Trouble may have erupted
at Adamawa State House
of Assembly following a
clandestine tenure elongation
plan for local government
chairmen.
The Association of Local
Governments of Nigeria,
ALGON, had in a letter to the
state Assembly dated May
24, sought tenure extension
beyond the two years mandate
which will elapse this June.
Pundits believe the bizarre
move was capable of heating the
polity, especially considering
the crisis already rocking
the ruling All Progressives
Congress, APC, due to the
recently concluded parallel
congresses.
As things stand, the move
has become a topical issue
and seems to be generating
polemical debate in many
quarters with regards to what
the lawmakers are up to.
There are also pertinent
questions of public interest as
to why the tenure elongation
request at the moment, even as
many believe the state Assembly
lacks the constitutional powers
to grant and/or allocate
additional tenure to council
chairmen.
A Yola-base legal expert, Barr.
Sunday Wugira described the
move as mere masturbation of
political parliamentary powers,
stressing that the move itself
and its outcome was null and
void in the eyes of the law.
“Far from it, nothing in
the constitution confers such
powers to the state legislators as
to extend the tenure of council
chairmen in Adamawa State.
“As far as the position of
the law is concerned, the state
Assembly can make laws, right
or wrong, but they lack the
powers in totality to elongate
the tenure of anybody, not even
their own tenure.
“Therefore, you can be sure
that whatever is their motive,
the truth of the matter is that
they cannot elongate the
tenure of council chairmen,” he
averred.
Some APC stakeholders
disclosed that Governor
Jibirilla Bindow might have
masterminded the tenure
elongation plan.
Many have accused the
governor of making frantic
moves, including the fraudulent
tenure elongation, in order for
the chairmen to work for his re-
election

Kwara
State government
has distanced itself from the
demolished house of one of the
governorship aspirants under
the People Democratic Party,
PDP, Mr. Lukman Mustapha.
In his reaction, the senior
special adviser to the state
governor on Media, Dr.
Muhydeen Akorede said the
“state government has nothing
to do with the reported
demolished houses at Zango
area of Ilorin. We understand
the incident is the outcome
of a civil dispute. And the
government tried all their best
to broker peace between the
parties.
“I have spoken to Mallam
Lukman Mustapha on this
minutes ago and he is aware
KWSG has nothing to do with
the demolition.
“It’s a shame if those young
people seeking reform of
Kwara State use falsehood and
misinformation as tools,” the
SSA said.
It would be recalled that
news broke out on social
media accusing Kwara State
government of being behind
the demolition of some houses
around Zango area in Ilorin
South Local Government,
which one of those houses
belongs to a governorship
hopeful under PDP.
In the course of investigation,
an eyewitness that claimed to
be involved in the case from
beginning said, “I will only
advise the bloggers and news
carriers to be careful of blaming
the constituted authority.
“I was involved in the case
from day one till the end.
The demolition is between
the original land owners and
the allottees, though the role
played by the government too
is somehow.
“The demolition is not done
by kwara State government
but the original land owners.
Let’s be mindful of what we
write,” the eyewitness warned.

Leader
of Biafra Independence
Movement, BIM, and founder of
Movement for the Actualisation
of the Sovereign State of
Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph
Uwazuruike has charged police
authorities to arrest him if they
find anything incriminating
on him, rather than the on-
going indiscriminate arrest and
harassment of his members.
Uwazuruike, who made the
call yesterday while reacting
to Wednesday’s siege laid on
his residence in New Owerri
by a detachment of policemen
drafted from the Imo State
command for over 20 minutes,
wondered why such a siege
when BIM/MASSOB does not
support May 30 remembrance
day sit-at-home being ordered
by the Indigenous People of
Biafra, IPOB.
A press statement signed by
BIM’s Director of Information,
Mazi Chris Mocha, quoted
Uwazuruike as telling the
policemen laying siege on his
residence that BIM/MASSOB
was against the sit-at-home
declared by IPOB and as such,
could not have sat at home or
made any trouble on May 30
because of the sit-at-home order,
rather BIM-MASSOB members
had since February 2004 till date
fixed 30th of every month as
their monthly meeting days.
The statement further quoted
Uwazuruike as telling the
policemen that since BIM-
MASSOB was not part of the sit-
at-home order, their members
would not have observed the
directive, adding that if they
had observed the directive, his
“members who arrived here
from Delta, Anambra, Enugu,
Bayelsa, Rivers and Abia States
for their monthly meeting
would have remained in their
respective homes.
“I am against the stay at
home order. I told some bank
managers who called me on
their mobile phones to open
their banks to customers and
inform them that there won’t be
any problem. I started the Biafra
struggle for independence since
September 13, 1999, and I am a
lawyer for about 30 years now. I
have not offended any law(s) of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
So, don’t arrest my members but
if there is any reason to arrest
them, arrest me,” Uwazuruike
told the policemen as he
stretched out his two hands for
them to handcuff him.
He further told the police that
the groups who declared the sit-
at-home did not have known
addresses except on the social
media networks and on the
pages of Nigerian newspapers,
assuring the Divisional Police
Officer, DPO, for New Owerri,
the head of Special Investigation
and Intelligence Bureau, SIIB,
and other superior police
officers who led the operation
that there won’t be any problem
as BIM-MASSOB celebrated
its own Biafra Day on May 22,
and the police team vacated his
residence.

