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09/05/20
Belarus: Large crowds expected in protests against Lukashenko
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An opposition activist says she was forced to leave the country as dozens of protesters are detained.
An opposition activist says she was forced to leave the country as dozens of protesters are detained.
Time To Move On - A Brief Note To Jonathan Supporters By Inibehe Effiong
Dear supporters of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, if you truly want to fight for a better Nigeria, fight for a better Nigeria on principle, not based on interest; do so dispassionately, not selectively.
If you hate corruption, injustice and bad governance, it should not matter who is in power. It should not matter which region or religion a leader or politician comes from. It should not matter the political party that is in power.
You are an accomplice if you only speak out when it is convenient for you, but remain silent when your favourite politician is in government.
Some of us have been consistent in our criticisms. Some of us have been consistent in resisting tyranny irrespective of who is in power.
People from my home State, Akwa Ibom, who hated me for constantly deprecating the evils of the Godswill Akpabio regime are now pretending to be his adversaries.
Some of them wished me death in the past because of my opposition to Akpabio, but they started singing a different tune the moment Akpabio left the PDP for the APC. The people who defended Akpabio's tyranny are now defending governor Udom Emmanuel's tyranny.
There is nothing that I criticized Akpabio for while he was a governor that Udom Emmanuel has replicated and I have not spoken out against. I do not care who the governor is. What I care about is what a governor does.
There is nothing that Jonathan did while in office that I criticized him for, that has taken place under General Buhari and I kept mute. The same way that I opposed Jonathan's misrule is the same way that I am opposing Buhari's misrule.
Those of you that are debating whose misrule is better or worse are just dissipating energy on frivolity. There is nothing like 'a better bad president'. If we are ever going to change this country, we have to stop expressing preferences for certain categories of bad leaders.
Mr. Jonathan, whose defeat you are still bitter about, is closer to Buhari today than most Buhari supporters. They have a common interest. Jonathan has moved on with his life but you are still bitter about 2015. You are taking sides against your fellow citizens in the name of partisanship.
Those of you who are still obsessed with Jonathan's defeat should remember that history is a judge. Most of you that are attacking people over their political views in 2015 were the most vociferous defenders of impunity, corruption and injustice under Jonathan.
Many of you are still fervently rooting for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. How can you hate your regular citizens over their political decisions and views in 2015 and at the same time be defending the same Atiku whose money, influence and support along with Saraki, Amaechi, Kwankwaso, Tinubu and others propelled Buhari to power?
People like Reno Omokri should not insult our intelligence by pretending to be activists or advocates for good governance. We know that if your favourite politicians were in control today of the federal government today, you will be doing exactly what Buhari supporters are doing, just like you did under Jonathan.
The very fact that you are unwilling to admit the flaws of Jonathan's government which largely caused his defeat says a lot about your sense of patriotism, character and false outrage.
In any event, how many of you are willing to support a fresh presidential candidate who is not part of the rotten political establishment in 2023?
You cannot be recycling thieves and expect some of us to take you seriously simply because your preferred thief steals less than another thief. If we truly want to change Nigeria, we must stop supporting people who have been part of the destruction of this country in the past.
2023 is far away, but many of you are already projecting the same corrupt and recycled politicians for the next round of presidential election. That is not how to change a country.
For some of us, PDP is APC and APC is PDP. If we are going to move Nigeria forward, we must look beyond these evil twin.
We have a collective responsibility to confront the forces of darkness that have overwhelmed our country.
The Buhari regime has declared war on the suffering masses. Buhari has imposed economic sanctions on Nigerians by implementing unconscionable austerity measures and policies at a time that responsible nation's are introducing palliatives and social intervention programmes to cushion the harsh effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
We cannot effectively hold this oppressive, corrupt and incompetent regime accountable if citizens do not unite. Jonathan has since moved on, Atiku has ostensibly moved on after 2019 elections. It is time for you to move on.
It is time to fight for a better Nigeria.
inibehe.effiong@gmail.com
Twitter: @InibeheEffiong
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Lake Travis: Several boats sink at pro-Trump parade in Texas
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Reports say people had to be rescued from the water, but no-one has been injured.
Reports say people had to be rescued from the water, but no-one has been injured.
Daniel Prude: Grand jury to investigate 'spit hood' death
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The jury will decide whether to bring charges against officers who used a hood to restrain Daniel Prude.
The jury will decide whether to bring charges against officers who used a hood to restrain Daniel Prude.
EXCLUSIVE: Event Planners, Others Flown In From Dubai For Lavish Wedding Of President Buhari's Daughter, Hanan
The wedding ceremony between President Muhammadu Buhari's daughter, Hanan, and her groom, Mohammed Turad, on Friday had all the trappings of a fairytale nuptials.
