[News] Six siblings laid to rest as a result of poisoned food.

 What a world!! Six siblings laid to rest as a result of poisoned food.

This is thorough wickedness. Six siblings, who were poisoned to death in Ekwulumili, Nnewi South LGA of Anambra State were laid to rest Saturday, November 5th. The children died after consuming food poisoned by an unknown person on July 16, 2016.More photos below...................  Get free airtime for reading this.

Get rewarded for visiting this Blog 

HAS ANYONE EVER TOLD YOU THAT BY CLICKING HERE YOU WILL GET FREE BITCOIN. 

 

What do you think, Is this good?

Please Drop Your Comment

Buy From Hawkers On the Road, Go to Jail - Ambode

Last Wednesday, around 12 noon, at Maryland Bus
Stop, along Ikorodu Road, Lagos, peace was
temporally disrupted by rampaging miscreants,
otherwise called, “Area Boys”, over alleged killing of
a hawker by a fast moving truck.
The yet to be identified middle-aged hawker, while
fleeing from law enforcement agents for fear of
arrest, suddenly ran into the truck and died on the
spot.
Consequently, Area Boys around mobilized and
started attacking, in sight, all buses operating
under the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, inflicting severe
injuries on passengers in the process.
It was gathered that the incident happened when
the hawker, a male, suddenly sighted the convoy of
officials of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), who
were returning from an operation in Ojuelegba,
enroute to Alausa, Ikeja. Apparently, thinking they
were coming for him, he fled across the road,
oblivious of the fast moving on-coming vehicle,
which is a delivery truck of a leading producer of
soft drinks, and, before any one could say “Jack
Robinson,” he had been crushed to death.
Irked by the development, the Area Boys, in their
hundreds, took t the road went after BRT buses,
smashing their screens and attacking passengers
on board.
They were alleged to have also robbed the
passengers of their belongings such as cash, bags,
and mobile phones, among others.
It took the intervention of men of the Rapid
Response Squad, RRS, Lagos Taskforce, and other
security agents to restore normalcy, but not after
over 48 buses hadbeen vandalized.
It was gathered that the hawker had been arrested
before and was released after payment of N10, 000
fine. “On the fateful day, he was trying to evade
another arrest when she met her death. It would
have been better for him to be arrested than
running to death,” an eyewitness told Sunday
Vanguard.
According to the Managing Director of Primero
Transport Services, Mr. Fola Tinubu, operator of the
damaged BRT buses, while speaking on the
incident, “Investigation revealed that our buses
were not involved in any way or form”.
Tinubu, apparently, disturbed by the level of
destruction and the sheer number of the buses
affected, said the losses, running into several
millions of naira, were a clear setback to
investment, stressing that the Nigerian public must
be educated to draw a line between private
investment and public assets.
He believed no amount of provocation should
justify the destruction of 48 new buses belonging to
a private investor who has provided over 2,500 jobs
since the commencement of operations in November
2015 and still counting.
“The blue BRT buses did not in any way, directly or
otherwise, have contact with the late young man”,
the MD stated.
“Unfortunately, suspected hoodlums took advantage
of the incident to unleash mayhem and terror on our
drivers, while also causing severe damages to our
buses at the scene of the accident. Some of our
drivers are still receiving medical treatment and
some commuters had some of their belongings
stolen.
“Damages on the buses range from broken
windshields, front, sides, rear, to side mirrors while
some had their interior dented. The buses will be
parked in our depot until repair works are carried
out which we expect to run into millions of naira”.
He however, assured that within couple of weeks,
the buses would return to the road.
Ambode fumes
Governor Akinwumi Ambode immediately ordered
full investigation into the incident.
The governor also called for thorough details into
the immediate and remote cause of the killing of the
street hawker with the aim preventing future
occurrence as well as bringing culprits to book.
Ambode, who was said to be irked by the
development, immediately, directed the police and
other security agencies to launch a manhunt for
the perpetrators and bring them to book.
He later announced commencement of total
enforcement against street trading and street
hawkers, saying that the law banning their activities
across Lagos metropolis would take its full course.
He said the renewed enforcement is in line with
Section One of the Lagos State Street Trading and
Illegal Market Prohibition Law 2003 which restricts
street trading and hawking in the metropolis.
The governor, while sympathizing with the family of
the deceased street hawker, regretted that the
situation led to the destruction of public assets.
“The issue is we need to enforce our laws because
we already have a law in respect of that and then
there is a clause in it which says the buyer and the
seller are both liable and that we are going to fine
them either N90, 000 or a six month jail term”,
Ambode said.
“What we are doing on traffic is that we are
introducing new strategies to eliminate traffic but
Lagos being a cosmopolitan city, you cannot totally
eliminate it but now this is the case, in the next few
days, you will see on the street of Lagos signs that
will be warning you that buyers and hawkers should
be aware that there are consequences,” Ambode
said. He said his administration had also concluded
plans to roll out a massive campaign which would
warn both motorists and hawkers of the restrictions
and the penalty for defaulters.
“We will be watching out for buyers and sellers and
all we need is just scapegoat. Don’t buy plantain
chips or any other items in traffic from July 1,
buyers beware”.

Group urges Lagos Speaker to reject privatization of water sector

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the
Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has asked the Speaker of
Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to
side with Lagos people in rejecting Public Private
Partnerships (PPPs) in the water sector.
ERA/FoEN, in a letter to the Speaker titled
‘Privatisation is Not Solution to Lagos Water
Problem,’ frowned at attempts to foist the PPP model
of water privatization on the people despite the
World Bank withdrawal from the scheme following
civil society pressure and documented failures in
other parts of the world.
Speaking at an event to mark the Lagos House of
Assembly’s one year in office on June 9, Mr. Obasa
had said that privatization was the way out of the
state’s water crisis.
“If you want clean water and to stop people from
digging borehole, you must privatize the agency
(Lagos Water Corporation),” Mr. Obasa was quoted
as saying.
“Foreign partners want to come in and this is at a
cost. Then come to think of the dangers of sinking
boreholes. So what we are trying to do now is to
create the conducive environment for the foreign
investors to come in.”
ERA/FoEN described Mr. Obasa’s comments as “very
disturbing.”
In their letter, the group insisted that PPPs fail to
invest in the kind of massive infrastructure that
people need, adding that the most celebrated water
privatization schemes have failed as governments
who fell into the trap are now opting instead for
remunicipalisation.
“Rather than bring efficiency, PPPs are known to
have led to cost-cutting measures, prices hikes,
layoffs and the extraction of profit from the people
at the expense of human rights”, it read.
Manila, Nagpur, Cochabamba and Paris, were cited
as examples of PPP failures and the recourse to
remunicipalisation – a term for taking back
previously privatized public water infrastructure
from the hands of the privatisers.
ERA/FoEN said the Lagos State Water Corporation
present parlous state of affairs is a result of over 16
years of World Bank-driven policies, bad
management and monumental corruption.
“Apart from budgetary allocations, the LSWC
attracted loans from the World Bank and
international donor agencies to fund water supply
expansion schemes such as the Iju, Adiyan, and
Isashi Waterworks, as well as expansion of
distribution networks,” the group stated.
“These loans, running into billions of naira have not
translated into improved water supply for residents
and no one is being called to account for this.”
The group drew the Speaker’s attention to
Resolution 64/292 of the United Nations General
Assembly which recognized the human right to
water and sanitation and acknowledged that clean
drinking water and sanitation are essential to the
realization of all human rights.
The resolution urged national governments to take
necessary action to provide safe, clean, accessible
and affordable drinking water for all.
On the way forward, the group recommended that
water remain in public control, urging the speaker
to support its campaign to get the Lagos government
to reject all forms of water privatization.