Some
chieftains of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, have
decried what they described as
disrespectful treatment meted
out to Imo State governor, Owelle
Rochas Okorocha, by the party
leadership, saying such action was
uncalled for and would be counter-
productive come 2019.
The group under the aegis
of Concerned South-East
APC Stakeholders made their
grievances public yesterday in a
statement issued in Owerri, the
Imo State capital, by Hon. Kemdi
Ekwuaba, convener, and Chief
Moris Ikedia, secretary.
The duo, who described the
governor as the “New Face of
Imo Politics,” regretted that the
convening of the meeting of APC
leaders from South-East during
which they donated or shared
offices zoned to the zone to some
people without reference to
Okorocha, the only APC governor
in the South-East, as nothing but
dubious.
In the 12-paragraph
communiqué, the aggrieved APC
stakeholders who advised that the
national leadership of the party
should be celebrating success
rather than not failure, said, “It is
unfortunate that instead of using
Governor Okorocha to ensure that
APC wins more states in the South-
East, the enemies of the party
within the party are even working
to bring down the party in Imo that
is already APC and also block the
party’s chances of making progress
in other South-East states.
“In 2015 when the issues
of religion and tribe featured
prominently in the South-East
politics concerning the 2015
election, Governor Okorocha, even
at the risk of his second term, left
APGA and took the bold step of
joining the merger that formed
APC. Trying now to undermine
Rochas Okorocha in the state or
in the South-East is not in the best
interest of the party.
“Governor Rochas Okorocha
joined the merger that
metamorphosed into APC when
Imo was the target of the PDP-
controlled federal government.
“He ran the election against a
sitting deputy speaker of House of
Representatives, and with INEC,
army, police and other federal
fovernment agencies deployed
against him, yet he won the
election, produced 24 out of the
27 House of Assembly members,
three House of Representatives
members, and an elected senator
on the ticket of the party,” the
bewailed.
Continuing, the concerned party
members berated the attackers of
Governor Okorocha, pointing out
that the attraction of and whole
noise about APC in the South-
East today was because the party
controls Imo State courtesy of
Okorocha’s political gallantry.
They boasted: “It is also yet to be
seen any other state in the South-
East that the party can vouch to
have the capacity to win in 2019
except Imo. What happened in
Anambra State recently should be
a pointer.
“Governor Rochas Okorocha
is not expected to be dragging
leadership with anybody. He is the only APC governor in the
zone, and that speaks volume. In
2019 those creating this confusion
should achieve the feat Rochas
has achieved in Imo. If those from
Anambra State had won the state
for APC, the party should be talking
about having two governors in the
South-East today.”
In

Independent
National Electoral
Commission, INEC, has express
concern over 86,962 Permanent Voters
Cards, PVCs, which are yet to be
collected by their owners in Bauchi
State.
INEC Resident Electoral
Commissioner in the state, Alhaji
Ibrahim Abdullahi made the remarks
yesterday while briefing journalists
and the Inter-Party Advisory
Council, IPAC, on the activities of the
commission towards the 2019 general
elections.
He said that the PVCs of all eligible
registered voters who registered
between April 2017 and January 2018
were ready for collection, saying that
total of 93,486 PVCs for those who
registered as from April 27, 2017, to
January 2018 in Bauchi State had been
printed and ready for collection.
“So far only 6, 524 have been
collected across the 20 local
government areas of Bauchi State. If
you check, you’ll see that it is only
a fraction that has collected their
cards and appealed to the media
and members of IPAC to mobilise
their owners to claim them especially
because of the pending election for
Bauchi South. My final appeal to you
all is to continue to encourage the
electorates to go out and register and
collect their cards. These should be
done peacefully,” he said.
He commended IPAC for its efforts
in ensuring that all the congresses so
far held in the state were peaceful,
advising them to address whatever
grievances they have by following the
proper channels in addressing them.
Meanwhile, the REC disclosed that
the commission could not conduct
the by-election for the Bauchi South
senatorial district to fill the vacuum
created by the death of Senator Ali
Wakili.
He disclosed that up to this period
the Senate was yet to inform the
electoral body officially on the death
of Senator Wakili of Bauchi South
who died on March 17, 2018, after he
slumped in his Abuja residence.
He said the Senate had the
responsibility to inform INEC of
any vacuum created by the death
of any senator even if INEC knew
there was such a vacuum, saying as a
commission, the constitution did not
allow them to go ahead and conduct
election unless officially informed by
the Senate president of the demise of
any senator

Pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, Justice Muhammad Mustapha Adebayo Akanbi, is dead.

Aged 85 years, the late foremost jurist reportedly died in the early hours of today, Sunday, June 3 at his country home in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

Justice Akanbi, who was also a former President of the Court of Appeal, according to one of his children, Barrister Kabir Akanbi, will be buried later today in Ilorin according to Islamic injunction.

Born on September 11, 1932 in Accra, Ghana, the deceased was called to the English Bar in 1963.

A year later, he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1964 and joined the Ministry of Justice where he became the Senior State Counsel in 1968.

The late Justice Akanbi, after his retirement as the President, Court of Appeal in 1999, was appointed as the pioneer chairman of ICPC by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo in the year 2000 and served till 2005.

The deceased served for only one term and turned down the offer by Obasanjo to continue in office for second term.

As the 2019 general elections get closer, Youth activist and Member representing Young Men’s Christian Association YMCA Central Working Committee of the Plateau Youth Council Dr Bapigaan Audu has advised youths against offering themselves to be used as thugs by desperate politicians.

Bapigaan said that youths should resist the temptation to be used as tools for destruction by politicians that would dump them thereafter.

“The youths must see themselves as tools of unity and development; they should be interested in a better tomorrow and be ready to plan for it.

