TheNewsGuru

Tag: Nigerians

  • Let’s avoid mistakes that led us to civil war – Sultan warns Nigerians

    Let’s avoid mistakes that led us to civil war – Sultan warns Nigerians

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday, warned Nigerians against making the mistakes that led Nigeria into 30 months civil war.

    Abubakar, who said that the country would not be able to survive another civil war, added that it was necessary for every Nigerian to work towards peaceful coexistence.

    The monarch spoke while delivering his keynote address at the Traditional Rulers’ Day during the ongoing Rivers State Golden Jubilee celebration with the theme, “Traditional Institution in Nigeria and the Challenge of Re-engineering Viable Local Economies.”

    He said, “Nigeria is just above 50 years and had fought a civil war. We must understand that Nigeria cannot survive another Civil War. Therefore, Nigerians should work against repeating such mistakes that led us to that Civil War.”

    Explaining that traditional institution had been in existence before Nigeria was created, Abubakar maintained that Nigerians had what it takes to bring the best out of the country.

    He urged politicians not to see the traditional institution as a threat, but they should work with it (traditional institution) to develop the country.

    “The traditional institution was already here before Nigeria came into existence. When the colonial masters came, they saw a well organised traditional institution and that was why most parts of the country were ruled by them through the traditional rulers.

    “The traditional institution in Nigeria has what it takes to bring the best out of our communities and our country. The politicians should not see the traditional institution as a threat, rather they should work with us,” he stressed.

    The Sultan of Sokoto charged monarchs in Rivers State to be supportive of the state government’s policies for the growth of the state.

    He hailed the state government’s commitment towards the completion of the modern traditional rulers’ complex within six months

    Earlier, the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, had pointed out that the state would use the opportunity provided by the Golden Jubilee celebration to deepen the unity of the people of the state.

    Wike added that his administration had put measures in place to enhance the status of the state’s traditional rulers.

    Also speaking, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, called on traditional rulers to always lead exemplary lifestyle worthy of emulation by their subjects.

    Maintaining that monarchs have more roles to play in the development of the country than the government, Ooni noted that the traditional rulers knew most of the bad eggs in the society.

    The Ooni, who was the chairman of the occasion, urged the political class to make use of the traditional institution and create jobs for the rural populace.

    He commended Wike for recognising the traditional rulers in the state by bringing them together through the state’s golden jubilee.

    Laying the foundation for the construction of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers complex, Abubakar prayed God to grant the governor the strength to continue to deliver development projects to the people of the state.

    Wike, however, directed the contractor and the Special Adviser on Special Projects to ensure the completion of the project within six months.

  • We won’t engage in prisoners’ exchange for Nigerians on death row abroad – FG

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama on Wednesday said that it would be impossible to get Nigerians on death row in various countries abroad repatriated home through the Prisoners Exchange Programme.

    Onyeama, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja, said that capital offenders did not fall within the prisoners exchange programme.

    He explained that it was often impracticable for those convicted for capital offences repatriated unless they were commuted to life sentences.

    A Human Rights organisation, Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) had earlier called on the Federal Government to increase its efforts in fighting for Nigerians on death row in foreign countries.

    The organisation stated that no fewer than 300 Nigerians were currently on death row in prisons across Asian countries since 2016.

    A statistics by LEPAD revealed that 120 Nigerians faced the prospects of death in Chinese prisons, and over 170 in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and five in Qatar, United Arab Emirate and Saudi Arabia.

    It estimated that about 16,500 Nigerians were being held abroad, while most of those on death row were convicted of drug-related crimes.

    Onyeama, however, said: “each country has its laws and each country is sovereign. So, we do not have any leverage in terms of influencing the laws of countries and the implementation of those laws’’.

    “With respect to the death row, in cases where Nigerians have been sentenced to death, we have always intervened to ask for commutation of the death sentence.

    “You can have agreements where you can have prisoners exchanges or you can have some mechanisms for after a prisoner has served a certain amount of their sentence.

    “They could come back to their country to serve the rest.”

    He explained that this could only be possible with countries that Nigeria had such bilateral agreement with.

    “There are bilateral agreements that we have with some countries and certainly we do try in those countries to persuade them to send these prisoners back.

    “But a lot of them are there for capital offences.

    “And very often, it will be impossible for capital offences, unless they are commuted to life sentences to get those countries to agree to send those prisoners back,” he said.

    According to him, what we should be doing, is try to sensitise our nationals about the folly of taking those kinds of risks of getting involved in such offences.

    “You go to countries where you know that drug trafficking is a capital offence, you are literally taking your life in your own hands.

    “We will keep trying to get the message across, but we know that there are some people who are willing to take the risks because some people make it and they see that the rewards are impressive.

