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Nyiam Explains Reason For Resignation

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Nyiam Explains Reason For Resignation

Tony Nyiam, a retired colonel and former member of the presidential advisory committee on national dialogue, has said his resignation was in the interest of a successful National conference.

Nyiam in a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, dated November 3, 2013, had said he was compelled to opt out of the committee in order not to cause distraction or be used to destabilise the “noble cause” of the conference.

Tracing the issues that led to his resignation back to an encounter with the governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, in Benin City, Nyiam accused the governor of “insensitiveness to the ethno-nationalities yearning for self-determination.”

He said in his letter: “What became troubling was the governor’s talking down on the people that gathered, among whom were former governors, senators, retired armed forces generals and judges.”

Nyiam, in a meeting between the Femi Okurounmu-led committee and stakeholders in Edo state, had expressed great resentment for Oshiomhole’s comments that the proposed national conference would end up in the archives like the previous ones held and was therefore of no use.

“I will be surprised if anything changes. Sincerely, I have no business to deceive or mislead anyone. I believe that the outcome of this conference will not be different from that of other conferences we have had in the past,” Oshiomhole said.

The debate led to a heated argument between supporters of both sides and the abrupt end of the meeting.

Defending his position, Nyiam said it was imperative for him to set the record straight so that “evil propagandists bent on derailing the dialogue train would stop fabricating based on ill motives.”

The governor in turn, perceived Nyiam’s reaction as having no regard for constituted authorities, adding that “he might still be hallucinating, thinking he is an Army officer who must be obeyed.”

While thanking the President for giving him the opportunity to serve Nigeria, Nyiam said one of the useful lessons of the Benin incident was that some Nigerian leaders needed to know that they could not continue to use their privileged positions to confuse citizens and present their personal agenda as patriotism.

He however apologised to those who might feel offended by his over-reaction on the matter and promised to continue to assist the committee to achieve its aim.

“I will be leaving the committee, believing that equity, fairness and justice will continue to be guiding principles of its deliberations. Like all Nigerians, I look forward to the report and will continue to believe that a better and greater Nigeria is possible,” he said.

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Meanwhile, President Jonathan has approved the appointment of Solomon Asemota as Nyiam’s replacement on the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue.

This is according to a statement signed by Sam Nwaobasi, the special assistant on Media to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim.

The statement said that Asemota would assume duties with the committee on Wednesday.

G7 Governors May Consider Joining APC – Babangida Aliyu

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G7 Governors May Consider Joining APC – Babangida Aliyu

Nma Shekwolo – Minna

The governor of Niger state, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, leader of the G7 governors in the breakaway faction of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says members will consider joining the All Progressive Congress, APC, if the on-going negotiation with the Bamanga Tukur-led group fails to yield the desired result.

Aliyu said this when he played host to leaders of the APC led by its interim national chairman, Bisi Akande, in Minna on Tuesday.

The APC leaders were in the state to show support to the G7 governors in their struggle to reform the ruling party and to woo them to joining the new coalition party.

“We have declared ceasefire because we are negotiating, after that you can come with a blast. If we resolve, we will still be friends and if we don’t resolve, you will have as many of us as possible. As a group, we the G7, are people who keep to agreement,” Aliyu said.

The G7 leader described the APC as a harbinger of a revolution that will sanitise the politics of Nigeria, saying that the emergence of the party in the political landscape “would bring the best out of 2015 elections as Nigerians would have the opportunity to have two major parties to seek for their favour.”

He therefore warned the ruling PDP to be cautious, tread softly and be tolerant with opposition parties, predicting that “the ruling party today may be opposition tomorrow”.

He described the internal struggle rocking the PDP as a revolution aimed at sanitising the party.

Earlier in his short address, the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the political barometer shows that the time for change in the country is ripe.

Tinubu noted that the country requires changes that have the welfare of the people as a cornerstone of its economic policies and is focused on quality of life for all citizens.

Other leaders of the APC on the delegation.former Presidential aspirant, Muhammadu Buhari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari, Senate Miniority Leader, George Akume and former minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Ikimi.

Also present were former minister of Works, Hassan Lawal, former Edo State governor, John Oyegun Odigie, former minister of Labour, Musa Gwuadabe and the party’s national publicity secretary, Lai Mohammed.

African Media Leaders Meet To Tackle Industry Challenges

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African Media Leaders Meet To Tackle Industry Challenges

The African Media Leaders Forum, AMLF, will convene at the United Nations Convention Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between November 6 and 8 to debate on the theme ‘Media and African Renaissance’.

Delegates from across the continent and beyond are expected to table the core issues facing the industry on the continent and develop strategies and solutions to ensure that the media plays its rightful role in the emergence of a strong, inclusive and dynamic Africa.

Amadou Mahtar Ba, chief executive officer of the African Media Initiative, AMI, convener of the annual forum, said press freedom and freedom of expression are critical ingredients to ensure a stable, dynamic and growing continent.

On November 8th, the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta,will deliver the keynote speech at a special panel on the topic “Practice and Challenges of Press Freedom in Africa: Cases from Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, South Africa and Tanzania.”

