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Xenophobia: Attack on MTN, others not in our interest

Varied reactions have greeted the xenophobic incidence against Nigerian-owned businesses in South Africa and the reprisal attacks against MTN and other South African interests here in Nigeria. While there were strident criticisms against xenophobia in any part of the globe, the recourse to self-help in its resolution was denounced, report Simeon Ebulu and Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

The xenophobic attacks in South Africa against Nigerians and their businesses and the counter attacks on MTN Nigeria  and other  South African  firms in this clime have been described as unhealthy and should be nipped in the bud.

Stakeholders, who bared their minds on the issue, agreed that the trend should not be allowed to continue.

The Senior Partner/Director, Africa Region Board of PKF Professional Services, an Accounting and Business Advisory firm, Tajudeen Akande, said a categorical ‘No’ to the inquisition as to whether the development was healthy, either to South Africa or Nigeria, if we decide to pay them back in their own coin.

“No it doesn’t help,” he said, adding that it will adversely affect their economy.

“The last time I had them send trainers here, or bring conferences here was maybe, 2003 or so. Unfortunately, South Africa is doing this, which is not going to be good for their economy. It shouldn’t happen, but unfortunately, it is happening,” he stated.

“There was a time I proposed to have a board meeting in South Africa, I was like, can we do it through teleconference or we go to another place. Of course if I can react that way, a big investor will also react that way,” he said, pointing out that “on the diplomatic level, we shouldn’t be doing a retaliatory thing with MTN because, as he put it, “ we are beyond that. As long as we are able to demonstrate that we are beyond that, then we are in a position of strength,” he stated.

Citing other climes, Akande said: “Look at what is in the Middle East, you see that in whatever way you see it, Britain has handled it above emotional reaction. You won’t see the kind of emotional reaction you will see from Russia or Trump’s America of today,” adding,  “we must understand that it is in their psyche. Those people the (South Africans), since they were born, they have known nothing other than struggle.”

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) President, Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs, who condemned the xenophobic attacks as unhelpful and unhealthy for businesses,   distanced himself from the retaliatory attacks  on  South African business interests. “I don’t think it’s the right thing,” he said, adding, you don’t pay violence with violence.” Udemba, who was a bit hesitant in responding to the issue on the ground that those affected were not manufacturers with whom he superintends, said the action of those who embarked on the reprisal attacks in Nigeria, was wrong, pointing out that the incident would affect Nigerians in the long-run. “it’s not the right thing to do, obviously it is going to affect Nigerians who work in those organisations,” if the development is allowed to fester and not checked. He said those who took part in the exercise, “were not properly advised.”

Udemba called for a resolution of the issues through diplomatic channels by the embassies of Nigeria and South Africa.

Also,  a real estate consultant/ Chief Executive Officer, D. L. Maurice Concern, Mr. Maurice David, told The Nation that the  retaliatory action was like using a knife to cut oneself.

He said: “If we react against MTN, we are reacting against thousands of Nigerian families that are employed by this outfit. If we react against DSTV, we are going against the daily bread – winners of many families. If we go against Stanbic IBTC, we are sending thousands of Nigerians into the labour market thereby worsening the already bad economy of many homes.

“ It will have an adverse effect on the nation’s economy, crime rate will soar due to the probable high number of people that will be affected and that will consequently join the unemployment market,” he stated.

The Managing Director, Infinite Holdings Limited, Mr. Archibong Williams, a company with core interest in  renewable energy, telecommunications and safety systems engineering, said since the world has become a global village for business activities and relationships; we need each other at certain curves whether we like it or not.

He said the people attacking fellow Africans that live in their country, “seem not to belong to the global community, otherwise they wouldn’t have embarked on the hate campaign.”

The actions of the South African  xenophobics have clearly defined who they are, that they’re oblivious of the interconnectedness and dynamism of modern entrepreneurship.

He said: “Embarking on retaliatory move will worsen the situation and make mess of our big brother status in the continent.  I will rather suggest a constructive political engagement and diplomacy between the two governments.”

Also, Security Consultant and Head of Operations, APV Security Consultants, Mr. Archibong Archibong, said the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa is a disturbing trend that has come into being in recent years.

He said the development has not augured well for businesses on both sides of the divide because it has bred distrust and suspicion among people who ordinarily should be close brothers, enjoying trade with one another and developing their economies.

He called on both governments to take a strong stand on the matter so that it does not affect bilateral trade amongst business partners from the two countries, saying the development presently has the potential of doing so  if the trend is allowed to continue.

Archibong said: ”I do not support reprisal attacks on South African interests because it amounts to biting your nose to spite your face. Such attacks will only result in placing some Nigerians in a position of disadvantage and suffering through the loss of their jobs as a result of these attacks.

“There is nothing to be gained by responding to violence with violence because Nigerians are the ones who will lose at both ends of the divide,’ he added.

South Afriacan retail giant, Shoprite Nigeria, also lent its voice in criticising the xenophobic attacks, saying it condemned any  xenophobic violence and intimidation against the citizens of other countries.

In a statement in the wake of the attacks, Shoprite said it was highly concerned at the acts of violence against foreign nationals that sporadically flare up in South Africa and the resultant rhetoric of intolerance that is now being levelled against South Africans living in Nigeria.

