IPOB has brought distrust to Igbo people among other ethnic groups - Okorocha

- Governor Rochas Okorocha says Igbo people play the worst politics in Nigeria - Okorocha accuses IPOB of bringing distrust to the southeast people among Nigerians - He says the Hausa man now believes he does not need Igbo people to win elections Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has described Igbo people as those that play the worst politics in Nigeria just as he again condemned the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The Sun reports that Okorocha said Igbo play the worst politics among the ethnic and geopolitical zones in the country while speaking with journalists during the visit of governors from the north.

 Read more: https://www.naij.com/1126111-ipob-brought-distrust-igbo-people-ethnic-groups-okorocha.html

He said for the ethnic group to reclaim its relevance in the country’s power equation, the people must review their political strategy. “Igbo have to change their strategy, in order to reclaim their relevance in Nigeria’s power equation. Quote me anywhere, Igbo play the worst politics in Nigeria. “Today, Hausa have realised they can win an election without Igbo. “Hitherto, Hausa used to think they could not win elections without Igbo. Now, they believe with the combined massive populations of Lagos and Kano, they no longer need Igbo to win, hence, the latest alliance between Hausa and Yoruba. “So, where is Igbo today in Nigerian politics?” Okorocha asked. 

Read more: https://www.naij.com/1126111-ipob-brought-distrust-igbo-people-ethnic-groups-okorocha.html

He added: “I’ve always said Igbo have this feeling of abandonment. “IPOB would have made better impact if they had operated under any other name other than Biafra, to push their demand for equity in sharing of the nation’s political and economic resources. The call for secession was childish. “IPOB should have fought their struggle like the Niger Delta youths, Arewa youths and Yoruba group. “Who is Nnamdi Kanu to ask Rochas to follow him to war? “Check it out, no Hausa man living in the southeast owns a duplex neither can you see a Yoruba man who lives in a room and parlour apartment of his own or an investment worth N20 million.

 Read more: https://www.naij.com/1126111-ipob-brought-distrust-igbo-people-ethnic-groups-okorocha.html

“But, should Nigeria break up today, Igbo will lose trillions in properties and other investments in Lagos, the North and other parts of the country. This is why we all must condemn IPOB’s call for break up.” According to Okorocha, IPOB has succeeded in creating distrust for the Igbo people among other tribes by their agitation for secession. “The southsouth has produced a president, the southwest has produced a president and vice president while the North has produced many presidents. "By political calculation, it was expected that very soon, Igbo would have a chance to produce the president, but, the same Igbo want to break away from Nigeria. Where is our wisdom? “Regrettably, IPOB activities has created fears in the minds of Hausa and other ethnic nationalities in the country, that, once Igbo becomes president, they would secede. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app “So, where are we? This is why I said IPOB were childish in their struggle. We should all condemn the call for secession because if Nigeria breaks up, Igbo will lose. “Igbo need to change their strategy and political calculation, to remain relevant in Nigerian politics,” Okorocha rounded off,” he said. NAIJ.com earlier reported that Governor Rochas Okorocha recently lashed out at those agitating for Biafra describing it as child’s play and that no reasonable Igbo person will support it. The governor made this statement on Wednesday, September 13, when he led a delegation of the Progressive Governors’ Forum on a visit to internally displaced persons, and victims of the recent flood disaster in Benue state. 


Source: Naij.com

10 states in Nigeria still owing workers salaries after receiving Paris Club loan refund

The Nigeria Labour Congress is set to disgrace the 10 governors for refusing to pay workers despite receiving Paris Club loan refund

- A report has exposed the states with some owing nearly two years in salary arrears

- Ayuba Wabba directed workers in all states owing more than three months to declare strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), one of the umbrella bodies for workers in the country, has threatened to disgrace 10 governors for allegedly refusing to pay salaries despite receiving the Paris Club refund from the federal government

The Punch reports that the threat came from the NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, at the national executive council meeting of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in Abuja.

This is as The Nation has listed 10 states that have received the funds, yet refused to pay salaries.

The states are:

1. Imo which reportedly pays workers in percentage while the government is yet to explain how it utilized the loan refund. The report adds that the state paid 40 percent pension to pensioners without their consent and further provided a form for them to sign under duress.

READ ALSO: IPOB has brought distrust to Igbo people among other ethnic groups - Okorocha

2. Bayelsa reportedly owes between five to 10 months arrears.

3. Ondo said to be owing workers between four and six months in salary arrears.

4. Ekiti, governed by Ayodele Fayose and owing workers between five and eight months

5. Benue is also said to owe workers between five to eight months

6. Kogi: In this state, 25 percent of the workers are reportedly owed between eight and 16 months, 40 percent are being paid up to date while the other 25 percent that has not been paid between eight and 21 months.

