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PDP Rule Is A Disaster – Gov Shettima

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PDP Rule Is A Disaster – Gov Shettima

Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, said on Saturday that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has done more harm than good to Nigeria since the return to democratic rule in 1999 and holds the  record as one of the worse in the annals of the black race.

According to Shettima, apart from slavery and colonialism, the rule by the PDP is the worst thing to have happened to the black man.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Borno State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, executive in Maiduguri, the governor noted that for nearly fifteen years since it seized power, the PDP is still grappling with providing basic necessities – good roads, stable electricity and jobs for the teeming Nigerian youths.

“Nigeria has earned billions of dollars unprecedented in the contemporary history of the country with little or nothing to show for it. This is nothing but a disaster,” he said.

Shettima stressed that the APC has come at the right time to rescue Nigerians from the misrule of PDP and that he was confident the party would lose its grip on power in 2015 as a large number of members had already decamped from the party.

He said Borno State has no opposition party because other parties had merged to form a united force that would take the state and country at large to the next level and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Earlier, the national secretary of the APC, Tijjani Tumsa, lauded the effort of the state government towards the growth and progress of the party.

On his part, the newly inaugurated interim state chairman of the party, Kaka Malam Yale, noted that the task before him as pioneer state chairman of the party was no doubt a daunting one but promised to give it his best shot.

He called for the support of members of the party towards achieving the desired success and urged them to always place the interest of the state above their personal interests.

APC Embarks On Membership Drive In FCT

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APC Embarks On Membership Drive In FCT

The All Progressives Congress, APC, on Friday inaugurated a 30-man area council committee for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT to ensure a smooth and successful membership registration exercise.

The chairman of the party in the Abuja, Adamu Sidi-Ali, who inaugurated the members in Gwagwalada, said the registration would begin February 3 and called for the co-operation and understanding of members of the FCT harmonisation committee to make the registration a success.

Sidi-Ali also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to avail all political parties information on sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the 2015 elections.

“INEC should inform parties on when the contract for the supply of materials would be approved and the expected time of delivery,” he said.

He said this is because political parties’ participation and observation of INEC acquisition and distribution of materials will assist INEC in its journey to free and fair elections in 2015.

The chairman said APC had resolved to train and re-train its officials and members on the operations and activities of INEC so as to enhance free and fair elections in the FCT.

He charged the six area council interim executive bodies to inaugurate members at the ward and polling centre levels.

Five APC members were inaugurated from each area council in the FCT.

Court Voids Dissolution Of Edo State Electoral Body

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Court Voids Dissolution Of Edo State Electoral Body

From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, on Thursday set aside the judgment of a lower court and declared as unconstitutional, null and void the sacking of the late Justice Gabriel Okungbowa- led Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, by the Edo State government in 2007.

During the administration of governor Osarhiemen Osunbor, the commission was dissolved based on a resolution of the State House of Assembly which accused it of improper conduct and sale of nomination forms to aspirants to local government councils without recourse to their political parties.

Following the dissolution, members of the commission approached the High Court in Benin to protest the termination of their appointment and on November 14, 2007,

Justice P. Imoedemhe delivered a judgment against them, insisting that the members erred by selling nomination forms to aspirants for the local government elections.

The appellate court, however, upturned that ruling on January 16, 2014 and ordered the Edo state government to pay the sacked members their salaries and allowances from June 19, 2007 to July 10, 2010, when their tenure was supposed to expire.

Justice Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, who presided over the matter noted that it was within the powers of the electoral body to sell sell nomination forms.

“From the provisions of the constitution stated above, it goes without saying that the sale of nomination forms falls within the constitutional powers vested in the Appellants and there is no statute specifically prohibiting the Appellants from doing so. To argue contrary to this lucid fact would be a sheer waste of time,” the judge ruled.

