Amaechi administration to curb the wanton menace of criminals in the State (which has since worsened under Wike’s watch), but in his usual habit, Governor Wike has decided to abandon and dump the helicopters, because he does not care about the safety and security of lives and property in the State. Sad, very sad.”

There you have it, people--it's all power and politics for these guys.

Wike doesn't want to have anything to do with anything that has Amaechi on it. That's what this is all about. This has nothing to do with whether Rivers can afford to pay duties on the helicopters or not.

This has nothing to do with the federal government refusing to grant waivers to the Rivers State government.

This has everything to do with the long running, bitter politics between Amaechi and Wike.

This is APC Vs PDP politics at play here...at the expense of the good people of Rivers State.

This is dirty ol' mudslinging between two men who hate the sight of the other.

The bigger question has been submerged in the politics, sadly. Which is--Does Rivers still need these helicopters to combat crime within its borders? Will those helicopters prove useful in the grand scheme of things?

Amaechi and Wike would not waste an opportunity to drag themselves in the mud.

This helicopter incident was a glorious opportunity for them both.

Unfortunately, the overall interests of the people have been relegated to the background yet again.

Someone needs to tell these men that their constant fights and endless bickering have become tiring and irritating to watch and read.

This latest episode is pettiness at its silliest.

They really should grow up.

APC expels assembly Minority Leader over anti-party moves

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers has expelled Mr Benibo Fredrick Anabraba, the Minority Leader in the state House of Assembly, over alleged  anti-party activities.

This is contained in a copy of the expulsion letter signed by Chief Davies Ikanya, the APC Chairman in the state, and made available to journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Anabraba is  the  APC legislator representing Akuku-Toru Constituency 2 in the assembly.

The letter stated that the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party expelled Anabraba for allegedly failing to attend meetings to clear the  allegations  against him  after three invitations.

It alleged that  Anabraba’s  refusal to attend the proceedings on the three occasions he was invited   confirmed his disrespect to constituted authority.

“The party considers your wilful and deliberate refusal to make yourself available to answer to the allegations against you as sufficient confirmation that the said allegations against you are true.

“Therefore, the party  pursuant to relevant provisions of the constitution of the APC (Oct. 2014 as amended), particularly Article 21 (A) ii, iii, hereby expels you from the party,”  the letter said.

Efforts by NAN to reach Anabraba for his reaction failed  as he was not in his office at the assembly  and would not pick  calls put through to his GSM line.

IGP says court lack power over River’s re-run election probe

The Nigeria Police have challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja to hear a suit filed by Rivers governor, Mr Nyesom Wike.

Wike is seeking to stop the police from investigating allegations, petitions of crimes and various acts of criminality during the December 2016 River’s re-run election.

The Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Damian Okoro, who are first and third defendants in the suit, told the court that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Counsel to the IGP and deputy commissioner, Mr Deji Morakinyo told the court that the defendants had filed a notice of preliminary objection to Wike’s motion on interlocutory injunction.

Morakinyo told the court that the issue of jurisdiction was of importance and should first be decided before the substantive case can be heard.

The counsel added that the defendants would oppose any application that sought to prevent the police from carrying out its constitutional duties.

Counsel to Wike, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN) while arguing the motion, told the court that the action of the police to constitute a panel to investigate the crisis that trailed the re-run election was illegal.

He said it was in the interest of justice for the court to ask that the investigation be suspended pending the outcome of the suit, saying that the investigation was the matter in contention.

Trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole said the proceeding for Monday was for the defendants to show cause why they should not be restrained from investigating the allegations following the re-run election.

Kolawale, however, noted that he saw no irreparable damage that the plaintiff would suffer if the police went ahead with its investigation.

According to him, even if the investigation is conducted, the court has the power to set aside the report of the investigation, for being conducted while the matter is still pending in court.

He said it was left for the defendants to decide whether or not to go ahead with the investigation knowing that it could be over ruled by the court.

