Adegboruwa sues Buhari, others over Biafra killings

Adegboruwa sues Buhari, others over Biafra killingsuman rights activist and Lagos-based lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Attorney-General of the Federation before the Federal High Court, Lagos over what he called a constant invasion of Biafra protests by soldiers and policemen, leading to severe human casualties.

In the new suit, which also has the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Navy Staff and the Chief of Air Staff as defendants, Adegboruwa is asking the court to halt the constant invasion of Biafra protests by security agents.

The lawyer is claiming that all Nigerian citizens are granted the right of free assembly and association, under section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and also the freedom of expression, under section 39 of the same Constitution.


He is therefore contending that members of the Independent Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, are entitled to assemble  in any part of the country, for the purpose of demanding for self determination, without any permit or licence.
“And when they so decide to gather, the police, the army, or indeed other security agencies are not entitled to invade their gathering, or to shoot them or to arrest and detain them, as was done in most parts of the South East, last week.

He, therefore, wants the court to affirm the rights of citizens to express themselves on any areas of grievance without let or hindrance from the security agencies.


In the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/775/2016, Adegboruwa is seeking among other reliefs, a declaration that the applicant and all other citizens of Nigeria are entitled to gather, assemble freely and express their opinions lawfully in the exercise of their fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 (1), 11, 20 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.
He is also seeking a declaration that the arrest, detention and killings of innocent and unarmed citizens of Anambra State, Enugu State, Imo State, Abia State and Ebonyi State (all of the Igbo tribe) while gathering in Nkpor, Ifite-Dunu and Nnewi in Anambra State of Nigeria on the 30th day of May, 2016 to commemorate the International Biafra Heroes’ Remembrance Day by the respondents, their servants and privies constitutes a flagrant violation of the citizen’s fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10(1), 11, 20 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

The lawyer further seeks an injunction restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise howsoever from further violating the fundamental rights of the citizens of Anambra State, Enugu State, Imo State, Abia State and Ebonyi State through unlawful arrest, detention and killing except and in a manner permitted and sanctioned by law.

He is also seeking an order nullifying and voiding actions of the respondents over the massacre of innocent and unarmed citizens of Anambra State, Enugu State, Imo State, Abia State and Ebonyi State in Nkpor, Ifite-Dunu and Nnewi all in Anambra State of Nigeria on the 30th day of May, 2016 while commemorating the International Biafra Heroes’ Remembrance Day to the extent that it violates the liberty and freedom of the citizens of Anambra State, Enugu State, Imo State, Abia State and Ebonyi State as guaranteed under sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10(1), 11, 20 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
No hearing date has yet been fixed for the suit.

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Buhari sends list of 47 ambassadorial nominees to Senate

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a list of forty-seven ambassadorial nominees to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation.

The President of the Senate, Sen.Bukola Saraki, who read the letter to the Senate said that President Buhari requested the Senate to approve the list at the shortest time possible.

“I have the honour to forward the attached list of 47 career foreign service officers as ambassador designates for consideration and confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


“Copies of their curriculum vitae are attached. It is my hope that this will receive the usual prompt attention of the distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Buhari said.
The nominees include: Obinna Chukwuemeka, Salisu Umoru, Iyang Udoh, Okeke Vivian, Liman Munir, Edem Jane, Mohammed Hassan, Martin Cobham, Janet Molegbo, Itegbuoye Sunday, Olatunde Adesesan and Lilian Onu.

Others are: Manaja Isa, Ngozi Ukeje, Bello Husseini, Enoch Ducci, Garba Baba, Usman Aliyu, Umar Salisu, Momoh Omeiza, Kadiri Audu, Balogun Hakeem, Nosa Ahmed, Ibrahim Isa, Bankole Adeoye and Ibidapo Obe.

Other nominees are: Ogundaro Sakirat, Eric Belgam, Ateru Haliru, Ramota Bulima, Musa Mamman, Kabiru Bala, Adamu Shuaibu, D. A. Agiv, T.K. Gonglong, Ibrahim Hamza, K.C. Nwachukwu and Q.R. Wolu.

The list also has: E.K. Oguntuwase, A.I. Paragauda, L.A. Gasharga, Olufemi Abikoye, Abubakar Ibrahim, Rabiu Kawu, Janet Bisong and Adekunbi Habeebat.

According to the letter, the list is made up of only career civil servants in the foreign service.

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Family awaits autopsy on football legend, Stephen Keshi

• He complained of leg pains, never recovered from wife’s death
• Buhari, Osinbajo, Saraki, Atiku pay tributes

Shock gave way to palpable grief. Still, disbelief was etched on the faces of the members of his family: Super Eagles’ former Captain and Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, could not have died.

At his Benin home where he died at the age of 54, his mother and other family members await an autopsy. For now, they do not know the cause of the football legend’s death.

Family sources said Keshi came into Nigeria from his United States base to see the grave of his wife of 35 years, Nkem Kate, who died in December after a long battle with cancer.


A member of the family, Ricky Aburimen, said Keshi complained of pains in his leg and was being rushed to Faith Mediplex Hospital, which is about 15 minutes drive from his Giwa Amu GRA Benin residence when he gave up the ghost. He was ‘brought in dead’ around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Aburimen said the family would conduct an autopsy to determine the actual cause of death. He cautioned against speculations about the cause of Keshi’s death and debunked some media reports that the late coach died of heart attack.

“He had complained of pains in his leg for some days and they kept massaging it for him. When he complained of it yesterday, they massaged it again.

“About one and half hours after the massage, he was in serious distress and was gasping for breath. That was how we rushed him to the hospital (Faith Mediplex), a distance of about 20 minutes. But by the time we arrived at the hospital, the doctor certified him dead on arrival. That was sometime between 11:30 and 11:45 pm,” Aburime said.
‎
“It was the nurse that first came out. She checked ‎ and said there was no pulse in him. Doctors later came to do all the stuff they did, but nothing came out of it,” he said.

When asked what could have been the likely cause of Keshi’s death,‎ Aburime said no one should speculate the cause of his death until an autopsy was conducted by qualified doctors after which the report would be made public at a press conference befitting of Keshi’s status.

‎Aburimen continued: “After the confirmation, as he was not a patient of the hospital, they could not write any report or present any death certificate. They said we must bring the police and the police came to inspect the body. I am about to take the corpse to Stella Obasanjo pending the autopsy, which the family wants to do. Dr. Wilson Akhiwu will conduct the autopsy.

“‎There is no official statement as to the cause of death. There will be no embalming. It was sudden and we don’t want anybody to speculate. That massage on his leg had taken one hour before the distress. There was no sign of ill health and Keshi had not complained recently.”
Family sources further said that he was billed to travel to the United States to visit his children.

And from London where he is resting, President Muhammadu Buhari has paid tribute to the ‘Big Boss,’ as Keshi was fondly called by football enthusiasts.

Reacting to Keshi’s demise yesterday on his twitter handle the president said: “Nigeria today lost a great sportsman, football player, coach and citizen. Nigerian football will not be the same without Stephen Keshi . He gave this country his all. May his soul rest in peace” he said.