Apart from the opulence on display, SaharaRepoters reliably gathered that event planners for the wedding were flown in from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to add colour and spice to the ceremony.
Recall that in August, SaharaRepoters had revealed how First Lady and mother of the bride, Mrs Aisha Buhari, flew to Dubai in a private jet owned by billionaire Mohammed Indimi under the guise of a medical emergency to shop for luxury items ahead of Friday's wedding.
It was reliably scooped on Saturday that most of the items including souvenirs used for the occasion were brought in from the Arabian country.
The wedding, which had security personnel prohibiting guests from taking photographs, saw the event planners and other vendors flown in from Dubai pocketing huge amounts in United States dollars for their services apart from the cost of bringing them into the country.
Apart from being against the President Buhari administration's drive to promote local content, the importation of the vendors from Dubai also flouted the ban in non-essential travels in and out of Nigeria at this time.
Government banned international flights from coming into and leaving the country in March in order to curb the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
The elaborate ceremony comes a few days after the administration of President Buhari increased the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit widely known as petrol from N145 to N161, causing many households untold crisis following the attendant effect on the prices of basic commodities including food items.
In a video of the lavish ceremony dubbed 'The First Wedding' for being the first of its kind to hold inside Aso Villa, Nigeria's seat of power, and seen by SaharaReporters, guests numbering about 10 sat close to each other on a table, breaching the Coronavirus safety protocols of government in the process.
Earlier on Wednesday, SaharaRepoters revealed how some guests for the wedding were declining the invitation over fear of contracting Coronavirus especially after it emerged that President Buhari’s closest aide and Senior Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Sarki Abba, had recently recovered from the virus.
Abba, who has since resumed duties after recovering from the virus, was considered still unsafe to mingle with others inside the Presidential Villa by some persons including the First Lady.
In order not to expose her family and guests at the wedding, Mrs Buhari vowed not to allow Abba attend the wedding as a result of this situation.
She also opposed the idea of Mamman Daura, a nephew and close confidant of Buhari, attending the event despite the President's insistence that he be a part of the occasion.
This situation sent panic among some guests, who chose not to attend the ceremony and risk their health.
But despite the absence of some prominent Nigerians at the occasion, Friday's wedding between Hanan and Turad had all the glitz and spark synonymous with such calibre of events.
Turad is the son of an ex-lawmaker from Kaduna State, while Hanan, one of Buhari's daughter's, is a graduate of Photography from Ravensbourne University in England, who in July 2019 ordered the Department of State Services to arrest a young businessman based in Delta State, Athony Okolie, after he was issued a mobile number by telecommunications company MTN previously used and abandoned by her.
Okolie spent 10 weeks in unlawful detention before he was finally released by the secret police. See Also 
Earlier in January, Hanan was again in the news after she attended an event to photograph a Durbar by Rilwanu Adamu, Emir of Bauchi, in one of the jets in the presidential fleet.
The move was condemned by Nigerians but the Presidency defended the action by saying that it was a normal procedure.
Scandal Exclusive News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :
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EXCLUSIVE: Event Planners, Others Flown In From Dubai For Lavish Wedding Of President Buhari's Daughter, Hanan
The wedding ceremony between President Muhammadu Buhari's daughter, Hanan, and her groom, Mohammed Turad, on Friday had all the trappings of a fairytale nuptials.
Apart from the opulence on display, SaharaRepoters reliably gathered that event planners for the wedding were flown in from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to add colour and spice to the ceremony.
Recall that in August, SaharaRepoters had revealed how First Lady and mother of the bride, Mrs Aisha Buhari, flew to Dubai in a private jet owned by billionaire Mohammed Indimi under the guise of a medical emergency to shop for luxury items ahead of Friday's wedding.
It was reliably scooped on Saturday that most of the items including souvenirs used for the occasion were brought in from the Arabian country.
The wedding, which had security personnel prohibiting guests from taking photographs, saw the event planners and other vendors flown in from Dubai pocketing huge amounts in United States dollars for their services apart from the cost of bringing them into the country.
Apart from being against the President Buhari administration's drive to promote local content, the importation of the vendors from Dubai also flouted the ban in non-essential travels in and out of Nigeria at this time.
Government banned international flights from coming into and leaving the country in March in order to curb the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
The elaborate ceremony comes a few days after the administration of President Buhari increased the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit widely known as petrol from N145 to N161, causing many households untold crisis following the attendant effect on the prices of basic commodities including food items.