Source: Primetime

Oyo state Lawmaker Shot dead

Gideon Aremu, Chairman, Oyo State
House of Assembly Committee on
Information and Security, has been
shot to death by gunmen at his
residence.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),
reports that Aremu (Orelope-Labour
Party) was killed on Friday at about
9p.m. while driving into his house at
Alakia area of Ibadan
Reports say the wife of the deceased
was opening the gate for him when
two men riding motorcycles shot at
Mr. Aremu several times.
“The armed men waited several
minutes afterwards to ensure he was
dead and took away just his cell
phone’’ a source said.
The spokesman for the State Police
Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu,
confirmed the assassination of the
lawmaker.
Mr. Ajisebutu said the Commissioner
of Police in the State had directed the
commencement of thorough
investigation into the killing.
The Deputy Speaker of the House,
Musah Abdul-Wasi, described the
incident as a rude shock and a great
loss to the entire state and the country.
Mr. Abdul-Wasi said the deceased
believed in securing a great future.
“It is regrettable he is not going to see that future,
he was supposed to be conferred with PhD by the
University of Ilorin next week.
“He has collected his gown and invited his
colleagues and friends to the graduation, it is very
sad,” he said. (NAN)

We will rather die than allow Ogah’s inauguration as governor — PDP

The Abia chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) has declared that it will resist any attempt to
inaugurate, Sampson Ogah, as the new governor of
the state.
“We are ready for them, we are ready to die,” the
party said, adding, “If they do it, then they are
inviting anarchy and confusion in the state.
The party made the resolution and declaration at the
end of its emergency meeting in Umuahia on
Thursday.
The state Chairman of the party, Johnson Onuigbo,
accompanied by members of the executive
committee, said the party got wind of a plan to flood
the state with military personnel.
Mr. Onuigbo said such an invasion would trigger off
anarchy, adding that the party was poised for
showdown over the planned inauguration.
He described the judgment of the Federal High Court,
Abuja, which ordered that Mr. Ogah be sworn in as
“a rape of democracy.”
The court, presided over by Justice Okon Abang, on
Tuesday ordered Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to vacate
office as governor over the case of tax evasion.
Justice Abang also ordered that Mr. Ogah, who came
second in the PDP primaries, should be sworn in as
the governor.
Mr. Ogah was also issued the Certificate of Return by
the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) in Abuja on Thursday.
The PDP chairman, however, said the judgment and
issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Ogah had
undermined the peace and tranquillity enjoyed in
the state.
“Abia is not safe. I didn’t want to believe the
rumour that the state will soon be invaded by the
army because this is not a war zone.
“We want to inform the world that there is tension
in Abia because democracy is about to be raped.
“As a party, we will resist any move by anybody to
undermine the peace in the state,” Mr. Onuigbo said.
He said that as a law-abiding state, the government
had obtained an exparte injunction “restraining the
state Chief Judge or any other judges from swearing
in Mr. Ogah as governor”.
“We are ready for them, we are ready to die,” he
said, adding, “If they do it, then they are inviting
anarchy and confusion in the state.
“We are in a democracy so we want the world to
hear and know that we are being shortchanged in
Abia,” he said.
Mr. Onuigbo said the party had sent emissaries to
Mr. Ogah to persuade him “to sheath his sword and
allow peace to reign in Abia” to no avail.
He said that at the end of the current crisis, the
party would met out sanction to Mr. Ogah for
disregarding entreaties from the chieftains of the
party. (NAN)

We can’t pay salaries anymore, Okowa cries

WARRI—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, has
said the impact of the renewed destruction of oil
assets in the state producing environment has gone
so bad that the state is now unable to pay salaries
regularly anymore.


Okowa
By Taboola Sponsored Links
Attack on oil installations: We can’t pay salaries
anymore, Okowa cries
ON June 30, 2016 6:46 AM / IN News /
Comments
By Egufe Yafugborhi
WARRI—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, has
said the impact of the renewed destruction of oil
assets in the state producing environment has gone
so bad that the state is now unable to pay salaries
regularly anymore.
The governor, yesterday at the Government Office
Annex, Warri, where he convened a stakeholders
meeting on, “Creating A Peaceful Atmosphere for
the Development of Delta State and the Niger Delta
Region,” said: “The larger Nigerian government has
been in financial crisis over dwindling oil prices.
Increased production would have helped cushion
the impact but instead we are faced with
destruction of oil assets.
“Dealing with dwindling oil prices and destruction
of oil assets, we are now producing just half of our
quota. And we are all really worried because of the
greater effect is on Delta State. Before now we
receive up to N20 billion monthly, but what we
have now is so low. Last time we got N3.4 billion.
Last month what we received has dropped to N3
billion. We now get 1/7th of what we use to have.”
The governor said, going by the current financial
position, the state was no longer in a position to
pay salaries regularly just as Internally Generated
Revenue, IGR, has also nosedived.
“We met a wage bill of N7.4 billion. Our workforce
has been unchanged. With biometrics and
rationalization, we trimmed that to about N6.8
billion. With the situation, we have in our hands, we
are not in position to pay workers regularly
anymore.
“If we produce our normal volumes, we won’t have
it this bad. We have had to reduce support to the
councils. And apart from poor income from
Federation Account, IGR has also gone down
because money is not circulating.
“I do know that we were receiving reasonable Pay
As You Earn, PAYE of up to N1.5bn and N1.6bn
monthly. That has gone down. We should realise
there’s a challenge. Political office holders,
traditional rulers should build peace. Delta State
has been on the news for the wrong reasons and
that’s not where we want to be,” Okowa added.

