Monday 20 April 2015

FG Working out Compensation plan for Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks — Obanikoro

Musiliu ObanikoroMinister of State, Foreign Affairs II, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has expressed optimism that citizens affected by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa will receive compensation.

Since the renewed attacks started last week, several Nigerians have lost their sources of livelihood and other belongings to fire set by locals on buildings where their businesses were located.

Senator Obanikoro, who spoke in an interview with Channels TV on Monday, said that the Nigerian High Commissioner, Martin Cobham, and other delegations, were taking stock of damages done to Nigerians to ensure that adequate compensation would be given to them.

“We have situations where some of our people lost their shops in this attack.

“We are taking stock of the damages done to them and we are going to be engaging the South African Government”, the minister explained.

He added that the South African Government had been exploring different avenues to end the attacks that have claimed several lives in KwaZulu-Natal province.

“One of the major stakeholders who incited the South African community has called for a meeting this morning where some representatives of the affected countries would be addressed.

“Some traditional rulers will be there to see how they can douse the situation and ensure the safety of Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa.

“This is a very shameful situation and it has attracted a lot of international outcry.

“I think the leaders have seen the need to ensure that the xenophobic attacks do not escalate.

“The attitude is now more promising and within the next few days we should be able to put this behind us.

“We are working on how best we can get a lasting solution to the problem”, Obanikoro said.


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PSG’s Silva Ruled Out of Camp Nou Return Leg With Injury

Paris St Germain defender Thiago Silva will definitely not feature in his side’s Champions League last 8 return leg tie against Barcelona on Tuesday.

Silva was substituted in the 21st minute of his side’s 3-1 defeat by Barcelona at the Parc des Princes with a problem in his left leg following a collision with Jordi Alba.

PSG confirmed in a statement on Monday that the Ligue 1 leaders’ captain, who had hoped to recuperate in time for the Camp Nou decider, will eventually not join the flight to Spain.

Thiago Silva Celebrates Scoring the Vital Goal Against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Thiago Silva Celebrates Scoring the Vital Goal Against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

“As a result the PSG captain will continue to work at the Ooredoo training complex to better prepare for his return to the playing field,” the statement added.

Thiago’s fellow Brazilian David Luiz was rushed into an early return from injury in the first leg and is expected to spearhead PSG’s defence in Spain.


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N11billion debt: Rep Member-elect Wants Gov. Lamido Probed

Sule LamidoA House of Representatives member-elect from Jigawa State, Sani Zoro, has called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission to look into recent comment by the State Governor, Sule Lamido, that he is leaving behind an N11billion debt for the incoming administration.

The governor had while reviewing his achievements in office, lamented the fact that the incoming All Progressives Congress administration in the state would be inheriting a debt of N11 billion, which he said was supposed to be refunded to the state by the Federal Government for building the International Airport in Dutse, the state capital.

Reacting to the governor’s statement in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES in Kano on Monday, Mr. Zoro, a former national president of the National Union of Journalist, described the development as unacceptable.

“It is unacceptable for Governor Lamido, who has a series of EFCC cases with regards to how his sons looted the state treasury, to now tell us that he is leaving behind this huge amount”, Mr. Zoro said.

“The Commission should hasten the investigation of the governor, his sons and all his commissioners, to get to the root of how the people’s money is being spent.

“Lamido should not belabour himself about the status of the Jigawa treasury because Allah in his mercy has now blessed the state with a governor, an accomplished accountant who will diligently follow how every kobo is being spent. Let him be rest assured that his books will be scrutinized methodically with the finest tooth-comb available.

“We however take solace in the fact that EFCC has not unfrozen the multibillion naira sleaze accounts traced to a top functionary and his children. I believe we can take refuge in the EFCC to address genuine liabilities that may be left behind by the regime”.


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Metuh has nothing to Learn from Lai Mohammed on being opposition Spokesman – PDP

Lai-Metuh1The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Publicity Directorate has rejected the offer of a crash course on speaking for an opposition party made by the spokesperson of the APC, Lai Mohammed, on Friday.

The PDP said the offer was arrogant and self-serving.