In a video of the lavish ceremony dubbed 'The First Wedding' for being the first of its kind to hold inside Aso Villa, Nigeria's seat of power, and seen by SaharaReporters, guests numbering about 10 sat close to each other on a table, breaching the Coronavirus safety protocols of government in the process.
Earlier on Wednesday, SaharaRepoters revealed how some guests for the wedding were declining the invitation over fear of contracting Coronavirus especially after it emerged that President Buhari’s closest aide and Senior Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Sarki Abba, had recently recovered from the virus.
Abba, who has since resumed duties after recovering from the virus, was considered still unsafe to mingle with others inside the Presidential Villa by some persons including the First Lady.
In order not to expose her family and guests at the wedding, Mrs Buhari vowed not to allow Abba attend the wedding as a result of this situation.
She also opposed the idea of Mamman Daura, a nephew and close confidant of Buhari, attending the event despite the President's insistence that he be a part of the occasion.
This situation sent panic among some guests, who chose not to attend the ceremony and risk their health.
But despite the absence of some prominent Nigerians at the occasion, Friday's wedding between Hanan and Turad had all the glitz and spark synonymous with such calibre of events.
Turad is the son of an ex-lawmaker from Kaduna State, while Hanan, one of Buhari's daughter's, is a graduate of Photography from Ravensbourne University in England, who in July 2019 ordered the Department of State Services to arrest a young businessman based in Delta State, Athony Okolie, after he was issued a mobile number by telecommunications company MTN previously used and abandoned by her.
Okolie spent 10 weeks in unlawful detention before he was finally released by the secret police. See Also 
Human Rights Thoughts Of Suicide Is Only Thing On My Mind –Okolie, Man Unlawfully Detained By DSS For Using SIM Card Previously Owned By President Buhari’s Daughter 0 Comments 7 Months Ago
Earlier in January, Hanan was again in the news after she attended an event to photograph a Durbar by Rilwanu Adamu, Emir of Bauchi, in one of the jets in the presidential fleet.
The move was condemned by Nigerians but the Presidency defended the action by saying that it was a normal procedure.
Scandal Exclusive News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :
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I Didn’t Betray Nigeria In P&ID Case, Says Ex-Lagos Attorney-General, Shasore
A former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Mr Olasupo Shasore (SAN), who represented Nigeria at the inception of the case against Process and Industrial Developments, a British Virgin Island engineering firm, has said he defended the country to the best of his ability in the matter.
SaharaReporters had exposed how Shasore was allegedly paid a bribe to compromise the case in favour of P&ID.
According to documents at the disposal of SaharaReporters, Shasore, during the course of the EFCC’s investigations, was earlier paid $2m by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for his involvement in the first and second stages of the arbitration.
To achieve this target, he concealed his involvement in the case from his own firm, Ajumogobia & Okeke, but conducted the proceedings covertly through a separate firm, Twenty Marina, which had no background in litigation and was used to provide secretarial services.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, it was discovered, made payments of $100,000 each to Mrs Adelore and Mr Oguine, who were senior lawyers for the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC at the time.
The Nigerian Government also presented evidence that he did not give his best to defend the country’s interest but rather kept pushing for settlement, suggesting that he was compromised.
Reacting on Saturday, Shashore said he was not involved when the huge sum of damages was awarded against Nigeria.
He said, “I was instructed in this matter and accepted the instructions on behalf of my firm and to the knowledge of my partners in late 2012 and I made every effort to defend and vindicate my client at every stage with very few tools and with minimal support from within the government itself. I represented Nigeria up until the liability stage in the arbitration. I did not represent Nigeria in the damages stage of the arbitration. Which means I was not involved when the huge sum of damages was awarded against Nigeria. The complete records will show the series of steps that I took to defend Nigeria and the several results, which I secured in that effort at various stages.
“None of these is consistent with the unfounded allegations that I failed to present the best available defense. With very little or no cooperation from relevant government officials at the time, I filed a jurisdiction objection that potentially could and should indeed have terminated the case in favour of Nigeria because it was clear to us from the beginning that the contract was a scheme against Nigeria. When the then Nigerian officials failed to supply documents or any witness to defend their case, I fought liability by enlisting the support of the legal adviser of NNPC who gave evidence to the best of his knowledge when everyone else with knowledge, refused to do so.
“I instructed the UK firm of Stephenson Harwood, a respected international arbitration team, and a leading barrister to attempt to set aside the award on liability in England. It is on record that I fought hard for the tribunal to dispense with that evidence. I am happy that the falsity of that testimony has now been recorded in the High Court in England.