We Do not have Another Country Expect Nigeria - President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that
Nigerians do not have any other country to call
theirs except Nigeria and should therefore work and
pray for it to prosper.
The president gave this reminder on Tuesday in
Abuja while breaking his Ramadan fast with a
delegation of Islamic clerics.
He said that present leaders has a duty to make the
country habitable for all Nigerians of all walks of
life including posterity.
He called on the people to tolerate and show
understanding amongst themselves.
He said "I’m very pleased we have actually met.
Before the Ramadan, I met our Christians brothers
from all over the country and we exchange ideas
with them.
"I’m very pleased we realized that this is our
problem; the country’s problem is our problem.
Nobody will solve it for us. We pray very hard to
God. We work very hard and let us continue that
way.
"I believe the riches God endows unto Nigeria, we
will realize; our children will realize; our great grand
children will realize.
"If we have problems, this is the only country we
have. I said it more than 30 years ago. We quickly
go out, we go to pray in Saudi Arabia, we go maybe
to other developed countries, but this is home.
"This is where God put us and we have to stay here
and pray many times per day for God to guide us so
that we can leave a better country to the next
generation,’’
Speaking on behalf of the clerics, the Chief Imam of
Zone 3 Juma’at Mosque, Imam Tajudeen Mohammad
said they would continue to pray for the country.
He expressed happiness that president Buhari has
been able to tackle most of the Nigeria's problems
since assumption of office.
"Our lamentation was on the state of the nation
then, the insecurity in the country. We emphasized
on this table to you, sir, that you should take
radical measures towards solving the malaise and
other vices facing the nation.
"Today, we are happy to be here and to thank you
that God has given you the opportunity in dealing
with the problems,’’ he said.

No more automatic releases of capital votes –Minister

The minister of budget and national planning,
Udoma Udo-Udoma, said on Tuesday that the era of
automatic release of capital allocations in the annual
budget was gone, saying such releases would
henceforth depend on Ministries, Departments and
Agencies (MDAs) meeting set performance
indicators.
The minister, who disclosed this in Abuja, said this
was part of a robust monitoring and evaluation
framework developed by the ministry for effective
monitoring of the 2016 budget implementation.
“We believe that with all these measures, we will
succeed in turning the economic crisis into an
opportunity to restructure and reposition our
economy for growth and prosperity. In this way, we
will deliver the economic change we promised
Nigerians,’’ the minister said.
Mr. Udoma said the 2016 budget was designed to
help in ameliorating economic challenges in the
country, pointing that the document signals the
determination of the administration to create a
diversified economy that was no longer dependent
on crude oil proceeds.
He said the budget, which has an outlay of N6.06
trillion, and capital expenditure of N1.79 trillion (29
per cent of total budget), was aimed at reflating the
economy, creating jobs for Nigerian youths as well
as supporting the vulnerable groups.
The minister said government was not only
committed to strengthening the link between its
plans and budgeting processes to ensure better
implementation of projects and programmes, but
was determined to achieve inclusive development.

$40 million was paid to Jonathan’s cousin’s company account – Witness

The trial of Azibaola Robert, a cousin to former
President Goodluck Jonathan, began Tuesday, with
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, presenting its first witness, Ibrahim Mahe,
who narrated how he transferred $40 million to
“One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited”, a company
allegedly owned by Mr. Robert.
Mr. Robert and his wife, Stella, are standing trial on
a seven-count charge before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba
of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.
They are accused of money laundering, criminal
breach of trust and corruption.
Mr. Mahe, a retired permanent secretary, special
services in the Office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, while being led in
evidence by counsel to EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, told
the court that, he did not know the first and second
defendants (Robert and Stella), but got to know the
third defendant, One Plus Company, through a
transaction.
Narrating how he got to know the company, Mr.
Mahe said that, “on August 20, 2014, the National
Security Adviser endorsed a memo to me which
originated from the Office of the Director of Finance
and Administration of the ONSA detailing the bank
details of one company called ‘One Plus’ and the
purpose for which the company was to be paid a
sum of $40million (forty million US dollars).
“The NSA instructed me to prepare payment and I
prepared the payment mandate for the $40million in
favour of ‘One Plus’ for the signature of the NSA. I
sent it to the NSA, he signed and sent it to back to
me and subsequent action was for me to counter-
sign the mandate and then send it to the Central
Bank of Nigeria for Payment,” Mr. Mahe said.
The witness had earlier told the court that his
responsibilities involved matters that had to do with
the office of the NSA.
He said the Special Services Office’s responsibilities
in relation with the Office of the NSA had to do with
matters relating to finances of the entire
“Intelligence Community” which included the
Department of State Service, National Intelligence
Agency and ONSA.
According to him, permanent secretary, Special
Security Office was responsible for co-ordination of
the annual budget of the members of the Intelligence
Community.
“After formulating the budget, the accountant
general releases the funds of the ‘Intelligence
Community’ through an account that is domiciled
with the Special Security Office from where it is
distributed to the various end users,” Mr. Mahe
further stated.
He told the court that his office served as a
warehouse for funds of the “Intelligence
Community”.
“When funds get into the account, the NSA is
informed of the arrival of the funds and proposal on
the distribution to the various agencies is made to
him. When he approves, the monies are sent to the
end users,” said Mr. Mahe.
The case was adjourned to July 4 and 5.

Averting Religious Crisis in Osun State

RIGHT OF REPLY
By Semiu Okanlawon
THE recent judgment of the Osun High Court that ruled in favour of the use of hijab (head scarf) by Muslim female students in the public secondary schools has brought the state under focus in the last two weeks. This judgment has attracted numerous comments, remarks, opinions and even personal biases of individuals. In nearly all of these commentaries – some informed, others partisan and jaundiced – the kernels of the point of discussion are either misunderstood or cast away by the writers.

The Vanguard Newspaper Editorial of Wednesday, June 22, 2016 was constructed in this fashion. The paper, without any restraint, pointed fingers at the governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as the sole mastermind of the crisis. Vanguard’s reason was that the governor ordered the use of hijab in schools and, therefore, is guilty for his, in the word of the editorial, “quixotic and dangerous religious adventurism” in the state since he assumed power five years ago. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We make bold to say that Vanguard’s allegation is wild, baseless and unfounded.

Likewise its conclusion which is illogical in this respect. To straighten the lines, we wish to assert as follows: The hijab controversy predated the administration of Aregbesola. It started with the introduction of western education with some discriminations against Muslims. However, the effort to douse the agitations on hijab in 2003 to 2004 initiated the current crisis. That when Aregbesola’s fence-mending efforts between the Muslim and Christian communities failed, the Muslims headed for court in 2013. Judgement was not pronounced until last week Monday, which is now attracting unfair comments:

That Governor Aregbesola, at no point in time, made any policy, pronouncement or issued any circular to the effect that hijab should be added to school uniform in public schools. Hence the assumption or allegation that Aregbesola legalised hijab is erroneous and untrue in its totality as Vanguard’s editorial would want its readers to believe:

Erroneous assumption

That, as unconscionably proclaimed by Vanguard’s editorial, at no time did the governor embark on any religious adventurism in the state or try to promote one religion above the other. Aregbesola believes and does not shy away to state that ‘religion is a private affair of an individual.’