As a company with deep African roots which employs thousands of African nationals and most importantly works to bring low prices to 14 countries outside of South Africa, “we would like to see an end to xenophobia across the continent,” it said, adding, “ Shoprite appealed to the public to protect the human dignity and safety of all people living in both countries.

“We remain committed to working with industry and the appropriate consumer groups to engage so that decisive action is taken against those involved in violent crimes and intimidation against foreign nationals as well as to convey our strong position against xenophobia,” the company stated.

Graphic photos: 20 feared dead and several others injured as gunmen storm Zaki Biam community and burn down homes

About 20 people were killed in Zaki Biam, Ukum local government area of Benue State on Monday while several others were seriously injured. A community leader, Chief Udam Wuhe, said more than 10 gunmen stormed the town from TorTonda- Zaki Biam road at about 5:00 p.m. on Monday evening and massacred members of the community.

He said there were no fewer than 20 dead bodies counted in the community, with several others injured and many houses razed by the gunmen.

 

The state Police Public Relation Officer, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the killing, however, said they don't know the exact amount of those killed and injured. He said:

“We are yet to ascertain the number of those killed in the attack. Our men are already on ground there to restore normalcy to the area,” he said.

According to Daily Post, a source reported that properties including vehicles, houses and a petrol station which belonged to a popular business mogul in the area were among properties that were burnt. The source said:

“The unknown gunmen driving in 4 toyota corolla cars popularly called ‘Duck Nyash’ and 12 Bajaj motorcycles stormed, Zaki Biam, killing people in the town. Casualties are yet to be ascertained but am still tracking events over there as I report this”.

Another source said:

“It started around 2pm this afternoon. About 12 bajaj and 4 duck yash came around the yam market area and started shooting. A fuel station was also burnt. It’s really a bloody evening in Zaki Biam”.  

“As I speak to you, everyone has deserted the community, running for his or her dear life. Over 50 persons have been killed, including school children returning home from their schools. We don’t know who the attackers really are”, one of the villagers told Daily Post.

The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom confirmed the attack of Monday in Zaki Biam, in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua.

 The Governor condemned the attack and called for information on the whereabouts of the most wanted person in Benue State, Terwase Akwaza (a.k.a Gana).

The attack happened barely one week after suspected Fulani Herdsmen killed over 10 people in Buruku area of Benue state.

$280m solar power investment coming

   

A Paris-based independent power producer, GreenWish Partners said it will invest $280 million (N86.9billion) to build solar-power plants in Nigeria that are expected to start producing electricity in the first quarter of next year.

Its Chief Executive Officer Charlotte Aubin-Kalaidjian said in an interview in Lagos that the firm will build a plant in Enugu in the Southeast which will produce 100 megawatts (Mw) while the company will build two others of 50Mw in Kaduna and Jigawa states respectively.

She saidthe project will be funded 70 percent through debt and 30 percent through equity and on completion will provide power to 2.5 million people.

“We only take risks where solar makes sense, where it is competitive and where there is political support. This government is very committed to developing power and renewables, especially in regions where there is no gas available,” Aubin-Kalaidjian said.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country of more than 180 million people, faces an 8,000Mw energy defcict, having capacity to generate only about 4,000Mw of electricity.

Former state-run but largely inefficient power firm, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was sold to private investors a few years ago. The post-privatisation fortune of the  sector has not seen any appreciable improvement sparking calls for a review of the process that produced the present crop of investors with neither technical nor financial muscle to run the firms.

Most plans for new capacity focused on using natural gas from the southern petroleum region until the Power, Works and Housing Minister BabatundeFashola’s introduced a framework to accommodate solar-power producers last year.

That has resulted in a power-purchase agreement with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, the clearing house of the local electricity market, to enable GreenWish sell to the national grid. The transactions are in the local currency but denominated in dollars to hedge against naira-value fluctuations, Aubin-Kalaidjian said.

Tinubu: I didn’t reject title from Olubadan

•Tinubu

All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, did not reject a chieftaincy title from Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Saliu Adetunji, his Media Office said yesterday.
A statement by the office debunked insinuations by a gossip column of a national newspaper that Asiwaju Tinubu turned down the conferment of Balogun chieftaincy title offerd to him by Oba Adetunji.
The statement said the former Lagos State governor “holds the Olubadan of Ibadan in very high esteem and could not have rejected a chieftaincy offer from him”.
The statement went on: “The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, is one traditional ruler I have tremendous respect for. I was there in Ibadan last year for his installation.
“I hold him in high esteem. Governor Abiola Ajimobi also has respect for him. Why would I reject the offer of a chieftaincy title from him?”

Mother of medical doctor who committed suicide by jumping into Lagos Lagoon refuses to believe he is dead

24 hours after he jumped off 3rd mainland bridge and into the Lagoon, mother of 35 year old medical doctor, Allwell Orji, Chinyere Orji has refused to believe that her son is dead. A relative of the deceased who spoke to newsmen at the family's home at Abujle-Ijesha in Yaba, Lagos state yesterday, said Mrs Orji who is a retired banker, has refused to believe that her son who is the first of three children, is dead. She is still hoping that he would be rescued.

