Welcome to FemmyHardu's blog

Friday, 19 June 2015

» Ben Bruce To Osun Govt: I Will Not Respond To Your Attack During Ramadan «

THE lawmaker representing Bayelsa East
Senatorial District, Senator Ben Murray
Bruce, has said that in the spirit of the
month of Ramadan observed by Muslim
faithfuls, he will not respond to critics over
his decision to donate half of his wardrobe
allowance to the unpaid workers in Osun
state.
“I’ll take whatever attacks come my way
but nothing & nobody can dissuade me
from doing what my conscience directs in
helping my fellow man.
The month of Ramadan is here. Many
unpaid workers will fast. With what will
they break their fast? I thought of that and it
moved me to act.
I may not be a Muslim, but I respect Islam
and I believe that it is wrong for me to
respond to any attack during the Holy
month of Ramadan.
I wish the Muslim Ummah a successful fast.
Please pray for God’s intervention in Nigeria
so that peace may return. Ramadan
Kareem, ” he posted on twitter.
It will be recalled that the Rauf Aregbesola
government which has been unable to pay
public workers in the state for more than
seven months ridiculed the gesture of the
lawmaker, describing it as a mockery of
Nigerian workers.
On Wednesday, The Senator said “I, Ben
Murray Bruce, will not sit down idly, while
my fellow citizens die because salaries have
not been paid. As a first step, I am
immediately donating my wardrobe
allowance to unpaid workers in Osun State
and widows in my Constituency. We are
starting in Osun, but we will not end there. I
will do as much to help workers who’ve
not been paid in other states.”
But in a swift reaction, the Osun State
government lampooned the lawmaker ,
saying he was playing to the gallery just as
he said he (Murray-Bruce) was trivialising
the issue.

» Fraudster Dupes Girl Of N14,000 Inside Gtbank Lagos

A fraudster Wednesday duped a young
lady of N14,000 at the Guaranty Trust Bank,
GTB, Allen Avenue branch, Ikeja, in Lagos.
The young lady, who identified herself with
one name, Ruqayat, was seen crying inside
the banking hall and attracted attention from
officials and customers. According to
Rukayat, a man dressed in a corporate outfit
approached her while on a queue, along
other depositors.
He claimed to be an official of the bank and
demanded if I had a bank verification
number, to which I answered no. “He
collected the money for ease of the
transaction and gave me a verification form
to fill”, Rukayat explained.
While she moved away to fill the form,
Rukayat said, the man went to the counter
and was seen talking to a teller.
By the time Rukayat was done, the
pretended bank official had gone. Rukayat,
who works with a IPhone 6 retail shop at
Balogun street, also in Ikeja, burst into tears.
“The money belongs to my boss. I have
just been employed two weeks ago and I
don’t know where to get a refund for her,”
she said sobbingly. Many bank customers
were in disbelief about Rukayat’s story,
while a bank security guard ordered her out
of the hall. Rukayat said.
Outside the banking hall, few Bureau de
Change operators sympathized with
Rukayat. A middle aged Hausa-speaking
man, Ibrahim Hamisu told Nigeria
Newsbreak a similar incident had happened
previously in the bank and the fraudster
arrested. The previous fraudster, Hamisu
said, acted as though he were a bank official
and elected to help two girls who had come
to open accounts with the task.
‘He (fraudster) collected two laptops from
the two girls and gave them forms to fill.
They were able to discover who he was
through the CCTV, when the ladies raised
an alarm. The bank was thoroughly
searched, but the fraudster had fled by
then,” Hamisu said.