“Much issue has been made about the legal fees paid. This was payment to two law firms and not exceptional or unusual in the context of such a dispute. In fact, in order to extract the best possible case for Nigeria, it was from these fees that expenses were paid to ensure attendance at hearings and meetings in the UK by witnesses for Nigeria.”
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I Didn’t Betray Nigeria In P&ID Case, Says Ex-Lagos Attorney-General, Shasore
A former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Mr Olasupo Shasore (SAN), who represented Nigeria at the inception of the case against Process and Industrial Developments, a British Virgin Island engineering firm, has said he defended the country to the best of his ability in the matter.
SaharaReporters had exposed how Shasore was allegedly paid a bribe to compromise the case in favour of P&ID.
According to documents at the disposal of SaharaReporters, Shasore, during the course of the EFCC’s investigations, was earlier paid $2m by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for his involvement in the first and second stages of the arbitration.
To achieve this target, he concealed his involvement in the case from his own firm, Ajumogobia & Okeke, but conducted the proceedings covertly through a separate firm, Twenty Marina, which had no background in litigation and was used to provide secretarial services.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, it was discovered, made payments of $100,000 each to Mrs Adelore and Mr Oguine, who were senior lawyers for the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC at the time.
The Nigerian Government also presented evidence that he did not give his best to defend the country’s interest but rather kept pushing for settlement, suggesting that he was compromised.
Reacting on Saturday, Shashore said he was not involved when the huge sum of damages was awarded against Nigeria.
He said, “I was instructed in this matter and accepted the instructions on behalf of my firm and to the knowledge of my partners in late 2012 and I made every effort to defend and vindicate my client at every stage with very few tools and with minimal support from within the government itself. I represented Nigeria up until the liability stage in the arbitration. I did not represent Nigeria in the damages stage of the arbitration. Which means I was not involved when the huge sum of damages was awarded against Nigeria. The complete records will show the series of steps that I took to defend Nigeria and the several results, which I secured in that effort at various stages.
“None of these is consistent with the unfounded allegations that I failed to present the best available defense. With very little or no cooperation from relevant government officials at the time, I filed a jurisdiction objection that potentially could and should indeed have terminated the case in favour of Nigeria because it was clear to us from the beginning that the contract was a scheme against Nigeria. When the then Nigerian officials failed to supply documents or any witness to defend their case, I fought liability by enlisting the support of the legal adviser of NNPC who gave evidence to the best of his knowledge when everyone else with knowledge, refused to do so.
“I instructed the UK firm of Stephenson Harwood, a respected international arbitration team, and a leading barrister to attempt to set aside the award on liability in England. It is on record that I fought hard for the tribunal to dispense with that evidence. I am happy that the falsity of that testimony has now been recorded in the High Court in England.
“Much issue has been made about the legal fees paid. This was payment to two law firms and not exceptional or unusual in the context of such a dispute. In fact, in order to extract the best possible case for Nigeria, it was from these fees that expenses were paid to ensure attendance at hearings and meetings in the UK by witnesses for Nigeria.”
https://ift.tt/2DVdDyb
Boko Haram Terrorists Planning To Attack Abuja, Kogi, Nasarawa --Nigerian Government
The Nigerian Government has revealed that Boko Haram terrorists were already in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and neighbouring states.
The government said the terrorists were planning to attack some selected targets within the nation’s capital and had already set up five camps in the area.
According to an internal memo dated August 20, 2020 and signed by the Comptroller, Enforcement of Customs headquarters, H.A Sabo, all officers must be vigilant and security conscious.
The document reads, “Information reaching the Comptroller-General of Customs reveals the existence of Boko Haram terrorists camps in and around the Federal Capital Territory. Further reports have it that they are planning to attacks some selected targets within the territory.
“They are reported to have set up their camps in the following identified enclaves; Kunyam bush along airport road off DIA staff quarters - Abuja, Robochi/Gwagwalada forest, Kwaku Forest Kuje - Abuja, Unaisha Forest in Toto Local Government of Nasarawa State, Gegu Close To Idu Town in Kogi.
“Consequently, you are to be at alert and security conscious of your environment at all times. Ensure wide circulation please.”
The first major terror attack in the FCT was on October 1, 2010, months after ex-Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, assumed office following the death of Umar Musa Yar'adua.
Boko Haram News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2wobNC3
Boko Haram Terrorists Planning To Attack Abuja, Kogi, Nasarawa --Nigerian Government
The Nigerian Government has revealed that Boko Haram terrorists were already in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and neighbouring states.
The government said the terrorists were planning to attack some selected targets within the nation’s capital and had already set up five camps in the area.