“We must not allow ourselves to be used by others to constitute threat to public peace or in the subversion of the electoral preferences of our people ,it is time to turn the other leaf and begin to act deliberately and conscientiously ,we must be wise and strategic .”

Youths across globe are taking over ,from France to Austria ,Canada to Saudi Arabia ,the story is the same ,from sports and entertainment to science technology ,ICT ,Wealth creation ,healthcare ,literature ,there is no single field of endeavour that does not have young persons making meaningful impact ,all these achievements can be brought to bear into politics but the passion should not be to amass personal wealth at society’s expense ,but rather to provide service based leadership without title .

He made this known in his appreciation speech to commemorate the first anniversary of the return of Plateau Youth Council in Jos .

“I want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for granting Nigeria Youths the best democracy day present with his announcement of granting Presidential assent to the bill ,a promises which he has now fulfilled ,we are grateful sir ,”
“I join my voice to those of millions of young people across the country in appreciating our legislators across the state and national assemblies for seeing to the speedy passage of the #NoTooYoungToRun #bill into law .”
“As the 2019 elections draw closer ,I encourage all young persons seeking elective positions to freely exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights and privileges within the ambits of the law ,however we must approach politicking with a different mindset ,we must not be desperate to win at all costs , we must not reduce running for office to sharing money or character assassinations ,the monetization of politics must end with our generation ,we must be seen to be playing by the rules ,we must practice politics with decorum and respect for our opponents .”

He also said that “I call on government at all levels to continue to give security of lives and property the utmost attention and interventions it deserves ,it is highly disheartening that people are killed daily in tens and hundreds in our nation ,citizens must continue to partner with relevant security agencies in helping them in discharging their duties by co operating with them .”

The youth activist also condemned the killings of innocent persons in some part of Plateau by unknown gunmen .
“I commiserate with my brothers and sisters in Bassa ,Barkin Ladi ,Bokkos, and other parts of Plateau and Nigeria currently affected by these rampages .”
“I call on government ,security agencies and the international community to see that Leah Sharibu who was amongst the 111 abducted girls taken from Government Science and Technical college Dapchi Yobe state on 19th February 2018 regains her freedom ,no one should be victimized because of the faith he or she professes .”

Exactly a year ago,the yearnings of Youths across the state was finally placated with elections and subsequent inaugurations into both the executive and central working committees of the Plateau Youth council ,that watershed event has ushered a new dawn for the youths .
Having spent a year on the council ,I deem it needful to give a synopsis of happenings over the 365 days

Bapigaan said “I remain grateful to Gov Simon Lalong of Plateau state and patron of the Plateau Youth Council for keeping to his pre election promise of reviving the council .
Plateau Youths would never forget the pivotal roles played by several government officials both appointed and elected towards ensuring that the Plateau Youth Council is revived to take its pride of place .
The Youths on the Plateau deserve special attention for our patience ,perseverance ,doggedness and resilience all through those dark days ,our Joy is now complete with the return into place of all structures of the council ,the onus now lies on us to complement government,s efforts by driving the process further and ensuring that the very essence of our being on the council is best served .
We must now rise above divisions and continue to demand for our lot ,inferiority complex and low self esteem should have no place in our heads ,we must be confident yet not arrogant ,wise yet not haughty ,humble yet not docile ,my gratitude also goes to the leadership and composition of the Young Men,s Christian Association who resolutely behind our yearnings for a just social order .

Newly sworn President of ECWA, Rev Stephen Panya Baba has commended the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong for empowering it’s citizens through the prompt payments of salaries, pension and allowances.

Rev. Stephen Baba spoke shortly after his inauguration as the new President of ECWA at ECWA’s headquarters in Jos, at the send off and swearing-in of the outgoing President Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Gado and himself on Sunday .

According Rev Baba, ” You have done excellently in taking care of the salaries of civil servants in the State and also paying pensioners their due, at the twilight of their lives, when they are weak and helpless and in need of their pension payment most”.

He outline his focus in a speech titled ” Re-strategising for ECWA to make greater impact, in empowering its members to reach a lost and dying world with the holistic gospel of our Savour and Lord Jesus Christ”.

In a goodwill message, Gov Simon Lalong assured the leadership of ECWA of the support and solidarity of the Government and good people of Plateau State.

Gov Lalong who was represented by State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Yakubu Dati, commended the peaceful leadership transition in ECWA.

According to Gov Lalong, “My door is always open to you and your leadership; I therefore plead with you not to relent in availing our Government the advice and support of the Church, which will help us as political leaders to govern in righteousness, so our citizens can reap the bountiful blessings of God upon our land.”

In his farewell speech, the out-going President, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Gado appreciated the congregation for their support.

Our correspondent reports that goodwill messages were delivered by the Boss Mustapha, the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Silas Agara, Deputy Governor of Nassarawa State and his counterpart from Kaduna State, Bala Bantex amongst others.

Highlight of the occassion was the presentation of a brand new 26-seatter Toyota Bus for mission activities by Gov Simon Lalong.

Presentations were also made by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the father of the President and former President of ECWA, Rev. Dr. Stephen Panya Baba.