    “We of course also have to work on education in our countries and providing the enabling environment for people not to need to take those extreme risks,” he said.

     

     

     

    NAN

     

     

  • Buhari’s health: We are not worried but Nigerians should continue to pray – APC Governors

    …says it is not compulsory for President to preside over FEC meetings

    Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have said that it was not compulsory for President Mohammadu Buhari to preside over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    Gov. Nasir El- Rufai of Kaduna State made this known on Wednesday in Abuja, while addressing journalists on the outcome of the governors’ meeting with members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC).

    He also said the constitution made provision for the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to preside over such meeting in the president’s absence.

    El- Rufai, who was reacting to speculations that President Buhari could not attend the FEC meeting for the third consecutive time because he was ill, said the governors were not bothered by such speculations.

    “We are not worried yet and have no reason to be worried, but we however, urge Nigerians to continue to pray for the president to be in good health.’’.

    He said it was normal for the president to have medical challenge, considering the fact that he was over 70 years old.

    “Even me that is 57 years old, I still go for medical check up,’’ El-Rufai said.

    He, however, debunked insinuations that APC had internal crisis, stressing that the party was intact with a unified leadership structure, adding that contrary to speculations, its NWC was intact.

    El-Rufia explained that the reason the party was presently constrained financially was because it did not rely on public funds to operate like some parties in government.

    According to him, the party is funded by private and cooperate donors who had been its sponsors before it came to power.

    He further said the party`s leadership was willing to return to such donors to raise funds to ensure that it was operated as expected.

    The governor said that the meeting discussed best incentives to reward loyal party members, in line with its constitution.

    El-Rufai also said that the governors, at the meeting, pledged their loyalty to the party`s leadership and promised to meet with its NWC members monthly.

    The move, El-Rufai said, became necessary to discuss ways of strengthening APC and move it forward.

    He said a date would be picked for the party`s National Executive Council meeting at the governors next meeting with the NWC members.

    The governor also said that the governors had committed to assist the Federal Government in delivering true dividends of democracy to the people.

    Earlier, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the APC National Chairman, commended the governors for attending the meeting, in spite of the short notice.

     

  • Libya repatriates fresh batch of 253 Nigerians

    No fewer than 253 more Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya on Tuesday aboard a chartered Airbus A330-200 with registration mark 5A-LAT operated by Libya Airlines

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the aircraft landed about 6.45pm at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The returnees were made up of of 102 males, 140 females, six children and five infants.

    They were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Nigerian embassy in Libya.

    The returnees were received at the Hajj Camp area of the airport by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) , the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police.

    Also on ground to receive them were officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    Addressing newsmen, Dr Onimode Bandele, Director, Search and Rescue, NEMA, said two of the returnees had medical issues.

    According to him, one of them was suffering from depression, while the other had severe burns requiring surgical operation.

    He said :”Let’s thank God that these ones have returned safely because Libya is not what it used to be.

    “As a government, our advice is that young Nigerians should strive to work hard and tap into vast opportunities available in the country instead of seeking greener pastures elsewhere. ”

    Bandele said some state governments had initiated various programmes to rehabilitate and reintegrate the returnees back into the society.

    He said NEMA would continue to work with IOM to bring back Nigerians willing to return, adding that the programme was continuous.

    Speaking to newsmen, the returnee who suffered the severe burns on her face said she arrived Libya in February after making a payment of N300, 000 to her traffickers.

    She told newsmen that she suffered the injury while working for her “madam” who only went to dump her at the hospital where she was abandoned.

    The returnee, therefore, appealed to the government for assistance to carry out a reconstructive surgery on her face.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that a total of 236 Nigerians had in March voluntarily returned from the North African country where they had been stranded enroute Europe.

     

     

     

     

    NAN

     

  • Allah has accepted your prayers concerning my health, Buhari assures Nigerians

    Allah has accepted your prayers concerning my health, Buhari assures Nigerians

    …condoles with the govt and people of Kano State over the passing away of their illustrious son, Alhaji Audu Adahama

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday assured patriotic Nigerians that have been organizing prayer sessions on his behalf concerning his health challenges that their prayers have been answered as he now feels much better and more energized to move the country to greater heights.

    Buhari said this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of late prominent Kano businessman and community leader, Alhaji Audu Adahama on Saturday.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the President’s condolence message was delivered by the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd).

    President Buhari described as a painful loss, the death of the prominent Kano businessman and community leader, saying the deceased had lived a worthy life.

    He added that late Adahama had paid “his dues in full to his community, the Customs which he served with diligence and the country as a loyal and dutiful citizen’’.