End Of The Road For Fraudster, Bags 7 Year Jail Term

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End Of The Road For Fraudster, Bags 7 Year Jail Term

A Federal High Court in Gombe has convicted and sentenced one Habila A. Mamman aka Luka Audu, who allegedly specializes in using different identities to defraud his victims, to seven years imprisonment with hard labour without an option of fine.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned Mamman, 53, based on three separate petitions received from complainants accusing the convict of obtaining various sums of money from them under false pretence contrary to section 8 sub section (a) and punishable under section 1 sub section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act 2006.

Upon his arraignment, the accused pleaded guilty to all the counts.

Counsel to the accused person, A.H. Othman, did not object his client’s  plea but pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

In delivering his judgement, Justice Babatunde O. Qaudri said based on the plea of the accused person on all the counts, he had no option than to convict and sentence him accordingly under the Advance Fee Fraud Act to serve as deterrence to others.

He consequently sentenced the accused to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine on each of the counts. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Senate Approves Appointment Of Service Chiefs

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Senate Approves Appointment Of Service Chiefs

The Senate on Thursday approved the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, and the new service chiefs.

The confirmation followed the screening by the joint senate committee on Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force and the adoption of the report by the Senate.

The committee was mandated by the Senate on January 23 to screen the nominees and submit the report within one week.

The Senate Minority Leader, George Akume (APC- Benue), said that contrary to beliefs in some quarters, the APC was not against their appointment, stressing that the party was in full support of the appointments.

“I wish to state here that we at the other side are in full support of the appointments of Chief of Defence Staff and service chief,” Akume said.

He urged the officers to work in line with democratic tenets in maintaining peace and order where necessary irrespective of parties involved.On his part, James Manager (PDP -Delta), said the new CDS and service chiefs were eminently qualified for the positions.
Manager implored them to live above board in the discharge of their new duties.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, noted that for the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history, appointments of service chiefs were subjected to legislative scrutiny as required by the Constitution.

Ekweremadu enjoined the appointees to justify the confidence repose in them by discharging their duties appropriately.

It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan had on January 16, nominated, Air Marshal Alex Badeh as the new CDS to replace, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim.

He also nomiated Major-General Tobiah Minimah, as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin, as Chief of Naval Staff, and Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu, as Chief of Air Staff.

The officers have since assumed duties in their new offices.

The Senate also deferred debate on the 2014 Appropriation Bill to another legislative day.

Debate on the budget began on Tuesday with most senators raising eyebrows over the wide margin between the capital expenditure to the recurrent, among other issues.

Most senators were of the opinion that the capital expenditure should have been 74 per cent while recurrent should have been 26 per cent and not the reverse.

Other areas of concern were the need for the country to replace western economic theories with home grown ones and to compel revenue generating agencies to remit such funds to the federation account.

Zimbabwe Adopts Chinese Yuan As Legal Currency

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Zimbabwe Adopts Chinese Yuan As Legal Currency

Zimbabwe’s central bank has announced that it would accept the Chinese Yuan and three other Asian currencies as legal tender following improved economic relations in recent years.

“Trade and investment ties between Zimbabwe, China, India, Japan and Australia have grown appreciably,” the acting governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Charity Dhliwayo, said on Wednesday.

Dhliwayo announced that exporters and the public can now open accounts in Yuan, Australian Dollars, Indian Rupees and Japanese Yen.

Zimbabwe abandoned its local currency, the Zimbabwean Dollar in 2009, when it became worthless amid chronic hyper-inflation and a deep economic crisis.

It accepts the US dollar and the South African rand as the main legal tender and the use of these currencies has helped to stabilize the economy after world-record inflation threw it into a sharp decline.

The Euro, Botswana Pula and British Pound are also legal tender in the country.

President Robert Mugabe has sought to boost economic relations with Asia after his relations with the West came under strain over his policy of seizing white-owned farms.

Chinese investors have over the past two decades entered diamond mining, construction and retail sectors in Zimbabwe but with the economy under pressure again, the bank appears eager to entice all the investors it can.

