Welcome To Onome's Blog: January 2015

Friday, January 23, 2015

Ex-Militants Back MEND’s Endorsement Of Buhari

The Niger Delta ex-militant generals and commanders in Edo State yesterday declared that they will stand by the leadership of Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), which endorsed the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, for the February 14 election.

One person has been confirmed dead, a brand new Hiace bus and other properties worth millions of naira burnt and destroyed, while several people, including the Ohaozara West candidate of the Labour Party were yesterday brutalised in an attack carried out by some thugs allegedly working for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ohaozara and Ikwo local government areas of Ebonyi State.

36 people working in a quarry in Mandera in northern Kenya.

No fewer than nine persons have killed in the early hours of yesterday when unknown gunmen attacked some residents of Kente village in Wukari local government area of Taraba state.

The Medical Director, Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, Dr Taiwo Sheikh, on Friday appealed to striking workers in the health sector to resume work.
Addressing newsmen in Kaduna on Friday, Sheikh urged the aggrieved health workers to “show patriotism and pity the sick that require medical attention’’.

Two Rwandan police officers have been jailed for 20 years for killing an anti-corruption activist who was investigating mineral smuggling from Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mr Qudus Onikeku, the Artistic Director, Qdance Centre, Lagos, on Friday called on the Federal Government to build theatres in the six geo-political zones of the country to boost the entertainment industry.

Two-term Presidential Democracy is a beautiful and interesting idea of government in its fundamental assumptions and considerations. It has been established upon some rational thought in hope to sustain the values of democracy itself and to engender a climate for good governance. Because democracy is generally centered on the people, elections become a part and parcel of the system, where people, periodically, come to terms on who they want to lead or not to lead them.

Firstly, I will like to pay tribute to our men and women in the armed forces who are risking their lives to keep us safe and be united as a nation. My thoughts are with them and also with the families of the civilians who have been killed, injured or internally displaced by the act of the mindless and demented sect, called Boko Haram.

The dates for the general election in February may be hanging in the balance as the nation’s national security adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), has called for postponement to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) more time to distribute about 30 million permanent voter cards (PVCs) to eligible voters.

Elections: Police Will Deal With Errant Security Operatives – IGP

With the tension rising among the followers of the two frontline parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) the inspector general of police, IGP Suleiman Abba has warned police operatives to beware of partisanship or face the wrath of the law.

Considering developments in the global energy market which necessitated the recent slash in the price of fuel from N97 to N87 a litre, there is the wider view that the reduction is inadequate in view of the fact that oil price has fallen by over 50 per cent since last June.

France Reinforces Security, Recruits 4,698 Police – PM

French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, said on Wednesday in Paris that France would spend 325.54 million pounds to recruit 4,698 extra police, spies and investigators.
Valls said the state would hire 2,680 people in the police, justice, intelligence and defence sectors by 2018 to boost national security and intelligence.
The Prime Minister said that President Francois Hollande’s cabinet accepted the measure as the first requirement to further reinforce the human and material assets of the intelligence services.
He conceded that there could have been “shortfalls” in monitoring and justice arrangements.
“Warning the threat remained high after the most deadly terrorist attack on French soil,’’ he said.
Valls said the Muslim chaplains would also be employed to work with potential militants in France’s overcrowded jails.
“The fight against terrorism, jihad and radical Islam will be a long haul,” he said.
He said France was struggling to keep watch over an estimated 1,200 radical Islamists and some 200 people who have returned home after fighting with militant groups in Syria and Iraq.
Valls said a possible penalty would be debated under which offenders would be stripped of certain civic rights.
This was an idea floated by the conservative opposition which mirrors a post-World War II law barring collaborators with Nazi occupiers from voting, holding office or working for the state. (Xinhua/NAN)

Former President Saleh Calls For Elections To End Yemen Crisis

Ali Saleh, Yemen’s Former President has called on his successor Abd-Rabu Hadi to hold presidential and parliamentary elections to end the crisis.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; with DG Budget Office, Bright Okogu

The federal government has refuted the Bloomberg report that it has plans to review the benchmark for crude oil below $50 per barrel.
the report had read in part, “There are indications that the federal government may consider a further downward review of the budgeted benchmark oil price to below $50 per barrel.”
Bloomberg pointed to the permanent secretary, Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali, as disclosing the plan.
But minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, refuted the report. “We are not reviewing the Budget Benchmark price at the moment. The price of oil is still quite volatile and we do not know how it will bottom out. We are taking a scenario-based approach in handling the 2015 Budget.
“That means that for various levels of oil price, we have additional measures both on the revenue and expenditure side which will kick in when it bottoms out,” she said.
Okonjo-Iweala said the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) is currently at the National Assembly. She said, “We have been working together with our lawmakers to ensure that we steer the country in the right direction during this period.”

We Will Not Tolerate Speculative Attack On Naira – CBN

PIC. 10. GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK, MR GODWIN EMEFIELE, DISPLAYING THE NEW N100 NAIRA COMMEMORATIVE CENTENARY BANKNOTE AFTER THE UNVEILING IN ABUJA ON WEDNESDAY (12/11/14).5688/12/11/14/ICE/AIN/NAN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned against speculative trading on the naira in view of the gap between the official and parallel markets.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFFC) says the strike by the judiciary workers was hampering its operations as it has crippled its arraignment of suspected fraudsters.