    The President also used the opportunity to thank the people of Kano State for their profuse prayers and good wishes in the period he was away receiving treatment.

    “Allah has accepted your prayers and we are thankful to you for joining other Nigerians in saying those prayers for me and the nation.

    “On behalf of my family, the government and the people of the entire country, please accept our heartfelt condolences,’’ he said.

    Responding to the message, a former Chairman of the Kano Chamber of Commerce and a family member, Alhaji Saidu Adahama, thanked the President for his interest in the well-being of the family and the people of Kano.

    According to him, Kano will always be for President Buhari.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the late Adahama, a former customs officer, died at the age of 78 and left behind four children, including Nasiru Adahama, the Special Assistant to the President on Youth.

  • Stop receiving stolen Nigerian monies, Adeosun warns foreign banks

    Stop receiving stolen Nigerian monies, Adeosun warns foreign banks

    …Says it was surprising how foreign banks hastily received stolen funds from individuals without asking questions on the source but sets-up rigorous processes to repatriate such funds even when it has been identified as stolen.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has lambasted foreign banks providing ‘enabling environment’ for corrupt Nigerians and indeed other African nationals to deposit stolen funds meant to better the lives of citizens without questioning the source and credibility of such funds.

    The Minister who spoke in a manner of ‘I don’t care whose ox is gored’ said it was high time foreign banks lent their support to the anti-corruption drive of the incumbent administration by ensuring that their banks meticulously scrutinize the source of any fund deposited with them.

    She said it was surprising how foreign banks hastily received stolen funds from individuals without asking questions on the source of the money but sets-up rigorous processes to repatriate such funds even when it has been identified as stolen.

    Adeosun spoke in Washington DC on Monday during the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings.

    At the opening event, she gave an address to the Global Parliamentary Conference, alongside parliamentarians from around the world with a focus on Nigeria’s economic reform agenda and the need for strong executive and legislative collaboration.

    Adeosun in her address to senior representatives from the World Bank and IMF, as well as over 150 parliamentarians advocated for greater focus on collaboration in the control of illicit financial flows from Africa as a core pillar of the government’s strategy to significantly enhance domestic government revenue and deliver sustainable economic growth.

    In her words: “The government is focused on resetting the Nigerian economy by addressing our traditional over-reliance on oil revenues and establishing the basis for sustainable non-oil revenue growth.

    To improve non-oil revenues, we have to address illicit capital flows. When stolen money is transferred from Nigeria, or other African countries, there are too few questions asked by those countries that receive the funds, but when we identify those funds as stolen and seek to recover them, there are too many questions being asked.

    There is money sitting in foreign bank accounts that we have spent over a decade trying to recover. That is money that could deliver significant value for Nigeria as we seek to increase spending on critical infrastructure and establish a basis for long term sustainable growth.

    I hope that the Automatic Exchange of Information scheme coming into force next year will be a step towards achieving greater transparency, but we need more collaboration amongst parliamentarians in Africa, and across the World to ensure that this situation improves and that recipient countries are held to account.”

    Commenting on the domestic agenda to ensure significant reductions in ‘leakages’ of public funds, and improved efficiency in public expenditure, the Minister said:

    “We are going after those who have stolen our money. We have put in place a very successful whistle blower programme that is delivering results, and allows those who report illicit activity to receive up to 5% of any funds that we recover.

    We are also significantly improving our financial management controls to ensure that it is considerably more difficult for public funds to be diverted. We have to do more though and that means collaboration with the legislature. We need tighter tax and financial reporting legislation and to ratify bilateral agreements so that our enforcement agencies are empowered to deliver the results that we need.”

    Also speaking on the cardinal points of the recently launched Economic Recovery and Growth Plan by the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, Adeosun said: “To create the basis for long term growth, we need to invest urgently in our infrastructure. Achieving energy sufficiency and achieving agriculture and food security are two of the execution priorities we have identified in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and we are looking forward to advancing our ongoing conversations with multilateral lenders on these priorities over the coming days as we look to accelerate implementation.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Minister will be attending a series of meetings over the coming days, including meetings with the World Bank to take forwards conversations about lending into strategic sectors of the economy as part of the administration’s focus on addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and accelerating implementation of critical projects.

  • N15bn Lagos loot: Stop speculating, tell Nigerians the truth – Saraki dares EFCC

    N15bn Lagos loot: Stop speculating, tell Nigerians the truth – Saraki dares EFCC

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has dared the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to reveal the identity of the owner of the N13bn recovered from an apartment in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos to Nigerians as they deserve to know the truth and nothing other than that.

    The Senate President said this on Tuesday while speaking on a monitored programme on Arise News Network.