…says Democracy Day broadcast meaningless

Second republic governor of Kaduna State and chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political
Parties, CNPP, Alhaji Balarabe Musa spoke with our Northern Bureau Chief, Gabriel
Udeh, on the state of the nation and evaluated President Muhammadu Buhari’s
Democracy Day broadcast, concluding that the speech was meaningless and undemocratic.
He also spoke about restructuring towards regions and regional governments rather
than the current states structure that is enviable to drive the needed development of the
country. Excerpts

Second republic governor of Kaduna State and chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political
Parties, CNPP, Alhaji Balarabe Musa spoke with our Northern Bureau Chief, Gabriel
Udeh, on the state of the nation and evaluated President Muhammadu Buhari’s
Democracy Day broadcast, concluding that the speech was meaningless and undemocratic.
He also spoke about restructuring towards regions and regional governments rather
than the current states structure that is unviable to drive the needed development of the
country. Excerpts

for over 100 years now and we need to
rebuild some of the things. To restructure
is very important but the undemocratic
type of politics we are operating,
some of the people who are talking of
restructuring or renewal will die in the
idea, because the issue of restructuring
is a renewal. Whether we succeed or
not we have stayed for so long; we need
renewal. For instance, those of us who are
genuinely talking about restructuring
are talking about returning to regions
of federal system. This is because the
regions will be careful of undertaking
their responsibility because they will
do much than depending on the centre.
They will be viable in the economic units
in the regions. But the states we have
now are not even viable. All the time you
will be hearing that the FG is wasting so
much money to help the states while the
states are busy committing the mistakes.
For instance, how many times has this
APC government helped to pay wages,
salaries and others?
Until now over 27 states are still
unable to pay their wages and salaries.
How many states are viable? Even those
viable states can’t be viable without
FG doling out something to them. The
states that are viable are not efficient; so
we have to go the regional arrangement.
Under the regional arrangement it was
possible for states to be viable. And even
the states contribute more to democracy
than the LG now. The LGs now are just
mere appendages that are not able to
contribute anything.
So what do we take from the
broadcast?
Let me tell you something; I’ve not
even listened to the broadcast because
I didn’t expect anything that can be
reliable.
states that are viable are not efficient; so
we have to go the regional arrangement.
Under the regional arrangement it was
possible for states to be viable. And even
the states contribute more to democracy
than the LG now. The LGs now are just
mere appendages that are not able to
contribute anything.
So what do we take from the
broadcast?
Let me tell you something; I’ve not
even listened to the broadcast because
I didn’t expect anything that can be
reliable.

Nigerian Pilot Weekend Politics Editor, Okechukwu Jombo, takes a look at the 2014 Confab
stance on derivation and how it was thwarted due to selfish considerations and another
round of debate suddenly thrown up by the South-South governors in a bid to reawaken the
conversation and get what is really due to the people and oil producing states in this next round
of the derivation debate