"You people don’t know what we have been through since yesterday. Please, respect our grief. This is not a case of a grandfather that died and we want to celebrate it. This whole issue has been difficult for us. The mother is up there, not talking to anyone. Not even us who are very close relatives. People have been around her since yesterday so that she doesn’t do anything drastic. She has yet to accept that he could be dead. She doesn’t even accept people’s sympathies and condolences. As a Christian, she’s believing God that a miracle could happen and that her son won’t die. She believes he’s just missing and would return alive”he said

Meanwhile efforts to recover his body from the lagoon yesterday proved abortive as men of the Lagos State Emergency Mangement Authority are still searching the lagoon for his remain. LASEMA’s General Manager, Adesina Tiamiyu who was at the scene this afternoon, told newsmen that he is not aware of any suicide note said to have been dropped by the deceased.

“We are still searching for the body. We have expanded the search to go further than the point it happened. We have told local men around to watch out for any floating body and we have engaged local divers to look around for us. Patrol boats are in the water going round. We would continue to search for him. The family is traumatised at this point and unwilling to speak on the issue. I want us to respect their wishes please. We have established contact with the family and expressed government’s sincere wishes to them. We would also go back at a time they feel better because we would like to know what happen so that Lagosians and Nigerians can learn a lesson or two from it. It’s an unfortunate situation. But what do we do? The driver is with the police. The police would be more involved in the investigation. If we are able to pick one or two things, we would pass it across. I am not aware of any suicide note. His phone and car are with the police.”

Lagos speaker hails Buhari, Osinbajo style of leadership

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has urged leaders around the world, politicians especially, to emulate the exemplary leadership style of President Muhammdu Buhari and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Commenting on the return of President Buhari from medical vacation in UK at the weekend in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters, Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe, Obasa commended President Buhari for handing over the baton to Prof. Osinbajo when he was leaving for London for his vacation.

According to him, the President did the expected and necessary thing by handing over to Osinbajo, “and since the president left for vacation, activities in the country were not put on hold, in just one week, Osinbajo visited Rivers state two times despite being an opposition state as well as some other Niger Delta states.

“The Acting President didn’t just visit Rivers state, while there he flagged-off the reconstruction of doctors’ quarters in Port Harcourt and also inspected the ongoing construction of the Rivers state Ecumenical Centre.

“And just last week, he paid an unscheduled visit to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the state of some of the facilities within the airport, and noted that there was need to urgently make the facilities function at optimal level.

“Few days after this visit to the airport, the Federal Government sacked all the nine directors of the nine directorates in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). This shows that we have a Vice President who is not docile; in other climes, the Vice President would have to wait for the President to return before taking action,” Obasa said in the statement.

“There were so many other pressing issues Osinbajo was able to take care of during the period without any controversy”.

The Speaker further explained that the attributes displayed so far by Osinbajo gave President Buhari the confidence to attend to his health fully, adding that he (Osinbajo) has shown that he is capable and can deliver in the absence of his principal.

Obasa maintained that Osinbajo has served as a Commissioner for Justice under the tutelage of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his contributions to the state judiciary and legal system cannot be over-emphasized.

“He has been in the thick of the action since Buhari left the shores of the country to proceed on vacation and a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom. Leaders must emulate this leadership style of Buhari and Osinbajo,” Obasa added.

SHOCKING…Alfa buys boy at N500, kills him for ritual

A mother of four children, Mrs Chinasa Okereke, has revealed how a 15-year-old boy collected N500 from an Alfa to abduct her three-year-old son for ritual at Ijegun, Lagos State.

Chinasa, who spoke with newsmen on Sunday, alleged  that the teenager, who is also a neighbour stole her son, Chiagozie,.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports the teenager identified as Simon had earlier confessed to the police that an unidentified Alfa, now in police custody,  asked him to supply a three-year-old child.

Simon said  after he brought Chiagozie to the Alfa, he was given N500 for his efforts.

When the three-year-old was finally located by detectives from Isheri Police Station, he was already dead.

Chinasa, who broke down in tears, said that she was not only grieving for her murdered son, but also scared about strange men on motorbikes coming to threaten her and her husband, Augustine Okereke.

The woman who lives in a multi-room building, has three other children, apart from Chiagozie. The eldest is 10years old, the second child is eight years old. Chiagozie was her third child. Her fourth child is just nine months old.

She explained that on the fateful day, she wanted to give three of her  children a bath outside the house when the three year-old child was abducted.

According to her account, she had  briefly stepped into the house  to get a wrapper to strap the nine-month-old to her back. But when she returned  Chiagozie was nowhere to be found.

When she asked her eight-year-old daughter the whereabouts of her little brother, the girl said that Simon, the 15-year-old living in the building next door  had taken him away.

“When my daughter told me that Simon took Chiagozie, I immediately rushed to his house, but his guardians said they had been looking for him too. When it was getting late, we went to the police station to report that Simon took our son and that we couldn’t find him.

“Police took over the case and soon located and arrested Simon. He was taken to the station. Singing like a bird, he revealed how the Alfa came to pick him and Chiagozie with a car.

“When detectives asked questions from residents of  the community, they were told  that they saw the Alfa driving off with Simon and Chiagozie.

“The suspect led police to the scene where the Alfa took him and Chiagozie. The corpse of Chiagozie was found laid out on the ground. A big stone was beside his head and a red cloth tied round his neck.

