House Condemns Military’s Clampdown On Media!

The Lagos State House of Assembly has slammed the Nigerian government and its military over the latter’s current clampdown on media and vendors across the country, arguing that the harassment is a bring back of the dark days of the military.

Members of the House reminded those intimidating the press that even the late Sani Abacha, an acclaimed powerful dictator, could not win the fight against the press.

Reacting to a motion moved on the floor of the House by Moshood Oshun, a member representing Lagos Mainland Constituency 2, the House argued that President Goodluck Jonathan being the Commander-In-Chief of the nation cannot exonerate himself  from the military’s action against the press.

Oshun, who moved the motion as a Matter of Urgent Public Importance, told his colleagues that as reported, agents of the Federal Government had constantly seized copies of newspapers meant for distribution to several parts of the country over alleged trivial matters.

He said there have been reports that distributors and vendors were beaten up and detained and argued that the seizure of the newspapers were meant to kill the press.

“If the Federal Government feels bad about any report, it should go to a court rather than harass, beat and detain newspaper vendors, who don’t even know how the reports in the newspapers were written.

“It is wrong for the government to seize newspaper copies at this material time in the country,” he said.

Reacting, Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji said that it was not possible to kill the press and not even the military could do so.

“If they don’t allow the press to publish openly, the press would go underground and still publish. There is no way the Federal Government can kill the press. They should bring back our girls and fight Boko Haram instead of fighting the press,” he said.

Another lawmaker, Rotimi Olowo, expressed surprise at the action of the military and described it as an abuse of office under a democratic government.

 He also called on the House to make the Federal Government realise that the nation is no longer under a military system of government.

Also contributing, Segun Olulade from Epe Constituency 2, warned the Federal Government to be careful with its actions.

He added that terrorising the media is as bad as the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect that has caused much violence in the country.

Olulade stated that the seizure of newspapers copies and intimidation of the pressmen is unwarranted and condemnable, and that the National Assembly should rise and speak up against it.

For Mudashiru Obasa, “the military men that ought to fight the Boko Haram insurgents are fighting the press. President Goodluck Jonathan wants to use this method to kill the press. If you kill the press, anything could happen; we should be vigilant against this administration.”

PM news

Abuja #BringBackOurGirls protesters drop N200 million charge against CP Mbu!

News revealed that the #BringBackOurGirls protesters on Thursday dropped one of the demands in a suit filed against the Abuja Police Commissioner, Joseph Mbu.

The N200 million damages was one of four reliefs sought by the group before an Abuja High Court.

The protesters had filed the suit against Mr. Mbu following his announcement of a ban on their protests in the Nigerian capital.

The Police hierarchy has since reversed the ban.

The protesters have been holding daily sit-ins to demand that government does more to free the over 250 girls kidnapped by the Boko Haram from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

FG moves to resolve dichotomy issue between HND and first degree holders!

Going by the communique released by the Federal Ministry of Information, the logger -head between the  Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and the Federal  government will soon be resolved as executive members of these groups have been meeting to seek possible ways of bringing the logjam to an immediate end. 





The statement below:
The Federal Government says the logjam between members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and the government will soon be resolved. 
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Macjohn Nwaobiala, said that the government had adopted different approaches to end the protracted strikes.  
He disclosed that the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives had also intervened at various levels.
Nwaobiala expressed optimism that going by what was on ground, the strike would be called off as soon as possible.
The Permanent Secretary revealed that the government has gone far in the bid to resolve the issue of dichotomy between the Higher National Diploma (HND) holders and first degree holders.
He disclosed that the Committee set up by the Federal Government to look into the issue had submitted its report to the government.   
He said: “Different approaches have been adopted to end the strike. The Senate and the House of Representatives are inter-facing with the Ministry of Education and labour, and I hope the strike will be called off as soon as possible”.

Is Sanusi finally immuned from the Presidency and the law?

News has it that the Presidency has ordered the arrest of the new Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.



According to Sahara Reports, the Nigerian Police have been ordered to arrest Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on fraud-related charges stemming from his tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). 