According to an internal memo dated August 20, 2020 and signed by the Comptroller, Enforcement of Customs headquarters, H.A Sabo, all officers must be vigilant and security conscious.
The document reads, “Information reaching the Comptroller-General of Customs reveals the existence of Boko Haram terrorists camps in and around the Federal Capital Territory. Further reports have it that they are planning to attacks some selected targets within the territory.
“They are reported to have set up their camps in the following identified enclaves; Kunyam bush along airport road off DIA staff quarters - Abuja, Robochi/Gwagwalada forest, Kwaku Forest Kuje - Abuja, Unaisha Forest in Toto Local Government of Nasarawa State, Gegu Close To Idu Town in Kogi.
“Consequently, you are to be at alert and security conscious of your environment at all times. Ensure wide circulation please.”
The first major terror attack in the FCT was on October 1, 2010, months after ex-Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, assumed office following the death of Umar Musa Yar'adua.
Boko Haram News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2wobNC3
We Need Money From Petroleum Ministry To Finance Ondo Election And You Must Deliver, Akeredolu Tells Sylva
Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has said that the All Progressives Congress needs fund from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to fund the upcoming governorship election in the state.
Akeredolu made this known in Akure on Saturday during a rally for his re-election campaign at the Akure Township Stadium.
He said, “I welcome all ministers, my friend Sylva is here, we need money. He is the Minister of Petroleum Resources and he must deliver.”
Meanwhile, a national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, earlier inaugurated Ondo Revenue House located along Igbatoro Road, Akure.
While inaugurating the project, Tinubu said he deliberately avoided some APC leaders prior to the July 20 governorship primary in the state.
He said, “It is against this context that my actions regarding Ondo must be weighed. The governor had shown that he wanted genuine reconciliation among party members in the state.
“As part of this trust-building process, the governor was asked to extend a hand of fellowship to those who felt aggrieved and to embrace all the leaders within the state chapter of the party so that our progressive front would again be solid and strong.”
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We Need Money From Petroleum Ministry To Finance Ondo Election And You Must Deliver, Akeredolu Tells Sylva
Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has said that the All Progressives Congress needs fund from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to fund the upcoming governorship election in the state.
Akeredolu made this known in Akure on Saturday during a rally for his re-election campaign at the Akure Township Stadium.
He said, “I welcome all ministers, my friend Sylva is here, we need money. He is the Minister of Petroleum Resources and he must deliver.”
Meanwhile, a national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, earlier inaugurated Ondo Revenue House located along Igbatoro Road, Akure.
While inaugurating the project, Tinubu said he deliberately avoided some APC leaders prior to the July 20 governorship primary in the state.
He said, “It is against this context that my actions regarding Ondo must be weighed. The governor had shown that he wanted genuine reconciliation among party members in the state.
“As part of this trust-building process, the governor was asked to extend a hand of fellowship to those who felt aggrieved and to embrace all the leaders within the state chapter of the party so that our progressive front would again be solid and strong.”
https://ift.tt/3jQxyxX
We Need Money From Petroleum Ministry To Finance Ondo Election And You Must Deliver, Akeredolu Tells Sylva
Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has said that the All Progressives Congress needs fund from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to fund the upcoming governorship election in the state.
Akeredolu made this known in Akure on Saturday during a rally for his re-election campaign at the Akure Township Stadium.
He said, “I welcome all ministers, my friend Sylva is here, we need money. He is the Minister of Petroleum Resources and he must deliver.”
Meanwhile, a national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, earlier inaugurated Ondo Revenue House located along Igbatoro Road, Akure.
While inaugurating the project, Tinubu said he deliberately avoided some APC leaders prior to the July 20 governorship primary in the state.
He said, “It is against this context that my actions regarding Ondo must be weighed. The governor had shown that he wanted genuine reconciliation among party members in the state.
“As part of this trust-building process, the governor was asked to extend a hand of fellowship to those who felt aggrieved and to embrace all the leaders within the state chapter of the party so that our progressive front would again be solid and strong.”
https://ift.tt/3jQxyxX
CAMA (Companies Allied Matters Act) 2020, A Fulani Agenda By Bishop Steven Ogedengbe
As controversy continues to rage over the amended Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA 2020), some notable Nigerians, mainly Christian clerics, have implied that the new law is surreptitious agenda, which is meant to foist a Northern ethnic dominance on the populace.
Prominent among those who hold the view that CAMA may have been clandestinely promoted by the Fulani hegemony is the General Overseer/ President of Evangelical Ministries (Wisdom Chapel) Bishop Steven Ogedengbe.