» Revalidated Expired Yoghurt, Wine Flood Nigeria Market, NAFDAC Alerts «

The DG NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhii in his address to
the press stated that UNITOP catering services ltd
21/23 Ogunu Road, Warri, Delta State was
awarded a contract by MSV- Borealis camp boss
shipping line to supply some consumables along
which was 1,600 units of yogurt. The company
assigned the supply of the yogurt to Mintel-Ouriel
intl ltd, 5th avenue 512 Road D close, House 15,
FESTAC town.
On the 29th May, 2015, one miss Martina
iwuchukwu of Minthel Ouriel purchased 55
cartoons of 6*4*125g of Dunone ultra Mel
yoghurt with an expiry date of March 2016 from
the suspect and delivered to UNITOP catering
services.
UNITOP delivered the supply to MVS but the Chief
Steward of the ship discovered that the BB date of
march 2015 has been tampered with 5 changed
to 6. The Captain of the ship alerted UNITOP
about the expired product.
The suspect has since been arrested.
Also one Omeke Alfred Chukwuma has been
arrested with truckload of counterfeit and
unregistered wines and spirits along Badagry
way. The wines are
1. J&P wine
2. Red label
3. Villiera fired earth wine
4. Jelzin assorted flavours
5. JP Chernet wine
6. Cask and cream
7. E and J Brey
8. Pure royal premium non-alcohol
The suspect was arrested with a vehicle using
official Government plate number OGFZA reg no
RV885FZE assigned to Oil and GAS free zone
Authority.

» Revalidated Expired Yoghurt, Wine Flood Nigeria Market, NAFDAC Alerts «

» Buhari Orders Disposal Of Nine Presidential Aircraft To Cut Cost «

As part of the federal government’s cost
measures,
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that
nine of the VIP transport aircraft under the
presidential fleet should be sold.
Industry sources informed THISDAY that the
presidential fleet, which are registered as Nigerian
Air Force aircraft, is one of the largest in Africa
and
the third largest in Nigeria after Arik Air and
Aerocontractors.
According to an aviation source, who is aware of
the directive to sell the aircraft, the presidency has
a number of serviceable and unserviceable
aircraft
that need to be disposed of in order to reduce the
amount spent by the federal government for
aircraft maintenance annually.
“Nine, which still have market value, are to be
sold
immediately to reduce maintenance costs,” he
said.
For years, the federal government has spent over
N12 billion annually for the maintenance of the
presidential fleet.

Saturday, 13 June 2015

Russian oil firms plan 10,000 jobs in Nigeria

The Deputy Head of Mission, Russian Embassy,
Valeriy Shaposhmikov has said two major
Russian oil companies, Gazprom and Lukoil
would be coming to invest in Nigeria’s oil and gas
sector.
The envoy stated that the proposed nuclear
power plant in the country would generate
10,000 jobs and also create new industries.
ADVERTISEMENT
Speaking to journalists during the Russian
Federation Day celebration on Thursday in Abuja,
the diplomat observed that there are various
opportunities for Russian firms in Nigeria, noting
that Gazprom could be involved in developing oil
and gas pipelines infrastructure and protection
system.
He said, “As you know, we have an agreement
signed on the construction of nuclear power
plants in Nigeria. The implementation of this
project only, in addition to a substantial increase
in power generation capacity, is able to bring a
minimum of 10,000 jobs and create new
industries in the country.
“An important area could be oil and gas sector – a
major Russian oil and gas company Gazprom
could be involved in developing pipelines
infrastructure and protection system, an oil
company Lukoil is coming to work here. There is
interest in the development of the solid mineral
resources.”
Shaposhmikov said his country looks forward to
getting support from the Federal Government to
solve the critical issues in Alascon Aluminium
Company, Akwa-Ibom State, which is owned by
Rusal, a Russian aluminum company.
He stated that Alscon needs non-stop supply of
gas as constant interruptions in gas delivery to
the company had led to great losses, putting into
question the existence of the commercial project.
“We do also worry about the safety of
investment. The property rights of Rusal over
Alscon shares should be confirmed. With all
these problems removed, Alscon will be able to
restart producing aluminum,” the envoy said.
While welcoming guests to the anniversary
celebration, the Russian Ambassador, Mr. Nikolay
Udovichenko, said he supported the recent
changes in Nigeria explaining that peaceful and
democratic transition of power was an important
step towards development.
He expressed willingness to work with Nigeria in
the security, economic and educational sectors
even as he applauded President Muhammadu
Buhari on his commitment to fight terrorism,
adding that the Russian Federation is ready to
give the necessary support.
“We do not only strongly wish the new Nigerian
government success in this field, but we are also
ready to give all necessary support in different
spheres, including security, economy and even
education,” Udovichenko promised.