He commiserated “with the family of the late Stephen Keshi, and the entire country on the shock passing away of the former Togo and Mali National teams’ coach and the only Nigerian to have won the African Cup of Nations both as a player and a coach.”

Other leaders across the country among them the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, former Vice President and All Progressives Congress chieftain, Abubakar Atiku as well as former Senate President David Mark have all paid glowing tribute to the late Keshi.

Saraki, who lamented that Keshi had lost his wife late last year said: “This must be a heavy burden for the family to bear. His death at 54 is both a rude shock and highly unfortunate.

“Nonetheless, we must take solace in the fact that he did his utmost for the development of sports in Nigeria, Africa and the world, during his sojourn on earth.

“As a player and coach, he was instrumental to superlative victories for the national team.”In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said the sad occurrence was both painful and unfortunate coming at a time the nation is in dire need of wisdom and rich experience of sports professionals like the late international star to stabilise its soccer architecture.

To Atiku, Keshi’s sudden demise is an untimely loss of a sports gem and pacesetter. In a condolence message issued by his media office in Abuja yesterday, Atiku said: “It saddens my heart to learn of the stunning news of the death of the golden boy of Nigeria football. His departure is more touching when one recalls that Keshi also lost his loving wife of 33 years, Kate, to cancer late last year thus rendering their young children hapless orphans.

“While praying for the repose of the soul of this fallen hero, I would also beseech God Almighty to grant fortitude and grace to the mother, four children, family members and friends that the deceased compatriot left behind”, Atiku said.

Mark described Keshi’s death as “a monumental loss to Nigeria and indeed Africa.” Mark in a statement by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh said he received “received with shock and disbelief the news of the death of our indefatigable Coach Stephen Keshi. It’s devastating. It’s a sad story.”

According to Mark, “Keshi was one of the greatest and most successful footballers Nigeria has ever produced. Till date, no one has beaten his record.


“As a captain of the Super Eagles in 1994, he won the Africa Nations’ Cup in Tunisia. As the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles in 2013, he led Nigeria to win the Nations’ Cup in South Africa.

“He was forthright and outspoken. He was steadfast. He never compromised his position especially on professionalism no matter whose ox was gored. Keshi was to African football what Mohammed Ali was to boxing.

“Only a very few men in the world has such an intimidating credential. We cannot question the will of the Almighty Creator , but this is one death too many.”

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Rooney fights to prove England worth

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is facing the biggest fight of his 13-year international career to hold onto his England place going into the European Championship.
England’s talisman ever since he burst onto the scene as a preternaturally gifted 18-year-old at Euro 2004, Rooney has gone to five major tournaments as one of the first names on the team-sheet.

But competition from emerging stars such as Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, coupled with doubts about his own form and fitness, mean that England’s all-time record goal-scorer is no longer an automatic pick.

“As I’ve said throughout my career with Manchester United and England, I never take my place for granted,” Rooney, 30, conceded recently.

“First of all I want England to be successful and win trophies, and obviously it is great if I can be a part of that.”

The current campaign has already been a historic one for Rooney, who broke Bobby Charlton’s 35-year-old England scoring record in October and now has 52 international goals to his name.

He has also moved onto 111 caps, behind only Peter Shilton (125), David Beckham (115) and Steven Gerrard (114) in England’s all-time ranking.

But he has performed fitfully for United and saw a brief return to form abruptly curtailed in February when he was sidelined by a knee injury.

In his absence, England recorded a rousing 3-2 win over world champions Germany in Berlin.

Dele Alli and Ross Barkley have encroached onto Rooney’s territory as chief creator and there are also doubts about his ability to press with the same intensity as his younger rivals.

England manager Roy Hodgson has toed a diplomatic line with regard to his captain’s status, defending Rooney’s right to a place in the squad but stating that he cannot consider himself a guaranteed starter.

– ‘White Pele’ –
While Rooney remains one of the world’s most famous players, he is no longer the game-changing force of nature who burst onto the scene with Everton at the age of 16, earning himself the nickname ‘The White Pele’.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described him as “the biggest English talent since I’ve arrived in England”, but the true weight of his achievements remains hard to measure.

With United, who he joined from Everton in 2004, he has won almost everything, including five Premier League titles, two League Cups one FA Cup and the 2008 Champions League.

He is also the club’s second-highest goal-scorer and has Charlton’s United record of 249 goals in his sights.

His goals include some unforgettable strikes, including a stunning overhead bicycle kick against Manchester City in 2011, and he has amassed countless individual awards.

But for all that, there lingers a sense of potential unfulfilled, and nowhere is that feeling more pronounced than when his achievements with England are brought into consideration.

It is now 12 years since he exploded onto the global football consciousness with four goals at Euro 2004 in Portugal and the years since have brought nothing but false dawns and disappointments.

Rooney admitted as much after England’s meek group-stage exit at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“Obviously I’m not going to be as big a legend as Sir Bobby Charlton,” Rooney said. “He’s won the World Cup.”

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Government orders scaling down of military presence in Niger Delta

Against the backdrop of the threats by the joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, (NDLF) to attack Presidential Villa, strategic place, military installations in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) and other parts of the country such as Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos, an emergency security council meeting was convened on Tuesday with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presiding.

The meeting ended with a directive that the heavy military presence in the Niger Delta communities is scaled down considerably, but stressed that the presence of the military in the waterways be sustained in order to ensure adequate security along the waters, while discussions with the leaders of the communities continue.

The Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonishakin: Chief of Army Staff, (CAS) , Lt. Gen, Tukur Yusuf Buratai and his Naval counterpart, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas and some governors of the Niger Delta region were at the meeting.

Prominent among the governors in attendance are Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa: Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo: Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole of Edo State and Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom.

The Ministers of Defence, Brig-Gen. Mansur Mohammed Dan-Ali, (rtd): Niger Delta Usani Usani Uguru and Petroleum of State counterpart, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu were also in attendance.

Delta and Edo State governors, who briefed State House correspondents later, said the meeting was part of the synergy between the federal and state governments, describing the meeting as very fruitful as it afforded them the opportunity of finding a lasting solution to the festering crisis in the Niger Delta region.

According to Okowa, who briefed first, “We governors of the oil producing states, security chiefs and ministers who are concerned met with the Vice President and I believe we had a very fruitful meeting.

“One thing we identified which is the synergy between the Federal Government and the States which is very important and this meeting has raised a lot of issues and we believe that the collaboration will help us to tackle the issues in the Niger Delta.

“Of course, we were briefed by the service chiefs and the governors also have their own perspectives along with the minister of state petroleum. We have taken a lot of decisions which will help us mitigate what is going on currently in the states particularly Bayelsa and Delta.”

He said the meeting agreed on the need for both the federal and state governments to share intelligence which is very important and for there to be a proactive decision, working together with the various stakeholders in the states to achieve a better result going forward.

“We have also agreed that there is a need to distill military operations directly in communities, but the military need to actually remain on our waterways to ensure that we adequately man the waterways itself while we engage the communities and that engagement process is starting any moment from now.”

Explaining the lull in the activities of the Amnesty Programme, Oshiomhole, attributed it to the transition, occasioned by a change in leadership of the organisation. He, however, warned that no matter the skills acquired, it could not be put into any judicious use where there was no peace.