The Government of Aregbesola, more than any other state governments in the country, has been fair to all religious groups in its dealings in the past five years, without trying to subsume or relegate one for the other. One is, therefore, miffed to read in the Vanguard just as some other newspapers who have toed the same anti-Aregbesola line in their arguments, the erroneous assumption that the current crisis over hijab was caused by the action (or inaction ) of the Governor.

Thus, we submit that the above-quoted Vanguard’s editorial missed the points on the issue of hijaband merely, if not mischievously, gave the government a bad name so as to summarily hang it in the court of public opinion.

Why You Must Think Twice Before Accepting A Promotion

It is a great feeling to be promoted. We
work hard, fast and pray for it. It
comes: with a new position, higher
salary, a bigger office, higher status,
more respect and more responsibility.
Life in the new role looks sweet.
But not all promotions are good fit,
and both benefactor and beneficiary
should maybe look again at promotion
as a reward.
Not all promotions are good for us.
Success in the corporate world does
not guarantee success as high political
office holder; a good local council
chairman may not necessarily be a
good state governor – a fact which
politicians ignore; and as it has been
observed severally, in the corporate
world, promotion could take people
into the level of incompetence.
It happens often in sports. Coaches and
players are bought with humongous
amounts of money by bigger clubs
only to end up as flops.
That is common in sports. Memphis
Depay, also known simply as Memphis,
is a Dutch professional footballer who
plays as a winger for English club
Manchester United and the
Netherlands national team.
A hot and celebrated player at PSV
Eindhoven, he was sought after by
bigger clubs. On 12 June 2015, United
confirmed his signing for a reported
fee of £25 million, on a four-year
contract with the option to extend for a
further year.
Today, he is described as a flop, at least
by his own standards, in the just
ended season. And his fate under
United’s new coach is uncertain.
Similarly, Rafael “Rafa” Benítez was
promoted last season as a coach from
Italian club Napoli to one of the
world’s top and richest clubs, Real
Madrid. Big-money promotion! That
was in June 2015, but on January 2016,
however, he was dismissed following a
2–2 draw against Valencia, with Real
Madrid third in La Liga behind
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. He
joined Newcastle United towards the
end of the season and showed sparkles
of the old Benitez, but it was too late to save the club
from relegation.
Both men are victims of a concept called the Peter
Principle. Anything that works will be used in
progressively more challenging applications until it
fails. This is the “generalized Peter principle”. There
is much temptation to use what has worked before,
even when it may exceed its effective scope.
The Peter Principle is described by Wikipedia as a
concept in management theory formulated by
Laurence J. Peter in which the selection of a
candidate for a position is based on the candidate’s
performance in their current role, rather than on
abilities relevant to the intended role. Thus,
employees only stop being promoted once they can
no longer perform effectively, and “managers rise to
the level of their incompetence.”
I relate very well to this. As a secondary school
teacher years ago, I was rewarded with the
promotion to be a Vice Principal in another school
in the town. Celebration time! But I couldn’t
convince myself I was wired for that career path.
Having discovered my gift in writing, I turned the
offer down and concentrated on it. A year later, I got
a job in one of the top newspapers in Nigeria.
The Peter Principle was first introduced in an article
written by Dr. Laurence J. Peter in the January 1967
issue of Esquire magazine. It struck a chord among
American office-dwellers. Following the response to
the article, Peter, with the help of writer Raymond
Hull, wrote the book, “The Peter Principle: Why
Things Always Go Wrong.” The Peter Principle
uncovers a real flaw in the structure of hierarchies.
A very good example of the Peter Principle is cited
Josh Clark. According to him, after Hurricane
Katrina struck New Orleans, US, millions of families
were stranded or displaced, food and water was
scarce, and public safety became an issue of grave
concern. The city was in a genuine humanitarian
crisis, and many were calling for aid from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
But following Hurricane Katrina, FEMA proved to be
sluggish and unresponsive. The agency had trouble
coordinating efforts between subordinate agencies,
like the Red Cross and state departments, and
delivering supplies to families that needed them.
President George W. Bush complimented the head of
FEMA, his friend and appointee Michael D. Brown,
but to the people in need of help in New Orleans as
well as the press, Brown bungled the relief
operation. In fact, the U.S. Congress held an
investigation into the series of mishaps that made
up FEMA’s operations in New Orleans.
It was later revealed why Brown experienced
hardship as the head of FEMA: Brown was the victim
of a poor promotion. Put simply, he had risen to a
job with responsibilities that he couldn’t fulfill.
Before his role as FEMA director, Brown served as
the commissioner of judges for the International
Arabian Horse Association. He excelled in that
position, and as such, was promoted by President
Bush into a role with greater responsibilities: that of
FEMA director.
Brown was widely perceived to have failed in this
position. To make matters worse, his incompetence
was displayed as publicly as is possible, with the
international media focusing their attention on his
every misstep. Brown eventually requested to be
removed from his position as FEMA director, with
his famous question, “Can I quit now?”
Fighting the Peter Principle
For the Employer
• Experts say the best way to address the Peter
Principle in an organisation would be to institute a
policy of demoting employees — without the stigma
of failure — to their most appropriate level of work
competence. If an employee isn’t working out in a
higher position, allowing him to go back to
whatever position he excelled in would avoid the
effects of the principle. But the big question is
whether the individual’s salary will be cut.
• A way around the money issue may be higher pay
without promotions. It has been observed that
employees often accept a promotion — not for the
power and prestige — but the increased pay attached
to it. If companies were willing to offer large pay
increases for excellent work within the same
position, the Peter Principle would be averted, and
the employee could make more money while staying
in the position he enjoys and in which he’s
competent.
• I have seen this done in a number of places; where
people are promoted into nothingness. Peter
suggests an incompetent employee could be given a
longer title with less responsibility. This way the
employee still feels important, but is kept away from
the flammable material, so to speak.
• Peter also has what he calls Peter’s Parry, described
as perhaps the most important factor in avoiding the
Peter Principle. It is to alert employee, one who is
aware of the extent of his capabilities. The offer of a
promotion is tempting, but the employee must
consider the extra responsibilities and jobs that
come with it. Of course, the employee can simply
turn down a promotion if he feels it’s beyond his
capability.
For the Employee
• The good fit promotion is one which involves
much of the same skill set with a minimal addition
of new skills. If however, the new position would
draw you away from your core strengths, then
perhaps you should reconsider. According to
experts, either way, it’s important to examine
whether any new competencies are ones you feel
capable of acquiring. If you feel like you’d be a quick
learner, then it might be worth rolling the dice. If
not, then perhaps you should pass and wait for a
more fitting assignment to come along.
• Experts warn that if you’re in line for a promotion,
it’s worth thinking about whether it’s something
you’ll really be good at. It’s easy to just accept a
promotion right away because it gets you further
along in the company, but if it’s not a good fit it
might end up getting you in more trouble than it’s
worth.