North Korea has accused the United States of
targeting it with anthrax and asked the United
Nations Security Council to investigate
Washington’s “biological warfare schemes” after
a live anthrax sample was sent to a US base in
South Korea.
“The United States not only possesses deadly
weapons of mass destruction … but also is
attempting to use them in actual warfare against
(North Korea),” Pyongyang’s UN Ambassador Ja
Song Nam wrote in a letter to the UN Security
Council and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,
which was made public Friday.
ADVERTISEMENT
North Korea “strongly requests the Security
Council take up the issue of the shipment of
anthrax germs in order to thoroughly investigate
the biological warfare schemes of the United
States,” Ja said in the letter dated June 4.
He also attached a statement from North Korea’s
National Defence Commission, which urged the
world to consider the anthrax shipment “the
gravest challenge to peace and a hideous crime
aimed at genocide.”
The US mission to the United Nations was not
immediately available for comment on the
allegations.
Pyongyang’s accusation came after the Pentagon
recently admitted that live anthrax samples were
inadvertently sent to Australia, Canada, Britain,
South Korea and laboratories in 19 US states and
Washington DC.
US investigators are trying to ascertain whether
the shipments of live anthrax stemmed from
quality control problems at the US military base in
Utah which sent them, Pentagon officials have
said.

Kinsman of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and
leader of All Progressives Congress, Bayelsa
State, Mr. Godwin Sidi, has revealed that Jonathan
conceded defeat to President Muhammadu Buhari
to cover up his atrocities in office.
Sidi, who was the Interim Secretary of the
defunct New PDP, berated those commending
Jonathan for conceding, saying the former
President had no other choice but to do so.
Sidi, who spoke at a news conference in Yenagoa
on Friday, also called on the Federal Government
and the National Assembly to commence the
probe of Jonathan over the whereabouts of the
Chibok girls.
“Jonathan’s conceding defeat is a ploy to cover up
political atrocities he committed while in office,”
he stated.
He accused the former President of taking the
possession of property seized from a former
Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye
Alamieseigha.
Alamieseigha was impeached in 2005 by the state
House of Assembly and later convicted for
money laundering, paving way for Jonathan to
become the governor of the state.
His property, home and abroad, was confiscated
and returned to the state by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission.
While as a President, Jonathan, who always
refers to Alamieseigha as his benefactor, granted
state pardon in controversial circumstances to his
former boss.
But Godwin revealed that some of the property
seized from the former governor were in the
possession of the former President.
He claimed that Jonathan took possession of one
of the seized buildings of Alamieseigha at
Maitama, Abuja, and later handed it over to his
political associate and friend, who is a monarch in
Bayelsa.
He also accused Jonathan of confiscating a 5-
series bulletproof BMW car bought as a birthday
gift for Alamieseigha by a friend.
Godwin, therefore, gave the former President 72
hours to return Alamieseigha’s property in his
possession or face a lawsuit.
He further asked the National Assembly to
compel Jonathan to give account of the
whereabouts of the Chibok girls since he was the
Chief Security Officer of the country when they
were taken away by terrorists.
He said his group had concluded plans to drag
the ex-President to the International Court of
Justice over the Chibok girls.
Sidi, a former South-South Youth leader of the
PDP asked the Code of Conduct Bureau to make
Jonathan’s assets declaration public.
He alleged that the former President glorified in
corruption and allowed graft to cripple the
country.
Sidi added, “Jonathan was instrumental to the
removal of Alamieseigha and prior to his
removal, I remembered vividly that a friend of
Alamieseigha bought him 5-series BMW car
salon. Jonathan took that vehicle to Aso Rock.
“The vehicle is still in his possession. I want him
to return that vehicle. Property, the one l know
for now, there are other ones l am trying to
investigate, of DSP in Maitama was given to
Jonathan’s associate.
“I am giving them 72 hours to return the house
to DSP as we prepare our papers to approach the
court. The National Assembly should invite the
President to give account of the Chibok girls
because he was the Chief Security Officer at the
time the girls were kidnapped.
“We are going to file our case at the ICJ over the
Chibok girls. I am calling on the Code of Conduct
Bureau to make Jonathan’s asset declaration
public.”

Angry workers barricaded the entrance of the
station with drums and other items in order to
cripple the activities of both the local radio station
of 106.5 and Africa independent Television
station. Customers had to turn back because they
could not access the premises along NTA- Choba
road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Barri Peremougu, Southern Director of station,
was almost lynched by the angry workers
according to witnesses at the scene.
Not paying workers is a common trend among
media houses in Nigeria. Daar Communications
continuously denies workers pay despite the
huge amounts earned in commercials. In the last
session of general news every segment of news
was commercialized. There ihas been no
explanation given by management for the cause
of back-pay to employees.