“Asked how Chiagozie was killed, Simon said that he saw when the Alfa lifted Chiagozie mid-air and made some incantations before dropping him to the ground,” the woman recalled in tears.

Reacting to the incident the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, , alleged that the Alfa used the deceased for ritual.

He further said that the Alfa and Simon had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, for further investigations.

“Parents should be proactive and know the kind of people they leave their kids with.

“Parents and guardians shouldn’t allow the economic situation in the country to affect their vigilance and care towards their kids,”Owoseni stated.

Borno moves to complete Chibok–Nbalala-Damboa road project

The Borno Government said on Monday that it would ensure the completion of the 34-km Chibok- Nbalala-Damboa road project in 90 days.

The State’s Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Adamu Lawan, made the promise in Maiduguri while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Lawan said that government had given the contractor, Cumex Nigeria Ltd., handling the job deadline to complete work before 2017 rainy season begins.

“We have the mandate of 90 days grace to complete the project before rains set in.

“We are certain that work will be completed in line with the mandate,” he said.

Lawan said since the state was handling the project on behalf of the Federal Government it would seek reimbursement at a later date for the money spent.

“We are going to request for reimbursement from the Federal Government at a later date,” he said.

Lawan told NAN that the contract for the road construction was awarded few years back by the State Government, but was abandoned due to activities of the insurgents.

“The road is actually a Federal Government road, but we felt that the state could come in to end travelers’ nightmare due to its terrible condition.

“The State Government therefore awarded the contract to Cumex Nigeria Ltd. a few years back,” he said.

Lawan added that: “the contractor left the site barely few days after moving to the site due to the Boko Haram insurgency.

‘‘Now that peace has returned to the area, government re-awarded the contract to another firm without additional cost.’’

He said about 50 vehicles and assorted plants had been moved to the site for commencement of work.

‘‘We have so far deployed over 50 assorted vehicles and plants to the site to start work immediately,’’ Lawan said.

The commissioner said he was relocating to the site to supervise work.

‘‘Kashim Shettima has ordered that I relocate to the area to supervise the work, and by Tuesday I should have moved in line with the directive,’’ he said.

Lawan added that technical officials from Federal Ministry of Work had been incorporated to ensure that quality job was done at the end of the day.

‘‘We incorporated the Federal Ministry of Works Department officials to monitor and ensure good job is done.

‘‘We have two engineers in Damboa at present supervising the preliminary work. God willing we will complete the work in 90 days,’’ he said

Normalcy returns to Ile-Ife

Normal commercial activities resumed on Monday in Ile-Ife in Osun, after a clash between the indigenes and the Hausas, which restricted the movement of many people for about two weeks.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that doors of banks as well as government offices, including shops and offices, which were locked since Wednesday, March 8, had been opened.

Everybody, including civil servants, now moved freely without being challenged by security agencies, as most barricades on the roads had been removed.

The situation was calm in Sabo and Lagere areas of the town where the crisis erupted.

The Hausas had resumed their businesses as usual with people moving freely around Sabo and Lagere areas.

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ile-Ife, Mr. Isiaka Olatunbosun, told NAN that his members were back to their commercial duty posts fully.

Olatunbosun appealed to all to “give peace a chance” across the city.

According to him, there is no gain in violence, as violence will disrupt the development of the town.

The Otun Babaloja of Ife Central, Chief Jimoh Odeyemi, said the turnout of traders in the major market (Oja-Tuntun) was impressive, compared to the low turnout of traders and buyers recorded on Friday, March 17.

He commended the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni-In-Council and the state government for their efforts in bringing the crisis to an end and for re-opening markets for commercial activities to fully resume.

Also, the Otun Iyaloja, Ife Central, Alhaja Falilat Lawal, called on the people to maintain peaceful coexistence.

Lawal said that there was no disparity between the Hausas and the Yorubas, “for both had been living peacefully together for almost 200 years without  violence”.

She confirmed that peace had returned to the city and assured buyers and sellers to come to market for patronage.

Mr. Saheed Lawal, a Computer Operator at Lagere area, could not hide his feeling.

He appreciated God and the stakeholders who intervened in the crisis.

“I am not an Ife Indigene but I am from Ede. I was born in Ile-Ife. Ife people are loving, caring and accommodating, I strongly believe that the crisis emanated from the devil.

“For complete 13 days, I stayed indoor. I did not find it easy,

“I appeal to the people to exercise patience and allow dialogue rather than violence,” he said.

Mrs. Titilayo Osotimehin, the Coordinating Director Osun-East Education District Office, Ile-Ife, told NAN that both public and private schools closed down due to Ife/Hausa crisis would be opened on Tuesday, March 21.

Update: Drowned doctor showed no sign of depression at work

The medical doctor who jumped into the Lagos Lagoon on Sunday, Allwell Orji showed no sign of depression when he was at work last Friday.

Co-staff at the Mushin branch of the hospital told our reporter on Monday morning that Orji  was usually on night duty.

It was learnt that the deceased is still single.

Further inquiries about Orji was referred to the Surulere headquarters of the hospital.

In what appeared to be a suicide, Oji jumped into the Lagoon  at 4:45pm on Third Mainland Bridge while on his way to Victoria Island where he was going to attend a Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) meeting.