Kolawale adjourned the matter till Feb. 10 for continuation.

Is Asiwaju frustrated with President?

APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, often chooses his words carefully.

So, when he goes on the record on occasion, we often do well to take notes.

Take for instance Tinubu's recent comments.

While presenting a paper at the National Defence College in Abuja, Tinubu all but rubbished the economic policies of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Just in case you've been under some rock in the last three years, Tinubu was instrumental in forging the alliance that saw Buhari become President in 2015.

Tinubu also handpicked Yemi Osinbajo as Buhari's running mate.

Tinubu's Southwest base delivered its share of the votes that made a Muhammadu Buhari presidency possible.

Tinubu was the unseen hand as the APC defeated a formidable PDP which had promised not to relinquish power in another 60 years.

However, millions of Nigerians who voted for the joint APC ticket of Buhari/Osinbajo in the spring of 2015, appear to be losing faith and regretting their decision.

Buhari's goodwill is fast eroding and it does appear as though even Tinubu has had it up to here.

Here's Tinubu in his own words: “You have to spend yourself out of this recession and you cannot do that by consistently stifling the Banks of liquidity.

“Sincerely, where we see contradiction in the policy, we are going to talk about it. This is a nation of freedom, a democratic country, and this is our government, we are not like the other party who will invent one lie to lie, and to bury a lie and other mistakes.

“The monetary policy needs constant reviews and evaluations, and how it would affect the market and ordinary people as well, because if there is no liquidity in the market the Banks would price out the ordinary man, and inflation is growing at 18 percent".

BOOM!!!

To be clear, a slew of Nigerians across the partisan divide have often flayed President Buhari's economic policies, but to hear Tinubu do the same further exposes the lack of rigorous thinking underpinning the President's macro and micro economic policies.

In the three paragraphs above, Tinubu laid bare most of what is wrong with the nation's economic management under Buhari to wit: Yes, Buhari inherited an economy in peril but his actions thereafter worsened liquidity crisis and deepened a hemorrhaging credit crunch.

Tinubu was also not pleased with the power sector and stopped short of demanding that power, works and housing minister, Babatunde Fashola, be relieved of certain ministriesWe have enough gas to fire this country’s electricity but there are so many complex issues attached together that this government must remove", Tinubu said.

He added that: “We must work harder. If the workload is too heavy, we must re-examine it. If the privatisation is given to incapable hands, we must revisit it; this cannot lock down our future.”

Did you see that? "If the workload is too heavy, we must re-examine it".

There, Fashola, is your sub!

If you read Tinubu's words carefully and slowly; again and again, you'll probably see that here is a man frustrated with the administration he helped propel to the center.

Because, if he wasn't disappointed, Tinubu has all the access to the President to have aired his grievances behind the scenes.

Something isn't right. Something just isn't adding up.

In the past, there have been rumours suggesting that Tinubu and Buhari's relationship may have been badly strained.

There have been rumours that the cabal calling the shots within the Buhari Presidency may have successfully shut out Tinubu from the scheme of things. Some say no one in the Buhari Presidency listens to Tinubu.

No gift of clairvoyance is needed to know that there may be some truth in those rumours.

Grapevine gist isn't always fake gist.

Buhari's appointments have been lopsided and Tinubu has in the past denounced some of the decisions of the APC--moves that may have been targeted at the President who is leader of the party in name and deed.

If you speak to both camps behind the scenes like this writer has, official sources will tell you that all is well between Tinubu and Buhari. Unofficial sources will say the opposite.

In there somewhere may just lie the answer.

But here's what we can deduce in the interim--when Tinubu criticizes the economic policies of a government of which he's part, he's telling us something.

And we should read between the lines like we just did.

New mega party zones presidency to North, VP to South-East

A source close to the new mega party known as the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has revealed that the party has resolved to zone the presidency to the North.

The party chieftain also revealed that the ADP has learnt from the mistakes of the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that nothing will be left to chance.