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed no fewer
than 37 people in five villages around Maiduguri,
the capital of Borno State, a military source and a
local village defence group said on Friday.
The attackers, who arrived on motorcycles and in
four-wheel drive vehicles, fired into houses and
shot fleeing locals on Wednesday evening and in
the early hours of Thursday, the military source
added.
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“Reports indicated a total of 37 people were killed
by the insurgents during the separate attacks,”
said the source who asked not to be named.
A member of a village defence group known
locally as the Civilian Joint Task Force, Malum
Idrissa, also told Reuters that the death toll was 37
and that the affected villages were 56 miles from
Maiduguri.
Details of the attack emerged a day after President
Muhammadu Buhari held a summit with regional
counterparts to set up a joint military force to
counter Boko Haram.
The Boko Haram terror group has killed
thousands and left about 1.5 million displaced in
the last six years.
The military relocated its command centre to
Maiduguri this week for a renewed effort to tackle
the Boko Haram activities.
Over 80 people were killed in bomb blasts in the
city last week by the insurgents.

Boko Haram kills 37 in five Borno villages

Australia clip Falcons’ wings

Nigeria women bowed 2-0 to Australia women in
their second group game at the 2015 Fifa
Women’s World Cup played at theWinnipeg
Stadium, Winnipeg on Friday night.
A brace from Kyah Simon were all Alan Stajcic’s
needed to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat to
USA against the Falcons who they were playing
for the first time.
ADVERTISEMENT
Both team were facing for the first time ever but
the Nigerians looked the brighter side in the
opening 10 minutes but failed to convert begging
chances that came their way.
After minutes of a barren encounter, Simon put
her side ahead with a fine finish. Captain Lisa De
Vanna made a driving run through Nigerian
defence before passing to Kyah Simon, who lifted
the ball over Precious Dede to give the Matildas
the lead.
The Aussies nearly made it 2-0 through danger
woman Simon and De Vanna’s efforts were
blocked.
On the other end, Edwin Okon ladies launched a
comeback but goalkeeper Lydia Williams was at
her best as she saved goal-bound shot from
Oparanozie and Ngozi Okobi.
On resumption of the second half, the Australians
continue to dominate as Nigeria – once a while
threatened the Maltildas’ backline. Ngozi Okobi
attempted an ambitious volley from long-range,
which drew a gasp from the fans, but her effort
sailed high.
The Matildas doubled their lead with Simon
scoring her second after Samantha Kerr floated in
a lofted cross that found her and Tameka Butt
unmarked. Simon was in a better position to put
it past Dede, which she did comfortably.
Even with the introduction of Perpetua Nkwocha
and Courtney Dike, the Falcons’ failed to re-enact
their act which saw them force a draw off the
Swedes.
Laura Alleway was denied by the crossbar in the
final minutes, and Australia never looked troubled
at the other end of the pitch as they held on to
keep the clean sheet intact for Williams.
Nigeria must now beat the USA on Tuesday night
to stand a chance of making it to the round of 16.

Tears as Buhari, wife meet Chibok girls’ mothers

Tears flowed freely on Friday as President
Muhammadu Buhari; his wife, Aisha; and the wife
of the Vice-President, Dolapo Osinbajo, met with
two women whose daughters are among the
over 200 schoolgirls abducted last year by
members of the Boko Haram sect in Chibok,
Borno State.
The emotional-laden encounter took place inside
the Defence House, Abuja, where Buhari
currently operates from.
Mrs. Osinbajo had earlier led the two women to a
meeting with Hajia Buhari, who later led them
into another round of meeting with Buhari.
By the time they emerged from the meeting and
posed for photographs, the two women again
broke down in tears while Mrs. Buhari held them
tightly.
Mrs. Osinbajo also joined in the weeping.
The Vice-President’s wife, with misty eyes, later
told journalists what transpired during the two
separate meetings.
She said, “Hajia Aisha Buhari had for many
months wanted to visit Chibok. She also wanted
to meet with the mothers.
“Today, we had an opportunity for them to meet
face-to-face. We had two of the mothers who still
have their daughters missing after a year.
“Hajia met with them, held them and they cried,
everybody cried. What only a mother will do is
to say ‘wait, I want you to see your father and
see what your father will do.’
“We were all overwhelmed that at this time when
the President is so busy, he had time to meet
with the women from Chibok.
“He spoke to them in English and Hausa. He
explained to them how he keeps telling
everybody to put themselves in their place.
“So, today we have had the opportunity for the
President and Hajia to show that they are our
father and mother, for that we are glad.”
Shortly after the photo session, security men
quickly whisked the weeping mothers away.
It will, however, be recalled that all efforts to
rescue the schoolgirls them abducted over a year
ago have yet to yield any result.