Oji, who left from his house at Abule Ijesha in Yaba, was said to have told his driver, Henry Ita, to park his Nissan Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked LND476EE at the Adeniji Adele end of the bridge on the excuse that he wanted to pee. As he came down, the doctor was said to have climbed the bridge’s rail guide and jumped into the ocean.

Search on for medical doctor who jumped into Lagoon

Search and rescue efforts by officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency are on for a Medical Doctor who reportedly jumped into the Lagoon on the Third Mainland Bridge.

The Doctor was driving a Nissan Xterra Jeep with the registration number LND 476 EE before stopping on a spot and jumped into the Lagoon.

Police boats and drones have been deployed in the search and rescue exercise.

Electricity company apologises for prolonged power outage in Lagos

The management of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) on Sunday apologised to consumers in Ajah, Lagos and environs over the protracted power outage in the communities.

Mr Godwin Idemudia, General Manager, Corporate Communications of the company, said in Lagos that the outage being experienced by Ajah, Ogombo, Ajiwe and some neighbouring communities was due to a faulty equipment.

Idemudia, however, said that repair work to resolve the issue was ongoing by the technical crew of EKEDC and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

He assured the consumers that electricity supply would be restored on Monday.

“We wish to apologise to all our customers in the Ajah area and its environs over the recent long period of outage being experienced.

“This outage has been due to faulty equipment which is being worked on by EKEDC and TCN. Normal supply should be back by Monday, March 20.

“Kindly bear with us as we find lasting solution to this.

“EKEDC highly regrets any inconveniences caused by this outage,” Idemudia said in a statement. (NAN)

Buhari had full first working week, days Presidency

The Presidency on Sunday said that President Muhammadu Buhari had a full working week last week contrary to reports that he did not do much.

It was the first week Buhari was spending at work after about 50 days
medical vacation in the United Kingdom.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the President was more concerned with working for the interest of the masses, who were praying for him while on vacation.

He said: “In the first week of his return, President Buhari walked his talk on his intense desire to pay back to Nigerians by way keeping their trust and serving their interests.

“His reply to the people for their support and trust is to work much harder for them.

“The President didn’t have a day off or even a light week at all throughout his week of resumption.

“I read those analyses and I believe they were mostly wrong. What they don’t understand is that the President doesn’t follow official working hours because he is on duty all the time.

“He has another office by his living room so he works from home when most civil servants have closed,” he said

He said that contrary to some of the assumptions, President Buhari had an engaging week devoted mostly to policy issues and not ceremonial events.

“He started on Monday with the letters he sent to the two two arms of the parliament signifying his return to to work. He then went in for a handover briefing by the Vice President. They had a lot to discuss between themselves.
“Although he gave specific mandates to the Acting President, he
needed to be brought up to speed on the developments in the Supreme Court, the Niger Delta, the economy with particular reference to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERPG which was launched in his absence and programs like the Small and medium Enterprises Clinic which have strong connections to the agricultural strategy of the administration,” he added.

Malam Garba further said that on Tuesday the President followed up his meeting with the Vice President, getting details from the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele on the liquidity situation of the country, the issue of reserves and the outlook for the rest of the year.

“He then met with the Presiding Officials of the parliament, Senate
President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara. Those two arms have dealt with the issue of his vacation with great sensitivity.

“On Wednesday, the President presided at the Federal Executive Council,”he stated.

According to Shehu, the President came well prepared for the meeting,
appearing as if he had not been away for over a month.

“The noticeable thing about the last meeting was that it dwelled on policy. The meeting didn’t discuss contracts.

“On Thursday, the President had a joint sitting with the Chief of Staff,
Abba Kyari, the Ministers of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and that of Budget and
Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma. They discussed the country’s economic situation,
the progress on the 2017 budget and liquidity issues.

“On the same day, he held a state-of-nation meeting with Governors who had
assembled for the routine meeting of the National Economic Council under
the Vice President.

“Friday was used mostly for security briefing before the Juma’at prayers.
The President has big ambitions for the country, driven by an intense
desire to leave his mark on national affairs. This is as he said on his
return last,” he said

‘Ozekhome not on trial’

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome, is not on trial.
We reported on Thursday that Ozekhome “is being tried for receiving N75 million from Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose.
“The story was on pages 2 and 3, entitled “Sagay: No law stops Magu’s renomination,” with a rider: “SANs divided over Senate’s position on EFCC’s acting chair.”
Chief Ozekhome, whom we hold in very high esteem, was not charged with any offence or arraigned in any court.The paragraph was written in error, with no malice intended.
He is in court challenging the freezing of his chambers’ account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ozekhome said the N75million he received from Governor Fayose was part-payment of his professional fees, having handled eight cases for Fayose and his aides.“
There was no encumbrance on the account from which the money was transferred,” Ozekhome said.
He said Governor Fayose transferred the money to him after Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Ekiti defreezed the account.
He recalled that Zenith Bank in Ekiti also allowed Fayose to withdraw N5million in cash from the account.
He said it was wrong for EFCC to conclude that the money was a proceed of crime when Fayose, who enjoys immunity, has not been tried or convicted.
We apologise to Chief Ozekhome for the error and hereby retract the offending paragraph.