The issue of derivation seems to
be coming back to the front burner in
the nation, just when a lot of people
thought that it has been relegated, even
by the Niger Delta people who have
been in the front row of the agitation.
They appear to have lowered
the tempo of agitation in this
administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari, unlike in the
time of President Goodluck Jonathan.
However, what looks like a reawakening
recently happened when
governors of South-South states met
in Port Harcourt and restated their
demands for 13 percent derivation and
restructuring of Nigeria. The governors
at the Port Harcourt meeting were
Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Udom
Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, and Ifeanyi
Okowa of Delta. Edo State governor,
Godwin Obaseki was represented at
the meeting by his deputy, Comrade
Phillip Shuaibu while Cross River
governor, Ben Ayade was absent.
The governors met behind closed
doors for hours and when they
came out, Dickson, who spoke on
their behalf, re-echoed the call for
restructuring and also reacted to the
withdrawal of $1 billion from the
excess crude account for security.
Dickson said that the demands
were in the spirit and in line with true
federalism, noting that the forum also
demanded a 13 percent derivation
from the one billion dollars withdrawn
from the Excess Crude Account by the
federal government.
According to him, the demand was
in accordance with constitutional
provision, adding that the forum was
not against the amount withdrawn
for the fight against insecurity in the
country.
He noted that the forum expressed
support for the devolution of
powers among the federating
states and subsequently, called for
the withdrawal from the National
Assembly a bill on the management
and administration of water ways by
the federal government.
At its twilight, the 2014 National
Conference had a stalemated session
on resource control and derivation
principle. It was originally meant to be
a National Intervention Fund, but they
called it a National Intervention Fund
for North-East, North-West and North-
Central. The setting up of the Elders
Committee became pertinent following
anticipated imbroglio on the report of
the conference’s Devolution of Power
Committee which recommended the
retention of the status quo, that is, the
13 percent derivation enjoyed by the
oil producing states of the Niger Delta The submission of the main report
of the committee witnessed a minority
report by Ms. Annkio Briggs, a
member of the committee, and federal
government delegate to the conference.
She had protested that she was not
a signatory to the main report of the
committee on resource ownership,
control and derivation principle. But
the conference traditionally jettisoned
her minority report, saying it wasn’t
in its term of reference to accept
minority reports and went ahead with
discussion on the reports of the rest 19
committees of the conference.
Meanwhile, aware of the volatility
of the issues contained in the main
report of the Devolution of Power
Committee, the conference leadership
in its wisdom scheduled the report
of the committee as the last to be
discussed. Now, done with others,
it was obligated to open talks on the
recommendations of Devolution of
Power Committee. But how would
it have proceeded amid thunderous
agitations and threats by Niger Delta/
South-South delegates who insisted on
a substantial increase of the derivation
fund from 13 percent, otherwise the
battle would return to the creeks?
Therefore, in a bid to broker a
truce, chairman of the conference,
Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd) set up the
Elders Committee, after the delegates
had waited with bated breath for
the commencement of debate on
the report. The membership of the
Elders Committee cut across the six geopolitical zones of
the country, featuring three delegates
each. But it later got enlarged following
protest by delegates on the platform
of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs,
organised labour, women groups and
professional bodies, among others.
The members were Bashir Dalhatu,
Dr. Fatima Lami Adamu, IGP
Ibrahim Coomasie for North-West;
Mohammed Kumalia, Kashim Imam,
Adamu Maina Waziri for North-East;
Senator Iyorchia Ayu, Prof. Ibrahim
Gambari and Prof. Jerry Gana for
North-Central; Gen. Alani Akinrinade
and Dr. Kunle Olajide for South-West.
Others were Chief Edwin Clark,
Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Air
Commodore Idongesit Nkanga for
South-South; Gen. Ike Nwachukwu,
Prof. Anya O. Anya and Chief
Chukwuemeka Ezeife were for the
South-East.
Many had anticipated that the
Consensus Committee would end
its assignment. But that was not to
be, as discussions sprawled into the
next day. But just when the patience
of many delegates upon waiting for
the outcome of the meeting of the 37
“wise men” was about wearing out,
the `Elders’ made a sudden entry into
the hall. Time was about 2.45pm when
the leader, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu from
the South-East and others came in
from the caucus meeting.
Nwachukwu told the house that
a delegate on the platform of elder
statesmen category, Prof. Ibrahim
Gambari, would read the position
of the Elders Consensus Committee.
Gambari, who presented the report at
about 2.50pm, said: “After two days
and two nights, here is what we arrived
at: We arrived at this conclusions and
in doing that among us, there have
been shift of positions on the parts of
the two positions already taken by our
members in the spirit of compromise
and putting Nigeria first and above
the interest of our respective zones
and constituencies, recognising that
status quo is not sustainable. We have
always felt that anytime we reduce
our discussion to our village level,
primordial level, state level, zonal
level, we are likely to run into problem.
“Now one pole began with the
position that was embodied in the
recommendations of the Committee
on Devolution of Powers all the way
from 13 percent to 15 percent to 17
percent and not less than 18 percent.
Another position shifted from the
high figure of 100 percent, 50 percent
to 21.5 percent to 20 percent and
finally to not less than 18 percent to be
reviewed every 10 years. “Therefore,
this group adopted a position and to
recommend to the plenary not less
than 18 percent as the derivation
formula but the group did not end
there. As a package, we propose
two recommendations: one, for five
percent revenue allocation to be made
for solid minerals development; we
know we are over-relying on oil and
the time has come to pay attention
to other resources throughout the
country.
“The second and perhaps much more
urgent is that we have recommended
a new fund to be established which
we will call Fund for Stabilisation,
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction,
five percent of revenue allocation,
principally for the North-East, North-
West and the North Central.
“These recommendations, if
endorsed, will be reflected in the
Revenue Allocation Act. We have also
recommended that what is happening
now is not the problem of North-
East but that of Nigeria but more
dramatically in the North-East. We
have also recommended broadly a
safeguard and mechanism to ensure
that monies go to those who need them
most and to also enhance production
of mineral resources that our country
is endowed with.
“Finally, in reaching this conclusion,
this group is only motivated by one
thing which is just to provide an
avenue to reach consensus rather than
voting, we do not believe that voting
will really move us forward.”
Gambari had hardly finished his
speech when protests erupted on the
floor, the bone of contention being that
Gambari betrayed the committee and
smuggled in “North-West and North-
Central” as beneficiaries of the five
percent National Intervention Fund.
With this, the conference became
instantaneously polarised.
Essentially, most delegates did
not have any qualms with the new
offer of 18 percent from the current
13 percent even though there are still
some vestiges of agitations to jerk it up
to 50 percent. Also, there was no issue
on the agreed five percent mapped out
by the committee for the development
of solid mineral resources across
the country. Many did not also
pick holes with the proposed five
percent National Intervention Fund
for national emergencies across the
federation. Not even with the idea
of starting off with North-east where
insurgency has reached its apogee
but tempers flared up mainly over a
perceived, conscious attempt to make
the five percent an exclusive right or
reserve of the North as there was no
mention of South-East, South-South
and South-West.
While the 2014 national conference
appears could not come up with an
agreeable consensus on the derivation
matter, the debate not only seem
to be endless and inconclusive but
the governors of the Niger Delta or
South-South region seems to have
reawakened it at their recent Port
Harcourt meeting.
How far this can go and bring justice,
fair play and the commensurate share
to the area that produces the nation’s
wealth is still being surveyed

Marriage is not a noun, it’s a verb. It isn’t something you get. It’s something you do. It’s the way you love your partner every day. —Barbara De Angelis.

You are a perfect person,
With a perfect body,
Wearing perfect clothes,
Married to a perfect spouse,
Working at a perfect job,
Driving a perfect car,
Living in a perfect house,
Raising a perfect family.
There’s only one problem…
Perfection does not exist. —Alisa DiLorenzo. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t be happy throughout the imperfections. Imperfection is beauty.

A wedding is one of the most important events of your life when you want everything to be picture perfect (at least for the bride ). This is your special day that you have been waiting for and now it is finally happening. As a bride or groom, you don’t want to leave any room for the flaws. You start planning for everything in advance and dream of a bright and happy future.When newlyweds tie the knot, they hope for a long and happy marriage. But after some time, did you have the intimacy and passion… that made you feel alive? Were you able to talk to and share easily? No? Check out what i have for you because marriage is a beautiful journey that is worth taking.

My wedding day is three years ago now and I still love to look through my wedding album and remember what a special day it was! In my eyes – it was perfect. I have learned a lot about marriage and the journey that comes with it.