Buhari To Take Action On Amnesty International Report

Abuja, Nigeria, 11th June 2015: President
Muhammadu Buhari has once again given
assurance that his government will closely study
the report released recently by Amnesty
International, in which top ranking officers of the
Nigerian military were accused of gross abuse of
human rights.
"The president is quite disturbed by the
allegations contained in the report," Malam Shehu
said. "The next step is to look into the allegations
and confirm or disprove the disturbing details."
He added that President Buhari has already
determined that one of the first assignments of
the incoming Attorney General of the Federation
would be to look into the Amnesty International
report and advise the government on an
appropriate course of action.
"This is in addition to the internal inquiry he asked
the armed services to undertake by themselves,"
the presidency official said.
He also emphasised President Buhari's
commitment to human rights, and his promise
that there would be no human rights abuses
under his government.
"Any allegation of human rights abuse that takes
place during the tenure of President Buhari's
government will be swiftly investigated and dealt
with," he said.
Mal. Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant (Media
& Publicity)
State House
Abuja

Friday, 12 June 2015

» Saraki Shuts Mouths Of Disagreeable Senators «

During the first plenary session of the
eighth Senate Bukola Saraki ruled out of
order those senators who dared to
question the points of order in the Senate
presidency election process.
Saraki rules out of order Marafa and Gemade
during the very first plenary session of 8th NASS.
Senator Kabir Marafa, representing Zamfara state,
and Senator Barnabas Gemade, representing
Benue North-East, were both ruled out of order
by Bukola Saraki during the first plenary session
in the Senate.
Addressing the Senate, Senator Marafa told:
“while I was away and a lot of other
members of this Senate, especially of APC
extraction attending a meeting with
President Muhammadu Buhari, this Senate
went ahead to commence the process of
inauguration, thereby infringing on my
rights and privileges as enshrined in the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria by disenfranchising me and my
colleagues from participating in the
election of the Presiding Officers of this
Senate.”
He added that “more strange is the news
item that the Senate was inaugurated with
57 members and the 51 Senators-elect
absent.”
However, he was abruptly interrupted by Saraki,
who accused Marafa of being out of order, stating
that “you must have previous discussion
with the President of the Senate and … this
did not happen. Based on that, I think I have
to rule you out of order.”
Senator Barnabas Gemade of Benue North-East,
who objected to the manner in which the Senate
president had ruled Marafa out of order,
describing it as as “abrupt and too casual“, was
also ruled out of order by Bukola Saraki.
At the same time, Senator Mohammed Danjuma
Goje, representing Gombe Central and known to
be one of Saraki’s supporters, commented on
Marafa’s claims as follows: “what happened at
the Senate during Saraki’s election was in
compliance with the Constitution, …
therefore, let it be on record that whoever
decided to go for another meeting is on his
own.”
Senator Bukola Saraki, the ex-governor of Kwara
state and the senator representing Kwara Central,
was elected as the new president of the Senate of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria two days ago.
Senator Saraki saluted President Buhari for
remaining ‘steadfast’ in his defence of the right of
the National Assembly to choose its own leaders.
Reacting to Saraki’s election, Muhammadu Buhari
simply said he “noted the outcome of the
just-concluded election of leaders of the
National Assembly."