According to Tribune Online, the ADP recently submitted its application for registration form to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Also one of the party leaders said ‘‘learning from the failures of the All Progressives Congress(APC), which also dubbed itself a mega party at inception, but had failed to deal with issues of power configuration and thereby fell into a stiff power struggle its leaders are still grappling with at the National Assembly.

“We will not make the same mistakes made by the APC and the other big party, the PDP. We are ready to take adequate notice of the sensibilities of the various geopolitical components of the country and ensure that all interests are taken care of.”

The leader also revealed that the Vice President seat and that of the Senate President have been zoned to the South-East and South-West respectively.

South-South Zonal Coordinator of the party, Senator Rowland Owie said the party is planning carefully about the zoning formular.

Owie also warned easterners against courting former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying “I urge the South-East to support the emerging ADP and get the VP slot in 2019 and thereafter take the presidential slot when presidency returns to the South.”

There are insinuations that the mega party is a creation of those who have been frustrated out of the ruling APC.

Kogi APC set for war with Governor

The Kogi state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Governor, Yahaya Bello of lavishing N230b in one year.

The party also said Governor Bello is financially reckless, adding that he runs a non-inclusive government.

According to Daily Post, they also gave Governor Bello four weeks to pay all the entitlements of civil servants and pensioners in the state.

The leadership of the APC in Kogi, speaking in Abuja, also threatened to carry out a peaceful revolution in all the Local Government Areas if the Governor does not heed to their demand.

Those at the meeting were Senator Dino Melaye, some former Senators, serving and former members of the House of Representatives and elders of the APC.

Also, the Kogi APC Chairman, Chief Haddy A. Ametuo and 25 state executive members were also present at the press briefing.

They group, in a statement, said “The responsibility of any responsive leader is to be transparent, accountable and justifiable in its financial conducts.

“Governor Yahaya in defiant to this standard rule of good governance has never deemed it necessary to render public public account since his assumption of office. All the other Governors that just spent one year in office accounted for their stewardship nationwide.

“This has led to gross public financial failure and reckless spending by the government, as we have it on record that Governor Bello has wasted and lavished over N230bn in one year.

“This represents thirteen months Federal Allocations to the state; N10bn infrastructural development funds, N30bn bailout fund, over N11bn Paris Club excess refund. We also have the N16bn refunded for federal government roads built by the past administration of Alh. Ibrahim Idris, N700m ecological fund.

“All these above exclude an average of N600m internally generated revenue monthly.”

Adding that “The political leaders of Kogi State and the APC stakeholders have resolved unequivocally to give 4 weeks ultimatum to Governor Yahaya Bello, to reconcile the ongoing staff audit in the state with the realities on ground, pay our civil servants, the pensioners and others.”

You will recall that Senator Dino Melaye recently insulted the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, calling him a political rat.

Thousands campaign to separate state from U.S

A campaign for California to secede from the rest of the country over Donald Trump's election is gaining momentum, with supporters allowed to start collecting signatures for the measure to be put to a vote.

California's Secretary of State Alex Padilla gave the green light on Thursday for proponents of "California Nationhood" -- also known as Calexit -- to start collecting the nearly 600,000 signatures needed for the measure to qualify on the November 2018 ballot.

The 585,407 signatures required by July 25 represent eight percent of registered voters in California -- the most populous state in the country with nearly 40 million residents and the world's sixth-largest economy.

Should the initiative make it on the ballot, a "Yes" vote would repeal clauses in the California Constitution "stating California is an inseparable part of the United States and that the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land," a statement by Padilla's office said.

Voters would then need to decide in another referendum in 2019 whether California should become a separate country.

Padilla said the independence measure -- deemed highly unrealistic -- would have a deep impact on the state and would likely face legal challenges.

"Assuming that California actually became an independent nation, the state and its local governments would experience major, but unknown, budgetary impacts," he warned.

"This measure also would result in tens of millions of dollars of one-time state and local election costs."

Calexit enthusiasts, whose campaign is called Yes California, are pushing for independence on grounds the state is out of step with the rest of the US and could flourish on its own.