    Saraki noted that the whole confusion surrounding the recovered money, was not good for Nigeria’s image and warned that the National Assembly might need to step in.

    “I believe this is something simple that the organisation (EFCC) should manage, even before the speculation started coming out. The circus has to come to end as to whether it belongs to individuals, companies, agencies or a state government.

    “We, however, believe they will sort it out and eventually tell Nigerians who owns the money. Nigerians deserve to know. The circus must stop,” he said.

    When asked if the EFCC made an error by not monitoring the Osborne Towers, Saraki said: “I would rather not comment and prejudge them because they might come before us.

    “But clearly, Nigerians must know, to save us this embarrassment. I believe they should come out and tell us who owns the money. I believe an agency like this should monitor and clear this mess.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the EFCC had last week discovered specifically the sum of $38m, N23m and £27,000 from the apartment. However, the anti-graft agency is yet to reveal the identity of the owner(s) of the loot.

  • Easter: Nigerians should imbibe Christ’s sacrificial spirit – Jonathan

    Easter: Nigerians should imbibe Christ’s sacrificial spirit – Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday in his Easter message charged Nigerians to emulate the sacrificial life Jesus Christ led while on earth by accepting to give his life in redemption for the sins of all.

    Jonathan also urged individuals to be conscious of what they can contribute to the growth of the nation and not what the country can do for them.

    In his words: “On this Easter, I think about the unconditional love that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, had for us to the extent that He gave His life for our salvation on Good Friday.

    “My reflections also take my mind back to His resurrection by God on Easter.

    “What a lesson for us of what sacrifice can achieve and the benefits it can bring to mankind generally and individually!

    “This Easter, I call on all, whether Christian or Muslim, to emulate Christ and sacrifice something for your nation, for your families and for yourselves.

    “Was it not John F Kennedy who famously said ‘ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.’

    “Let us not ask ourselves who will change our nations for the better.

    “Let us instead take a look in the mirror and ask how we can change our nations for the better. Indeed, as somebody once said, change begins with me.

    “It begins with you. Let this Easter be the beginning of a positive change in the nations of the world. From my family and I to you and your family, Happy Easter.”

     

  • No ideological difference between PDP, APC – Ayade

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has said that peace within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Nigeria in general remained a prerequisite for the growth and development of the country.

    Ayade said this on Wednesday when the National Chairman of PDP, Sen. Ali Modu-Sheriff paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Calabar.

    According to Ayade, there is no ideological difference between the PDP and the All Progressive Congress (APC) or belonging into one faction of the party or the other.

    “What Nigerians need now is peace and unity. There is indeed no ideological difference, whether you are in PDP, APC or you belong to one faction of the party or the other.

    “If truly you put people above your person, you must allow peace to reign by recognising the challenges of the society.

    “The challenges of the society have created in itself a structure that allows us to resolve conflicts and move ahead as a country,’’ he said.

    The governor thanked the National Chairman for embarking on the peace mission across the country, adding that it was important to unite all factions into one umbrella.

    Earlier, Modu-Sheriff said that he was in the state to visit the governor with a view of uniting all factions and moving the party ahead.

    According to him, he has paid similar visit to Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states with the sole purpose of uniting all factions of the party.

    “As a great party, we need to work in unity and peace so that we can win the 2019 general elections.’’

    He commended Ayade for his infrastructure development in the state, adding that he was the party’s best performing governor.

    “If I am asked who the best performing governor of the party is, I will simply say that it is Gov. Ayade.

    “I am very proud that Ayade is not only a digital governor, but also the number one governor in terms of performance.

    “With what you are doing now, 2019 will be an easy ride for you. There will be no challenge and no vacancy in Cross River.’’

    He also lauded the governor for appointing a Northerner, Mr Musa Maigoro, as his Special Adviser on Non-Indigene Affairs.

    Modu-Sheriff later visited the state PDP secretariat where he urged the leadership to unite all factions in the state with a view of building the party to greater heights.

     

     

    NAN

  • #BBNaija:How Nigerians reacted to TBoss loss

    #BBNaija:How Nigerians reacted to TBoss loss

    Big Brother Naija has come and gone but the frenzy the show created amongst Nigerians will be remain indelible. During the show, one housemate that was an object of controversy was TBoss.

    The light skinned damsel ruffled a lot of feathers which led to her being up for eviction for seven times. Her actions and inaction generated buzz in the Big Brother house and also on social media.

    Days before the grand finale , she made a mess of the speech challenge and couldn’t sing a line of the national anthem.

    At the live screening of the finale, when Ebuka the host announced that she has been evicted, the crowd jubilated and rejoiced . Even her former housemates couldn’t hide their contempt for her.

    Check out the pictures below