Bishop Steven Ogedengbe said “I agree totally with the thinking that CAMA 2020 is a Fulani agenda against Christians. Yes, because Islamic systems are few, in fact, absolutely few in the North, the government superintend most of the Islamic centres; they send them to Mecca, to pilgrimage and most of them do not run what we call missionary institutions”.
Remember that the Missionary institutions are the ones that brought about what we call the religious centres and all Christian schools. And that is exactly what most of the religious centres are still doing today from primary to tertiary.
“Now, they want to come through the backdoor and deviously take over these institutions. It is a robbery that is coming up. How many Islamic systems have a university or high school that operates fully Islamic school? “The church helps to lift the academic standard and development of a nation. And that is exactly what the agenda is against, they are using the government to fight for its achievement, it won’t work by God’s Grace”, he prayed.
CAMA is RUGA in disguise. He further recommended that the Federal government ought to face important issues bordering on the Christian killings in Kaduna state and other parts of the country; and quickly restore Christian Communities that has been totally destroyed, displaced and devastated with the Fulani herdsmen and militia moving about with their Cattles and Illegal firearms unchallenged by the government, he wonders if the government prioritizes its responsibility of securing lives and properties of the citizens of Nigeria.
Opinion AddThis : Original Author : Bishop Steven Ogedengbe Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/3594gGF
Beirut blast: Victims remembered in one month anniversary vigil
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It is one month since a port explosion caused devastation in Lebanon's capital city.
It is one month since a port explosion caused devastation in Lebanon's capital city.
Niger mass graves: Army accused of executing over 70 civilians
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Niger's human rights commission has said the killings happened during counterinsurgency operations.
Niger's human rights commission has said the killings happened during counterinsurgency operations.
Coronavirus: Arrests at Australia anti-lockdown protests
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In Melbourne, the centre of the outbreak, 300 people marched in defiance of tough restrictions.
In Melbourne, the centre of the outbreak, 300 people marched in defiance of tough restrictions.
Typhoon Maysak: North Korea vows to punish officials over 'casualties'
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The ruling party says local officials are responsible for "dozens of casualties" in Typhoon Maysak,
The ruling party says local officials are responsible for "dozens of casualties" in Typhoon Maysak,
President Of CBT Centre Operators Accuses Prof. Oloyede Of Exploitation, Frustrating Private Sector As JAMB Bans CBT Centres Over Fraud Allegation
President of the Computer-Based Test Centres Proprietors Association in Nigeria, Maxwell Akwuruoha, has alleged that the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board has an intention to undermine CBT operators to build its mega centres across the country.
Speaking to SaharaReporters on the delisting of 22 CBT centres by the examination board, Akwuruoha said the JAMB registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, decided to blame test centre owners for an intentional glitch created by the developer of the CBT web application, Sidmach Technologies.
Oloyede had in a Zoom meeting on August 27, proscribed 22 CBT centres, vowing that they would never operate as long as he remained the Registrar of JAMB.
Some of the CBT operators said the old version was not disabled and the updated version was incompatible with the operating systems installed on the computers in their centres.
The trouble arose from an overcharge of the candidates by the centres.
If candidates want to make any corrections on their JAMB profile, a payment of N2,671 must be made to the Treasury Single Account through Remita. After that, the candidates are given a one-time password which is used to log-in to the board’s portal to effect the change.
The Use of an OTP was introduced by JAMB during the COVID-19 lockdown to stop students from bombarding the CBT centres to use the biometric process.
The delisted centres were accused of bypassing the use of this password and charging the students as much as N5,000 for a process which they were licensed to charge N200 only.
Akwuruoha and other CBT operators, however, told SaharaReporters that Sidmach made two software updates available simultaneously with a new version that required OTP and an older version that did not.
Akwuruoha said rather than address why Sidmach would create a backdoor that made it possible for the candidates to access their profile without OTP, the CBT operators were outlawed for trying to help desperate youth striving not to miss the screening deadline for their preferred universities.
“The registrar is too ambitious to destroy the private sector that has made their CBT project work,” Akwuruoha said. “He is using the billions he has exploited from CBT operators to build his mega centres.”
Akwuruoha blamed few Shylock CBT operators for overcharging the candidates but pointed out that over 90 per cent of the centres collected between N3,000 and N3,500, including the payment to the Federal Government.
“NO CBT centre operator would overcharge a candidate when he or she knows they could forfeit their license,” he said, adding that operators had to cover the cost of operation.
Recalling the incident that led to the August 27 Zoom meeting, Akwuruoha said after the JAMB exams, Sidmach upgraded the CBT software from version 4.2 to version 4.9.