Alleged Forgery: Buhari, Saraki in war of words

President Muhammadu Buhari and the
President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki,
on Monday kicked off an open war of
words following the arraignment in
court of the senate president and his
deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, for alleged
forgery of the rules of the upper
legislative chamber.
Messrs Saraki and Ekweremadu were
charged for alleged conspiracy and
forgery of Senate Standing Rules with
which the Senate presiding officers
were elected and inaugurated on June
9, 2015.
Also charged were the former Clerk to
the National Assembly, Salisu
Maikasuwa and his deputy, Ben
Efeturi.
All four were granted bail by Justice
Yusuf Haliru of the FCT High Court
after meeting the conditions.
Mr. Saraki was the first to fire a salvo
at the presidency when he, shortly
after leaving court, alleged that “a
government within government,” had
effectively taken control of the Buhari
administration.
Before the open confrontation both the
president and the senate president had
largely used proxies in the titanic
political battle that has dragged on for
over a year now.
In a statement he personally signed,
Mr. Saraki said the charges of forgery
pressed against him and other alleged
conspirators represented “another
phase in the relentless persecution of
the leadership of the Senate.”
He said there had been some forces
who had hijacked the apparatus of Mr.
Buhari’s executive power to pursue
“nefarious agenda”.

“This misguided action by the Attorney General begs
the question, how does this promote the public
interest and benefit the nation?” he said.
“At a time when the whole of government should be
working together to meet Nigeria’s many challenges,
we are once again distracted by the Executive
Branch’s inability to move beyond a leadership
election among Senate peers. It was not an election
of Senate peers and Executive Branch participants.”
The embattled senate president said over the years,
the senate had worked to foster good relationship
with the executive branch and that was informed by
the collective interests of all to put aside divisions
and get on with the nation’s business.
“We risk alienating and losing the support of the
very people who have entrusted their national
leaders to seek new and creative ways to promote a
secure and prosperous Nigeria,” Mr. saraki said.
“As leaders and patriots, it is time to rise above
partisanship and to move forward together.
“However, what has become clear is that there is
now a government within the government of
President Buhari who have seized the apparatus of
Executive powers to pursue their nefarious agenda.
According to him, “This latest onslaught on the
legislature represents a clear and present danger to
the democracy Nigerians fought hard to win and
preserve.
“The suit filed on behalf of the Federal government
suggests that perhaps some forces in the Federal
Republic have not fully embraced the fact that the
Senate’s rules and procedures govern how the
legislative body adjudicates and resolves its own
disputes. ”
Stating further, Mr. Saraki said he was confidence of
survival, adding that he was ready to be jailed as a
price for his “refusal to surrender to the subversion
of our democracy and the desecration of the Senate.”
He added, “Let it be abundantly clear, both as a
citizen and as a foremost Legislator, I will continue
to rise above all the persecution and distraction that
have been visited on me.
“In the words of Martin Luther King Junior ‘the
ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in
moments of comfort and convenience, but where he
stands at a time of challenge and controversy”.
The senate president said he would remain
committed to the responsibilities that his citizenship
and his office imposed on him.
He said, “I will remain true and committed to the
responsibilities that my citizenship and my office
impose on me. Without doubt, the highest of those
responsibilities is the steadfast refusal to surrender
to the subversion of our democracy and the
desecration of the Senate.
“This is a cross I am prepared to carry. If yielding to
the nefarious agenda of a few individuals who are
bent in undermining our democracy and
destabilising the Federal government to satisfy their
selfish interests is the alternative to losing my
personal freedom, let the doors of jails be thrown
open and I shall be a happy guest.”
It’s worthless fiction perhaps caused waking from
a troubled sleep – Buhari
In his reaction, Mr. Buhari said he regarded Mr.
Saraki’s claim of a “government within
government” as nothing but calling him a stooge.
“This claim by Senator Saraki would have been more
worth the while, if it had been backed with more
information,” the president said in a statement
entitled “Saraki and the Cabal,” by his Special
Adviser, Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
“If he had proceeded to identify those who
constitute the “government within the government,”
it would have taken the issue beyond the realm of
fiction and mere conjecture.
“But as it stands, the allegation is not even worth the
paper on which it was written, as anybody can wake
from a troubled sleep, and say anything.”
Stating that the Attorney-General of the Federation is
the Chief Law Officer of the state, the statement said
it was within his constitutional powers to determine
who had infringed upon the law, and who had not.
“Pretending to carry an imaginary cross is mere
obfuscation, if, indeed, a criminal act has been
committed. But we leave the courts to judge.
“To claim that President Buhari is anybody’s stooge
is not only ridiculous, but also preposterous. It is
not in the character of our President.”
Forgery Trial: Democracy not military rule –
Ekweremadu
Also in a statement by his media aide, Uche
Anichukwu, on Monday, Mr. Ekweremadu urged
those in power not to use the law as an instrument
to “bludgeon innocent citizens into submitting to
the untamed wishes and caprices of witch-hunters.”
According to him, his trial would afford Nigerians to
see clearly that the charges preferred against him
were “nothing but meretricious thrash”, adding that
democracy was not military rule.
In an unveiled declaration of his innocence and
certainty of victory over his persecutors, the deputy
senate president said, “For me, I find great comfort
in the immortal words of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
who said that history will vindicate the just and the
wicked will not go unpunished.”
Insisting that his trial is political and puts
democracy in grave danger, he further said: “Let us
make no mistake about this: it is not Senator Ike
Ekweremadu or Senator Bukola Saraki or the other
accused persons that are on trial; rather the
hallowed democratic principles of separation of
powers, rule of law, the legislature, and indeed
democracy itself are on a ridiculous trial.
“Mere anarchy is unleashed upon the land, but our
courage must not fall apart. No condition is
permanent and nothing lasts forever.”
The Deputy President of the Senate said as a law-
abiding citizen and a firm believer in the rule of law
and all the rights and privileges it advertises.
“It is only in my place not to commit crime, but way
out of my reach not to be accused of one, especially
when instruments of power become apparatuses for
oppression of the innocent and voices of
opposition.”
He added, “Indeed, I, in no way or fashion, claim to
be above the law, just that I believe that the law
should not be used as an instrument to bludgeon
innocent citizens into submitting to the untamed
wishes and caprices of witch-hunters.
“However, I put my trust in God, the court, and the
overwhelming solidarity of the good people of
Nigeria. When the dust settles, Nigerians will see
clearly that this charge is nothing but meretricious
thrash. Time, occasions, and provocations like this
will teach their own lessons.
“I hope that one chief lesson will be that democracy
differs markedly from military rule and that public
officer should never subvert the foundations of
democracy by prioritizing the rule of man over the
rule of law.”
But before today’s arraignment, the Senate had fired
blistering remarks at the Presidency, accusing the
Buhari Administration of plotting to muzzle the
legislature effect and leadership change in the
National Assembly and constituting imminent
danger to democracy.
It also halted the process of screening ambassadorial
nominees, accusing the executive arm of
irregularities.
The senate subsequently summoned the Secretary to
the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal,
and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama,
to explain the said irregularities.