"In our view, the United States of America represents so many things that conflict with Californian values, and our continued statehood means California will continue subsidizing the other states to our own detriment, and to the detriment of our children," according to their website.

The idea of independence became very appealing to many Californians following Trump's shock election.

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton easily beat Trump in the progressive state, winning by more than 4.2 million votes, almost double the number of ballots cast for Trump.

UN cautions US President over order banning refugees

The UN has cautioned the U.S. government on the “Refugee Order’’ signed on Friday by President Donald Trump temporarily banning refugees into the country from seven countries.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in a joint statement said the contributions of refugees to their countries of refuge had been positive.

“The needs of refugees and migrants worldwide have never been greater, and the U.S. resettlement programme is one of the most important in the world.

“The longstanding U.S. policy of welcoming refugees has created a win-win situation: it has saved the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the world who have in turn enriched and strengthened their new societies.

“The contribution of refugees and migrants to their new homes worldwide has been overwhelmingly positive,’’ the UN agencies stated.

According to the statement, resettlement places provided by every country are vital.

“UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and IOM, the International Organisation for Migration, hope that the U.S. will continue its strong leadership role and long tradition of protecting those who are fleeing conflict and persecution.

“UNHCR and IOM remain committed to working with the U.S. Administration towards the goal we share to ensure safe and secure resettlement and immigration programmes,’’ the statement said.

The statement said the UN agencies also urged equal treatment for refugees and migrants without discrimination.

“We strongly believe that refugees should receive equal treatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities for resettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality or race.

“We will continue to engage actively and constructively with the U.S. government as we have done for decades to protect those who need it most, and to offer our support on asylum and migration matters,’’ it stated.

The UN agencies pledged to engage with the U.S. government to ensure the protection of refugees and migrants in the country.

Ekiti Governor is a warrior with a lion’s heart – Fani-Kayode

A former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has described the Ekiti state Governor, Ayo Fayose as a warrior.

Fani-Kayode also said the Ekiti state Governor has a lion’s heart, adding that he is doing great things for the South-west.

The former minister made these comments in a post on his Facebook timeline on Saturday, January 28, 2017.

Fani-Kayode said “Wonderful time with our dearest friend and brother Governor Ayo Fayose, a man who has the heart of a warrior and a lion.

“It was an honor and a privilege to spend the afternoon with him in our home today. I love this man with all my heart and he is doing great things for both Ekiti state and Nigeria.”

Governor Ayo Fayose recently rescued the founder of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman from being arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

DSS invites clergyman over inciting comments

The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited the founder of the Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman for a chat in Abuja.

According to Punch, the DSS, in a letter, asked the fiery pastor to come to its office on Monday, January 30, 2017.

According to reports, this is coming on the heels of Suleman’s comments allegedly asking his members to kill Fulani herdsmen.

The controversial man of God recently revealed that his father is a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Suleman also said that he has no business with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is not interested in politics.

Governor Ayodele Fayose recently foiled an attempt by the DSS to arrest  Apostle Johnson Suleiman in Ado-Ekiti.

NDDC begs Governor to return their land

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has pleaded with the Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike to reverse the revocation order placed on its land by the state government.

According to Vanguard, the NDDC Chairman, Sen. Ndoma Egba made the plea while paying a courtesy visit to Wike.

Egba said “The Chairman called attention of State Government to the urgent need for the parcel of land to the Commission’s operations. “We are confident the Rivers state government will reverse its earlier decision, because the state has since inception shown tremendous goodwill to NDDC.”

He also added that “The state promised to give us a headquarters building at inception and it delivered on that; we want the government to help us protect that property which is facing some legal challenges.

“The Chairman disclosed that work was in progress at the site of the permanent headquarters of the Commission, adding that the land that was revoked by the government for public use would provide access to the new office complex.

 “We appeal that the land be given back to us because of its importance.”