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, as well as the heads of the United Nations Commission for Africa, UNECA, African Union, AU, and the African Development Bank Group, AfDB, will also feature on the panel.

Mahtar Ba said the African media leaders will contribute to this dialogue in an open and candid manner and will tackle other issues including the necessary infrastructure, institutional backbone to improve citizens’ lives and strengthen the continent’s media landscape.

AMLF 2013 will also be an important showcase for landmark and innovative projects across the continent in the areas of digital innovation, leadership and ethics as well as new business models.

The forum is also expected to feature a Heads of State Roundtable on the theme “Reflecting on Enabling a Conducive Media Development Environment in Africa: Funding, Ethics, Technological Innovation and Freedom”.

The AMI is the continent’s largest umbrella association of African media owners, senior executives and other industry stakeholders.

Pension Scam: EFCC Arraigns Former Oyo Head of Service, Others

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Pension Scam: EFCC Arraigns Former Oyo Head of Service, Others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will on Thursdato commence  prosecution of a former head of service in Oyo State, Kudirat Iyabo Adeleke, and 11 others for allegedly diverting N5.6billion meant for the payment of pensions and gratuities to various categories of retired teachers in the state.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said the suspects would be arraigned before the Oyo State High Court for charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and criminal breach of trust.

The eleven other suspects who will be arraigned alongside Adeleke are some former members of the Oyo State Pension Board – Muili Hakeem Aderemi, former executive secretary; Adesina Jimoh Ayoade, former cashier; Adebiyi Olasumbo Musendia, former Administrative Officer; Iyabo Giwa, former Cashier and Oguntayo Banji, former Internal Auditor.

Others non-member of the Board suspects are: Johnson Bosede, Muili Adedamola, Adewale Kehinde, Olujinmi Adebayo, Kareem Rasheed and Adedutan Johnson.

Supreme Court Validates Nwoye Candidacy For Anambra Election

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The Supreme Court has upheld Tony Nwoye as the validly nominated candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the November 16 Anambra governorship election.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who delivered the judgment in an application filed by Nicolas Ukachukwu said the appellant did not question the candidacy of Nwoye which was upheld by the appellate court and, therefore, the apex court agreed that Nwoye is the validly elected candidate of the PDP.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt on October 23, set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling which declared Ukachukwu as the Anambra State PDP candidate and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to recognise Nwoye as the duly elected candidate of the party in the forthcoming election.

Ukachukwu, through his counsel, Joseph B. Daudu, approached the apex court to challenge the decision of the appeal court, arguing that he was not given fair hearing.

The Supreme court ruling was unanimously supported by the five other justices on the panel and the court fixed January 31, 2014 to give reason for its decision.

About 9.3 Million Syrians In Need Of Help – UN

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About 9.3 Million Syrians In Need Of Help – UN

The United Nations, UN,  estimates that around 9.3 million people in Syria, about 40 percent of the population,ww need humanitarian assistance due to the country’s two and half year civil war.

The population of Syria is around 23 million.

The UN humanitarian chief, Valerie Amos, told the Security Council that the humanitarian situation in Syria continues to deteriorate rapidly.

“The number of people we estimate to be in need of humanitarian assistance in Syria has now risen to some 9.3 million. Of them, 6.5 million people are displaced from their homes, within the country,” Amanda Pitt Amos, spokeswoman said.

Amos urged the council for help in the protection of civilians and civilian facilities, safe passage of medical personnel and supplies, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Her plea to the council follows the Syrian government’s promise on Monday to ensure delivery of vaccinations and humanitarian aid across the country, after an outbreak of polio in the Northeast and warnings of malnutrition in areas under military siege.

Twenty-two children in Deir al-Zor province bordering Iraq were left paralyzed last month. The polio virus has been confirmed so far in 10 of them, and experts say it could spread quickly across the region.

Last month Amos demanded stronger action by the Security Council to get desperately needed aid into Syria, where millions of people in need have not received any help for almost a year.

Violence and excessive red tape have slowed aid delivery to a trickle in Syria. More than 100,000 people have been killed in the civil war and millions have fled the country.

After months of talks, the 15-member Security Council approved a non-binding statement on October 2 urging increased humanitarian access, but Amos has complained that that statement has had little impact on the ground.

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Western diplomats say they would like the council to adopt a legally binding resolution but worry Russia would veto it.

Senior U.N. diplomats say that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously dismissed the possibility of a legally binding resolution on aid access in Syria.

Russia, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and China have vetoed three Security Council resolutions since October 2011 that would have condemned the government and threatened it with sanctions.

Hope Rises For Suspension Of ASUU Strike

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Hope Rises For Suspension Of ASUU Strike

There is hope and a strong indication that the over four months strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will soon be called-off.

The indications emerged after a meeting between the executives of ASUU and President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday which lasted till the early hours of Tuesday.

Speaking after the meeting, the President of ASUU, Nasiru Isa Fagge, told State House correspondents that a fruitful deliberation with the Nigerian President was held but the outcome would be pronounced after the union’s meeting with its National Executive Council, NEC.