The PDP’s response was contained a statement signed by an aide to its spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, Richard Ihediwa, on Sunday in Abuja.

“Alhaji Mohammed in his usual ill-mannered and condemnable approach left the issues and dwelt on insults, disdainful comments and personal attacks”, the statement said.

It also said Mr. Metuh stands by the party’s statement that the APC is plotting to impose a one-party system in the Nigeria and is now approaching some senior members of the PDP with phantom promises and threats ostensibly to destabilize the party.

“Is Alhaji Mohammed feigning ignorance of the various recent open and nocturnal meetings of his party with highly respected members of the PDP?

“We are aware that as part of the plot, the APC in the past few weeks, has been luring and encouraging some of our members to issue derogatory statements against the leadership of our party. While some of their accomplices have openly decamped, we know that others have been instructed to stay back and cause crisis within our ranks”, it said.

PDP said even in states where it lost, the APC has engaged in violence and instigating crisis all in the bid to impose a one-party system in the country.

“The PDP National Publicity Secretary does not need Alhaji Mohammed’s so-called six weeks crash course in party publicity.

“He does not need a course on how to insult and denigrate the office and person of the President of our country. He has already made it clear that the PDP will do no such thing but only focus on constructive criticism while presenting credible alternatives to the policies and programmes of the incoming administration in a manner that will promote democracy and the well-being of Nigerians.

“Nobody can learn anything from the APC National Publicity Secretary except abuses, divisiveness, lies and hate campaign. Nigerians know that Lai Mohammed is the originator of hate campaign with which he fouled our contemporary political arena. It is to say the least, despicable that his style badly influenced hundreds of young people who now engage in abusing each another on the social media thinking that such is what publicity is all about”, PDP said.

The party also challenged Mr. Mohammed to go back to the statements the PDP and APC issued in the last three months and he will realize that while he was busy with hate campaign, raining insults and telling lies, Mr. Metuh focused only on points, marketing its candidates while promoting policies and issues that engender national unity, stability and progress.

“He therefore has nothing to learn from Lai Mohammed”, they said.

PDP argued that Mr. Metuh is not in any way the weakest link but has only chosen to be mature, humble and civil in dealing with national issues.

“We therefore counsel Alhaji Mohammed to be careful with the way he is parading himself as a Colossus bestriding the globe; otherwise one would think that he is suffering from Narcissist Personality Disorder (NPD).

“While we urge him to purge himself and learn to be civil in his approach to issues, we also strongly advice that “those whose palm kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble”, PDP said.


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We’re Yet To Zone Political Offices, Make Ministerial Appointments – APC

APC-BuhariThe All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged Nigerians to disregard media speculations concerning the appointment of ministers and the zoning of political offices under the incoming Buhari Administration.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said there was no truth to anything that had been dished out by the “hyperactive rumour mill” concerning the issue of appointment, especially the zoning of the National Assembly’s principal positions and other offices.

The statement pointed out that “in the true tradition” of the APC, all issues of public interest would be handled transparently and conveyed to Nigerians through the usual communication channels.

“No appointments have been made and no offices have been zoned. The main concern of our party at the moment is to ensure a smooth transition and to hit the ground running, in the overall interest of the long-suffering people of Nigeria.

“At the appropriate time, Nigerians will be informed of the appointments made and the offices zoned”, APC said.


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Buhari Will Not Fail The Nation, Says Wamakko

Aliyu WamakkoGovernor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has assured Nigerians that the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) will not fail them.

“The APC-led Federal Government under Buhari will strive to meet the expectations and yearnings of Nigerians, irrespective of religious, ethnic or cultural differences”, he said.

Wamakko, who gave the assurance on Monday in Sokoto when members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state paid him a courtesy visit, said “Buhari will ensure social justice, adherence to the rule of law, youths and women empowerment, improvement of security and the power sector.

“All Nigerians will be treated equally and fairly under Buhari; the electorate in the country as well as the international community will find Buhari to be a worthy democratic leader”, he added.

Wamakko, who won election to the Senate, said that the peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections was a victory for democracy, urging Nigerians to continue their support and prayers for the new administration to deliver.