Benue College Lecturer Murdered By Wife’s Brothers For Cheating , Corpse Dumped In River

Benue College Lecturer Murdered By Wife’s Brothers For
Cheating, Corpse Dumped In River…RIP Godwin Abuul
A lecturer in the Theatre Arts Department of the College
of Education, Oju in Benue State, Godwin Abuul, has
been allegedly murdered by his wife together with her
siblings for cheating on her.
It was gathered that Abuul, who went missing about two
weeks ago in Gboko, was killed his murderers who also
dumped his remains in River Katsina/Ala.

The deceased, Vanguard reports was declared missing in
Gboko two weeks ago after returning from Oju where he
lectured at the state-owned College of Education.
Narrating the story, a family source said, “Goddy used to
lecture at the College of Education in Oju. He travels
weekly from here in Gboko to Oju to lecture, after which
he returns to Gboko to spend his weekend with his wife
and two children.
“Unfortunately, two weeks ago he returned from Oju and
said he was traveling to Katsina/Ala on a private visit,
that was the last we heard of him.
“His disappearance was reported to the Police who since
then have been combing the entire state in search of
him.
“Luckily, just two days ago, the cloth he wore the last
day we saw him was found with a young man, who was
immediately arrested by the Police in Gboko.
“Upon interrogation, the young man confessed to the
Police how the missing lecturer was allegedly killed by
his wife in connivance with her siblings.
“His confession triggered the arrest of several persons
including the wife of the deceased and mother of his two
children and all those mentioned in the saga, by the
Police in Gboko, though the matter has been transferred
to the Command Headquarters in Makurdi for further
investigations.”
Continuing, the source said, “already his wife has
confessed all she knew about the matter to the Police.
We learnt that she alleged that her brothers beat her
husband up because he was involved in extramarital
affairs, but not with the intention to kill him.
“After killing him, they allegedly dumped his body in
River Katsina/Ala and also went ahead to sell his Honda
car to an innocent buyer for the sum of N650,000 and of
that sum, the wife of the murdered lecturer was given
the sum of N400, 000 as her share of the proceed.
“As I speak with you, the Police and local divers are still
combing River Katsina/Ala to locate the remains of
Goddy (the deceased) but we very much doubt if his
remains would be seen, because the fishes must have
feasted on it.”
[Vanguardngr]