The NDDC Chairman also commended the Rivers state government for hosting the commission for over 16 years.

According to reports, Governor Wike promised to address the issue promptly.

Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders (NDRC) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Way out of economic challenge is to be more generous to God - Onaiyekan

His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has called on Christians to be more generous to God, saying  this could help the nation out of  its current  economic recession .

Onaiyekan said this in an interview with newsmen during the Foundation Laying of  the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles Cathedral, held at Papal Ground, Kubwa, Abuja  on Saturday.

He advised  Christians to contribute to projects, especially those that have  to do with God and the church, as this would reaffirm their faith in Christ.

He prayed that the nation would continue to grow in peace, prosperity, and  harmony  and move very fast toward coming out of recession.

According to him, when you have  good ideas and good intentions to serve the Lord you do not allow any challenges to stop them.

He said “The time has come for this project to take off after more than 30 years in preparation and we do hope that it will  be finished quickly.

“Some people may be asking that in the midst of recession, we are undertaking a project that will cost a lot of money.

“We will go to a good distance in the next few years and depending on how quickly we raise the funds the work will move very fast.’’

Onaiyekan described the project as a magnificent one and encouraged the Catholic Church to keep building more dioceses not just by way of physical structures but also with faith in the gospel of Christ.

“We shall continue to build our diocese not only with physical structures, which are no doubts important and necessary but also above all with faith  and gospel of Christ.

“We will give in charity to the needy of whatever kind. The cathedral will be a sign of our spiritual grandeur of our community that stands out as light in the darkness,’’ he said.

“His Eminence, late  Cardinal Ekandem pushed for the building of the cathedral at a time when there was very little on ground to start the project.

“He did not only do it in the archdiocese but also in the FCT as a whole. Ekandem’s vision has brought us to this day. I am happy that this day has come.

“Our cathedral will push us to ever greater love and solidarity with our fellow men and women. There is no better way to show honour and glory to God,’’ Onaiyekan said.

Kogi APC set for war with Governor

The Kogi state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Governor, Yahaya Bello of lavishing N230b in one year.

The party also said Governor Bello is financially reckless, adding that he runs a non-inclusive government.

According to Daily Post, they also gave Governor Bello four weeks to pay all the entitlements of civil servants and pensioners in the state.

The leadership of the APC in Kogi, speaking in Abuja, also threatened to carry out a peaceful revolution in all the Local Government Areas if the Governor does not heed to their demand.

Those at the meeting were Senator Dino Melaye, some former Senators, serving and former members of the House of Representatives and elders of the APC.

Also, the Kogi APC Chairman, Chief Haddy A. Ametuo and 25 state executive members were also present at the press briefing.

They group, in a statement, said “The responsibility of any responsive leader is to be transparent, accountable and justifiable in its financial conducts.

“Governor Yahaya in defiant to this standard rule of good governance has never deemed it necessary to render public public account since his assumption of office. All the other Governors that just spent one year in office accounted for their stewardship nationwide.

“This has led to gross public financial failure and reckless spending by the government, as we have it on record that Governor Bello has wasted and lavished over N230bn in one year.

“This represents thirteen months Federal Allocations to the state; N10bn infrastructural development funds, N30bn bailout fund, over N11bn Paris Club excess refund. We also have the N16bn refunded for federal government roads built by the past administration of Alh. Ibrahim Idris, N700m ecological fund.

“All these above exclude an average of N600m internally generated revenue monthly.”

Adding that “The political leaders of Kogi State and the APC stakeholders have resolved unequivocally to give 4 weeks ultimatum to Governor Yahaya Bello, to reconcile the ongoing staff audit in the state with the realities on ground, pay our civil servants, the pensioners and others.”

Yahaya Bello is a small rat

Senator Dino Melaye has described Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello as a political rat.

In multiple reports, the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, insisted that the governor is niether fit to govern the state nor be referred to as an APC member.

In his words: “Quote me well: Yahaya Bello is a small rat in politics.