7 Osun state is reportedly paying workers in percentages but has been up-to-date with it

8. Ebonyi: Its government attempted to cut salaries by some percentage without consulting the unions in the state. It is also yet to explain how it spent the Paris Club refund.

9. Zamfara is reportedly the only state yet to implement the minimum wage. It is also yet to explain how it utilized the refund.

10. Abia state is said to be one the 10 still owing workers.

NAIJ.com learnt that Wabba, at the meeting, said: “As I speak to you, both Zamfara and Benue are on strike and I am aware that Kogi has issued a notice, which is in conformity with the decision we took at our last NEC meeting that any state with liability of more than three months should start an action and we will be there to support them.

“The congress has directed all states chapters whose members are owed more than three months’ salaries arrears to declare an industrial action and we have promised to name and shame them.

“The states include Imo that has been paying workers’ salaries in percentage and has not declared utilisation of the bailout fund and Paris club refund.

“They paid 40 percent pension to their pensioners without their consent and provided a form for them to sign under duress. That is not allowed in law.

“We have Bayelsa which has between five to 10 months’ arrears, Ondo is owing between four and six, Ekiti, (five to eight), Benue (five to eight) and Kogi which is the worst case scenario.

“We have three categories of workers in Kogi. We have 40 percent that are being paid up to date, we have 25 percent that had not been paid between eight and sixteen months.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app

“We also have another 25 percent that have not been paid between eight and twenty-one months.

“In all the sectors, they have categorised the workers into three categories.”‎

NAIJ.com earlier reported how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) has reportedly applied for the forfeiture of over N1.823 billion by some consultants hired by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

This is after the anti-graft agency reportedly discovered a fake $3 million contract from the Paris Club loan refund by the governors.

Source:- Naij.com 

Buhari at UN: "Since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, we have never come so close to the threat of nuclear war as we have now"

President Buhari has just delivered his speech at the 72nd UN General Assembly in New York today.

He stressed on the need for member states' cooperation during these 'dark and troubled times' and assured everyone of Nigeria's cooperation in this pursuit, He then commended the UN's role in settling civilians in conflicted areas of Syria, Iran and Afghanistan and thanked the governments of Germany, Italy, Turkey and Greece assisting refugees.

“In an exemplary show of solidarity, the international community came together within my own region to assist the countries and communities in the Sahel and the Lake Chad regions to contain the threats posed by Al Qaida and Boko Haram,” he said on Monday. "We thank the Security Council for visiting the countries of the Lake Chad Basin to assess the security situation and humanitarian needs, and for pledging assistance to rebuild lives and livelihoods."

He added that international community came together to focus on gender equality, youth empowerment, social inclusion, and the promotion of education, creativity and innovation. And more importantly, free and fair elections, and "enthronement of the rule of law are expanding everywhere, especially in Africa."

But the cooperative efforts should be sustained, he mentioned. "We must collectively devise strategies and mobilise the required responses to stop fleeing ISIS fighters from mutating and infiltrating into the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, where there are insufficient resources and response capacity is weak. This will require strong UN cooperation with regional organisations, such as the African Union, in conflict prevention and management."

Buhari also spoke about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and Myanmar, linking it to other incidents in the pst. "The Myanmar crisis is very reminiscent of what happened in Bosnia in 1995 and in Rwanda in 1994," he said. "The international community cannot remain silent and not condemn the horrendous suffering caused by what, from all indications is a state-backed programme of brutal depopulation of the Rohingya inhabited areas in Myanmar on the bases of ethnicity and religion."

He then moved on to North Korea. "The most pressing threat to international peace and security today is the accelerated nuclear weapons development programme by North Korea. Since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, we have never come so close to the threat of nuclear war as we have now," he added. "All necessary pressure and diplomatic efforts must be brought to bear on North Korea to accept a peaceful resolution of the crisis." He proposed a UN delegation to urgently "engage the North Korean leader."

Buhari concluded his speech by reiterating Nigeria’s commitment to the principles and the vision of the United Nations. "Since our admission as a member state in 1960, we have always participated in all efforts to bring about global peace, security and development. Nigeria will continue to support the UN in all its efforts, including the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."