“We have had lengthy meeting with Mr. President, rubbing minds on how best to address the problem of university education in this country. We now have a message from Mr President that we are going to take back to our members, and we are expecting that our members will respond appropriately,” he said.

The minister of labour, Emeka Wogu, on his part confirmed the fruitful nature of the deliberation with the President, but said government is now waiting for the union to come-up with its modalities that would lead to ending the on-going strike.

“We made progress, the President of ASUU told you that they are going back with a message from the Federal Government to their members and the message is full of expectations and hope,” Wogu confirmed.

The academic activities of universities in Nigeria have been grounded close to five months as ASUU downed tools, demanding welfare benefits and the effective funding of the tertiary education sector in the country.

With this effort of government, the universities in Nigeria would be once again open for full academic activities which have been stalled for over for  months.

The meeting had in attendance, Vice President Namadi Sambo; the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC,  Abdulwaheed Omar and the President General of the Trade Union Congress, TUC,  Bobbo Kaigama.

Others there, were the ministers of education and finance Ezenwo Wike and Ngozi Okonji-Iweala.

Finance Reporter Wanted At Quartz

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Finance Reporter Wanted At Quartz

Quartz, a digitally native news outlet for the new global economy, is seeking a finance reporter who will identify and develop her or his own obsessions around the trends affecting the financial industry globally

Journalists with at least three years of experience in business or finance reporting can apply for this position in New York.

The reporter will deliver a mix of feature reporting, scoops and fast-paced blogging on those topics, as well as covering significant day-to-day news made by finance sector companies or their leaders.

The ideal candidate should have at least three years of business/finance reporting/blogging experience, in addition to experience in digital reporting or publishing, and social media experience.

In addition, the candidate should have international experience and foreign language skills.

To apply, click here.

Gov Obi Names State University After Ojukwu

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Gov Obi Names State University After Ojukwu

The Anambra State Government has re-named the state Anambra State University after the Late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu as part of events marking the second year of his death.

Obi announced a N5 billion donation to improve standard of the university, gave a bus each to the student union governments of the two campuses at Igbariam and Uli and two security vans each to each of them.

The governor said the money, which he described as “high impact contributions” of the Anambra government and federal government, would make the institution become one of the best in the country.

Obi said the state government had awarded a N1.3 billion contract for road projects leading to the Igbariam campus of the institution and had also agreed to write off the N500 million debt owed by the institution.

He said the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, was building hostel blocks at the university at a cost of N1.5 billion, stressing that he was working hard to make federal government to assist the institution with some buildings.

Bianca, Ojukwu’s wife, commended Obi for all he had done for the family since the death of her husband and urged the Igbo people to continue to support the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, the political party the late statesman  led till his death “because there lies Igbo aspirations.”

Nasarawa House To Investigate Al-Makura’s Government

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Nasarawa House To Investigate Al-Makura’s Government

By Godwin Ojoshimite

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has set up a five – man committee to investigate alleged fraud in governor Al-Makura’s government.

The House had on resumption from recess mandated committees to embark on oversight function to various ministries and parastatals in the state.

Speaking on the floor of the Assembly on Monday, Godiya Akwashi, member representing Nasarawa Eggon West and Majority Leader informed the House that about four committees are ready with their report.

The committees, he said, are Public Account, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Capital Market, Commerce and Industry and Health.

Presenting its report, the committee on Public Account chaired by Francis Orugu said the state governor has been indulging in over budget expenditure.

He explained that an organization like the Nasarawa Investment Property Development Company, NIPDC, which was allocated N200 million as at June had spent over N400 million.

He also accused the governor of misappropriating the federal government flood relief funds of N400 million.

According to him, out of the N400 million, the state government made use of N35 million and could not account for the N365 million.

The committee also faulted the governor for the misappropriation of over N3 billion Sure-P funds approved for the state since the programme’s inception.

Orugu explained that only about 932 million naira has been put into proper use leaving the sum of over 2 billion naira unaccounted for.

Also presenting it report, the committee on Capital Market, Commerce and Industry chaired by Ibrahim Moskolo scored the administration of Governor Al-makura low in terms of budget performance.

He said the House approved N200 million for the Nasarawa Urban Development Board, NUDB but the agency has not received any money from the executive arm since the beginning of the budget year.

Also expressing his dissatisfaction on the floor of the House, the chairman committee on Finance and Appropriation, Philip Dunga, said his committee was taken for granted by the accountant general of the state and secretary to the state government.

According to him, the two government officials have refused to release financial statements of their expenditures.

He called on the House do all within its power to summon the two officials for the committee to ask them questions on their agencies.

Reacting to his complaint, the House ordered the clerk to issue a letter to the officials urging them to cooperate with the committee.

Other committees that presented their reports on the floor of the House had similar report of fraud and misappropriation of funds against the government.

At the end of deliberations, the House resolved to set up a five-man ad hoc committee to look into and review all reports submitted by its various committees.

It also mandated the committee to draw up all records of performance under the government of Al-Makura and submit its report to the House on Monday, November 11.

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