I Was Locked In A Room For 7 Months & Forced To Marry Him: Wife Tells Judge

A 20-year old housewife, Mercy Ekeh,
has narrated how her husband, Kelechi
Ekeh, 30, forced her to marry him at
the age of 17 and kept her in captivity
by locking her inside their room
apartment for seven months in Egbe,
Lagos State, western Nigeria.
She said she was inside the room until he
impregnated her and thereafter forced her
parents to collect N300 as her bride price.
But her husband said his decision to keep
her in the room was not intended to punish
her, saying he was showing her love and
caring because he did not want her to suffer
in his home.
Anambra State-born Mercy narrated her
plight at Eiigbo Customary Court, Lagos,
where she filed a suit for the dissolution of
the marriage.
She also told the court that during her
captivity she was not allowed to see
anybody or her parents.
She said whenever Ekeh went to
work, he would lock her inside and
provide a small bucket for her to ease
herself inside the room.
She said she was only allowed to
come out in the night briefly when he
returned from work and opened the
door and did not allow her do anything
else.
The embittered woman said her ordeal
started in 2012 when she went to sit for
Joint Admission and Matriculation
Examination, JAMB.
She said on that Saturday, Ekeh accosted
her along Liasu road in Egbe.
Mercy alleged that Ekeh cast a spell on her
after he touched her and commanded her
to go to her parents’ house and bring her
property and come and to live with him.
She said she obeyed without knowing what
had come over her.
She said while she was in Ekeh’s home, her
parents searched everywhere for her and
went to the police and reported that she
was missing until one of Ekeh’s neighbours
who observed what was happening told
her mom about where she was.
It was then Ekeh was arrested and she
regained her freedom after he impregnated
her.
Mercy said Ekeh later went to her
parents and pleaded for forgiveness
and it was then, he brought N300 and
paid as her bride price.
She said the incident has traumatized her as
Ekeh has ruined her life, while her mates are
in school pursuing their education.
She asked the court to dissolve the
marriage and compel Ekeh to take care of
the baby.
In his response, Ekeh denied all the
allegations and told the court that he does
not want the marriage dissolved because he
loves Mercy.
On packing to his house, he said it was a
choice Mercy made before she got pregnant
and he had to marry her by paying her
dowry. The president of the court, Mr A.K.
Akanni adjourned the matter till 18 June for
continuation of trial.

The Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday
approved a loan of N10 billion requested by the
State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
The state governor had sent a letter to the House
of Assembly asking that he should be granted
approval to secure the loan that would be used to
fund some major projects in the state.
28 lawmakers voted in favour of the approval.
Speaker of the House, Mr. Ikuinyi Ibani, in his
remark, explained that it would be difficult for any
government to survive without funds to operate.
Ibani, who pointed that the House would not be
involved in frivolous approvals, added that the
state legislature would endorse transparent and
sincere requests that would benefit the people of
the state.
Explaining that the immediate past administration
left an empty treasury, the Speaker disclosed that
the loan would be taken from Zenith Bank and
repaid through Valued Added Tax.
He said, “He (Wike) cannot do that without cash
back. No government can run without a financial
base. We must provide succour for our people,
so that they can begin to see changes between
yesterday and today.
“This Assembly will not engage in frivolous
approval and resolutions. As an Assembly, we
have the responsibility to know what the funds
sought are meant for.”
Meanwhile, the State House of Assembly has
committed the High Court Amendment Law 2015
to an ad hoc committee to conduct a public
hearing on the matter.

» Osun, Ogun And Oyo States Join Lagos To Declare 12 June Public Holiday «

In a bid to commemorate the annulment of the
June 12,1993 elections, the Lagos State
Government has declared Friday, June 12 as a
work-free day.
The Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode in a
statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to
the Governor, Mr Habib Aruna, on Thursday,
stated that the date marked a turning point that
shaped the eventual emergence of transparent,
free and fair elections in the country.
According to Ambode, June 12, 1993 was the day
Nigerians voted in one voice without ethnic, racial
and religious bias, saying it represented the real
democracy day when Nigerians said no to voting
along ethnic lines.
The Governor however stated that it was
saddening that the nation was still grappling with
some of the vices which the June 12, 1993
elections sought to confine to the dustbin of
history through undue clinging to ethnic
cleavages by some political gladiators.
He urged Lagos residents to spend the day in
sober reflection and in remembrance of the
martyrs of the June 12 elections struggle for
laying the foundation of the democracy which the
nation is now enjoying.
In the same vein, the states of Oyo, Osun and
Ogun, have declared June 12 a work free day.
In a statement in Ibadan, Festus Adedayo, the
Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Media,
said the state’s decision to mark the 20th
anniversary of the infamous polls was in a bid to
recognise the martyrdom of the late Moshood
Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the election.
It said Mr. Abiola ought to be honoured for laying
down his life for Nigerians to enjoy democratic
governance.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Information in
Osun, Sunday Akere, said in a statement in
Osogbo that the holiday was to recognise when
an election adjudged the freest and fairest in
Nigeria was annulled.
Mr. Akere said that June 12 would continue to
stand for democracy and good government and
as such nothing was too much to honour the
day.
Ogun State had on Sunday also declared June 12
a public holiday.
lalasticlala, Ishilove