“When you are trying to use the new software to make a correction, it will ask you for OTP,” he said. “Sidmach intentionally failed to disable the old software which does not require OTP. I say this because, in ICT protocol, you don’t update the software to solve a problem and leave the old one running.”
Realising that the old software was still functioning, the CBT operators said they believed that JAMB was aware of every action taken at the backend and the OTP innovation was not essential after all.
They said students were at this point scrambling to make changes to their tertiary institutions of choice or change courses. Many of them had misplaced the sim card used to register for the JAMB exam and could not receive access to the OTP after making the necessary payments.
For some, the passwords never came in, the CBT operators said. The ICT centre owners said they acted as the closest representatives to JAMB and had to make on-the-spot decisions.
But some of the centre owners tried to cash in on the mistake by Sidmach. “I saw adverts of people saying, ‘if you want to make corrections with OTP, DM me,’” one operator who did not want to be named said.
Akwuruoha said when he saw the challenges posed by the OTP innovation, he brought it to the attention of JAMB, asking the exam body to increase the channels the students could use to access the passkey. “I heard a boy asked his girlfriend to bring N3,000 to show her the OTP because she used his sim,” a CBT operator who chose to stay anonymous said, underscoring the pressure they faced at the time.
One of the CBT centre operators, who attended the August 27 Zoom meeting, said a delisted centre operator who showed proof that he had raised a ticket complaining of the hurdles caused by the update was not spared.
Akwuruoha wondered why Sidmach was absolved of the problem. “What we notice is that when Sidmach proffers a solution, they create a backdoor for them to keep making money. We keep records. Sidmach is behind the failure of the scratch card system that forced JAMB to start using pin vending.”
A spokesperson for JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, said the CBT operators intentionally circumvented the laid down process instituted by the board.
“You are a partner in progress. You should be able to know what is inimical to the agency you are partnering with,” Benjamin said.
Different sources say once a system installs the CBT software developed by Sidmach, a unique ID is given to the computer. This allows JAMB to record the capacity of a CBT centre and flag if a new system is added.
Benjamin said in a bid to avoid measures like these, some CBT owners put their systems offline at the point of installation. He said some of the centres “had the intention of committing fraud.”
He, however, agreed that Sidmach should be blamed for not detecting the criminal intent of some of the operators. “At the meeting we held with them, all of them accepted that they were at fault.”
When told that one of the accused raised a ticket, he said, “He didn’t show the code given to him when he raised the ticket. If he indeed raised a ticket, we appreciate him for that, but one does not report a robbery and go ahead to partake.”
A CBT operator at the meeting claimed that Oloyede failed to allow each accused person to explain what happened.
Reacting to reports that certain candidates failed to receive their OTP, with some having to wait for 48 hours, Benjamin said they were all instructed to turn-off the ‘do not disturb’ feature on their line.
“Once they disable ‘do not disturb,’ they get the password immediately. If they still fail to get it, we tell them to raise a ticket.”
He countered the claims by Akwuruoha on sim cards.
“You use your sim card to do almost all transactions. Sim cards are more secure than emails. Putting the password on the profile of the candidates can allow third parties to have access to the password,” he said.
Benjamin said JAMB was thorough in its investigation before delisting the centres, adding that some affected candidates were interviewed, and undercover techniques were used to uncover the centres.
CRIME Education News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/3lUsdYk
Civil Society Leaders Say They’re Ready To Give Buhari A Taste Of 2012 Massive Protests Over Petrol Price Hike
Some leaders of the 2012 demonstrations against petrol subsidy removal say they are ready to return to the streets if Nigerians are willing to peacefully protest the recent hikes in the price of petrol and electricity.
They have been expressing their grievances on Twitter with hashtags such as #EnoughIsEnough, #OccupyNigeria2 and other popular hashtags during the 2012 protests that forced the then Government of Goodluck Jonathan to stop the complete removal of fuel subsidy.
Many Nigerians have wondered why President Muhammadu Buhari, who joined the street protest in 2012, has been increasing the pump price of petrol since he came into office.
“People are suffering the brunt of the Government’s policies. If they decide to protest, I will join,” said President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima. “It appears that the government of the day doesn’t have respect for the citizens.”
Shettima said the Government was insensitive by increasing the prices of electricity and fuel during a pandemic.
“Government must be inclusive; Government must be seen to carry its citizens along. It appears they do not have any medium of consulting before making certain decisions. It is wrong for them to make any tariff increase that will compound the problem of Nigerians. Nigerians are suffering at this time.”
As the coronavirus restricted movement and upended lives across the world, the price of a barrel of crude oil dropped from $55.66 in February to $32.01 in March.