Social media platform, Pintrest has been banned in China

China's Firewall is cracking down on Pinterest, the social media platform popular for letting users share, or pin, items of interest to a virtual board. For years, Pinterest has been freely accessible in China, because its users typically don't share content that would rattle Chinese censors.
People mostly use the site to pin images and tips on home decor, hair styles, cooking, wedding planning and fashion.

However, according to watchdog group Greatfire.org, which monitors censorship and accessibility of websites in China, the Pinterest block started earlier this month.

The timing coincided with China's annual National People's Congress, a sensitive time in Beijing when China's top leadership and thousands of delegates gather to set the country's political and economic course for the year.

Pinterest's ban fits a pattern of China blocking sites that compete with emerging local rivals

Analyzing The Machiavellian Mind of Nasir El-Rufai By Reno Omokri

This is an article written by Reno Omokri. Please read on:

"I am sure you have all heard about the accusations against a man of God, Apostle Suleman, by a Canada based stripper who says she feels shortchanged because Pastor Suleman reneged on his promise to marry her.

You may also have read the response of the Omega Fire Ministries of Apostle Suleman to these allegations.

Not that I agree or disagree with Omega Fire Ministries allegation that the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Elrufai is behind Apostle Suleman's accuser, but there are many coincidences and it begs questions.

Before I go into these coincidences, let me say that I know Malam Nasir Elrufai and if you think former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is an evil genius (he is not, IBB was very unfairly treated by the media and is one of our better Presidents) then you have not yet come across El-Rufai. 

I have never met a man so Machiavellian as Malam Nasir El-Rufai. In fact, his cold and calculating tendencies almost make Machiavelli a religion for him. If you want to know what this man is capable of, then read former President Olusegun Obasanjo's book to learn how he savaged his own foster father. Former President Obasanjo wrote that he 'shudders' when he casts his mind back to what El-Rufai's did to his own flesh and blood including his own blood brother and uncle!

For a man like Obasanjo, who witnessed the Nigerian Civil War with all its bestial brutality, to shudder at El-Rufai goes to show you the moral depths of depravity to which Malam Nasir Elrufai has sunk.

This is how President Olusegun Obasanjo, Elrufai's boss of eight years described him in his book-My Watch Volume 2:

“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological. Why does he do it? He is brilliant and smart. I grant him that also. Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent and brilliance. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir el-Rufai. He barefacedly lied which he did to me against his colleagues and so-called friends. I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who was like, in the African setting, his foster father. I shuddered when I heard the story of what he did to his half-brother in the Air Force who is senior to him in age.”

So, without further ado, let us consider the  coincidences in the matter between Apostle Johnson Suleman and Malam Nasir El-Rufai and see if there are any merits to Omega Fire Ministries' allegations.

 On March 29, 2016, Apostle Johnson Suleman challenged Malam Nasir Elrufai over his Preaching License Bill which he promoted in Kaduna State. On April 3, 2016, Elrufai responded. 

Shortly thereafter, Apostle Suleman revealed that he had gotten a security report that someone had arranged for Fulani herdsmen to kill him and make it seem like an accident. We know for a fact that killer Fulani herdsmen have killed the king of Ubulu Uku in Delta state, HRM Akaeze Edward Ofulue III. We also know that they had kidnapped and whipped the leader of Afenifere, Olu Falae. So no one can blame Apostle Suleman for taking the Security report seriously.

Around that time, in a Freudian slip (the work of God?) Malam Nasir Elrufai revealed to selected newsmen that he had traced Fulani herdsmen to a number of African nations and told them that "there is a new governor who is Fulani like them and has no problem paying compensations for lives lost and he is begging them to stop killing." Please note that this is an exact quote from the mouth of Malam Nasir Elrufai.

A man who can pay herdsmen (as he himself admitted) instead of arresting them should not be underestimated. 

What is Apostle Suleman being accused of? Sleeping with a known stripper and self confessed harlot. Okay, Malam Nasir El-Rufai tweeted on January 28, 2013 these exact words, “if Jesus criticises Jonathan’s government, Maku, Abati or Okupe will say that he slept with Mary Magdalene”. That tweet betrays a mindset. If a man can say this about Jesus who is our Lord and Saviour, one wonders what will happen to a mere mortal. Do not forget that Mary Magdalene herself had a past. In Apocryphal history she is recorded as a former prostitute. 

So on January 28, 2013 Elrufai tweeted that government critics can be accused of sleeping with prostitutes so as to discredit them and four years later, when he himself has returned to government, his own critic is now being accused of sleeping with a prostitute. Can this be a coincidence?

Also, of all the states in Nigeria, why did the second faceless accuser, who spoke exclusively to Premium Times, ask for the protection of the Kaduna state government. Does Kaduna State have a reputation for peace or security? If you reading this want a secure and safe haven would you choose Kaduna state? Why have foreign airlines refused to fly into Kaduna airport which is the designated alternative to Abuja's temporarily closed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport? 

And then why would a government confirm such a thing to Premium Times? 

Now Premium Times is the only news outlet that carried the story of the second anonymous accuser. Why is that? Premium Times is known to have a very strong link to Malam Nasir El-Rufai. 

Musikilu Mojeed, the Managing Editor of Premium Times was until 2011 the Investigative Editor at Nigeria’s NEXT newspaper a paper in which El-Rufai had very major interests in. Elrufai's favorite news medium, Sahara Reporters cites him as an investor in NEXT.