His words, “The amnesty programme is on but you know there was a little transition because there is a new leadership and there is always a time lag. In principle, the programme is on. There are stories about nonpayment and those problems are being addressed, funds are being provided .

“I believe the government recognises that the amnesty programme has to be sustained but also we can improve on it because we have trained people. People have been sent for training and they have come back and they should be able to apply those skills. If they don’t apply the skills they become skilled but then unemployed, then the problem persists.

We need multiple tools to deal with the issues. Fortunately for the people to be able to apply the skills that they acquired in the course of the amnesty training, they need an environment that is investment friendly because unless for example if you have skills in underwater welding, you need the oil companies to be doing business to recruit people like that to carry out those kinds of special skill.

“If you have skill in all sorts of things without economic activity, you cannot deploy your skills. One thing leads to the other. In the first instance, the man has no skill, the first challenge is to give him the skill.

“That is being done and when he has finished and acquired that skill the final challenge is to get him a place to work to earn money and to develop a lifestyle that is sustainable to add and contribute to the development of his community and the rest of our people they need to see the quality of life improving.”

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Obama hosts Indian Prime Minister, unlikely friend

President Barack Obama welcomes India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House this week in a low-key nod to the improved ties between the world’s biggest democracies.

That the pair would get along was not a given: When Obama came to office in 2009, the Hindu nationalist was banned from entering the United States over his role in anti-Muslim riots.

But the ban was lifted after Modi was sworn into office in May 2014 and he has since made four US visits — two to Washington — while Obama has twice travelled to India.

Relations between the countries are not always easy — India insists on staying out of formal alliances and forging its own course — but both leaders can boast that ties have improved.

For Obama, who will step down from office in January, this is now a matter of his legacy — friendship with India and inroads into its huge market are a victory for his so-called “pivot to Asia.”

For Modi, Tuesday’s visit is a time to set the seal on what has been achieved and set the stage for what he hopes will be a mushrooming in US-India trade from $120 billion to $500 billion.

Ahead of the trip, India’s Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar told reporters Obama had invited Modi as one of the leaders with whom “he had a close and productive working relationship.”

“So, in many ways you can say it is sort of a consolidation visit,” he added.

On Monday, Modi will head to Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony and meet with think tank scholars.

He will have a working lunch with Obama on Tuesday, followed by a series of meetings with US business leaders and members of the three million strong Indian-American community.

On Wednesday, he will become the fifth Indian premier to address a joint session of the US Congress, and afterwards will be hosted at a reception for dignitaries and lawmakers.

– Electric deal, military memorandum –
Officials played down the chances of major announcements during the visit, but noted that India is very close to a deal with US electric giant Westinghouse to build a nuclear plant.

“There is a very detailed and advanced negotiation,” Arun Singh, India’s ambassador to the United States, told reporters, adding that only the financing details of the scheme remain to be agreed.

The multi-billion dollar deal to provide power to India’s growing, energy-hungry populace had been on hold because of concerns about site safety in Modi’s home state Gujarat.

But a new location for the six-reactor plant has been found in Andhra Pradesh and concerns about insurance have been ironed out, Singh said.

Another potential arena for greater cooperation is in the military and security arena.

India has made the United States its main arms supplier — spending $14 billion over the past five years — but also spends heavily with French, Israeli and Russian suppliers.

The two countries are negotiating a Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), although it is not clear whether a final draft will be ready for Modi to sign on his visit.

This arrangement, long-sought by Washington, will allow the two militaries to seek supplies and spare parts from each other’s bases.

Singh did not say whether agreement was imminent — India also wants deals to acquire advanced US arms technology — but noted that Indian and US troops now train together regularly.

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Oil prices boosted by dollar slump

Oil prices pushed higher Monday thanks to a softer dollar after last week’s disappointing US jobs report, but gains were limited as producers increased their rig count.

The US Labor Department said Friday that just 38,000 new jobs were created last month, a quarter of what was expected.

With a US interest rate rise not now seen before September at the earliest, the dollar tumbled — making oil cheaper for anyone buying it with other currencies.

At about 0640 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was up 42 cents, or 0.86 percent, at $49.04, while Brent gained 36 cents, or 0.73 percent, to $50.00.

Oil is up about 85 percent from the near 13-year lows touched at the start of the year, and key producer Abu Dhabi said the supply glut that had hammered prices was easing quicker than expected.

Ali Majed Al Mansoori, chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, also predicted prices could rise to as much as $60 this year.

However, analysts said gains would meet resistance as current prices are making it viable for producers to bring rigs back online.

On Friday the Baker Hughes weekly North American rig count showed an increase of nine onshore oil drilling platforms in the US.

IG Markets analyst Bernard Aw told AFP: “The move in oil prices is not in proportion to the dollar retreat.

“One would have expected oil prices to push much higher than what we’re seeing… traders might be waiting for news more related to oil itself.”

Crude has managed to hold up as the refusal last week by export cartel OPEC to agree output limits was offset by another fall in US stockpiles, which fuelled hopes of a recovery in demand in the world’s top oil consumer.

Disruptions to supplies from Nigeria and Canada also provided support.

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Oyo NLC demands withdrawal of charges against union leaders

Labour threatens strike in three states over unpaid salaries
As the crisis between labour and the state government over the privatisation of public schools in Oyo State continues, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday demanded the discontinuation of the suit instituted against some of its members including the chairman, Waheed Olojede.

Some labour leaders had last Wednesday disrupted the education stakeholders meeting convened by the state government to dialogue on the proposed privatisation of public secondary schools in the state.

The labour leaders were subsequently arrested and charged to court for causing a breach of public peace and allegedly threatening the governor and causing bodily harm to the Secretary to the State Government, Ismaila Alli.

Although the labour leaders were granted bail last Friday, the union at a press conference called for the discontinuation of the case.
Meanwhile, labour union in the south-west zone of the country yesterday condemned the current backlog of unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuity of workers in some states, threatening to declare industrial action.

The union, under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) said it had put affected states – Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo states on notice to either immediately resolve the issue of paying salary, pensions and gratuity arrears or be prepared to face the anger of organised labour.

Treasurer of the NLC in Oyo, Bosun Daramola, who addressed reporters said the arrests was part of the plot to force labour unions in the state to support the planned privatisation of education by the government.

The union demanded the unconditional release of its leaders and the immediate withdrawal of all the charges against them.It also demanded the payment of all outstanding salaries and other arrears of workers in the state.

Daramola said: “The union was aware that the arrest, arraignment and incarceration of our leaders was a deliberate gimmick of the Oyo State government to weaken the determination of the union to lead the suffering workers in the state

AUPCTRE also called on the states concerned to immediately release all the arrested labour leaders and pay up all outstanding salaries, allowances and gratuity due to the workers.

National President of the union, Solomon Adelagun, in a communiqué issued at the end of the 20th plenary session concluded yesterday, appreciated the Federal Government for the provision of bailout funds for payment of salary arrears, pensions and gratuity to state governments.

Adelagun, however, regretted that “most of the state governments have misappropriated the funds such that workers are owed between two to 11 months arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuity.”

The union called on the Federal Government to ensure that all states governments are called to account for the disbursement of the fund in line with the current war against corruption.