- The Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to Ekiti State Governor, Lere Olayinka has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is ruling Nigeria with NEPA bill

 - He noted that President is not qualified to threaten any politician accused of fake certificate since he didn't present his O'level certificate

 - He added that Senator Dino Melaye is qualified to use Toilet paper to serve his people because the president has set the precedent

 - For more of the latest news and updates on Buhari news visit https://www.naij.com/tag/buhari-news.html 

The Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to Ekiti State Governor, Lere Olayinka, has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari is ruling Nigeria with “NEPA bill.” 

Olayinka made the claim in defence of Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, who has been at the center of a certificate scandal. 

READ ALSO: Buhari spits fire, threatens to deal with politicians with fake certificates 

Meanwhile NAIJ.com reports that a news platform had recently claimed that the Kogi lawmaker never graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria as widely believed.

 Despite Melaye’s insistence that he was admitted into ABU, headed the Student Union Government in his days at the citadel of learning, graduated successfully, the Senate opted to probe the claims.

 READ ALSO: Dino Melaye shares picture of his MSc 

Against this backdrop, Melaye had instituted a N5billion libel suit against the online media platform. But reacting to the ongoing scandal, Fayose’s spokesman defended the Kogi lawmaker, saying President Muhammadu Buhari has no legal justification to threaten any politicians who is accused of fake certificate. 

READ ALSO: Melaye spits fire, demands N5bn from Sahara Reporters over certificate scandal


 In a terse statement on his Facebook page, Olayinka wrote: “Even if Dino Melaye presents Toilet paper as certificate, we like it like that. “After all, our President is ruling us with NEPA BILL as certificate.” Meanwhile, senator Melaye has shared certificate of his MSc obtained from ABU. 

However, the London School of Economics had denied that Melaye ever attended the school. 

According to Sahara Reporters however, the LSE denied that the Melaye attended the institution. Candy Gibson who is the senior media relations officer at the institution said: “We have checked our records and can find no evidence of Dino Melaye having any degree qualification from the London School of Economics and Political Science.”

 READ ALSO: London School of Economic denies Melaye attended institution

 This is coming just as Harvard University also said he did not obtain a degree but only did a one-week course. Some persons who commented on the issue urged the senator who publish his certificate. 

FG plans urgent relief for poultry industry – Osinbajo

Author: Aanu Adegun

VIEWS: 45053

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday promised that the Federal Government is planning urgent relief to poultry farmers in the country to save the industry from collapse.

He gave the indication during his second meeting in the week with representatives of the poultry industry at the Presidential Villa.

The intervention is part of an urgent effort by the federal government to address challenges in the agricultural sub-sector in line with its policy on self-sufficiency in food production.

PAY ATTENTION: Get the latest News on NAIJ.com News App

The poultry industry has had to contend with a number of challenges including an outbreak of Avian Influenza which affected almost four million birds in 2015.

It also suffered non-allocation of Foreign Exchange for the importation of needed machinery and other critical inputs, and high production costs in the industry.

At the Friday meeting relevant ministers and agency heads came together to fashion out how to bail-out the ailing poultry industry.

“The poultry industry is a local industry that needs to be protected urgently,” Osinbajo said at the meeting where specific measures were tabled and considered on how the federal government could be of help.

He said the industry should be a major plank of the agriculture sector and as such the Buhari administration would ensure that it got help regarding the challenges being faced by operators of the sub-sector.

He added that by supporting the local industry, poultry-related importation which was currently a drain on the country’s Foreign Exchange could be a thing of the past.

In his remarks, Dr Ayoola Oduntan, the President, Poultry Association of Nigeria, noted that poultry presently contributed 25 per cent of the Agricultural Gross Domestic Product of the Nigerian economy amounting to N1.6 trillion.

He added that Nigeria was rated as the number one egg-producing nation and number four in poultry meat in the continent.

READ ALSO: Reps adhoc committee working to make petroleum products affordable for Nigerians - Chairman

The poultry sub-sector is said to generate over 14 million direct and indirect jobs in the country.

Present at the meeting were the Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister of State Heineken Lokpobiri.

Others were the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retired), and the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele.

Lokpobiri later told State House correspondents that the ministry would embark on aggressive maize and soya bean cultivation to produce surplus of poultry feed input.

“What we have is that we are going to develop a programme that will deliberately grow more maize which will satisfy not only our local market but the international market.

“We have a demand from Algeria and some other countries.

“They are saying that if we are able to grow two million metric tons and above for them they are going to construct a rail line to Kano to come and buy,’’ the minister disclosed.

He also advised farmers hoarding maize with the intention of selling later to the federal government to desist as such produce would not be bought from them by the government.