“There is no way a governor can run his office without the party. The entire APC is here and he is nowhere to be found," he said.

Continuing, Melaye said: “There was someone who came and met me from from PDP that I should thank the governor for helping him at the tribunal.

“We built this party when he was not there; we laboured and won election when he was not there; Yahaya cannot destroy our party.

“When other governors are celebrating one year in office with 1000km road construction, Yahaya is celebrating with 5 boreholes only.

“We want to separate APC from Yahaya Bello, because he is not a member of APC.

“It’s only in Kogi we see a man who served government for 35 years and coming for his pension, being referred to as Ghost Pensioner.

“Hundreds kogites have died in the last 1 year due to hypertension inflicted on them by Yahaya Bello.

“I was one of the people who installed the undeserved Gov of Kogi State 1 year ago. But I’m now saying sorry,” he said.

This is the first time the Senator is coming all out to attack the person of his state governor and office.

Ondo House of Assembly Speaker suspended over N15m fraud

The Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Jumoke Akindele of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been suspended from office over allegation of N15 million fraud.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akindele’s suspension took place on Friday evening during an emergency Plenary at the assembly complex in Akure.

The suspension process was executed by 14 lawmakers, including five All Progressives Congress (APC) and nine PDP members.

Mr Bode Adeyelu, the Clerk and the mace were present during the session.

Akindele, member representing Okitipupa 2, was suspended for alleged fraud and not carrying along his colleagues.

She was alleged to have withdrawn N15 million from the House account without parliamentary approval.

Mr Malachi Coker, member representing Ilaje 2 constituency, was sworn in by the clerk as the acting Speaker.

Mr Olamide George (PDP-Akure North Constituency) confirmed the development to NAN on phone.

“The process has been carried out,” he said.

However, Mr Olusiji Akindiose (PDP-Ondo East Constituency) told journalists that the process was null and void.

He explained that the process would not stand because of inadequate quorum to execute such action.

INEC deploys 2,452 personnel for federal constituency election in Etsako

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said it had deployed 2,452 personnel for the conduct of the Etsako East/Etsako West/ Etsako Central Federal Constituency by-election in Edo on Saturday.

The commission’s daily bulletin issued in Abuja on Friday gave the brake down to include one Returning Officer and three Local Government Area Collation Officers.

Also be deployed are 32 Registration Area Collation Officers, 32 Supervisory Presiding Officers and 308 Presiding Officers.

Others are 1,566 Assistant Presiding Officers (I,II & III), 376 Assistant Presiding Officers (VP), 97 Reserve Assistant Presiding Officers, four Local Government Area Supervisors, and 33 Registration Area Supervisors.

Etsako Federal Constituency is made up of three LGAs, 32 Registration Areas, 308 Polling Units (PUs), 522 Voting Points and 252,110 Registered Voters.

INEC’s Deputy Director for Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Nick Dazang in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the commission was fully prepared for the National Assembly by-election.

Dazang said the commission had deployed both sensitive and the non-sensitive materials for the election.

He urged the political parties, candidates and supporters to play by the rule to make the election peaceful.

“As for us in INEC, we are fully ready to conduct a free, fair and credible by-election in the affected areas, but we cannot achieve this without the support of the stakeholders.

“We urge everybody to be law-abiding as they cast their votes for the candidate of their choice”, Dazang said.

White House confirms President will speak to Putin soon

US President Donald Trump will hold telephone talks Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the White House said.

Trump is hosting British Prime Minister Theresa May at the White House on Friday to discuss post-Brexit trade ties and inject new momentum into the "special relationship" between the United States and Britain.

"Getting the most out of the 1st full week -- tomorrow @POTUS will speak by phone with leaders of France, Germany and Russia," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Twitter Friday.

The Trump-Putin call will be their first official contact since the Republican took office a week ago.

The pair spoke by telephone in November, shortly after Trump's election victory, and "declared the need for active joint work to normalize" ties, according to the Kremlin.