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Don’t cut corners, Adeboye tells youths

The General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Adejare Adeboye, has called on youths in the nation to depend on God, be obedient unto Him and resist temptation to adopt short cut to success.

Ministering yesterday on the theme “No More Delay” with special prayers for the youth, matured singles and their families and those who have suffered delay in careers, promotion and child bearing at the RCCG Headquarters, Throne of Grace, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Adeboye said the only way out of every delay is to wait on God and be obedient to him.

Speaking through the Special Assistant to the General Overseer, Admin and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, Adeboye advised the youth to always seek the face of God before embarking on any project despite the harsh economic condition.

“No matter the situation in the country, the youth should seek the face of God who promises to supply all the needs of those who wait on Him irrespective of prevailing situation or circumstance.

“The government everybody is looking unto to make changes is helpless too without the help of God because the power to turn things around is not in the hands of those running the government but in the hands of God Himself.

“This is the reason everybody, including the youth should seek the face of God for better days to come.”He called on the young ones to be skillful, learn a trade and engage in entrepreneurship instead of waiting for the government to provide jobs.

“At a period like this when there is problem of unemployment, youths should endeavor to be creative because solving problems actually brings creativity. The youths and every Nigerian realise that there is no short-cut to breakthrough and success,” he said.

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Market stakeholders harp on treasury automation for efficiency

Stakeholders in the financial market have raised concerns over the need to measure efficiency in treasury operation functions, especially as the current economic situation calls for transparency and cost reduction.

Besides, they also articulated the need for control, risk reduction, process standardization, improvement and waste elimination, as well as seamless settlement of time sensitive deals, among the imperatives of automated treasury management in the sector.

The keynote speaker at the maiden seminar of the Financial Market Dealers Association (FMDA) and Director of Banking and Payments System Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), ‘Dipo Fatokun, said it was gratifying that the World Economic Forum (WEF), in its Global Competitiveness Report (for 2014-2015), affirmed the relative sophistication, technological innovation, competitiveness and overall stability of the Nigerian financial market, and ranked it 67 among 144 countries appraised globally.

Noting that the ranking was one of the best rankings Nigeria received during the period, he said it is a testament of the relatively sound efforts and commitment of all the stakeholders in the Nigerian financial market.

However, he warned that despite the favourable globally rating, that there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve improvement in treasury related operations, which mainly bothers on technological innovation to drive the market.

He said that CBN, as a market regulator, has laid out some critical measures to forestall future systemic risks and improve on the market operations effectiveness, in order to restore practitioners’ confidence.

“The first measure taken by the bank is using its adapter to interface with the FMDQ platform, to enhance STP settlement of OTC transactions. The second step is the Bank’s interface with the DMO’s banking application system (BAS) for the bidding, issuing and allotment of government securities. The impact of these two measures has been great,” he said.

He recalled that globally, the treasury as a sub-entity of a financial institution had hitherto been a largely neglected area of banking, as most stakeholders considered the corporate treasury function as only a specialized aspect of the finance function, and gave it little attention.

Listing the areas that need automation in treasury management, he said cash management (cash positions, bank account reconciliation and cash flow forecasting); liquidity management (cash pooling, zero balancing and in-house banking); debt management (loan portfolios, mortgages and lease finance) and transaction management (deal input, settlement and confirmation) are important, among others.

For Mr. Akinsanya Olubosi of SERVE Consulting Limited, it is regrettable that amid an increasingly digital world, many businesses and organisations still persist with manual process that involves people, paper and time.

He noted that current global trend has moved to simplified processes- rationalisation and standardisation; new regulation and compliance requirements; increased focus on risk; importance of effective cash and liquidity management; and increasing globalisation.

According to him, the benefits of automation are ensuring centralised organisation with integrated systems; integrated system using central interfaces; auditable and compliant operations; low operational costs and strategic IT infrastructure; accurate and timely cash positions and reliable liquidity forecasts; and proactive approach to risk.

The Senior Vice President, Market Operations and Technology, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, Dipo Odeyemi, reiterated that treasury activities include providing performance and risk analytics to board and ensure accurate valuation of financial instruments.

Other activities, he said, are cash flow and risks forecasting; managing internal capital market by investing and lending to subsidiaries; interest rate and foreign exchange risks management.

Odeyemi, while speaking on the theme: “The Role of Process Automation in Achieving Efficient Financial Market,” pointed out that issues over lack of integrated trading system, hampers the treasury management operations.

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Troops raid another Niger Delta community, arrest six persons

• Oporoza allegedly looted by departing soldiers
• Agip counts losses, stops 65,000 barrels per day crude output

In less than 24 hours after soldiers withdrew from Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State which they had occupied since a week, another detachment of troops yesterday raided Ogulaghan community around 8:20 a.m.

They were in search of members of the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) who last Friday again bombed the Shell Export Terminal at Forcados, Warri South West Council, Delta State.

The pipeline which had been attacked and bombed in the past was undergoing repairs when it was destroyed again by the militants who had warned that it should not be repaired.



According to the Chairman of Ogulaghan Kingdom chapter of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Doubra Collins Okotete, well armed soldiers around 8:20 a.m. yesterday raided Ogulaghan community, harassed, intimidated and arrested some persons whom he said were innocent, over the Shell Export Terminal Pipeline that was blown up.

He gave the names of those arrested as: Chief Peter Tuasinde, Mr. Clement Ibada, Mr. John Borme, Mr. Goddey Miebi, the community chairman Capt. Solomon Prebor and community Public Relations Officer, Mr. Agediga Henrey.

Okotete said: “For over 50 years of oil exploration and exploitation in our kingdom, our people have always co-operated, supported and created the enabling environment for peaceful operations despite the marginalisation shown in return to our people by these multinational oil companies.

“We strongly condemned the recent raid and arrest of our people. We are calling on the Joint Task Force to release and correct the anomalies done to our people.”

And the Ayakoromo community which, a few years ago, was invaded and destroyed by soldiers, yesterday denied the rumours making the rounds that sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers and their arsenal were being hidden in the community.

The community, according to its spokesman, Arerebo Salaco Yerinmene Peter’s Jnr, was shocked when their attention was drawn to an online news publication purportedly accusing some illustrious Ijaw sons namely Frank Omare, Chief Johnny Aribogha and Chief Boro Pudu as the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers.

“This same publication on June 4, 2016 also alleged that members of the Niger Delta Avengers are domiciled in Ayakoromo to get arms reinforcement.

“This is the highest exhibition of falsehood embellished with hateful propaganda. Though we are not the legal counsel nor spokespersons to the accused persons and as such not entitled to speak on their behalf, we make this swift response that the report is a calculated attempt to blackmail illustrious sons of Ijaw nation and justify another genocidal attack against the good people of Ayakoromo community,” he said.

The spokesman disclosed that Ayakoromo community is a peace-loving community that does not harbour nor encourage antisocial vices.
According to him, the community has always driven away any of its citizens whose presence constitutes a threat to the stability of the community.

Source: Guardian NEWSPAPER.