Dhliwayo said the economy was faced with a severe liquidity crunch, which meant that local industry could not obtain credit, as well as high import costs and uncompetitive local products.

She lamented unfavourable interest rates and bank charges which she blamed for low deposits as an estimated $2 billion is circulating outside the banking system. The low level of deposits has raised fears of a liquidity crisis in the sector.

The reserve bank chief said that for now, minimum capital requirements for banks would remain at $25 million, not $100 million as previously planned.

Banks were required to raise the $100 million by June this year but this has been extended to December 31, 2020.

She added that the central bank would resume its key functions of being the government’s bank and the lender of last resort by end of March this year after efforts to recapitalise the bank with a facility of between $150 and $200 million.

Reps Fail To Amend Clause To Impeach President

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Reps Fail To Amend Clause To Impeach President

The House of Representatives on Thursday failed to amend Section 143 of the constitution, which provides for the impeachment of the President and his Vice-President.

Some 172 members voted in favour of the clause, 122 voted against it, while  three persons abstained  meaning that the House could not garner the  two-third of the votes of members required to amend the section.

The section provides that the President or the Vice  President could be removed from office, “whenever a notice of any allegation in writing, signed by not less than one-third of members of the House of Representatives, is presented to the speaker of the House of Representatives.”

In its proposal, the ad hoc committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution recommended that the provisions of Section 143 should be amended to allow impeachment process against the president or vice-president to proceed once at least one-third of members of the House of Representatives have signed a notice of any allegation written against either the president of his deputy.

This is provided that the offence of the person targeted for impeachment is detailed, specified and a copy presented to him by the Speaker within seven days of the receipt of the notice.

Also, any reply to the allegation(s) against the person about to be impeached should be communicated to the legislators.

Out of the 19 clauses contained in ‎the report of the ad-hoc committee, only the impeachment clause did not scale through.

Highlights of the amendments include immunity for lawmakers for words spoken during parliamentary sittings and the removal of the clause that provides that a lawmaker’s seat  be declared vacant if he joins a board or commission of government.

Others are insurance for NYSC members against death and serious injury during official duty and sanction for failure to honour summons by the legislature.

The Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, described the successful voting on outstanding bills on the constitution review as a triumph of democracy.

Ihedioha, who is also the chairman of the House adhoc committee on the review of the Constitution, noted that the feat clearly shows the resolve of the Assembly to always put national interest above all other considerations.

“This 7th House of Representatives has once again shown that it is more concerned about the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians than any other interest,” he added.

Earlier, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal praised the Deputy Speaker for providing “firm and good leadership” to the adhoc committee on the constitution review.

Tambuwal said that the successful culmination of the review process in the house reflected the spirit of diligence and unity of purpose displayed by Ihedioha in piloting the affairs of the committee.

Modalities For National Conference Released

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Modalities For National Conference Released

The federal government Thursday released the modalities for the forthcoming national conference which will hold in Abuja for a tentative period of three months.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, who gave the modalities after what he called a “long and mature deliberations on the Committee’s Report (Advisory Committee on National Dialogue)”, said the conference “shall discuss any subject matter except the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a nation,” stressing that the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.

“A conference management secretariat shall be established to manage, administer and run the affairs of the Conference. Decisions at the National Conference shall be by consensus; but where it is not achievable; it shall be by 75% majority,” he said.

The National Conference is also expected to advise the Government on the legal framework, legal procedures and options for integrating the decisions and outcomes reached into the Constitution and laws of the country.

Anyim noted that “The National Conference shall have a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson of unimpeachable integrity.”

The list of nominees shall be submitted either online to www.osgf.gov.ng or in hard copy to the Office of the Permanent Secretary (Special Duties Office), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase I, 3rd Floor, Central Business District, Abuja.

The nomination of delegates will take place from January 30th- February 20th and formal inauguration of the conference will follow as soon as the nominations are received and collated.