Trump told Putin he is looking forward to "a strong and enduring relationship with Russia and the people of Russia", according to Trump's team.

Relations were strained under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, notably over the crisis in Ukraine and Moscow's alleged interference in the November election.

Authorities repatriate 147 Ethiopian illegal immigrants

Zambia repatriated 147 Ethiopian illegal immigrants who were facing jail sentences for illegal entry, the country’s immigration authorities said on Friday.

The Ethiopians were repatriated back to their country on Thursday afternoon after they were pardoned by Zambian President Edgar Lungu in December last year.

They were repatriated under an assisted voluntary return program by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) through the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, according to a statement released by the Immigration Department.

Among those deported were 145 men and two women.

The 147 former Ethiopian convicts who were recently pardoned by President Edgar Lungu have successfully been repatriated to their home country.

The 147 comprise 145 men and 2 women who were serving various jail sentences in various Zambian correctional facilities across the country from 2011.

And International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Zambia Communications Focal Point Officer, Bertha Nguvulu explained that the 147 were repatriated under the IOM Assisted Voluntary Repatriation (AVR) exercise.

The excited former Ethiopian prisoners departed at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport aboard a ET863 Ethiopian plane at about 13:35 hours.

Nguvulu said the repatriation exercise cost about $150,000 and follows the joint agreement between the governments of Zambia and Ethiopia.

And the former Ethiopian convicts praised President Edgar Lungu, Minister of Home Affairs Steven Kampyongo and the Zambia Correctional Services (ZCS) Commissioner General Percy Chato for attaching great importance to the welfare of prisoners in the country.

In a joint interview with ZANIS at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Biruk Alemu 35 and Abudulahi Debiso 25 said the Zambia Correctional Facilities have taught them how to love humanity.

The two said while in prison, they learnt to love God and respect the rule of law and expressed hope that they will be received with love in their home country.

Reps threaten to arrest CBN Gov over sale of oil blocs

The House of Representatives has threatened to issue warrant of arrest on the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele.

Emefiele was threatened with arrest alongside the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris over oil licenses.

According to the House, the threat is in respect of the sale of Oil Prospecting Licenses (OPLs) and Oil Mining Leases OMLs to some international oil companies (OICs).

The Chairman of the House AdHoc Committee on OPLs/OMLs, Rep. Gideon Gwani (PDP-Kaduna), issued the threat while briefing newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

He said the committee’s mandate was to carry out investigation of all the OPLs and OMLs granted by the Federal Government.

Gwani further said that in the course of the investigation, the committee discovered that there were many anomalies in the process of the award of the oil blocs to IOCs by the government.

The lawmaker said that other issues being investigated by the committee include the award of marginal fields and signature bonuses among others.

Gwani also said that no production activity took place in some oil blocs awarded to the IOCs over 30 years ago.

He said that though there were pieces of evidence that about 26.2 dollars were invested by the government, no evidence of payment for the signature bonus was made in respect of the payment.

“Our findings have shown that 1.4billion dollars may be lost by the Federal Government on the OPLs/OMLs deal,’’ he said.

He also said that the committee needed clear evidence that the signature bonuses for the marginal fields were paid for by the IOCs.

Gwani said the officials would be arrested if Ministry of Petroleum Resources, CBN and AGF Office failed to provide evidence of payment of the signature bonuses on the sale of the oil blocs.

“It is also worth mentioning that in the course of the investigation, the committee discovered a lot of issues being investigated to arrive at a conclusion.

“Some of the discoveries include the award of oil blocs by persons other than those prescribed by the petroleum Act.

“Other issues are the guidelines and the processes of the award where oil blocs were awarded to persons or companies other than those that participated at the bid rounds.
The other one is the award of marginal fields for life.”

He said that some of the oil blocs were renewed and assigned to other companies without the approval of the president as spelt out in the petroleum Act.

Customs hands over seized helicopters to Nigerian Air Force

Two bell helicopters worth $19million have been handed over to Nigerian Air Force by the Nigerian Customs Service in Lagos.