Reliable sources at the Presidency in Abuja revealed that the team of Policemen at the Emir’s palace in Kano received the order from the Nigeria Police headquarters to place Mr. Sanusi under arrest if he leaves the Kano Governor’s lodge. The sources further revealed that Mr. Sanusi was to be arrested at his private home on Sunday night after his appointment was announced by the Kano State Governor. It would be recalled that the presidency embarked on several frantic measures to frustrate the former CBN governor’s emergence as Emir, including the premature congratulations of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to one of the candidates before the choice was announced.

Since becoming Emir, Mr. Sanusi has been inside the Kano State governor’s lodge, receiving visitors and undertaking traditional rites. 

The source also said that some notable northern leaders have already warned President Jonathan to avoid such a reckless action so as to avoid setting fire to the already volatile situation in the city of Kano. It is not known if President Jonathan is favoring back channel dialogue aimed at resolving the mess. 

What do you think folks, is the Presidency taking the Sanusi fraud allegation charges to far, or are they on track?

Nigeria loses bid to produce OPEC Secretary General!

Alleged decisions of the members of OPEC to extend the tenure of the incumbent Secretary General, Abdullah al-Badri till June 30, 2015 dashed the move by Nigeria to produce the first female secretary general.

This came on  Wednesday as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was nominated by President Gooduck Jonathan to become the Secretary General of the influential Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), was dropped as a communique at the end of the meeting said OPEC decided to extend the tenure of the current holder of the office for a period of six months from 1 January 2015.

Apprehension In Enugu As Fulani Herdsmen Invade Communities!

The people of over forty communities in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State are currently panicking, following the invasion of their areas by Fulani herdsmen allegedly armed with AK 47 rifles.

The herdsmen, who invaded the council area with their cattle two weeks ago, had allegedly destroyed crops in the farms and were reported to have r*ped some women in the village who were working in their farmland.

Agricultural and economic activities in those communities have been brought to a halt on account of the violent activities of the herdsmen, while the local vigilante group in the area had become helpless due to the superior arms carried by the invading herdsmen.

According to Vanguard news, a retired police man in the area had confronted two of them who strayed into his compound and the confrontation that ensued led to the death of a herdsman.

Speaking on the development, former Ohanaeze President General, Justice Eze Ozobu, who is now the Traditional ruler of Imeziowa Community of Ezeagu local government area, said the situation had gotten out of control, adding that his people were on the fringe of death and anarchy.

“I do not know what government has done or any action taken by security operatives to checkmate the insurgency by the Fulani herdsmen. These people who we thought carry only sticks and machetes now carry AK47 rifles openly and we wonder where they got those guns from.

“People no longer go to farm anymore and every one now lives in fear of these people. They come in and settle down as if it is their home, nobody is doing anything to stop them.

“In my own place, my brother who retired as a police officer, came out in the night and asked them what they were doing with guns they were carrying. At some point, he had to bring out his gun and shot two of them.”

He, however, expressed fears that with the incident, the town was apprehensive of a reprisal attack by the herdsmen.

Ozobu further lamented that should the state government fail to take action over what was happening, the tension might develop into breakdown of law and order.

Also speaking shortly after a meeting of the Ezeagu general assembly in Enugu, the President General, Dr. Obiora Ozobu, said they had a resolution to make an official complaint to Enugu State Government, after speaking with the local government chairman and the state House of Assembly.

“This is a very serious issue in Ezeagu and we shall make official entry with the police and also speak with the council chairman and elected political office holders and we shall also find out the position of the state House of Assembly in order to figure out how we are to go about it.

“At a neighbouring town, a farmer was shot dead by these Fulani people and we have had three reported cases of r*pe of village women that went to their farm.

“The most frightening aspect of this problem is how and where they got those AK 47 rifles that they brandish openly. That means there is more to the cattle rearing that meets the ordinary eye.

“It is not that we cannot defend ourselves or that we do not have what it takes to defend ourselves, but we are only trying to do this within the ambit of the law so that our actions do not worsen the already bad situation.

“In Ezeagu, we do not sleep at night because they can come at anytime and begin to slaughter people,” he said. 

Source: Vanguard

Angelina Jolie glows in white as she attends Summit in London!

Angelina Jolie arrives at the End Sexual Violence In Conflict Global Summit 2014 in London.