The publisher and editor in chief of Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi, was also an editor at the now defunct NEXT.

Now Premium Times, the successor newspaper to Next Newspaper, just happens to be the one and only paper that was able to make contact with this new faceless accuser who, like the Canadian based stripper and self confessed harlot, did not present a shred of evidence. 

Premium Times were also able to get a 'top official' from the Kaduna state government to talk about the matter anonymously.

Another coincidence, on August 13, 2013, Festus Keyamo joined the All Progressive Congress. He immediately moved to contest the Delta Central senatorial by-election following the mysterious death of the lawmaker representing that Senatorial zone at the National Assembly, Senator Pius Ehwerido, but lost at the primary level to his opponent, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.

Already, this indicates that Keyamo harbors a political ambition and sees the APC as the vehicle for which that ambition can be fulfilled. Within the APC, Malam Nasir Elrufai is seen as the Khalifa (successor to President Muhammadu Buhari) and the nation's unofficial Vice President.

Beginning from 2013 just before Keyamo declared for the APC, Elrufai began promoting Festus Keyamo on Social Media (check his Twitter TL).

Who is the lawyer for Apostle Suleman's Canada based stripper/harlot accuser? You guessed right-Festus Keyamo!

On March 10, 2017 Festus Keyamo's law chambers released a statement stating that other “unfortunate victims” of his (Apostle Suleman) have come forward and are also itching to tell their story, with proofs."

The next day, on March 11, 2017, the faceless accuser using the pseudonym 'Queen Esther' gave an interview to Premium Times alleging that Apostle Suleman had slept with her, but that just like the Canada based stripper, she had lost all her evidence of the relationship after her phone was mysteriously wiped clean of its data! She thereafter sought the protection of El-Rufai's Kaduna State Government!

So Keyamo's chambers revealed that there were new accusers one day and the very next day one of the new accuser just happens to connect with a paper with whom Elrufai is known to have very strong links!

Albert Einstein said that a "coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous". Ian Fleming, that great writer and creator of the James Bond character said "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action."

There are too many coincidences in this whole orchestrated tale that only the most gullible person will believe that there is no Machiavellian puppet master in the background manipulating events.

Look closely at the Canadian based stripper and self confessed harlot. This is a girl who gave an interview on March 10, 2017 threatening to expose all her evidence against Apostle Suleman only to give another interview on March 15, 2017,  where she said 'God will expose' Apostle Suleman. 

Can you imagine!! A stripper who is very good at exposing her body and who promised Nigerians she would expose Apostle Suleman now calls on God to do the exposition for her in her interview with Continental TV! And there will be gullible Nigerians who will still take this manipulator serious. 

In 2003, Malam Nasir El-Rufai was nominated as a minister by then President Olusegun Obasanjo. He went for Senate screening and alleged that two Senators, Senators Ibrahim Nasir Mantu and Jonathan Silas Zwingina, had requested for a bribe before they would clear him.

Like the Canada based stripper and harlot, El-Rufai promised to release evidence of his claims to an astounded nation. After Nigerians waited with baited breath for two weeks, El-Rufai gave another interview saying he had no evidence but that God was his witness! Sound familiar?

Last year, in the middle of one of the most divisive elections the world has ever seen, a girl accused then candidate Donald Trump of rape but because she had no proof Americans dismissed her. If Donald Trump had been a Nigerian, we would celebrate such a girl!

Anyone who wants to speak up in defense of the Body of Christ and particularly against the killings of Christians by Fulani herdsmen, as Apostle Johnson Suleman and I have done, must prepare for blackmail or leave the struggle! 

Why? Because Christians, especially Southern Nigerian Christians, are so superficial in their Christianity that, with their own hands, they will pull down one of theirs on allegations without a shred of proof! 

I admire the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria. Look at how Muslims behaved when their spiritual leaders were accused in the Ese Oruru saga or when the Emir of Katsina (unbeknownst to many in the South, Emirs are spiritual not traditional rulers) was accused of abducting an underaged Christian girl. With Muslims, even with proof, they stick to their leaders. With Christians, even without proof, they destroy their leaders!

Have we forgotten what this same Elrufai said when the Nigerian Army conducted an operation to flush out killer Fulani herdsmen from Plateau state in 2012?

These were his exact words on July 15, 2012 in response to the Nigerian Army:

"We will write this for all to read. Anyone, soldier or not that kills the Fulani takes a loan repayable one day no matter how long it takes."

If a man is willing to threaten an armed group like the Nigerian Army for going after killer Fulani herdsmen then ask yourself what he would be willing to do to an unarmed clergy man like Apostle Suleman who speaks against Fulani herdsmen! 

Connect the dots people, connect the dots!

During Jesus's time on earth, He was falsely accused, without proof, of performing miracles by the power of beelzebub (satan). If some Nigerian Christians had been there when the Pharisees made that accusation, I am willing to stake my life that they would have believed the allegation against our Lord and Savior!

In The Bible, Potiphar's wife even had proof about her lies that Joseph tried to rape her, so Potiphar can be forgiven for believing her, but what proof does this stripper and self confessed harlot have in relations to her allegations against Apostle Suleman? None. Absolutely nothing. 