Why I Sold Linkedin To Microsoft - CEO

Microsoft announced Monday that it
would acquire LinkedIn, the
professional networking site, for $196
per share in an all-cash transaction
valued at $26.2 billion.
The chief executive of LinkedIn, Jeff
Weiner, has explained why he sold the
company.
In an email to LinkedIn employees,
Mr. Weiner outlined the reasons he
chose Microsoft.
See Weiner’s full letter below, which
the CEO posted to LinkedIn on
Monday:
December 15th, 2008, marked the first
day of the best job I’ve ever had. My
rationale for joining LinkedIn was
simple: The opportunity to work with
Reid Hoffman, a founder I greatly
admired and respected; to join an
extremely talented and dedicated team;
and to massively scale LinkedIn’s
membership and business, both of
which had the potential to
fundamentally transform the way the
world connects to opportunity. Never
in my wildest dreams, could I have
imagined what would happen in the
next 7½ years. Our team has grown
from 338 people to over 10,000, our
membership from 32M to over 433M
and our revenue from $78M to over $3
billion.
Despite those accomplishments, we’ve
only just begun to realize our full
potential and purpose: Our mission to
connect the world’s professionals to
make them more productive and
successful, and our vision to create
economic opportunity for every
member of the global workforce.
Today’s announcement, that LinkedIn
will be combining forces with
Microsoft, marks the next step in our
journey together, the next stepping
stone toward realizing our mission and
vision, and in remaining CEO of the
company, the next chapter in the
greatest professional experience of my
life.
No matter what you’re feeling now, give yourself
some time to process the news. You might feel a
sense of excitement, fear, sadness, or some
combination of all of those emotions. Every member
of the exec team has experienced the same, but
we’ve had months to process. Regardless of the ups
and downs, we’ve come out the other side knowing
beyond a shadow of a doubt, this is the best thing
for our company.
Let me explain why.
Every day I come to work, I’m primarily guided by
two things:
First, realizing our mission and vision. While this
has always been top of mind for me, it’s never been
more so than now. Remember that dystopian view of
the future in which technology displaces millions of
people from their jobs? It’s happening. In the last
three weeks alone, Foxconn announced it will
replace 60,000 factory workers with robots, a former
CEO of McDonald’s said given rising wages, the same
would happen throughout their franchises, Walmart
announced plans to start testing drones in its
warehouses, and Elon Musk predicted fully
autonomous car technology would arrive within two
years.
Whether it’s worker displacement, the skills gap,
youth unemployment, or socio-economic
stratification, the impact on society will be
staggering. I’ve said it on multiple occasions and
believe it even more so every day: creating
economic opportunity will be the defining issue of
our time. That’s why I’m here and why I can’t
imagine doing any other job. Simply put, what we
do matters, and matters more than ever.
The second thing I focus on every day is making our
culture and values come to life. Ten years ago, had
you asked me about culture and values I would have
rolled my eyes and recited a line from Dilbert. But
when I started as CEO I began to appreciate just how
important they were. Culture and values provide the
foundation upon which everything else is built.
They are arguably our most important competitive
advantage, and something that has grown to define
us. It’s one thing to change the world. It’s another
to do it in our own unique way: Members first.
Relationships matter. Be open, honest and
constructive. Demand excellence. Take intelligent
risks. Act like an owner.
That’s who we are. That’s LinkedIn.
I primarily focus on these two things, because that’s
all I ever wanted when I was in your shoes: A clear
sense of purpose and the opportunity to be
successful in pursuit of that purpose. Thankfully, in
my current role, I can actually do something about
that.
In order to pursue our mission and vision, and to
do so in a way consistent with our culture and
values, we need to control our own destiny.
That, above all else, is the most important rationale
behind today’s announcement.
At this point, some of you may be thinking this
sounds completely counterintuitive: How will we be
more likely to control our own destiny after being
acquired? The answer lies in both the way in which
the world has been evolving and the unique way in
which this deal will be structured.
Imagine a world where we’re no longer looking up
at Tech Titans such as Apple, Google, Microsoft,
Amazon, and Facebook, and wondering what it
would be like to operate at their extraordinary scale
— because we’re one of them.
Imagine a world where we’re not reacting to the
intensifying competitive landscape — we’re leading
it with advantages most companies can only dream
of leveraging.
Imagine a world where we’re not pressured to
compromise on long-term investment, hesitant to
disrupt ourselves, or hamstrung in the way we can
reward and acquire new talent due to stock price
concerns, but consistently investing intelligently
toward the realization of our mission and vision.
And imagine a world where a global economic
downturn doesn’t limit our ability to execute, but
reinforces the essential quality of our purpose and
actually strengthens our resolve when people need
us most.
With today’s news, we won’t need to imagine any of
it because it’s now our reality.
Some of you may be asking “Why Microsoft?”
Long before Satya and I first sat down to talk about
how we could work together, I had publicly shared
my thoughts on how impressive his efforts were to
rapidly transition Microsoft’s strategy and culture.
After all, it’s extremely rare to see a company of that
scope and scale move so quickly to make
fundamental changes.
The Microsoft that has evolved under Satya’s
leadership is a more agile, innovative, open and
purpose-driven company. It was that latter point that
first had me thinking we could make this work, but
it was his thoughts on how we’d do it that got me
truly excited about the prospect.
When Satya first proposed the idea of acquiring
LinkedIn, he said it was absolutely essential that we
had alignment on two things: Purpose and structure.
On the former, it didn’t take long before the two of
us realized we had virtually identical mission
statements. For LinkedIn, it was to connect the
world’s professionals to make them more productive
and successful, and for Microsoft it was to empower
every individual and organization in the world to
achieve more. Essentially, we’re both trying to do
the same thing but coming at it from two different
places: For LinkedIn, it’s the professional network,
and for Microsoft, the professional cloud.
Both of us recognized that combining these assets
would be unique and had the potential to unlock
some enormous opportunities.
For example:
Massively scaling the reach and engagement of
LinkedIn by using the network to power the social
and identity layers of Microsoft’s ecosystem of over
one billion customers. Think about things like
LinkedIn’s graph interwoven throughout Outlook,
Calendar, Active Directory, Office, Windows, Skype,
Dynamics, Cortana, Bing and more.
Accelerating our objective to transform learning and
development by deeply integrating the Lynda.com/
LinkedIn Learning solution in Office alongside some
of the most popular productivity apps on the planet
(note: 6 of the top 25 most popular Lynda.com
courses are related to Microsoft products).
Realizing LinkedIn’s full potential to truly change
the way the world works by partnering with
Microsoft to innovate on solutions within the
enterprise that are ripest for disruption, e.g., the
corporate directory, company news dissemination,
collaboration, productivity tools, distribution of
business intelligence and employee voice, etc.
Expanding beyond recruiting and learning &
development to create value for any part of an
organization involved with hiring, managing,
motivating or leading employees. This human capital
area is a massive business opportunity and an
entirely new one for Microsoft.
Giving Sponsored Content customers the ability to
reach Microsoft users anywhere across the Microsoft
ecosystem, unlocking significant untapped
inventory.
Redefining social selling through the combination of
Sales Navigator and Dynamics.
Leveraging our subscription capabilities to provide
opportunities to the massive number of freelancers
and independent service providers that use
Microsoft’s apps to run their business on a daily
basis.
And these are just some of the ideas that have been
discussed since our first meeting.
Turning from purpose, we focused our attention on
potential structure. I had no idea what Satya was
going to propose, but knew how difficult acquisition
integrations could be if not established the right way
from the start.
Long story short, Satya had me at “independence.”
In other words, his vision was to operate LinkedIn
as a fully independent entity within Microsoft, a
model used with great success by companies like
YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp. I would remain
as CEO and report directly to him instead of a board.
Together, along with Reid, Bill Gates, my former
colleague Qi Lu, and new partner Scott Guthrie, we
would partner on how best to leverage this
extraordinary combination of assets while pursuing
a shared mission. This, we both agreed, might not
only be a structure that could work, it would be one
in which both companies could thrive.
Now onto the most important question: What does
this mean for you specifically as an employee of
LinkedIn?
Given our ability to operate independently, little is
expected to change: You’ll have the same title, the
same manager, and the same role you currently
have. The one exception: For those members of the
team whose jobs are entirely focused on maintaining
LinkedIn’s status as a publicly traded company, we’ll
be helping you find your next play. In terms of
everything else, it should be business as usual. We
have the same mission and vision; we have the same
culture and values; and I’m still the CEO of LinkedIn.
I wanted to conclude on a familiar note. One of the
most memorable moments I’ve experienced at
LinkedIn was ringing the bell at the NYSE. I
remember the All Hands we had following the event
like it was yesterday. During that meeting, we
reinforced the fact that becoming public was not the
end game, but rather a stepping stone in the process
of our ultimate objectives. We finished the All Hands
with two words that have become LinkedIn’s
unofficial mantra: “Next play.” In other words, don’t
dwell on the past, lingering for too long on a lesson
learned, or the celebration of a special
accomplishment, but rather focus on the task at
hand. It’s a mantra that’s served us well.
So, here’s to the next stepping stone.
Next play.

Kachikwu, Amaechi disagree on Maritime University

The minister of transport, Chibuike
Amaechi, and the minister of state for
petroleum, Ibeh Kachikwu, on Monday
disagreed on the establishment of a
Nigerian Maritime University,
proposed for Okerenkoko in Delta
State.
Speaking alongside other ministers at a
government town meeting in Uyo,
Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Amaechi
defended the decision of the Buhari
administration to scrap the project.
Mr. Amaechi said the previous
administration of Goodluck Jonathan
had paid too much to acquire a site for
the university.
The groundbreaking of the proposed
school at Okerenkoko in Warri south-
West local government area was done
by former President Goodluck
Jonathan in 2014.
But addressing the senate committee
on maritime on January 19, Mr.
Amaechi announced the scrapping of
the project, which was to be financed
by the Nigerian Maritime and Safety
Administration Agency, a parastatal
under his ministry.
He cited insecurity in the area, and
said the project was a “misplacement
of priority” because there are
transport institutes in Zaria (Kaduna),
and Oron (Akwa Ibom), already.
On Monday, Mr. Amaechi address the
case again, in response to a question at
the town hall meeting.
The minister said the new government
lacked the funds to continue with the
university project.
“Okerenkoko (Maritime University), I am not
against,” he said. “My argument about Okerenkoko
is that land alone is 13 billion(naira). If you give me
13 billion, I will buy the half of Lagos. That 13 billion
has built the university already.”
He said the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission should recover the N13 billion already
paid for the land, then “I will build the university
for them”.
“What to do: let EFCC retrieve the money and
release the money and we build the university. If
they bring the N13 billion, I will build the university
for them. That’s for land alone. I believe the Federal
Government does not have money. When we have
money, we can continue. The minister of petroleum
has said he would look for the money. Minister, give
me the money and we continue.”
But Mr. Kachikwu disagreed with Mr. Amaechi,
saying he was in support of the project, drawing a
loud applause from the audience.
“First, let me say on Okerenkoko University, I
disagree with the Minister of Transport,” he said.
“Any facility that is located in the South-South we
should work close to developing it. I don’t care the
circumstances under which you are placed.
“It’s not in my position to determine whether land
was valued at 3 billion or 10 billion. The appropriate
institution which is at the cost system will
determine that. That has nothing to do with
development of infrastructure. And as far as I know,
so much has already gone into the university.
“So much physical of assets are being developed. We
are not going to throw away the baby with bath
water. We deal with the issues but the university
will be developed. If he (Amaechi) does not want it
in Maritime, I will take it in petroleum,” he said.
Mr. Kachikwu later said that he joined the present
government without ever meeting President
Muhammadu Buhari, but by “recommendation and
reputation”.
On the renewed insurgency in the Niger Delta
region, Mr. Kachikwu repeated his call for dialogue
with Niger Delta Avengers which has vowed to
ground Nigeria’s oil industry, having carried out
audacious attacks on oil and gas installations.
He said the crisis could not be resolved through
counter military attacks by Nigeria’s Armed Forces,
but through dialogue.
“We must dialogue first; and if that fails, we know
what to do next,” he said.
He said Niger Delta people with “skills and finance”
would benefit from allocation of oil blocs because it
would be part of “giving back to the chicken that
laid the eggs”.
He said oil blocs would empower Niger Delta people
and enable to engage in genuine oil deals, rather
than being contractors to oil companies.