Another year of marriage is quickly coming to a close. As you think about the past few years in your relationship… Did you feel loved and deeply cared for… the way you wanted to? But what exactly happened? Have you lost the spark? If so, then why?

We are all so busy making a living that we often forget to live. Your relationship needs more of your time and less of your money (The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers. —Thich Nhat Hanh). How do you balance work and love? Are you one of those who is so lost in work that you don’t even get the quality time to spend with your wife all over again? Love never gets old unless you leave it alone. Sprinkle the fragrance of love again in your life. Small efforts bring about major change.

As the years pass and beauty starts to fade, it really is about two souls that find each other intellectually stimulating, funny, someone you can really count on, that is loyal to you. If you can wither sickness, growing pains, lack of money, teenagers, different cultures, families; the list can go on and on. You know you can do anything you set your mind to, as two can is far easier than one can.

Marriage is a journey! A fun one! Once you are married, life just gets a little easier knowing you have a partner in crime, a supporter, a helper and a teammate!

I hope as you are reading this, you will stop and remember why you fell in love with your Honeybunny. If you happen to be having a rough patch, hunker down, do more weed pulling, watering, pampering your special flower (New love is the brightest, and long love is the greatest, but revived love is the tenderest thing known on earth. —Thomas Hardy). I promise you it will bloom again. All you need to do is give it tender loving care, every day, sit back and watch the beauty come to life.

Marriage is not only about finding a soul mate it’s about standing with your partner in every situation (Placing blame in marriage is like saying, “Your side of the boat is sinking.” —Hank Smith). Love is picking up your partner when they are feeling low. Love is learning to love what you love.
Trust and honesty surely are the main factors behind the success of any relationship, but there are few other elements which are essential for a long-lasting bonding.

Becoming vulnerable, offering someone your whole heart can be very scary business. My parents are still married. They have had their up and downs, but they com from a generation that believes, “if something is broken, you fix it, you don’t throw it into trash.” In today’s society we are so used to instant results and constant stimulation, we need immediate gratification. When we don’t get it, we are quick to hit the eject button, instead of nurturing, watering, pulling the weeds, taking care of our special flower. When we do nurture it daily, the flower grows tall, strong and can wither away any storm.

Never try to change each other. Your differences are your strength. Accept and appreciate the differences between you and your partner. Compliment your better-half. Don’t you find her beautiful in every damn situation? But have you ever told her? Tell her, she will feel awesome. Love is saving the last for your love. Love is ”cuddling you is the best thing”. If your partner is a good parent or a good voice of reason, tell them that.

Revisit your old beautiful memories together. Skip the bad part and focus on the positive memories and times you shared (It’s not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages. —Friedrich Nietzsche). Do your household chores together to avoid arguments and unwanted tension. Doing this will only strengthen your relationship with your partner. Listen to your spouse. Pay attention to his/her words, it’s an essential element of any long-lasting relationship.

Working out together is the key to a happy and healthy relationship. Go for a weekly walk together, it’s a way to vent your frustrations together whilst keeping your mind and body healthy. It’s a great way to catch up on what’s going on in each other’s lives and walk away from life’s stress. The happiest couples are the one who dates, tell each other how beautiful and good they look and do fun things together to keep the spark alive.

Believe me, these are very small issues but your love and bonding are much much bigger than this. Do little things together for your love. Take care of some small things that can ensure the longevity of your union and will help you to survive the obstacles life throws your way. Sorry isn’t a verb, don’t expect it to fix things for you, work on it to make your marriage a true and beautiful existence of love.

Studies show that married couples are happier couples. When you become a husband or wife – you become the happiest you have ever been. The joys that a spouse can bring you is irreplaceable. There are hard days, weeks even months – but through working together and building each other up, you will be the happiest you have ever been.

Plan an unbelievable surprise date for your love. Pull out all the bells and whistles, show them with action instead of words, how much you love them and how important they are to you. You will never regret it.

NIGERIAN Communication Commission
NCC, and the Academy of Engineers has
partner to improve quality of service for telecom
users and increase it revenue generation to the
federation account.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the
commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta stated this
when members of the academy visited NCC
headquarters yesterday in Abuja.
Danbatta said NCC will leverage on the
experience of the members of the academy and
brings this to bear to improve the Quality of
Service. QoS.
According to him, quality of service is
normally measured using four Key Performance
Indicators, KPI .And we believe that additional
indicators can be brought in to improve the QoS.
He said, “ When you talk about issues of right
of way, multiple taxation, multiple regulations ,
improvement of quality of service, the academy
can lend its voice to ensure that factors that
contribute to degrade QoS ,” “We can be able
to contain them, with a view to improve quality
of service, ‘’
The EVC said the Academy of Science have
a great tradition of honouring people and
following that excellent tradition which Danbatta
said the academy was going to be honour the
present EVC adding that it was great honour
to the NCC.
The EVC said that NCC acknowledge the
recognition and pledge to continue in a way and
manner that will lead to the transformation of
the industry and its stability as well as contribute
to the economy.
“`We will contribute to the activities of the
academy in so many ways. We will participate in
the programmes of the academy whenever they
are going to be conducted.
“We will participate in delivering lectures if
we are invited to do so and we will also use the
little resources within our disposal assist them
and this is something we have, ‘’ he added.
Earlier, the Vice president of Nigerian
Academy of Engineering, NAE, Engr. Ernest
Ndukwe said they were in NCC to visit the EVC
who is becoming one of them in few weeks as he
will be honoured to join the elite group.
Lasis said the Academy of Engineer which is
the apex body of engineering this country, as it
is all over the world want to show that NCC has
always had very brilliant people at the top,
Prof. Umar Dambata has continued in the
same vein and we want to congratulate him and
tell him we appreciate him.
The Academy of Engineering is the apex body
of engineering this country, as it is all over the
world.
We want to show that NCC has always had
very brilliant people at the top, Engr. Ndukwe
is always one if us, he became one of us when
he was here and he showed very good efforts
for engineering and Prof. Umar Dambata has
continued in the same vein.