The only circumstantial evidence that could have corroborated her claims was the allegation that Apostle Johnson Suleman had gone to her parents for her introduction, yet when her father swiftly denied it she changed her story and claimed that the introduction was done in the Apostle's office. 

Who does a marriage introduction with a married preacher in the married preacher's office in a mega church where he is known as the sin fighting founder? 

If you believe that woman's story and you are my friend in real life or social media, kindly delete yourself from my life because it means that if I am falsely accused in future you WILL believe my accusers!

For some time now we had stopped hearing about killings by Fulani herdsmen. In fact, we were seeing, for the first time, seemingly genuine and concrete action by the erstwhile Acting President, Pastor Yemi Osinbajo,  to stem the tide of killings. But all of a sudden, the killings have started again after a brief hiatus. What recent event has emboldened these killer Fulani herdsmen? Are there no Nigerian elders that are bold enough to say the obvious?

Was Apostle Johnson Suleman sleeping with Nollywood Actor, Leo Mezie, when he paid his entire medical bill of £60,000 for kidney transplant in the U.K.? This is what Sahara Reporters and Premium Times would not tell you! 

Was apostle Suleman sleeping with the nine poor Nigerians (male and female) he gave cars to on February 5th, 2016? Was he sleeping with the 30 widows and other indigent people that he gave out millions to to start their own businesses? 

This is an exact quote from the Nollywood star, Leo Mezie, who gave this testimony last year, ever before the Jezebel stripper made her lying allegations . This is what Leo Mezie said “I want to at this point thank Apostle Suleman Johnson for all what he did for me. I have never met him before; I took ill but as soon he heard the news, he contacted me and asked that we stopped all further public appeal for fund. He then took over all my medical bills, I mean every one of it throughout my stay in the UK. I did not lack anything. I thank God for using Apostle Suleman Johnson to save me from death.”

This is a man with a Christlike mind who lives and loves to help people and you wicked souls who will not even spare a dime to help your own starving relations, how much more a stranger, come here to condemn him! And then you wonder why Nigeria has no helpers?

And if you think all I have written about El-Rufai is too far fetched, then consider the testimony of Olusegun Adeniyi, former editor of ThisDay and spokesman to the late President Umar Musa Yar'adua.

"On the way, Balat, himself a former minister in Obasanjo’s government, asked, ‘Segun, this cabal thing, were you really a member?’ Before I could respond, former Federal Capital Territory minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who played a prominent role in the campaign that eventually brought Jonathan to power, interjected, ‘There was no cabal, WE CREATED THE MYTH IN THE MEDIA TO NEUTRALIZE TURAI'” (Adeniyi, Segun. Power Politics And Death. pg. 272)

Finally, ask yourself why El-Rufai's letter to President Buhari was only leaked after Apostle Suleman raised the alarm of his possible sponsorship of his stripper accuser?

Look at how the narrative has shifted from the trail of breadcrumbs behind the Canada based stripper to the memo. A classic media diversion strategy. 

Hillary Clinton once boasted that "If I want to knock a story off the front page, I just change my hairstyle." What does Nasir Wl-Rufai do when he wants to change the headline? Leak a memo!

Dubai airport records 8m passengers in one month

Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, has said passengers in January reached 8 million, rising 9.7 percent higher compared to the same period of 2016, the airport's operator said on Wednesday.

The number of flights at the airport increased 2.1 per cent to 36,592, while the average number of passengers per flight increased to 230 from 215 a year earlier.

Dubai airport handled 208,271 tonnes of cargo in January, an increase of 3.4 percent from a year earlier. According to the CEO of Dubai Airports, Paul Griffiths, he said:

'It’s an auspicious start to what is sure to be another record-breaking year for DXB.'

Lawmakers in Zimbabwe suggest 8 children per family as they want to increase population and ignore birth control

With the country facing a huge setback to attract foreign investors because of its small population, Senators have now moved a motion urging Zimbabweans not to embrace birth control measures.

According to the Hansard, which provides a transcript of Zimbabwe's parliamentary debates, senators called for the Zimbabwe government to promote large families and get NGOs that have been pushing for birth control to instead 'promote family growth'.

The senators said it was worrying and suggested that people should have a minimum of eight children and be supported by Government to sustain their families.

Senator Monica Mutsvangwa of the ruling Zanu-PF party described the matter as a very 'serious issue'.

'The moment you tell them we are about 14 million they will all look around and say ah, I do not know how I can continue.'

We have no people. We should be serious about development because it's a very serious one. Let us take development alone which investor would come to Zimbabwe to invest seriously for 14 million people?

Another senator, Mike Musaka said: 'Which investor would come to Zimbabwe to invest seriously for 14 million people?' He said that the money NGOs were spending on promoting birth control should instead be used to support families and pay for schooling for children.

Notorious kidnap kingpin, Vampire who was rescued by his gang members at the Owerri High Court has been killed

The Police Special Force led by the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) has killed notorious kidnap kingpin and armed robbery suspect, Henry Chibueze alias Vampire who escaped from police custody after unknown gunmen stormed the Owerri High Court in a commando style and rescued him and two others on January 27th.


The wanted criminal was killed this morning at about 1am during a gun battle with the IGP Intelligence Response Team in Omu Awa Forest,Ikwerre L.G.A. Rivers State. According to the police, five other members of his gang were arrested alive and cache of arms and ammunition were recovered.