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Why we need better universities, not more

Let me confess from the outset that the fantastic title of this article is not original to me. It belongs to a concerned foreigner, Keith Richards who in an article on a similar subject in 2006 drew our attention to the implications of meretricious proliferation of universities without concomitant quality.

I would like to provoke some thoughts and even debate this week on the present and future of this country that is at some crossroads at the moment. Too many big trees have fallen on trees and we should naturally begin to remove the topmost first through suggestions to our elected representatives in the 36 state capitals and Abuja, the nation’s capital. I mean that we are all well aware of the most torturous, the already globalized Boko Haram insurgency in the North East even as the “technically defeated” religious sect is still a nightmare. We know enough now to know that the mystery (Fulani) herdsmen that are causing mayhem all over the country too have ‘technically defeated’ the ancient evangelistic ministry of the social crusaders south of the Niger. But the political support that they (herdsmen) are suspected to be getting from some ‘unknown soldiers’ (some say authorities) in Abuja and some far countries may have some unintended consequences sooner than later. Some deep throats are saying that the central government has provided in the national budget a 55, 000 hectares worth of lands nationwide for cattle grazing. This is a serious discussion point. The backsliding militants as the new bogeymen in the Niger Delta too have provided yet another cause for concern for public intellectuals to think about. The depleting foreign reserve and hyper-inflation stories are enough nightmares that can engage writer’s attention now. To the Karl Maier’s, “this house has fallen”under the weight of corruption incorporated everywhere you go in Nigeria. Energy crisis too has become a Sword of Damocles dangling over our heads. There are more topical issues about the “giant in the sun” that has been fantastically challenged on all fronts.

But I would like to visit the roots of most of the challenges and so, I have to sensitize all the state actors from all the 774 local governments, 36 states and Abuja to lend me their ears: I would like us to interrogate Professor Wole Soyinka’s ‘thesis’ about the expediency of closing down all the Nigerian universities for a year or two with a view to restructuring them into “Ivory Towers”, citadels of learning and centres of innovation that they should be. This is not a seminal paper on the role of the university in a developing country. Nor is it a research topic on the role of public intellectuals in development. Rather, it is a thought-provoking discussion point on why all our representatives in government should halt the “hollow rituals” called licensing of new private universities and the federal government’s own obsession with political project called federal universities in all the states of the federation.

I am persuaded that elders of the land, notably those that had enjoyed ‘the good old days’ in this same country when universities were universities to support a motion that governments at all levels should stop all priority projects and declare emergency on education with a view to funding them ruthlessly. I mean there had been good time here when even Americans were applying to read English at the University of Ibadan. In 2008, I met an African American, in Miami Florida who claimed to be a classmate of now Professor G.G Darah at the University of Ibadan where she did her PhD in English/Literature. The woman gave me a note to give to her radical classmate, Gordini Dara. She too is a President of a University in Florida.

What is more horrible than a situation whereby most Nigerian universities have become mere factories for producing unemployable graduates at all levels? All the major highways have become attractions for private universities, most of which are just for ways of laundering money for some crooks who can no longer hide such slush and stolen funds abroad. But sadly, most of the lecturers of the universities cannot allow their children to be admitted into the universities where they teach. I know many of them, who would still have to struggle through thick and thin to send their wards abroad where real learning takes place. I had this conversation with a visiting lecturer this week in the course of seeking some consensus for this rigmarole on quality in education. The lecturer, a Nigerian who teaches Dramatic Art in the United States, said the university he has been assisting in a Middle Belt state in Nigeria just organized its convocation. But the Dean of the Theatre/Performing Art said to me. “The situation in the university has been so terrible that I as a person would not employ any of the graduates we just produced. There is no learning atmosphere, there are no facilities; there are no qualified lecturers to train students for the industries… It is the same way the elites in Nigeria hate the Nigerian hospitals to the extent that they go abroad for treatment. We all know no learning takes place here…we just get by, and pretend all is well…”
The professor who was produced here before he joined the brain- drain bandwagon noted that the federal universities, in all sincerity, still have some semblance of learning, though quite inadequate for today’s universities driven by social technologies. He warned that something should be done about the mushroom state and private universities. He told me that most of them should not be called universities. “In most cases, the teachers in these state and private universities are as insufferably ignorant as their students”, he noted.

Indeed the university education palaver being discussed is just a paradigm to push the discussion points on the parlous state of education at all levels in Nigeria. The primary schools and the secondary schools, especially the public schools have long been neglected.

But some of the private secondary schools can produce good candidates for the universities that need some restructuring. And that is why most enlightened parents would like to even steal from public funds the authorities have failed to use to develop the schools and teacher education systems to dispatch their children abroad. All told, this is why it is a sad commentary on our political life that the political parties that should ordinarily convert all this development issues into manifestoes are nowhere to be found at this time. Both the governing and the opposition parties are so barren and ill-equipped for public service. But then I am buoyed every week by the passion of the Chairman of Editorial Board of The Guardian Professor Wale Omole, a former vice chancellor, who keeps harping every week on the fact that the people should stop looking up to the hills occupied by the government people that can’t help, after all.

It is conventional here to blame the presidency for all the ills of the society but it is not logical to blame the federal government alone for all the tragic turn of events in education. This politics and policies of education should be local, after all. It was not the federal government that established the Great University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo University). It was not the federal government that also established the University of Nigeria Nsukka, in the beginning. So was the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. They (UNIFE, UNN & ABU) were founded by regional governments. They were only taken over by the federal government that has violated them. In this connection, nothing prevents a state government from equipping a world-class university whose standard can trigger competition in the sector. I once asked a former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola at an interaction with journalists if he would be able to do his doctorate degree in Lagos State University. In the same vein, the current Governor, Akinwumi Ambode has been challenged to do something about the quality of Lagos State University. The city university can be transformed into a mega university to develop excellent manpower for the maga city with mega challenges. Curiously, no one can read in the newspapers the contributions of the Nigerian intellectuals to development of public policies and legislations for the improvement of our society. Nigeria is not competitive anywhere because at the level of research and development (R&D) funding: it is nowhere to be found. University is the centre of innovation and development. The most valuable resource of our country should not be oil and gas but the people, especially in this age when intellectual capital is a valuable resource as in Singapore, a nation of barely five million people. The high level of mediocrity that is threatening to sink the public and private sectors is so because of the poor state of research centres called the universities in Nigeria. What is the joy of a state governor who keeps pretending to be funding two to three universities when none of them is recognized anywhere as a centre of excellence? Why would the federal government be establishing universities that they cannot fund in all the states of the federation? Why do the elders who enjoyed good education in this country and outside keep quiet when our political leaders are destroying education with all their strength?

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Nigeria is telecom investors’ haven, says NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured international and potential investors that Nigeria remains a sure haven for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) investors with over 107 per cent teledensity for voice segment of telecommunications services already achieved.

According to NCC quarterly magazine, its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof Umar Danbatta, gave this assurance during a panel discussion in Spain.

Danbatta assured the international community that the NCC’s eight-point agenda had been carefully packaged to cushion all aspects of investments, especially “as we move to the next frontier of ICT revolution broadband for Internet connectivity.”

He said that NCC would keep fate with the National Broadband Plan, adding that in line with this, the country now had seven zones and each zone would have one operator that would deploy broadband services to every part of that zone.