Abia Government Begins Free Feeding in Primary School

UMUAHIA—ABIA State government has kicked off a
free primary schools lunch programme aimed at
giving the pupils free meal daily in all public
primary schools.
The programme, according to the government,
would help “meet the basic nutritional needs of
children and expand the opportunity to reach their
full potential and significantly enhance the
academic performance of the children.”
The programme is to feed a total number of 136, 258
pupils, who will consume 408, 774 fresh eggs, 51,
09, 670 grammes of ofada rice and 68, 120, 000
grammes of beans, weekly.
Flagging off the first phase of the programme at
Ntigha primary school in Isiala Ngwa North council,
weekend, Governor Ikpeazu said the initiative was
borne out of a genuine desire to invest in children
who are the future leaders.
He said that he understood what it meant to go to
school on an empty stomach as well as the pains
some parents went through to provide meals for
their children, saying that under the scheme, every
pupil in Abia was sure of at least one meal a day.
Ikpeazu lamented tons of food that end up in the
dust bin on daily basis by the affluent while some
children go hungry due to lack and stressed the
need to bridge the gap. He pledged to sustain the
programme.

Buhari has not allocated any oil bloc – Kachikwu

Minister of State for Petroleum
Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, has said that
President Muhammadu Buhari has not
allocated oil blocs to any individual
since he came into office.
The minister made the clarification on
Monday in Uyo at the South-South
region Town Hall Meeting organised by
the Ministry of Information and
Culture.
The minister, who was responding to
questions by some aggrieved
participants from the region over the
inequitable distribution of oil blocs,
said that the Federal Government
would be fair and just in giving out
such advantages.
“Since we came into office, the
government has not allocated any oil
bloc.
“The president has said that he will
need to correct the mess created by the
past administrations before we begin
to think of giving out such advantages.
“The president has emphasised to us,
the ministers that there should be no
unjustifiable favour and any action we
take we must be able to defend it.
“When the time for the oil bloc
allocation comes, it will follow very
clear due process,’’ he said.
Mr. Kachikwu stressed that he was one
of those who believed that the South-
South people should benefit from oil
blocs because it would be part of
“giving back to the chicken that laid
the eggs”.
He said it would go a long way to empower the
people and make them to engage in genuine oil
deals, rather than being contractors to oil
companies.
The minister, however, reiterated that when
government wants to consider the allocation, it
would be given to those who have skills and the
finance to develop the blocs.
Mr. Kachikwu said that the Federal Government had
finalised the Integrated Power Project with Mobil Oil
Company that would produce 500 megawatts of
power as well as gas pipeline project in Akwa Ibom.
He said the total investment for the project,
including provision of infrastructure in the area of
locations, was seven billion dollar.
The minister promised that the Federal Government
would locate oil depots and modular refineries in
the state through private capital intervention.
In addressing the challenges of militancy in the
region, Mr. Kachikwu said he had reached out to the
Niger Delta Avengers for a truce with the Federal
Government to end destruction to oil installations.
He said the activity of the militants blowing up oil
installations was affecting the economy and
government would use all means possible to end it.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who
was also at the Town Hall Meeting, assured that the
Federal Government would deliver on the
developmental projects it promised Nigerians.
According to him, “it is time to end the blame game
and move forward to concentrate on the delivery of
democracy dividends.’’
He said government would deliver the Calabar to
Lagos coastal rail line project, the Calabar to Port
Harcourt, and Lagos to Kano rail projects to ease
movement of people and goods.
Responding to an allegation from a member of the
audience, Mr. Amaechi said he did not influence the
appointment of the Director-General of Niger Delta
Development Commission, Ibim Seminitari.
He said the insinuation that he lobbied the president
to take the position from an indigene of Akwa Ibom
for Mrs. Seminitari in negation of zoning
arrangement was wrong.
The minister said the president had noted the
zoning arrangement and correction would be made.
Mr. Amaechi also said that government was in the
process of restructuring NIMASA in order to
reposition it to deliver on its statutory mandate.

How Amechi spend billions

Nigerian governors have continued to waste billion of naira on tracking technology that allows them decrypt telephone calls of their opponents – Involved in this illegal act are Emmanuel Uduaghan, former governor Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa, current governor of Delta, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi – Governor Dickson used he gadget to track an ex- militant, Africanus Ukparasia, Mrs. Sylva’s phone numbers and a target called E-Genle Rotimi Amaechi figered in hacking scandal With several Nigerians suffering, some Nigerian governors have continued to waste billion of naira on tracking technology that allows them decrypt telephone calls of their opponents made over 3G networks, Premium Times investigation has revealed. Involved in this illegal act are Emmanuel Uduaghan, former governor Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa, current governor of Delta, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

CAF condoles NFF, Nigerians onKeshi ‘ s death

CAF President, Issa Hayatou, on
Wednesday condoled with the
president of Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, and
Nigerians on the death of former Super
Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi.
This is contained in a statement on the
association’s website.
Hayatou expressed his “dismay” and
“immense sadness” at the sudden
death of the former Nigeria
international.
He paid glowing tribute to the
deceased, who emerged as the only
African coach to have qualified two
African teams to the World Cup – Togo
in 2006 and Nigeria in 2014.
“’His other enviable record is being the
only African trainer to have steered a
team to the Second Round of the FIFA
World Cup, with Nigeria at the 2014
FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
“He had achieved the same feat as a
player with the Super Eagles at their
maiden participation at the Mundial in
1994, in USA.
“’The CAF President conveyed the
condolences on his own behalf, the
CAF Executive Committee and African
football family on the demise of Keshi,
who was a jewel to his family, friends
and the Nigerian football family, who
are badly affected.
“This is a man, who was twice winner
of the Africa Cup of Nations with
Nigeria; in 1994 as captain and in 2013
as a coach, with the latter earning him
the distinction of Coach of the Year at
the Glo-CAF Awards,” the statement
read.