Below is the proposed composition of delegates for the National Conference,  that will be attended by 492 persons drawn from various sectors:

PROPOSED COMPOSITION OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
S/N
STAKEHOLDERS
DETAILS
DELEGATES
REMARKS
1.
Elder Statesmen
1 per State and FCT
37
Nomination by President
2.
Retired Military and Security Personnel:
   i.    Military
   ii.   Police
   iii.  State Security
        and NIA
1 per Geo-political Zone
1 per Geo-political Zone
1 per Geo-political Zone
6
6
6
Nomination by Stakeholders
3.
Traditional Rulers
2 per Zone + 1 for FCT
13
Nomination by Stakeholders
4.
Retired Civil Servants
1 per Zone
6
Nomination by Stakeholders
5.
Labour Representatives:
    i.   NLC
    ii.  TUC
Nominations should reflect Geo-political and Gender Balance
12
12
Nomination by NLC
Nomination by TUC
6.
Organised Private Sector
    i.    NECA
    ii.   MAN
    iii.  NACCIMA
    iv.  NESG
2
2
2
2
Nomination by Stakeholders
7.
Nigeria Youth Organisations:
    i.    Nat. Youth Council of Nigeria
    ii.   NANS
    iii.  Other (Outstanding Youths and
         Role Models)
1 per Geo-political Zone
1 per Geo-political Zone
1 per Geo-political Zone
6
6
6
Nomination by Stakeholders
Nomination by Stakeholders
Nomination by Federal Government
8.
Women Groups:
    i.     NCWS
    ii.    Market Women Associations
    iii.   FIDA, NAWOJ, WINBIZ
2 per Geo-political Zone
1 per Geo-political Zone
2 per Organisation
12
6
6
Nomination by Stakeholders
9.
Political Parties:
    i.    PDP
    ii.    APC
    iii.   APGA
    iv.   Accord Party
    v.    Labour Party
Parties that have representation in the National Assembly
2
2
2
2
2
Nomination by Stakeholders
10.
Muslim Leaders
6
Nomination by Stakeholders
11.
Christian Leaders
6
Nomination by Stakeholders
12.
Civil Society Organisations
Ensure spread
24
Nomination by Stakeholders
13.
Nigerians in Diaspora (Europe, America, Africa, Asia and Middle East)
2 per location
8
Nomination by Stakeholders
14.
People Living with Disabilities
1 per Geo-political Zone
6
Nomination by Stakeholders
15.
Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria
2
Nomination by Stakeholders
16.
Nigeria Guild of Editors
2
Nomination by Stakeholders
17.
Nigeria Union of Journalists
2
Nomination by Stakeholders
18.
Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria
2
Nomination by Stakeholders
19.
Socio-Political/Cultural and Ethnic Nationality Groups
15 per Geo-political Zone-Nominations should reflect Ethnic and Religious Diversities.
90
Nomination by Stakeholders
20.
Professional Bodies:
NBA, NSE, CIB, NMA, NIM, NIA, ICAN, ANAN, NIPR, AAPN, NIESV, Nigerian Environmental Society, Nigeria Economic Society.
1 per Organisation
13
Nomination by Stakeholders
21.
National Academies:
    i.    Academy of Science
    ii.   Academy of Engineering
    iii.  Academy of Education
    iv.  Academy of Letters
    v.   Academy of Social Sciences
1 per Academy
5
Nomination by Stakeholders
22.
Judiciary
Persons not currently serving on the Bench
6
Nomination by President
23.
Former Political Office holders:
    i.    Former Governors
    ii.   Senators Forum
    iii.  House of Reps. Forum
    iv.  Association of Former Speakers
1 per Geo political Zone
1 per Geo political Zone
1 per Geo political Zone
1 per Geo political Zone
6