He noted: “So far, two infrastructure licences have been issued for Lagos and North Central zones, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

“And the process for issuing licences for the other five zones has begun.

“The regulatory framework has been put in place to ensure a transparent licencing process, because we really want to bridge the digital divide by addressing the infrastructure divide and we will be transparent and open about this.”

He stated that NCC unfolded strategies to promote universal access to support market driven communications, adding: “NCC has adopted a number of Internet-related projects and initiatives for its strategic management plan.

“Some of these plans are ongoing while some are proposed or planned for future dates.”

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Danbatta listed these to include provision of online portal for stakeholder consultation, development of infrastructure database to link Regional Internet Code of Conduct and development of National Registry Database. (NAN)

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Buhari, Jonathan in closed-door meeting

President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly met with his predecessor, former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday evening in his official residence at Aso Rock, Abuja.

The closed meeting door reportedly took place at 9 pm on Thursday, barely 24 hours after Jonathan made an unexpected return from Côte d’Ivoire where he was said to be holidaying.

A top Presidency source, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed in Abuja last night that the meeting, which was described as “private,” held at about 9pm.

The meeting is believed to have centred on the renewed violence in the Niger Delta being perpetrated by a group called the Niger Delta Avengers.

According to the source: “The two leaders met. The meeting was a private one. I believe it has to do with the militants’ attacks in the Niger Delta.

“The former President must have offered useful suggestions and assistance on the way out.”

Jonathan returned to Nigeria on Wednesday this week after a month’s trip to the United Kingdom and Côte d’Ivoire, amidst media speculations that he had gone on exile, a claim he described as baseless.

He arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport before heading for his country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Jonathan left Otuoke for Abuja on Thursday to keep the appointment with Buhari.

A newspaper report had indicated that Jonathan had been given asylum in the Francophone West African country for fear of being arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

But he insisted that he had nothing wrong to warrant his going into exile.

Most top government officials were tight-lipped on the visit, with one insisting that it may have to do with the activities of the NDA and how the former President can be brought on board to rein in the militants, because of the economic implications of their activities.

Another suggested that the kite being flown on the planned arrest of the Jonathan may have featured.

He hinted that the embarrassment caused by the newspaper report and that a petition had been filed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) “were not smokes without fire.”

The insider suggested that the Jonathan camp might have seen the two moves as the handiwork of those within government bent on roping him into something by all means.

It was not clear last night at whose behest Thursday night’s meeting held, as spokesmen on all sides chose not to speak.

But it would be recalled that in addition to the denial by Jonathan that he had gone on exile, his aides and supporters had circulated statement, saying: “It is laughable that anyone would think Jonathan would run off into exile. For what reason exactly?

“What offence has he committed that would compel him to abscond from this country?”

They said the whole story was aimed at tarnishing the image of the former President by individuals working hand in glove with the present government, adding that the latest move by his detractors smacked of desperation.

“They have repeatedly tried to rubbish him and failed. They arrested his close aides, including even his cousin and have tried to coerce them into implicating him, but have also not being successful.

“Now, they have hit upon another strategy and this will clearly fail.”

He added: “It is a despicable attempt at trying to give a dog a bad name into order to snuff life out of it.

“It is common knowledge that Jonathan was one of the principal actors behind the end of militancy in the Niger Delta first as Vice President under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and then later as President himself.

“So, how can he suddenly turn around to instigate them to cause violence and disruption of the nation’s economic wellbeing through blowing up of pipelines and other oil facilities?

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Michelle Obama takes swipe against Trump in New York

First Lady Michelle Obama took a veiled swipe at Donald Trump while delivering a passionate defense of immigration and diversity, in the final commencement address of her husband’s presidency on Friday.

“Infusions of new cultures and new ideas, generation after generation, created the matchless alchemy of our melting pot and helped us build the strongest, most vibrant, most prosperous nation on the planet,” Obama told the 2016 graduating class of City College of New York.

“Some folks out there today seem to have a very different perspective,” she said, appearing to allude to the presumptive Republican nominee for president, without using his name.

“They seem to view our diversity as a threat to be contained rather than as a resource to be tapped, they tell us to be afraid of those who are different,” said the first lady, wife of Democratic president Barack Obama in remarks that appeared more pointedly political than usual.

“They act as if name calling is an acceptable substitute for thoughtful debate, as if anger and intolerance should be our default state.”

Donald Trump has vowed to build a wall along America’s southern border to keep out illegal immigrants, and has run a controversial campaign insulting women, Mexicans, Muslims, the disabled and journalists whom he dislikes, among others.

“In America we don’t give in to our fears, we don’t build up walls to keep people out, because we know that our greatness has always depended on contributions from people born elsewhere but sought this country,” Obama said.

She deliberately chose CCNY, a public college and immigrant-rich New York for her final address to a university graduating class.

The school welcomes students who speak more than 150 different languages and come from every possible background in a city that for centuries was the gateway for immigrants striving for a better life in America, Obama said.

While she did not mention Trump, Michelle Obama did reference ex-secretary of state Colin Powell, a CCNY graduate and son of Jamaican immigrants who served Republican president George W. Bush, calling him a role model for young people.

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104 migrant bodies washed up on Libyan beach

The bodies of at least 104 migrants have washed up on a beach in the western Libyan town of Zwara, the navy said Friday, warning however that the toll could rise.
“The number of bodies retrieved Thursday evening was 104 but the toll is expected to rise since an average boat carries 115-125 passengers,” Libyan navy spokesman Colonel Ayoub Qassem said.

People smugglers have exploited the chaos gripping Libya since the 2011 uprising that overthrew dictator Moamer Kadhafi to traffic migrants across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.

It is a lucrative business for the smugglers who cram migrants into boats that are small and unsafe for the perilous journey to Italy just 300 kilometres (190 miles) from Libya’s shores.

Thousands of migrants try each year to make the crossing, but many drown when their boats founder.

Qassem said that migrant boats leaving from western Libya usually set off from the port cities of Sabratha and Zwara, with passengers who are mostly African or Arabs from Morocco.

The identities of the bodies found on Thursday were not yet known.

Some 204,000 migrants and refugees have crossed the Mediterranean to Europe since January, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday.

More than 2,500 people have died trying to make the crossing this year — the vast majority of them between Libya and Italy — as Europe battles its worst migration crisis since World War II.

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Swiss raid on FIFA amid new revelations on Blatter payments

Swiss investigators have searched the FIFA headquarters as the world football governing body revealed that former president Sepp Blatter and two of his deputies awarded themselves more than $80 million in often suspicious payments over the past five years.

On a day that FIFA also had to deny media reports that new president Gianni Infantino was under investigation, it said Blatter, former secretary general Jerome Valcke and finance director Markus Kattner made a coordinated effort to “enrich themselves” and that Swiss and US authorities were being informed.

Blatter is serving a six year suspension from football over a two million Swiss franc ($2 million, 1.8 million euros) payment made to former FIFA vice president Michel Platini. Valcke and Kattner have both been fired in recent months over World Cup ticket scandals and payments they received.

Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney (OAG) General said its investigators “carried out a search of FIFA’s headquarters” on Thursday as part of its inquiry into the football world governing body’s mismanagement and the awarding of World Cup tournaments.