“It is also an opportunity to also send this signal to those who are hording maize that anybody who is hording maize does so at his own peril.

“Federal Government will not buy maize.

“The federal government buys grains as the buyer of last resort,’’ he said.

The minister also said that the government was also planning to address the loss suffered by poultry farmers during the outbreak of Avian Influenza.

FG plans urgent relief for poultry industry – Osinbajo

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday promised that the Federal Government is planning urgent relief to poultry farmers in the country to save the industry from collapse.

He gave the indication during his second meeting in the week with representatives of the poultry industry at the Presidential Villa.

The intervention is part of an urgent effort by the federal government to address challenges in the agricultural sub-sector in line with its policy on self-sufficiency in food production.

PAY ATTENTION: Get the latest News on NAIJ.com News App

The poultry industry has had to contend with a number of challenges including an outbreak of Avian Influenza which affected almost four million birds in 2015.

It also suffered non-allocation of Foreign Exchange for the importation of needed machinery and other critical inputs, and high production costs in the industry.

At the Friday meeting relevant ministers and agency heads came together to fashion out how to bail-out the ailing poultry industry.

“The poultry industry is a local industry that needs to be protected urgently,” Osinbajo said at the meeting where specific measures were tabled and considered on how the federal government could be of help.

He said the industry should be a major plank of the agriculture sector and as such the Buhari administration would ensure that it got help regarding the challenges being faced by operators of the sub-sector.

He added that by supporting the local industry, poultry-related importation which was currently a drain on the country’s Foreign Exchange could be a thing of the past.

In his remarks, Dr Ayoola Oduntan, the President, Poultry Association of Nigeria, noted that poultry presently contributed 25 per cent of the Agricultural Gross Domestic Product of the Nigerian economy amounting to N1.6 trillion.

He added that Nigeria was rated as the number one egg-producing nation and number four in poultry meat in the continent.

READ ALSO: Reps adhoc committee working to make petroleum products affordable for Nigerians - Chairman

The poultry sub-sector is said to generate over 14 million direct and indirect jobs in the country.

Present at the meeting were the Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister of State Heineken Lokpobiri.

Others were the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retired), and the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele.

Lokpobiri later told State House correspondents that the ministry would embark on aggressive maize and soya bean cultivation to produce surplus of poultry feed input.

“What we have is that we are going to develop a programme that will deliberately grow more maize which will satisfy not only our local market but the international market.

“We have a demand from Algeria and some other countries.

“They are saying that if we are able to grow two million metric tons and above for them they are going to construct a rail line to Kano to come and buy,’’ the minister disclosed.

He also advised farmers hoarding maize with the intention of selling later to the federal government to desist as such produce would not be bought from them by the government.

“It is also an opportunity to also send this signal to those who are hording maize that anybody who is hording maize does so at his own peril.

“Federal Government will not buy maize.

“The federal government buys grains as the buyer of last resort,’’ he said.

The minister also said that the government was also planning to address the loss suffered by poultry farmers during the outbreak of Avian Influenza.

I support him, but his cabinet is weak and scared - Dele Momodu fires at Buhari

- Dele Momodu has revealed his thoughts about Buhari's administration

- The publisher of Ovation magazine says Buhari's cabinet is weak and ineffective

- He also spoke on killing corruption at the grassroots

Dele Momodu

Mr Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation Magazine and former presidential candidate, has criticised President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and described members of the presidential cabinet as timid and weak.

The media tycoon in an interview with Punch has likened Buhari's anti-corruption war to that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying it was ineffective.
He said: “I’ve always expressed my view about fighting corruption. I think while it is very desirable and necessary, there are more ways and methodologies to deal with corruption. Firstly, we must ask ourselves, ‘Why are people generally corrupt?’

READ ALSO: Amaechi reveals 'real' story behind seized helicopters, the Jonathan connection

“The definition of corruption in Nigeria is faulty. People think that you have to be a minister or governor to be corrupt. But if we all agree that corruption is endemic, then we must go to the root cause.

“The root cause of corruption, in my view, begins with need before it graduates to greed. Can an average Nigerian survive on his income or salary? The answer is a big no.”

Speaking on his support for Buhari, he said: “My support has never been a blank check. I gave my support; I still give my support. I will give him a chance. I believe he can still do something if he wants to.

“As I have advised in my articles, he needs to jazz up his cabinet. I believe that his cabinet is very weak and ineffectual. That is my opinion and that of many people, including one of his biggest supporters, (Pastor)Tunde Bakare.