In a rare move, the Nigerian Army (NA) has denied being in possession of either the original or photocopies of the West Africa School Certificate (WASC) records of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in February 14 elections, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

PRESIDENT JONATHAN WILL BE THE BEST LOVED PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA EVER

Great presidents are made great by horrible circumstances combined with character, temperament and intelligence. Like firemen, cops, doctors or soldiers, presidents need a crisis to shine
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan took the oath of office on 29 May, 2011 amidst thunderous expectations of a new dawn, given the mountain of problems that characterized the nation.

After the social media confusion as to if Nollywood actor “Muna Obiekwe” is really dead or not, we have confirmed that the actor is really gone.
He passed on in the early hours of yesterday due to kidney failure.

Maternal Mortality: 111 Women Die Daily – UNFPA

No fewer than 111 women die everyday in the country because of child birth complications and maternal mortality, facilitator of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Rabi Sageer has said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Niger State, Alhaji Abu Sani Bello has decried the underdevelopment of the state in spite of its natural and human resources.

At first glance, she appears reserved and naïve, but Niyola, the first lady of Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) is far from that. The likeable singer has been in the background for years, studying trends and learning all the tricks from the EME boss, Banky W. Now the Toh Bad singer is ready for the big stage after winning the Best Vocal Performance (Female), award at the HEADIES 2014.The beauty, who was born Eniola Akinbo, spoke to SAMUEL ABULUDE on her music, personality and why she’s not ready for marriage yet.

The crowned beauty queen of Finest Girl Nigeria 2014, Rita Onyinye Oguebie is a philanthropist that has impacted several lives during her reign. The Anambra State queen in this interview with

Delectable songstress Tiwa Savage and husband Tunji Balogun popularly known as Tee Billz will be welcoming their first child together this year, the couple have confirmed in their separate instagram posts.

We are confident, as we enter 2015, looking forward through the benefit of hindsight, that this is the dawn of a new day for Nigeria as the federal government has put the private sector at the center piece of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), leading to a major boost to agriculture.

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Calabar chapter, has decried the deplorable state of Federal roads linking major cities in Cross River.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the unique intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan in agriculture has placed Nigeria on the sure path to food sufficiency, adding that the president has delivered on the critical sector.

The federal government has protested against the execution by firing squad of two Nigerian nationals by the Indonesian government after they had been convicted on drug related offences.

Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, spokesman, Egypt Health Ministry, said on Monday in Cairo, that the country has recorded another death of bird flu, the fourth in the country this year.

He described the publication as “a great insult to Islam and Muslims.’’
The publication came three days after the publication of the so-called survivors’ issue, which was created in the wake of an Islamist killing spree at Charlie Hebdo’s Paris headquarters in which 12 people died.

Former minister of education and one of the leaders of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Oby Ezekwesili, has faulted President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Maiduguri on Thursday, describing it as a wrong timing after he had failed to visit Chibok, where 276 schoolgirls were abducted since April 14, 2014.

The Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi, has urged people of Taraba to vote for credible and tested candidates that would introduce change and ensure development in the state.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has described as disturbing the volume of falsehood against his person and desperation by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation.

The value of the naira dropped sharply to N189.36 to the dollar, yesterday, at the interbank market ahead of the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) today.

Following allegations against the Nigerian Armed Forces that it is callous, insensitive, corrupt and incompetent, the military headquarters has denied the allegations, saying it is “very unfair and unfortunate”.

With the increasing insurgency in the North-east by the Boko Haram sect and the inability of the federal government to rescue the Chibok girls, the #BringBackOurGirls group and some members of the Chibok community in Abuja, yesterday paid a courtesy call on the United Nations representative for Africa to seek assistance on the way forward.

MEND Endorses Buhari, Expresses Lack Of Confidence In Jonathan

The Niger Delta militia group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), yesterday endorsed the candidature of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Mohammadu Buhari, saying he is the right man to revamp the failing state of the nation.

LEADERSHIP has announced that its annual Conference/Awards for 2014 will hold on February 5 in Abuja.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released N500 million to the Enugu State Government to finance 1,600 micro enterprises as part of its commitment to supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the eastern region of Nigeria.

Dutch Oil Giant, Shell has paid a compensation of £55million to a community devastated by oil spills in the Niger Delta, said a press release signed by Amnesty International and the Center for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD).

As a continued effort towards the support for the course of the Chibok girls and help to cushion the suffering of the families of the abducted girls when rescued, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili has donated the sum of $10, 000 to the Chibok community.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the PDP as a victim of self-inflicted paranoia following the ruling party’s panic reaction to a yet to be conducted opinion poll.

Ahead of the February 14 presidential election, incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that based on the positive impact of his transformation agenda, he deserves to win for continuity.

A 16-year-old female student of Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Jalingo, Blessing Ellan and her father who were arrested on Monday while trying to enter the school premises with two military hand grenades said she did not know how the grenades got into her bag.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has allayed fears on twin highly dreaded phenomenon of insurgency and Ebola Virus Disease rocking mankind, saying they will be weakened across the globe in the New Year.

Despondent-relatives-of-patients-at-FMC-Abeokuta.-Photo-by-Gbenga-Adeboye.

Victor Okeke who was in Ogun, writes on interventions being undertaken to boost maternal health in the state

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has revealed that this year his board will work towards a more credible Nigerian Premier League. He said that his leadership will effect positive

41 ships laden with containers of food, petroleum products and other goods would arrive Lagos ports from January 5-20, 2015.

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Friday, January 23, 2015

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Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Tuesday, January 6, 2015