Consequently, the landing cost of refined petrol in Nigeria fell below the retail price, meaning that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) did not have to subsidise the product at N145 per litre which had been the official pump price.
Then the Federal Government announced on March 19 that it would start providing market reflective prices for the product every month.
When crude oil price started rebounding into the lower $40 bracket in June, the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) adjusted the PMS pump price accordingly, bringing it up to a maximum of N143.80 on July 1.
The price of a barrel of crude oil averaged $43.20 in July, leading to another petrol increase.
The PPRA, however, failed to provide its monthly price advisory in August, leaving the NNPC and other private retailers to set their prices.
The price of crude oil went up to $44.74 per barrel in August, causing retailers to sell the pump price of a litre of petrol for N161.
The increase in electricity tariff, on the other hand, resulted from a $750m loan from the World Bank which Nigeria obtained as part of the measures to reduce revenue shortfalls in the country’s power supply system.
The power sector recovery programme, which the loan funds, made distribution companies start adjusting their tariffs based on service delivery which led to the present increment.
Yinka Odumakin, a leader of Afenifere, Yoruba social-cultural group, said Nigerians have a choice between “dying” under the policies of the Buhari administration, or “surviving” by doing the same thing the president did before he took over from Goodluck Jonathan.
“This government has made it a capital offence to stage protests against it,” he said. “They have used a lot of propaganda to deceive Nigerians that they are fighting corruption and anybody protesting against them is corruption fighting back.”
Odumakin said the All Progressives Congress leaders had failed to fulfil the promises they made in 2015.
He recalled that they said petrol should sell for as low as N40 when they were the opposition party.
Nigeria exports crude oil but imports the refined products as the existing Nigerian refineries have been poorly managed with little or no output.
In a bid to increase the local refining capacity, the Buhari administration awarded 65 licenses for the construction of modular refineries in 2015. It has since given additional permits.
The presidency is expecting that six of these mini refineries, with a combined capacity of 30,000 barrels per day, would be in operation in 2021. This is in addition to Dangote’s 650,000 barrel per day refinery and another 100,000 barrel per day refinery by British Petroleum that is being constructed.
But even if Nigeria becomes a net exporter of petrol by 2021 as one of the presidential spokespersons, Tolu Ogunlesi, predicted, the price might not be as low as Nigerians expect, except the federal Government sells crude oil to the refineries at a subsidised price.
ACTIVISM Human Rights News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2Gul7tb
Ex-Super Eagles Defender, Ajibade Babalade, Is Dead
Ajibade Babalade, a former Super Eagles defender, has died after suffering cardiac arrest.
According to PUNCH, Babalade, 48, died while being rushed to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State.
He is survived by a wife and three kids, who are all based in the US.
The retired defender was a squad member of the Eagles that won bronze at the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
Ex-Eagles goalkeeper and Babalade’s Senegal ’92 teammate, Ike Shorunmu, confirmed the death of the Lagos-born ex-footballer.
Shorunmu told PUNCH that he was informed of his friend’s death in the afternoon after attending Jumat service.
“I went to the mosque for Jumat service this afternoon (Friday), so I switched off my phone. Immediately I put it back on, I got a message from Ajibade’s in-law that I needed to be at his place. So, I went with my wife, but on our arrival, the (Babalade’s) family broke the news to me,” Shorumnu said.
Ajibade Babalade in action
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BREAKING: Femi Falana, Bobi Wine To Open #RevolutionNow Global Online Protest Against Tyranny
Senior Advocate of Nigeria and rights campaigner, Femi Falana, and Ugandan freedom fighter, Bobi Wine, are set to declare open a global RevolutionNow online protest to condemn oppression and freedom of speech under President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.
The global protest to take place via Zoom, will see participants demand the resignation of Buhari and his cabinet members over their failure to address basic problems affecting Nigerians.
"Under Buhari's regime there have been unabated killings and insecurity in Northern Nigeria, corruption and mindless looting of public wealth, rising poverty and unemployment.
"There have also been lack of political will to reopen campuses under safe conditions, complete abandonment of public health, flagrant disregard for human rights, court orders and rule of law, violent repression of free speech, civil rights, religious freedom and protest.
"We want a country that works for all and not a corrupt few.
"The online global action will take place on September 5, 2020 at 4:00pm.
"We“troublemakers” would like to protest online by carrying placards to denounce the wrongs plaguing the land for about an hour. No teargass, no police presence.
"The protest will demand the resignation of Buhari and his "kitchen" cabinet over.
"Registeration can be done via:
https://ift.tt/3h0UVD2 and after registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting," one of the protest organisers said.
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