My Administration Has Performed Very Well – Aregbesola

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola,
said on Tuesday that his administration had
performed creditable well despite its inability
to pay some workers in the state for the
past seven months.
According to a statement made available to
our correspondent in Osogbo on Tuesday
by his media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon,
the governor, who scored himself high,
spoke during a courtesy visit to him by
Osun Action Strategy and Development
Group.
He, however, said he was pained by the
inability of his government to pay workers,
but also sympathised with workers while
assuring them that the hardship would
soon come to an end.
The statement read, “Despite the financial
shortage, even the most virulent critics of
this government cannot deny that the
administration has performed creditably
well.
“This government built roads, schools,
supplied students with Opon Imo (Tablets
of Knowledge) distributed uniforms to all
public students in the state, created welfare
programmes for the old and vulnerable
people as well as support farmers.
“No state has done what Osun did in the
area of security, which today has totally
checked crimes and other anti-social
activities in the state. Huge amount of
money was committed to purchasing
armoured personnel carrier and
ambulances, which are strategically located
in the state and responding to distress calls
round the clock.
“If all the programmes with the huge cost
involved are factored into the accrue-able
revenue to the state, it will be crystal clear
why the state is where it is today.”
Describing the situation as an economic
tragedy, he attributed the current
misfortune to gross mishandling of the
nation’s economy by the last regime of the
Peoples Democratic Party.
He stated that the unchecked oil theft under
the PDP, in which the nation was losing
400,000 barrels per day, culminated in
drastic reduction of oil price in the
international market.
This price fall has created for the country a
tragedy of huge proportion that translated
to economic disaster, pains and agony for
the workers across the country.
Aregbesola stated the state collected N5
billion as monthly allocation in February
2013 but the allocation drastically reduced to
a mere N540 million in April 2015.
He said further, “As we are trying to find
solution to this challenges, we must not
also run away from what brought us to this
situation.
“For those who think this is an opportunity
to pillory us in this economic condition, I
pity them. Only God does not fail. We shall
overcome; we shall recover from this
challenge. I sympathise and feel for the
workers. I appeal to them to bear with us
as we work assiduously to end this
problem. I assure them that the period of
agony will soon be over.
“It is disheartening for people to work and
such work fails to translate into wages. It is
a harrowing experience for both workers
and government.
“The challenge of unpaid salaries should not
be seen as opportunities by some to pillory
either the government or any others facing
the same challenges.”

Plateau State Assembly Elects Minority Member As Speaker

Honourable Peter Azi, representing Jos
North-West of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), yesterday, emerged as the
new speaker of the Plateau State House of
Assembly in a rescheduled election.
The Assembly, Tuesday, shelved its plenary
and inaugural sitting after an election
stalemate between former speaker, Istifanus
Mwansat (PDP), and Hon Peter Azi (APC),
who scored 12 votes each in a 24-member
House.
PDP has 13 elected members against 11
from APC. However, a member of PDP
refused to tow his party line but voted for
the APC candidate instead thus resulting in
the two contenders having the same
number of votes.
However, at the commencement of the
proceedings yesterday, Mwansat willingly
withdrew his candidacy, making Azi to be
elected as speaker unopposed.
The reschedule election which was done at
the committee room of the Assembly also
saw a keen contest for the office of the
deputy speaker between member
representing Kanam-Kantana, Yusuf Adamu
Gagdi (PDP) and member representing
Langtang North central, Hon. Amos
Vongtim Kumtul (PDP).
Gagdi emerged victorious, polling 13 votes
against Kumtul’s 11 votes.
Honourable Azi was thereafter sworn in by
the clerk of the House, Honourable Ayuba
Gongu, as the duly elected speaker of the
House.
Speaking to newsmen soon after
adjournment of proceedings, Mwansat said
he withdrew from the race in the interest of
the state.
However, a member who pledged
anonymity, told our correspondent that the
two parties reached an agreement to allow
APC produce the the speaker while the
position of the deputy speaker went to the
PDP.