“He needs to do something about his cabinet. He also needs to free them a bit. I think they are a bit uptight. They are too scared and timid. They look intimidated, like they don’t have the freedom to initiate anything. It is (evident from) the body language of the president.”

He further explained the proliferation of corruption. He said: “But the moment you make it (public offices) less attractive, and an average person can survive on his daily income, all those things will change. I believe Buhari is using the same methodology that someone like (former) President Obasanjo had established in his time.

READ ALSO: Lawyers fault Buhari’s stance on Babachir Lawal

“The system is not too different from what Nuhu Ribadu was operating: arrest, investigate, prosecute; and a lot of the times, you’ve already destroyed the accused on the pages of newspapers. So, you’re not sure if the person is innocent or not.

“For me, that is not the way to do it. The best way to do it is to, first of all, have a uniform standards for all public officials so that nobody feels discriminated against."

Meanwhile, the presidency has denied rumours that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is under pressure to resign.

The position of Aso Rock was made by President Muhammadu Buhari's political adviser, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.

President Buhari calls Femi Adesina for the first time in a month

President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly put a call through to Femi Adesina, his special adviser on media and publicity, NAIJ.com can report.

According to Adesina, President Buhari called at exactly 2.43pm on Saturday, February 25 and he was more than delighted to speak with his boss for the first time in a month.

He wrote: "At exactly 2.43 p.m today, Saturday, February 25, 2017, my phone rang. Who was at the other end? Tunde Sabiu, personal assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari.

"Hold on for Mr President," Tunde said.

And in a matter of seconds, the very familiar voice came:

"Femi, how are you?" (He calls me Adesina most times, but today, he opted for Femi)

I screamed :"Mr President, I have missed you. How are you sir?"

He first laughed. That familiar laugh. Then he said: "I am still resting. Thank you for holding out against mischief makers."

I said it was my duty, the very least I could do, adding how happy I was to speak with him.

"How is your family?"

I said we were fine, and he asked me to extend his greetings to them.

"I hope to call you again, " Mr President said, and I bade him farewell, adding: "Best wishes, sir."

It was a defining moment for me. For more than a month, I had always spoken with aides who are with the President in London. Not once did I ask them to take the phone to him, deliberately so, because I didn't need to speak with him to validate the fact that he was alive. And since he was on vacation, he had a right to his privacy.

Of his own volition, President Buhari spoke with me. It made my day. Even if he hadn't done so, he would have remained my President, my leader, and my man. Any day.

This may all have quelled reports that the president is dead as has been rumoured in different sections of the media.

Senator Shehu Sani speaks on 2baba's planned protest

Author: Jerrywright Ukwu

UPDATED: 2 DAYS AGO

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- Senator Shehu Sani is known for adding his voice to social issues

- The activist turned politician has not allowed his entrance into government to change his perception on issues

- He has weighed in on the the planned protest by Nigeria's music legend, 2baba Idibia

The senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani has added his voice to the trending topic in Nigeria as regards the planned protest by Nigeria's music legend, 2baba Idibia.

Senator Shehu Sani

Senator Sani took to his Twitter page earlier today, February 3 to berate the Lagos state police command for trying to stop the planned protest in the state.

The Lagos state police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni on Wednesday, February 1, had said he will not allow the planned protest against the federal government in the state.

Owoseni's stance has drawn criticims from different segments of the society with majority accusing the police boss of being ignorant of the law.

Senator Sani noted that it is wrong for the police to deny or refuse permit for 2baba to organize a peaceful protest, adding that protest is a right in a democracy.

Follow

Senator Shehu Sani @shehusani

It's simply wrong for the police to deny or refuse permit for 2face to organize a peaceful protest.Protest is a right in a democracy.

11:58 AM - 3 Feb 2017

• 367367 Retweets
• 237237 likes

Follow

Senator Shehu Sani @shehusani

There's no society as inflammable as one inhabited by a people with little or nothing to lose.

12:13 PM - 3 Feb 2017

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• 6161 likes

The chairman of the Nigeria Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu also made his position known on the issue.

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RightsAfrica @chairmanNHRC

#Nigeria's constitution guarantees the right to protest. @PoliceNG lacks the power to ban it. Their duty is to protect it. That's #Change!

5:58 PM - 2 Feb 2017

• 6565 Retweets
• 1717 likes

Meanwhile, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has said the police cannot stop the planned protest, adding that Owoseni's stance is in variance with section 40 of the 1999 constitution, which provides that every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons.