B’Haram burns down Chief of Army Staff’s home

Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Tukur Buratai

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have burnt down houses, including the family home of the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in his village in Borno State.

At least, two people were killed and eight injured during the attack on Buratai village on Tuesday, sources told our correspondent in Abuja.

It was learnt that the terrorists killed two auto mechanics and torched some houses during the attack on the community.

“What really happened was that Boko Haram went there. They killed two motorcycle mechanics and torched some houses. It is not a massive attack. It was an isolated opportunistic attack, but the Army is on top of the situation. Troops are on the ground now,” a source stated.

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Meanwhile, additional roads have been cleared of landmines by troops for use by commuters in compliance with the directive by the CAS to troops in the 3 and 7 Divisions of the Nigerian Army.

The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement that the road linking Biu-Sabon Gari to Damboa in Borno State has been cleared of landmines.

“The public are encouraged to use the road as adequate security measures have been put in place for their safety,” Usman said.

OAU workers suspend strike as Ooni intervenes

Aggrieved members of the Non-Accademic Staff Union, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have suspended a strike they embarked upon about three weeks ago.

The strike was to protest the alleged non-payment of their 64-month hazard allowance.

It was gathered that the workers suspended their strike after a meeting on Wednesday with the school management and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, as the mediator.

The workers suspended the strike following a promise by the management to pay them palliatives

When contacted, the Chairman of NASU, OAU chapter, Wole Odewunmi, confirmed the suspension of the strike. He said, “We have agreed to suspend the strike following the Ooni’s intervention. Our members will be resuming on Friday because we still need to put some things in place.”

It would be recalled that the workers embarked on a protest over their unpaid hazard allowance.

In a bid to show their grievances, they paralysed activities on the university campus by closing the library and the senate building. They also blocked the major entrances and refused to supply light and water to the campus.

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As the crisis deepened, the authorities of the university closed the school. The authorities later ordered students and the workers to resume in less than a week.

To also prevent further protests, no fewer than three Armoured Police Carriers were positioned close to the university’s gate with about 100 policemen seen at the school’s gate on Monday.

The management, through a press release by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Biodun Olarewaju, last Thursday, vowed to punish any worker who did not resume on Tuesday (today).

“These illegal activities have been reported to the appropriate security agencies. In view of the total disregard for constituted authority and the recalcitrant behavior by members of NASU, all NASU members are hereby directed to return to their duty posts on or before Tuesday, July 21, failing which appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken against erring members of the university,” the management had said.

We’re changing tactics on B’Haram –CAS

THE Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, has said that the Nigerian Air Force is developing a strategy in its fight against Boko Haram and other threats to security of lives and property in the North-East and Niger Delta regions.

Abubakar, who was on an operational visit to 97 Special Operations Group in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, as part of his tour to the units under his tactical commands, expressed the need for the Nigerian Air Force to evaluate past performances and improve on areas of necessity.

He stated that such a step would provide an effective force to tackle security challenges in both regions, adding that he was in the state capital to have a look at the officers, men and assets of the Nigerian Air Force.

“What I can assure you is that we are doing everything possible to evaluate what has been done in the past with a view to re-strategising so that we have a very effective force to deal with security challenges both in the Niger Delta and the North-East.

“We are trying to look at processes. What have we been doing in the past? What do we need to do more to be more effective? That is why this is the second unit I am visiting since I came into office.

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“I am in Port Harcourt to look at our men, look at our assets, officers and men who have been contributing so much in terms of dealing with the security challenges; to also see what assets we need to bring in more to enhance our effectiveness in dealing with these challenges,” Abubakar said.

The Chief of Air Staff, who spoke on the rot in the system, explained that there was no perfect system anywhere in the world, maintaining that evaluation was necessary to identify areas of deficiencies with a view to improving on them.

Abubakar pointed out that pilots operating in the North-East were careful in order to avoid collateral damages, adding that such a measure was in line with international laws.

He disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force was still attacking Boko Haram enclaves with caution so as not to breach international laws.

He said, “There is no system that is perfect. We can look at the system we are operating and evaluate it with a view to identifying areas of deficiencies and recognising that there are deficiencies.

“The Air Force is still attacking even this morning (Wednesday). We have been avoiding collateral damages and that is very important to us. We have been stressing on this to our pilots; we are telling our pilots to respect the international laws in regard to arms conflicts.”

British agency clears Winners Chapel of N3.4bn allegation

Bishop David Oyedepo

A British agency, Charity Commission, has absolved Winners Chapel International of complicity in the alleged misappropriation of N3.4bn charity funds.

In a report published recently, the agency said Winners Chapel International, also known as World Mission Agency, demonstrated “good financial controls” for an organisation of its size.

While maintaining that the “employment of an individual who was related to the founder” generated a potential conflict, the United Kingdom-based agency said it was satisfied with the decision of the trustees in respect of the employment.

“Our review of the charity’s financial information identified minor discrepancies. However, the trustees were able to explain and resolve these. We found no evidence that N3.4bn or any other amount had been misappropriated.

“We were satisfied the charity could demonstrate good financial controls appropriate for a large and expanding charity,” said the report.

The agency said, investigations into the church’s books were launched following complaints from an “investigative journalist.”

Among other complaints, the agency investigated “the transfer of the charity’s funds to its sister organisation in Nigeria; the conduct of the charity’s founder, a pastor based in Nigeria who was (allegedly) caught on camera slapping a woman accused of being a witch across the face in front of a congregation; allegations that church members were encouraged to recruit vulnerable people into the church so they would contribute to the charity financially.”

We’ll help Buhari, Nigerians succeed – Obama

President Mohammadu Buhari(L) with US President Barack Obama during a meeting in Washington DC on Monday
| credits: STATE HOUSE

United States’ President Barack Obama on Monday promised to do everything possible to help President Muhammadu Buhari and indeed all Nigerians succeed.
Obama made the promise while playing host to Buhari during his ongoing four-day official visit to the US.
He expressed confidence in the ability of Buhari to tackle the multiple challenges facing Nigeria.
He said his confidence in Buhari was as a result of the fact that the President came into office with reputation for integrity and a clear agenda to tackle corruption and terrorism as well as other violent crimes.

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Obama said, “It is a great pleasure to welcome President Buhari and his delegation here in the White House for his first visit since the historic election that took place.
“Nigeria is obviously one of the most important countries in the world; one of the most important countries in the African continent.

“Recently, we saw an election in which a peaceful transition to a new government took place. Nevertheless, the people of Nigeria understand that only through a peaceful political process that change can take place.
“President Buhari came into office with reputation for integrity and a very clear agenda: that is to make sure that he brings safety, security and peace to his country.
“He is very concerned about the spread and the violence that is taking place there and the atrocities and has a very clear agenda in defeating Boko Haram and extremists.
“I want to emphasise how much I appreciate President Buhari’s work so far. I have seen him put together a team, so we can do everything that we can to help him succeed and help the people of Nigeria succeed.”
Obama also promised that his country would continue to assist Nigeria in ensuring political stability in the country, Africa and the world.
Buhari commended the US for putting pressure on the past administration led by former President Goodluck Jonathan to conduct credible election.
He said the free and fair elections conducted in Nigeria would not have been possible but for the US gesture.
He said Nigeria would forever remain grateful to the US for that action.
The President said, “The visit of the Secretary of State before the elections to see the former President, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the opposition was a positive trend that saw us through the elections.
“And the maintenance of pressure by United States mainly and Europe to make sure that the elections were free, fair and credible made us to be where we are now.
“It would have been almost impossible if the United States did not maintain the pressure on the former Nigerian Government.”
Buhari was accompanied to the meeting by the governors of Nasarawa, Borno, Imo, Oyo and Edo States among others.

Popular police and EFCC informant, Alhaji Gay, murdered (graphic)

Alhaji Gay is the number one trending topic in Nigeria right now. His real name is Razak Adetunji Alaso and before today, I'd never heard of him but apparently, he's popular within 'Yahoo Yahoo' circle in Lagos. They say he was very popular for tracking 'Yahoo' boys for the police and EFCC. Some say he was an EFCC/police imposter.

He was killed yesterday at Agbado Ijaiye, in Lagos. People in the know say there have been many attempts on his life - he's been stabbed and shot before but he survived. Guess the people after him succeeded this time. Sad! May his soul rest in peace, amen. See a photo of his body after the cut *graphic photo - be warned*

Some reactions below..

Military option alone can’t win terror war – Joe Biden

US Vice President Joe Biden

United States of America’s Vice President, Joe Biden, on Monday told President Muhammadu Buhari, that Nigeria cannot achieve victory in its terror war through military option only.
He said for the war against the Boko Haram sect, that has killed thousands of people in the North Eastern part of the country to be won, Buhari must combine military option with strong socio-economic support programmes.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, quoted Biden as giving the advice during a breakfast meeting he had with Buhari, in his official residence, Naval Observatory.
The President is currently on a four-day official visit to the US.
Adesina said the meeting afforded the two leaders an opportunity to compare notes on the terror war.

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“At the meeting, which held at the Naval Observatory, official residence of the American Vice President, Biden shared with his guest what the US had learnt from the terror war, counseling that victory cannot come from military option alone.
“Military option must be combined with strong socio-economic support programmes, VP Biden said, promising that the US would work with Nigeria in that direction,” the statement read in part.
Biden was further quoted as assuring Buhari of the goodwill of the US in rebuilding the Nigerian economy.
He however said corruption and weak institutions must be tackled if Nigeria was to benefit from reforms.
He added that seasoned technocrats must manage key sectors of the Nigerian economy, and only then would investors be attracted to the country.
The American Vice-President congratulated President Buhari on his victory at the March 2015 elections, adding that it was obvious that the President enjoys the confidence of the Nigerian people.
Responding, Buhari was said to have thanked the US for standing by Nigeria in the run up to general elections early this year.
He noted that the visit of the Secretary of State, John Kerry, was critical as it sent home the message that America would not brook the subversion of the people’s will.
“On oil theft, the Nigerian President estimated losses at between $10bn and $20bn, stressing that such income could have been deployed with salutary impact on various spheres of national life like education and healthcare, among others,” the statement added.
Both America and Nigeria were said to have pledged renewed commitment to work as partners at the meeting.

Ondo workers threaten strike on Wednesday

Civil servants in Ondo State are set to begin an indefinite strike on Wednesday should the state government fails to pay all outstanding deductions made from their salaries for months.
The State Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating ‎Council, Comrade Sunday Adeleye‎, stated this while speaking to journalists on Monday, in Akure, the state capital.
Adeleye said the industrial action would go ahead as the workers had last week issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government, which expires on Tuesday.
He said unless the government responds to the workers’ request by Tuesday, the strike would begin on Wednesday.
He added, “We have been meeting with the representatives of the state government since ‎last week after issuing a statement of a seven-day ultimatum and it(meeting) was all deadlock.
“But if by Tuesday, the state government fails to yield to our demand, the union will have no other option than to call a congress by Wednesday and a total strike action be declared.”

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The labour leader lamented that the cooperative societies for workers had died a natural death due to non-release of workers deductions to the societies, saying these were additional means the workers used to survive.
Adeleye had earlier noted in a statement that‎ non-payment of all deductions from the salary of the workers’ showed government’s insensitivity to the plight of civil servants in the state.

MUSIC: Tha Suspect ft M.I – Lokal GovaMent @dasuspekt

Tha Suspect recruits M.I Abaga for this conscious Afrobeat tune.

“Lokal GovaMent” is a Brand new single off the soon to be released eP “Public Nuisance” and features the new C.E.O of the Choc City music group. “Lokal GovaMent” praises the effort of the average Nigerian/Africans who provide them

    DOWNLOAD

Two Female UNIBEN Students Hit By An Army Vehicle, One Confirmed Dead (Photo)

Two Female students of the University of Benin,,Ugbowo Campus were hit by an oncoming vehicle at 10:15Am sunday morning,,19th July 2015.
It was gathered that the two girls were hit by an Army Vehicle with the inscription “Thunder Storm Patrol 28″ while they were crossing the Lagos/Benin Expressway which is just in front of the school gate.
They were both coming out of their off-campus hostels Located at BDPA Beside Odaro Plaza.
After the hit,,one of the girls was found lying on the road while the girl who was hit first was found in the bush close to the Road side and they were both rushed to the hospital.
An I.D Card found in one of the girl’s Bag indicated she was a 200 level student of philosophy while the details of the other cannot be confirmed yet.
As at the time of filing this report,,it was gathered that the 200 level philosophy student named Halim Rita Awele was dead while the other girl is in critical conditions. She is currently suffering from internal Bleeding.
Different reactions have rolled in on the danger of that express road just in front of the school. Separating an off-campus from the school gate.
Here is what the ex-secretary general of the SUG,,precious erhiabo had to say about the situation.
“It hurts
The solution is this, we take up diggers and shovel to that road tomorrow, no one will tell the government to take over and either construct a flyover or make speed break.
The SUG can take this up tomorrow being a public holiday. We all should be there because volunteers are needed too.
Rest in peace to one of ours, it could have been you or me.”

Bad Guy!!! See What a Fan Did TTo Maheeda In Public (see photo)

Maheeda posted this picture on her instagram page  with the "caption"

“Some fans self .. When they ask for a picture with me.. This is the result.  you will do same!”. -

hahaha tell me what kinda guy would have an opportunity of taking a picture with "Maheeda" and won't take advantage of it? well as for me i would do more than this lol!

Community shuts Shell’s oil field, demands power supply

Koroama community, host to Shell Petroleum Development Company’s Gbarain-Ubie Integrated Gas Plant in Bayelsa State, has shut operations at the gas field.
The community carried out the action as a protest to demand power supply from the power plant component of the facility for its people.
Scores of youths, women, and elders of the community blocked the access road to the facility and suspended ongoing work at the gas plant in the community.
Paramount Ruler of Koroama, in Yenagoa, Local Government Area, Chief Sabu Martins, who addressed the aggrieved members of his community, urged them to remain resolute until their objectives were realised.
The monarch lamented that the community endowed with oil and gas suffered the adverse impact of gas flares and deserved supply of electricity generated with gas from the area to ameliorate their sufferings.
He noted that that the protest had been ongoing for the past three weeks and resulted in forcing contractors to vacate the community until the oil firm gave a commitment to provide electricity to the them.

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Martins said, “Today, my people and I are protesting to SPDC and to the Federal Government. Koroama is a host community and has the largest proved gas and oil reserve in the entire Shell operations in this area.
“We have agreed that we could die here if light, the only demand we make is not given to us. Then Shell will never operate on our land, we have given them time to remove their things, we want the government to intervene.”
Also addressing the protesting members of Koroama community, Miss Ankio Briggs, a community rights activist, noted that the demands of the people who host the gas plant was modest.
Briggs said, “What I have heard them say today is not different from what has been said for a very long time, what they are demanding is in line with what Adaka Boro demanded.
“This story about host communities who I call the owners of the resources, it is about self determination, it is about corporate social responsibility, the demand is just and right.
“I call on the Government of Bayelsa, Federal Government and Shell to look into the demand, although it is not the duty of Shell to provide electricity to Nigerians but it is a social and moral obligation to their hosts.”
Spokesman for Shell, Joseph Obari, in a reaction, said that the oil firm had difficulties meeting the demands of electricity to its gas plant host communities due to limited capacity.
He said, “The Bayelsa State Government is leading discussions with Koroama community to end the blockade of SPDC project sites in the area.
“The community commenced the blockade about three weeks ago to press their demand for free and uninterrupted power supply to the community from SPDC’s gas plant in the area.
“The Gbaran-Ubie Integrated Oil and Gas Plant supplies back-up power to two neighbouring communities under an agreement entered into with host communities in 2006, during the project conception stage.
“Due to limitation imposed by the power capacity of the plant, it has been unable to accommodate other communities’ requests to tie into the power system.”
Obari added that SPDC had progressively fulfilled agreed sustainable community development projects in the community under the Global Memorandum of Understanding.
For example, he said in 2014 alone, projects worth over N100m were completed in the Gbarain/Ekpetiama cluster which covers Koroama.

My political destiny not tied to Jonathan – Close friend

Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s close friend, Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, has revealed that his political destiny is not tied to the former President.
Recently, Ikiogha, reputed to be one of the long standing allies of Jonathan, formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State.
Ikiogha had at an elaborate ceremony held at Community Secondary School, Kpansia open field, Yenagoa, with many PDP faithful, embraced the ‘broom party’.
Ikiogha, a former Bayelsa State Chief of Staff, was believed to be one of the brains behind the emergence of Seriake Dickson as governor in 2012.
But indications of frosty relationship between Dickson and Ikiogha emerged when Dickson removed him in controversial circumstances as Chief of Staff, Government House, Yenagoa and redeployed him to Abuja liaison office.
The current APC chief, in an interview on Saturday, said notwithstanding his friendship with Jonathan, he had decided to jump into the ship of the APC to chart a new political course for himself.

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When asked why he left the PDP for another party when the former president was still in the party, Ikiogha said, “Maybe people are getting it wrong or they are looking at it from a different point of view. Well, I do not have anything with former President Jonathan.
“Our relationship (Jonathan and I) remains very cordial and I feel that my political destiny is not tied to anybody. It is not tied to friendship, it is not tied to even my wife or my mother or my father. You see, yes, here is a man that we started together, we have been able to raise him to the level of the President and he has finished what he needed to do and has come back home. Must I not chart my political course?
“I need to chart a course to do the right thing to do. If because of him, I was in the PDP and because of him I could not move because he was the President and I needed to give him the support as a friend until he is no longer there, must I continue to be blind to say even if he is no longer there I should remain?
“The point is that I have seen a better association, a place that I feel that I can belong to exercise my political opinions and make my suggestions for the betterment of the country. I feel that the platform of APC is better for me and if I have not been able to take that decision years ago because of him, now that he is no longer there, what stops me? Nothing, because I cannot continue to tie my destiny to Jonathan. My political destiny is different from every other person.”
He said he left the PDP because the party was full of deceits and betrayals as well as lack of internal democracy.
On the forthcoming governorship election in the state, the APC leader, who is one of the top aspirants, said the APC would trounce the PDP, irrespective of whether the PDP fields Dickson.
He stated, “Well, my prayer is that there should be free and fair elections, campaign and everything, but I know that even though PDP has been on the ground for 16 years, APC is sure to win the governorship election. How we would go about it, I may not be able to tell you but all what I know is that APC will capture the day.
“But it also depend on who the APC is presenting. The PDP depends also on who they present. But I am sure that if APC presents a good candidate, it will win by a landslide whether the PDP presents incumbent Governor, Seriake Dickson.

US wants Nigeria to diversify economy – Adefuye

 
The Nigeria’s Ambassador and Head of Mission in the United States of America, Prof. Ade Adefuye, on Sunday evening listed some of the changes the US authorities expect to see in Nigeria henceforth.
Adefuye spoke with journalists at the Embassy of Nigeria Building in Washington DC shortly before the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari is currently on a four-day official visit to the country.
The ambassador listed one of the priority areas to include Nigeria’s shift of emphasis from oil to non-oil export.
“America will want to see a shift of the emphasis from oil to non oil export, agriculture, power, infrastructure and solid materials and all the things that will help Nigeria to diversify,” he said.
Adefuye added that US would also want to see a world where there would be consultations than confrontations.
He said since that was also the objective of Nigeria, the two countries had to complement each other.
He expressed the optimism that Buhari’s visit would bring about an improvement in the quality of relations between Nigeria and the US.

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The envoy believed that the visit would also strengthen relationship between Nigeria and America and a renewed commitment to protection of Nigeria’s territorial integrity in terms of stopping the offensive of Boko Haram.
Adefuye added that the commitment of Nigeria to the development of the democratic process, rule of law and good governance was also important to the US.

Ignore Obama on gay issues, Group urges Buhari

Project for Human Development, a Civil Society Organisation, on Sunday urged President Mohammadu Buhari not to listen to the US government on issues of gay rights, so as to protect the laws and values of Nigeria.

The call was made at a rally in Lagos, against the backdrop of Buhari’s visit to the US on Monday.

The theme of the rally was, “Gay Marriage: Obama, Please Leave Nigeria Alone.”

Buhari will on Monday, July 20, be at Washington DC on a four-day official visit, during which he will hold talks with President Barack Obama and other senior officials of the United States government.

Director-General of PHD, Mr. Jerry Okwuosa, said the rally was to hint Buhari on the fears by Nigerians that Obama might ask him to decriminalise “the Same Sex Prohibition Law of Nigeria.”

According to him, this is a way for the US to promote gay rights, which is a part of America foreign policy.

”The US is now the major exporter of gay rights in the world. It has recently pressurised Uganda for a reverse of its anti-gay law.

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”Under the influence of the US, Mozambique has recently decriminalised its anti-gay law. At the moment, US is putting pressure on Kenya to legalise gay Marriage.

”President Obama is meeting with President Buhari tomorrow to discuss issues which include security, economy, Ebola and gay marriage legalisation in Nigeria.

”Fear is being entertained that Obama might trade off US assistance to President Buhari’s government with shooting down Goodluck Jonathan’s anti-gay law.

”We are, however, urging President Buhari to reject such a trade-off,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr. Sonnie Ekwowusi, a director of PHD, noted that the only way to avoid chaos in any society was for the legislature to make laws in accordance with the values and aspirations of the people.

According to him, homosexuality is not Nigeria culture; it is a taboo or abomination.

”Homosexuality is not our culture. Every society has its own values and should grow with those values. Nigeria has her own values and we must stick to our values and tradition.

”Laws are made in consonant with the values of the people. Every country is interested in protecting what it holds dear.

”Our view is that homosexuality is an acquired habit that ought to be eradicated and not be transformed into an acceptable human conduct by law (in Nigeria).

”Our recommendation with regard to same sex marriage is absolute prohibition,” Ekwowusi said.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, stated that America would continue to pressurise Nigeria until it legalises same sex marriage.

She made this known on Monday July 13 during a live-web chat with journalists in Washington.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the peaceful rally featured placards with inscriptions such as- ‘Obama, Please leave Nigeria Alone;’ ‘Gay Marriage should Remain Illegal in Nigeria;’ ‘Obama is Not God;’ ‘Gay Marriage, Buhari Don’t Listen to Obama.’

NAN also reports that the protesters, numbering about 50, and including lawyers and youth leaders of both sexes, paraded from the Tafawa Balewa Square, through Lagos City Hall, to the MUSON Centre.