DIRECTOR General, Standard Organization
of Nigeria, SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma has
reiterated its commitment to promote a market driven
standards that is required for locally
manufactured products to gain access to the
international market.
Aboloma who gave the assurance at the
Presenting of certificates to 16 companies who
have complied with its policy on Conformity
Assessment Programme , MANCAP, recently
in Abuja, noted that the certification will
promote consumer’s confidence and global
competitiveness of Nigerian products .
The Director General who was represented
by the regional coordinator SON, Mr. Charles
Nwwogbara said the task of ensuring the
safety and wholesomeness of local products
for global acceptance requires certification in
order to promote technical advice with the best
machinery in conformance with global best
practices.
According to him, “gaining access to the ever
competitive international market is not what
we can wish away, rather it is what we must
strive to achieve because we are left with no
options now than to employ all available means
to have our own share of the market”
“We are committed to ensuring that consumer
confidence and global competitiveness of our
products and services through standardization
activates as key drivers of business across all
sector of the economy”.
He added, to this end, I am pleased to
present 16 companies and products qualified
for MANCAP award in the FCT. This is a
good avenue for us to further developing our
businesses and value addition” .
Aboloma said, “ the significance of this
certification mark conveys to the consumer
an assurance that the goods bearing the mark
have been tested and certified by SON to have
complied with relevant Nigeria Industrial
standard and they may therefore be purchased
with reasonable assurance of quality.
In his remarks, Federal Capital Territory, FCT
SON coordinators, Mr. Gambo Dimka said this
was aimed at entrenching a culture of quality
and continues improvement in locally made
goods to safe guide the health of citizens.
Dimka said the companies had begun the
journey of inculcating quality in their products
at different times under the guidance of SON,
FCT in compliance to government policy that
all made in Nigerian goods must meet the
minimum requirements of relevant agencies to
protect the health, safety and environment of
citizens and engender the business profitability
and sustainability.
According to him, “the product certification
process involves assessing manufacturers,
production systems and facilities and drawing
representative sample of the end products
for testing in international organization for
Standard; ISO 17205; accredited laborites at
SON or any independent accredited testing
facility”.
He said the objective of this process is to
entrench a culture of quality and continual
improvement in the company and to improve
certifications that help the company.
Dimka said the existence of product
certification agreement between the
manufacturer of a product and the SON is
evidence that the product conform to the
relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard, NIS, on
product.
He added that “ the sixteen manufacturers
whose products are certified and being issue
with MANCAP certificates of conformity today
have gone through this compelling quality
journey and their product have been found fit
for used and in compliance to the relevant NIS
in the country.
In his remarks, the representative of the
minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mal.
Bala Liman commended SON for their effort of
ensuring that companies operating within the
nation’s capital adhere to government polies for
locally made products in the country.
Liman said , “ I want to use this opportunity
to commend the leadership of SON for
ensuring that products manufactured in FCT
conform to standard before they are presented
for sale within the country and also exported for protect the health of citizens and the image
of the nation in the international maket”.
Also speaking, the Managing Director,
Ivado Universal Options Ltd, Dr. Chukwu
M Onyeabor who spoke on behalf of the
awardee pledged its commitment to maintain
standard of its products.
Onyeabor decried multiple taxation level on
manufacturers while appealing to the federal
government to address the challenge for the
ease of doing business.

AS part of efforts to ensure
the success of the 2018 Annual
National Sports Festival billed
to hold in Abuja, the nation’s
capital, from December 6 to
December 16, the permanent
secretary of the Federal Capital
Territory, FCT, Sir Chinyeaka
Ohaa has inaugurated a 15-man
committee to ensure the event
is hitch-free and befitting for a
capital city.
While inaugurating the
committee yesterday in Abuja,
the permanent secretary
explained that the event would
boost the economic potentials
of the city, add colour to it and
also enhance the image of the
FCT.
“This event will add colour to
our city, boost the image of the
Federal Capital Territory as a
sport loving city and grow our
economy,” he said.
According to Ohaa, who
doubles as chairman of the
committee, the FCT is privileged
to be chosen as the host for the
2018 National Sports Festival,
after several failed attempts to
host the event.
He further remarked that
though FCT was not fully
responsible for the hosting,
however, as a major partner, the
FCT Administration had been
assigned special responsibilities.
The permanent secretary reeled out the committee’s terms
of reference to include provision
of security, transportation and
game services.
“Although the hosting is not
entirely the responsibility of FCT,
we have been charged with the
task of taking care of four major
areas as the major partner. The
areas are security, opening and
closing ceremony, game services
and transportation. This is out
of the 17th major areas concern
with the hosting of the game.
This is a huge and enormous task
which must be undertaken with
every seriousness and all sense of
responsibility,” he explained.
While delivering a vote of thanks,
vice chairman of the committee,
Mr. Oladimeji Ali Hassan thanked
the FCT Administration for the
honour to take part in such a
national assignment, promising to
deliver on the committee’s mandate.
Other members of the committee
include the Secretary of Education
Secretariat, secretary, Health and
Human Services, secretary,
Transportation, secretary of Area
Council Services, secretariat
coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan
Management Council, Director
of Information, Chief Press
Secretary to FCT Minister,
Director of Treasury, Director
of Security, Director of Sports,
Director of Abuja Environmental
Protection Board, Director of
Facility Management and Chief
of Protoco