According to a report by Channels TV, the two helicopters were recently seized by the Nigerian Customs Service after the importers failed to comply with importation requirements.

The Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Dan Ugo, made this known while handing over the helicopters to the representative of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Hyacinth Eze.

Ugo said: “Due to the vigilance of the officers and their controller here, it was observed, when the requisite documents were requested for, that they breached our laws.

“This kind of equipment should come with end user certificate and some other things and the law provides that if you import in breach of the law, we make a seizure of the items.

“After seizing, it is not enough. we must go the whole hog. The process is that we go and appear before the court of law, file for condemnation and the court actually condemned it and forfeited it to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he told reporters.

Receiving the helicopters, Air Commodore Eze explained that the two helicopters will assist the military in its battle against insurgency in the north-eastern part of Nigeria.

Defence Headquarters expose female suicide bombers' tricks

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has unveiled the new trick employed by female suicide bombers to wreck havoc.

In a statement signed by acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Rabe Abubakar, the attention of the general public was drawn to a new tactic being used by female suicide bombers in the Northeastern part of the country.

Abubakar said that the new trick entails the female suicide bombers strapping babies to their backs to evade detection by security operatives.

He further said they in turn appear as nursing mothers and free from detection by security operatives.

Abubakar explained further that the two recent suicide bomb attacks in Madagali, Adamawa State, were executed via this tactic.

Hence, the DHQ called on Nigerians to be patient and cooperate with the military and other security agencies while carrying out thorough security search and checks.

The statement also stated that the traffic snarls at military and security check points arising from rigorous security checks are not meant to cause discomfort,  but to ensure that lives and properties are protected.

Abubakar also urged members of the public to always volunteer useful information to the military and other security agencies that would assist in exposing Boko Haram.

Boko Hara reportedly kill 3 soldiers in COAS' village

There are reports that suspected members of Boko Haram have invaded a military base of ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ in Borno killing three soldiers.

According to a report by Vanguard Newspaper, the terrorists invaded the camp situated in Kamuya village of Buratai ward of Biu Local Government Area of Borno state.

The members of the terrorist sect reportedly sacked the soldiers at their duty post and carted away arms and ammunitions in the camp, which is 6 kilometres to Buratai, the ancestral home of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

The incident according to sources took place on Wednesday, but due to lack of telecommunication network in the area, as it was hitherto vandalized by the sect, the information had to be delayed before reaching the press.

“There was a bloody attack on a military camp in Kamuya by suspected terrorists on Wednesday. The attackers first succeeded in sacking the soldiers at their duty post, after which, they invaded the camp and carted away with huge arms and ammunitions.

“It was also gathered that three soldiers were feared dead with the setting ablaze of the entire camp,” a source reportedly said.

The military authority are yet to issue any statement on the reported attack.

My father is an APC leader,’ Preacher says

The leader of the Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman has said that his father is a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Suleman also said that he has no business with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is not interested in politics.

The controversial cleric made the comments following an attempted arrest by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Ekiti.

“I am speaking to clear the air, because number one, people who are going about saying things about me, do not know me,” he said while addressing members of his church.

“They owe me an apology for all of those statements. They are making the issue political, as if I am with PDP. Let me say this thing that Nigerians do not even know. Let me shock them. My father is a leader of APC in Auchi.

“If I were to be political, don’t I know who to follow? But I am not interested in politics.

“I need to speak about this because of my friends and most of our northern pastors who have Fulani members. Many of them have been so concerned. They said: ‘Daddy, we know you love us.’… My driver in Lagos is a Muslim. He has been driving me for nine years and I have bought him two cars. If I am not tolerant, a Muslim won’t drive me.

“I come from a Muslim family. Some of my family members are Christians, some are still Muslims… I have decided to ignore them because your viewpoint is what determines your point of view. What gets your intention should not get your attention. They don’t know me,” he added.

Suleman has been the centre of controversy since he was filmed urging members of his church to kill Fulani herdsmen.