Mu’azu Moves To Unite PDP

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Mu’azu Moves To Unite PDP
The national chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, has pledged that the party’s consultative forum will henceforth be a regular feature to enable members “touch base and interact with one another.”
Mu’azu said this while interacting with newsmen shortly before the commencement of the overnight closed door meeting of the party’s elders at the residence of Senate President David Mark.
He explained that his motive of summoning the meeting was to consult with governors and senators who were major stakeholders of the party, in order to find solution to the crises bedevilling the PDP.
He expressed concern about the difficulties executive bills often suffered at the National Assembly, saying that there was no reason why they cannot be discussed with PDP lawmakers before they are introduced on the floor of the house so as to enjoy a smooth sail.
“If we do not continue to consult with one another, we will continue to disagree with one another,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, chairman PDP Governors Forum, Godswill Akpabio, described the meeting as a special one and pledged the continued support of the PDP governors to reposition the party for victory in the 2015 polls.
“It is an uncommon gathering in an uncommon period in the history of this uncommon party, which is facing uncommon challenges and seeking uncommon solutions. Whatever the outcome of this meeting, the governors will ensure its full implementation,” Akpabio said.
In his remarks of behalf of the senators, the senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, pledged the loyalty of the lawmakers to the new chairman of the party.
“I pledge that in us, the PDP Senate Caucus, you will find very loyal party men and women. We will work with you. We will stay by you. We will partner with you to reinvent PDP,” he said.
He noted that the PDP was going through some crisis but that “the good news is that the challenges are about to end while those of the other parties are about to begin.”
PDP governors who attended the meeting included Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Theodore Orji (Abia) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).
Others are Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Idris Wada (Kogi), Ramallan Yero (Kaduna) and Garba Umar, the Acting Governor of Taraba State.
The deputy dovernor of Sokoto State, Muktari Shagari and his Jigawa State counterpart, Ahmed Mahmoud were also in attendance.
Members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP who accompanied Mu’azu to the meeting included the deputy national chairman, Uche Secondus, the national secretary, Wale Oladipo, the national women leader, Kema Chikwe and the national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, among others.

Death Toll In Boko Haram Attack On Borno Village Hits 85

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Death Toll In Boko Haram Attack On Borno Village Hits 85

Mustapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The death toll of the latest attack launched by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect on Kawuri village, in Borno State has risen to 85.

Armed terrorists had attacked the village last Sunday between 4:00pm-1:00am, setting houses ablaze to trap and kill residents who took to hiding while also shooting down any fleeing person on sight.

The attack came less than three days after the governor, Kashim Shettima, appealed to residents of communities living around Alau Dam in Jere Local government area, who fled their homes for fear of attack by the Boko Haram insurgents to return home.

An unidentified Imam was allegedly killed in Sunday’s attack by one of his teen students (almajiri) who unknown to him was a member of the sect, even as seven mosques were set ablaze.

Lamenting to the state governor, Kashim Shettima on Tuesday, surviving residents, most of who sustained various gunshot injuries and burns, said they had buried 83 persons as at Monday and were preparing to bury another two newly discovered corpse.

They said their attackers who stormed the village in 26 vehicles, two armoured tanks and six Army camouflaged Hilux vans, had a field day as there were no security operatives to challenge them for the hours the operation lasted, adding that 16 persons were still missing.

A councillor of Kawuri village, Dala Lawan, told journalists that about 50 persons with serious bullet and fire injuries are on admission at three different hospital in the state.

“We are still searching and burying corpses since yesterday;  the first burial was 83 but more corpses are still being picked in the bushes and some with serious injuries also died. We have just found two more corpses which brings the death toll to 85 for now,” Lawan said.

Also speaking, the head of the Civilian JTF in the village, Lawan Mustapha, said their assailants seemed very familiar with the village and spoke Kanuri and Hausa fluently.

The governor expressed shock at the plight of the people and gave a donation N250,000 each to those affected and also directed the immediate rebuilding of the burnt mosques and market.

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