“Documents and electronic data were seized and will now be examined to determine their relevance to the ongoing proceedings,” said the OAG.

FIFA said the search had concentrated on Kattner’s office.

– ‘Coordinated effort’ –
A FIFA statement said that some of the contracts agreed by Blatter, Valcke and Kattner “appear to violate Swiss law”.

“The evidence appears to reveal a coordinated effort by three former top officials of FIFA to enrich themselves through annual salary increases, World Cup bonuses and other incentives totalling more than 79 million Swiss francs ($80 million, 71 million euros) — in just the last five years,” said Bill Burck, a partner with the Quinn Emmanuel audit firm brought in to look at FIFA’s books.

“The investigation has produced evidence of breaches of fiduciary duty. It also raises questions about the role of FIFA’s compensation subcommittee.”

The revelations have raised new questions about the scope of corruption in world football. Burck said the information has been passed on to Swiss prosecutors and will also be sent to US judicial authorities.

FIFA has been battling to redeem its name ever since a raid on a Zurich hotel last year to arrest seven FIFA officials at the centre of a US investigation.

About 40 individuals and two companies now face charges in the United States over more than $200 million in bribes paid for television and marketing contracts.

Separately, Swiss police have been investigating FIFA’s management and the award of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and 2022 event to Qatar. French prosecutors indicated this week they could also look into the Qatar World Cup award.

Infantino became president in February in a bid to stabilise the FIFA administration and vowed to lead world football into a new era of “transparency” and “honesty”.

But he already faces scrutiny. FIFA on Friday denied German media reports that a formal investigation had been launched into the new president.

Die Welt newspaper said Infantino had improperly ordered the destruction of the minutes of a FIFA executive committee meeting held at last month’s congress in Mexico city.

FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer said the allegations were baseless.

“The email exchange that makes mention of the deletion of audio files refers to a copy of the original audio file of the meeting that was improperly stored on a local drive,” she said.

“This mention does not refer to the officially archived audio file. That file exists and is properly saved at FIFA.”

A spokesman for the ethics committee’s investigatory arm, Roman Geiser, told AFP that “there are no formal proceedings going on against Mr. Infantino”.

FIFA officials have not discounted however that there is a possibility of an official inquiry.

Die Welt had said FIFA’s ethics commission could impose a 90 day suspension on Infantino over the issue.

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Tunisia’s president backs national unity government

Tunisia’s President Beji Caid Essebsi on Thursday said he would support a government of national unity, as long as it included Nobel Prize winning groups the UGTT union and UTICA.
Any change of government would require the decommission of the current government, then negotiations between all the groups involved, including political parties, unions and employers.

Essid was already forced into a broad reshuffle in January, when the country witnessed its worst violence since the Arab spring uprisings of 2011 that toppled president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The economy has also been hit by several jihadists attacks, including one in June when 38 tourists were killed when gunmen stormed a beach resort. The incident has scared visitors away from its vital tourism industry.

Essebsi did not rule out the idea of a new prime minister to replace Habib Essid, who local media has speculated was about to depart after only a year and a half in the job.

“From what I have seen (of the current government), the bad points outweigh the positives, which has prompted me to… agree to look at a proposal to create a national unity government,” he said in an interview broadcast on public television channel Wataniya 1.

He said any government would have to include the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) and the Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), which were part of a group of bodies that won the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize.

The National Dialogue Quartet, made up of four civil society groups, helped save Tunisia’s transition to democracy at a sensitive moment in 2013 when the process was in danger of collapsing because of widespread social unrest.

But speaking several hours before the president, the secretary general of the UGTT, Houcine Abassi, seemed to rule out his union from any unity government.

“We cannot take part,” he told radio Mosaique FM. The UGTT remains “the force that unites all the institutions and the place of refuge for a whole spectrum of opinions”.

Tunisia’s current government is composed of four groups including the party Essebsi founded in 2012, Nidaa Tounes, and the Islamist Ennahda party.

Fighting terrorism, corruption and unemployment, as well as addressing regional disparities, would likely remain the priorities for any new government.

“The failure of Mr Essid’s government is that he did not confess to the people the situation in which he found the country,” Essebsi said.

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20 things a guy shouldn’t do or ask when he meets a lady

• 1. Men shouldn’t be looking at their phone more than the Lady.
• 2. Talking about your Bank account or how much your father has puts ladies off (Bragging).
• 3. Smelling Bad (Mouth or Body Odor is a No. No).
• 4. Don’t ask, ‘Are you a virgin?’
• 5. Don’t ask her how many guys she’s been with (Body Count).
• 6. If she’s going to pay the movie or dinner tab let her know in advance (No unexpected ATM failures, I forgot my wallet at home).
• 7. When your phone rings on a date and you’re asked where you are? Don’t give a degrading response e.g. (I dey with that big ass babe, I dey with tolu big Breasts, I dey with that weekend chops I teh u about)
• 8. Don’t insist on a ‘come to my house first date’ or come to my friends house first date.
• 9. Don’t leave your date to talk to another lady for more than 2 minutes.
• 10. Don’t buy her too many gifts she may think you’re trying to ‘buy’ her.
• 11. If for any reason someone else needs to be in the car, don’t put her in the back seat.
• 12. Don’t compare her to your Ex.
• 13. Don’t talk about her weight or hair only in a positive way e.g. (some guys may say: you’re about to burst out of that dress, your hair should be due by now?).
• 14. After the first sex always call as a courtesy (even if the sex was good or bad).
• 15. Table manners (making sounds with your mouth while eating, talking while theirs food in your mouth, using fork & knife for ice-cream)
• 16. Focus your eyes on her eyes not her breast or ass (Don’t look at any other lady asides her on a date).
• 17. Projecting yourself as someone you’re not (Ladies can spot fake confidence, or a fake in general).
• 18. Don’t borrow your friends car and say it’s yours, don’t lie your friend’s apartment is yours.
• 19. Don’t be too touchy & feely on a first date.
• 20. Don’t be rude or nasty to the waiter or waitress to impress your date.
•  Don’t ask her for money.
•  Don’t ask for pictures unless she offers.

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Angola president appoints daughter boss of oil firm

Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has named his billionaire daughter Isabel to head the state oil firm Sonangol, according to a government statement published late Thursday.
He appointed the 43-year-old Isabel dos Santos chairwoman of a new board of directors of Sonangol, after sacking the previous board last month.

Isabel dos Santos has been ranked by Forbes magazine as the richest woman on the continent.

Critics say she amassed her vast fortunes thanks to the backing of her father who has ruled Angola for 35 years.

In a statement Friday Isabel dos Santos vowed that the new Sonangol board “will work to decrease production costs and optimise resources in order to increase the international competitiveness of the Angolan oil sector”.

The eldest daughter of the Angolan leader, she is nicknamed the “Princess” and is ranked Africa’s eighth wealthiest by Forbes magazine after building a vast business empire.

She grew up in London, where she studied mechanical and electrical engineering at King’s College. Her first business venture was a restaurant, Miami Beach, which she opened as a 24-year-old in Luanda.

Her wealth is estimated at $3.3 billion.