As the world marks the 2018 ‘World
No Tobacco Day Tobacco’ a World
Health Organization report reveals
that though there had been remarkable
decline in tobacco usage since year
2000, the reduction is insufficient to
meet globally agreed targets aimed
at protecting people from death and
suffering from cardiovascular and
other non-communicable diseases
NCDs.
The report stated that the global
agency and nations made commitments
to reduce tobacco use by 30% by 2025.
This is contained in a press release
issued by World Health Organization
on the occasion of world no tobacco
day 2018.
“Most people know that using
tobacco causes cancer and lung disease,
but many people aren’t aware that
tobacco also causes heart disease and
stroke – the world’s leading killers,”
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros
Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “In this
year’s World No Tobacco Day, WHO
is drawing attention to the fact that
tobacco doesn’t just cause cancer, it
quite literally breaks hearts.”
He said that the global health
watchdog is collaborating with the
World Heart Federation to highlight
the link between tobacco and
cardiovascular diseases (CVD) – the
world’s leading causes of death,
responsible for 44% of all NCD deaths,
or 17.9 million deaths annually.
The global agency also highlighted
the dangers inherent in secondary
smoking saying, “Tobacco use and
second-hand smoke exposure are
major causes of cardiovascular
diseases, including heart attacks and
stroke, contributing to approximately
3 million deaths per year. But evidence
reveals a serious lack of knowledge
of the multiple health risks associated
with tobacco.
“While many people are aware
tobacco use increases the risk of cancer,
there are alarming gaps in knowledge
of the cardiovascular risks of tobacco
use. In many countries, this low
awareness is substantial; for example
in China, over 60% of the population
is unaware smoking can cause heart
attacks, according to the Global
Adult Tobacco Survey. In India and
Indonesia, more than half of adults do
not know smoking can cause stroke.
“Governments have the power in
their hands to protect their citizens
from suffering needlessly from heart
disease,” says Dr Douglas Bettcher,
WHO Director for the Prevention of
NCDs. “Measures that reduce the
risks to heart health posed by tobacco
include making all indoor public and
workplaces completely smoke-free
and promoting use of tobacco package
warnings that demonstrate the health
risks of tobacco.”
Recall that countries were committed
to reducing premature death from
NCDs by one-third by 2030 as part of
the Sustainable Development Goals,
as well as implementing the WHO
Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control WHO FCTC.

Linda Ikeji, Popular Media Mogul and blogger has finally launched her online streaming television channel.

According to Vanguard, the 37 year old soon-to be mother has officially launched her newest venture, The Linda Ikeji TV.

This report was published as at 4am on Sunday June 3rd, that the online television channel which is hoping to be the leader in African online content, promises to be the channel where people can watch movies, series, dramas, documentaries, comedy shows, and one-of-a-kind reality shows.

Also stating that the streaming service plans to charge users a monthly and yearly subscription fee to watch all the content they have available. You can find the channel at lindaikeji.tv.

As at the time of filing this report, yours truly discovered that the television channel have not fully began operation as it says”i will be with you shortly”.

Although reasons behind the silence is yet unknown, but it is alleged that maybe the channel might be having some technical issues.
More details shortly……

Following the intervention of some prominent leaders and stakeholders in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, the dispute surrounding the election of the national chairman of the party, PDP Prince Uche Secondus which was challenged by Prof. Taoheed Adedoja has finally been resolved.

Specifically, Prof. Adedoja, who filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the last national convention of the party, has requested his lawyer. Rickey Tarfa, SAN, to discontinue the case.

He was one of the national championship aspirants of PDP during the party’s convention held last year in Abuja.

Adedoja, in a statement issued over the weekend in Abuja, stated: “Due to the intervention of well meaning top party leaders and major stakeholders, I have requested my lawyer, Messrs. Rickey Tarfa and Co. to file the discontinuance of the case, also in the spirit of the month of Ramadan, a month of forgiveness, I have laid the matter to rest.

“I am also thanking all the party leader for their intervention on the matter. My teeming supporters across the country have shown unreserved commitment to what I stand for and I hereby express my deep appreciation for their unalloyed support, patience and understanding”.

Adedoja disclosed that by his discontinuation of the court case, “I am not asking for any compensation whatsoever from the party as only the Almighty can compensate any human being for his deeds and actions”.

“The month of Ramadan is a month of forgiveness which I have adhered to in this case. I remain a committed member of the party to ensure that the objectives of the founding fathers of our great party are achieved for the betterment of our country and for democracy to strive”.

It would be recalled that after the December 2017 national convention of the party held in Abuja, Adedoja challenged the outcome of the election of the national chairman on the basis of the omission of his name on the chairmanship ballot box.

Our correspondent gathered that prominent leaders of the party like former Senate President, Chief Pius Anyim Pius; Governor of Rivers State, Nelson Wike; Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi; the Chairman of the reconciliation committee, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and the chairman of Former Ministers’ Forum, Bar. Tanimu Turaki, SAN played key roles in finding political solution to the Adedoja’s case.

Others are former Governors Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo State; Otunba Gbenga Daniel of Ogun; Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State and Sen. Biodun Christine Olujimi (PDP Ekiti South).