The mother of three holds a quarter of the shares in Angola’s mobile phone company Unitel and a significant stake of Angola’s Banco BIC.

She also controls 19 percent of Portugal’s fourth-biggest bank BPI and has bought shares in several Portuguese companies in recent years, including a cable television firm.

Isabel dos Santos has recently spread her banking empire into neighbouring Namibia, after a banking licence was approved by the country’s central bank.

Angola is sub-Saharan Africa’s second largest oil producer after Nigeria.

But a global decline in the price of oil has deprived Angola of vital resources, prompting the regime of longtime ruler President Jose Eduardo dos Santos in April to ask for financial help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

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Serena struggles again but into French Open final

Serena Williams kept alive her hopes of making Grand Slam history in Paris on Friday, but she was again well below her best in a 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 French Open semi-final win over Kiki Bertens.
For the second straight day, the 34-year-old American looked out-of-sorts and at times exasperated before finally clawing her way back to stay alive.

She will now play Garbine Muguruza in Saturday’s final with the prize for her being a 22nd Grand Slam title, equalling the Open-era record set by Steffi Graf in Paris in 1999.


The fourth seeded Spaniard underlined her fine form with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Australia’s Samantha Stosur.

“The first set was not simple, but she was playing so well,” Williams said. “I need to keep my calm for the final and hope the fans will be with me.”

Williams already looked out-of-sorts in her quarter-final on Thursday against 60th ranked Yulia Putintseva, having to claw her way back from a set and a break down to get through.

And it was another ponderous start from the three-time former winner against her 58th-ranked, opponent, losing the first three points of the match and dropping her serve.

Bertens, who had never made it past the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament prior to Paris, went 2-0 up before Williams opened her account.

The cold, damp conditions were similar to Thursday and the atmosphere was muted on a less-than-half full Philippe Chatrier centre court.

Williams was having trouble returning the Bertens serve and she had to save break points on her own to avoid falling further behind.

The Dutchwoman failed to convert a set point at 5-3 with Williams serving and then a pair of drop shots in the next game brought up a break-back point for the American which she converted with a big forehand drive.

Bertens appeared to be having trouble with an injury to her left calf muscle as Williams took the lead for the first time in the match, but she held firm to force a tie-break.

In that, Williams eased ahead 5-2 after losing the first point on her serve, but two botched volleys at the net saw her hand a set point back to Bertens before she found some form to take it 9/7.

The pair exchanged service breaks to get the second set underway and Bertens then failed to take two break points to get to 4-2.

She paid the price for that minutes later as Williams grabbed the break she needed to put the match away needing four match points in the end.

The final will be the fourth match in four days for Williams due to the bad weather that has dogged Roland Garros this week.

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Drug, food counterfeiters may face life imprisonment – Saraki

The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that individuals convicted of producing and selling counterfeit and fake drugs as well as unwholesome processed foods may be jailed for life.

Saraki, who spoke at the public hearing on a Bill for an Act to Amend the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Act, added that such convicts could be fined up to two million naira.

He further said that upon conviction, assets acquired by such persons would be forfeited to the Federal Government.

According to him, the amendment of the law is aimed at strengthening punishments for persons involved in such unwholesome practices.

In 2008, thousands of Nigerian children started taking a teething medicine that contained toxic chemicals.

By February 2009 over 90 Nigerian babies had died from consuming the mixture. This is despicable, and to say the least, unacceptable,’’ he said.

The president of the Senate stressed that the amendment of the law would provide Nigerians food security, disease free society and required standards for soil sciences.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Olanrewaju Tejuoso, said the Senate had continued to give opportunity to Nigerians to contribute their quota to matters of national importance, particularly health.

He said that the World Health Organisation had reported that about 32 billion dollars was lost to drug counterfeiting business in 2004 and 40 billion dollars in 2006.

There is need to enact new legislation or amend the weak or already existing ones to see that the lives of the citizens of this nation are protected,’’ he said.

Tejuoso said that the increased level of fake products in the Nigerian market was alarming.

He added that “there are several fake products like fake cosmetics, fake registered appliances, fake spare-parts, fake brushes, fake designer shoes and the list is literally endless.

The effect is far reaching because it is a matter of life and death.

Some of the major causes of fake drugs and counterfeiting include corruption, inadequate technology for the protection of the identity of genuine drugs as well as lack of vigilance and advocacy by the healthcare providers.

Combating this menace requires serious efforts,’’ he said.

According to him, about 50 per cent of drugs bought from private places, such as pharmacies, patent medicine stores and street vendors, are more susceptible to counterfeiting unlike those from the public health sector.

According to late Dora Akunyili of blessed memory, the negative impact of fake drugs from the society is more than that of either narcotic agents but the combined effects of malaria, HIV/AIDS and armed robbery,’’ he said.

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No minister is bigger than the legislature – Enang

The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, said no minister was bigger than the legislature.

Enang told newsmen in Abuja on Friday that all ministers and heads of agencies were subject to the authority of the National Assembly as stipulated in the Constitution.

He said that such situation where some minsters considered themselves bigger than the legislature may have existed in the past, “it is not so under the current administration’’.

He said that current Executive led by Buhari had enjoyed very cordial relationship with the Legislature in the last one year, adding that no minister had shunned the invitation of the national assembly.

“This is one government where there has been straight and very free, cordial and exemplary working relationship between the executive and the legislature.

“I am sure that in previous times, you did hear of invitations to ministers or to some persons who considered themselves prime ministers or some serious ministers who would not ordinarily appear before the legislature.

“But under President Muhammmadu Buhari’s administration, under the change administration of APC, all ministers and all persons are subject to the authorities of the legislature within the limits of the Constitution.

“This is one other aspect where we can score that we have done well in the maintenance of executive-legislative relationship,’’ he said.

Enang added that the healthy relationship between both arms of government was further demonstrated by the attention which the president gave to Bills originated and passed by the legislature.

He exemplified this with the Bill seeking to increase the number of Federal Capital Territory High Court Judges from 37 to 75 which was passed by the legislature on Tuesday and was assented to on the same day.

“This is one of the Bills that was not originated by the president but sponsored by legislators, and being a member’s bill, the president did not have any reservation towards it.

“This shows that the president does not believe that only bills that come from him are the only ones that he assents to; this shows that the president respects the legislature.

“He respects the wisdom of the legislature and works in accord with the legislature,” he stated.

Enang also said that as the president’s aide, he had enjoyed good communication with the legislature, and had fostered same with between both arms, explaining that correspondence between both sides had had no problem.

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Court grants female muslim students order to wear veil in Osun schools

An Osogbo High Court has granted the prayers of female Muslim students to wear Hijab (veil) in all public primary and secondary schools in Osun.

The court, presided by Justice Jide Falola, in a 51-page judgment delivered on Friday, held that any act of molestation, harassment, torture and humiliation against female Muslim students using Hijab constitutes a clear infringement on their fundamental rights.

Falola cited Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) to rest his ruling.

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South African elephant charges action hero Schwarzenegger

Hollywood action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted that “some of us had to change our pants” after an elephant charged a vehicle he was in while on safari in South Africa.

Schwarzenegger posted a video of the charge on

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