He also commended journalists for their objective coverage of the general polls which had ensured peace in the state and the country at large.

Earlier, the chairperson of the chapel, Mrs Rakiya Mohammed, said that the visit was to felicitate with the governor over the successful conclusion of the general elections in the state.


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Guardiola Strikes Out Man City Move

Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola has played down rumours linking him with a move to the English Premier League, despite speculations he is set to replace Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City.

The former Barcelona manager’s contract at the Allianz Arena ends in June 2016 and with Pellegrini’s job hanging on the balance, the Catalunyan boss has been tipped for the Etihad stadium job.

“My future is Wednesday free, Thursday training, and, of course next year to be here. That’s my future.” Guardiola said.

The Bavarians’ hope of winning a treble in the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Uefa Champions League was dealt a huge blow in Portugal a week ago. Bayern need to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit in their quarter-final clash with FC Porto on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola Post CSKA
In the meantime, they are just one win short of a third consecutive German Bundesliga title, needing to win against Hertha Berlin on Saturday to close out another triumph. But the 44-year-old insists winning a single trophy this season would not be enough for the silverware-hungry Bayern fans.

“This is a big club, so you can’t say we are in a cosy situation,” said Guardiola, who won 14 titles in four years at Barcelona and has so far won four in nearly two years at Bayern. “If you win, you’re a genius. If you lose, you have lots of problems. But that’s the nature of my job.

“We have to take more risks after the first-leg result, but I am happy to be here in this stage of the competition. I know it won’t be easy, but I am 100 per cent optimistic that we’ll do it.

“We are just a few steps away [from winning] the German cup and the German league – if we win on Saturday against Berlin, we’ll be champions. That impresses me when I see how many problems we have had.

“But I know which club I am at, it isn’t enough to win the Bundesliga and the cup. Only a treble is enough for a club like Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern, but I am proud to be here with these players.”


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Lead Service Manager at GE

GE works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com

 

Job Title: Lead Service Manager

 

Job Number: 2075606

Location: Lagos

Business: GE Oil & Gas

Business Segment: OG-DTS Downstream Technology Solutions

 

 

Essential Responsibilities

The Service Manager is accountable for the overall management (preparation, execution and closure) of assigned field service projects (meeting all contractual requirements, scope of supply, EHS, quality, customer communication, technical issue resolution, cost and productivity targets, mob and demob and all project related metrics) ensuring the application of all field service processes and the use of the proper tools (Prisma, Artemis, Oracle and FSCC);

• Provide, in collaboration with PM, visibility of assigned customers/countries workload to Forecasting & Planning Team

• Create Artemis job and manage Artemis corrections

• Validate project work scope and JCE in ITO phase with Application Engineer

• Collaborate with Outage Excellence team to ensure all best practises and Top Programs are applied

• Collaborate with Resource Manager (RM) and FSE to provide site specific trainings (EHS or others) and documentation

• Interact with RM, in HQ and Regions, for the assignment of Resident Engineers, Site Managers and FSEs to Contracts, Outages and all Field Project activities

• Request Technical Documentation (TPS and Job Cards/Site Quality Check List)

• Request tooling

• Provide directions/logistics to enable FSEs mobilizations to customer sites

• Conduct Technical Briefing and manage relevant WFs update

• Interact with RM to ensure workload management (straight & overtime) respecting the different countries WTRs

• Conduct Technical Debriefing and manage relevant WF update

• Approve Field Service Report and collect all project documentation

• Update OTS and OTD in Artemis

• Ensure Project Gantt and Site Cost Tracker (SCT) are properly and timely updated

• Collect FSE timesheets signed by Customer and validate

• Enter Service Requests when FSE site connectivity is an issue and coordinate the resolution interfacing with Engineering and Quality teams

• Prepare Technical Specs. needed for Manpower and OEM vendors engagement

• Manpower and OEM vendors coordination and POR issuance

• Validate Manpower and OEM timesheets and approve invoices

• Be Escalation point & crisis management (ITO/OTR)

 

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college (or a high school diploma/GED with at least 4 years of experience in a support or maintenance engineering position).

• At least 3 years’ experience in technical role(s) within Oil & Gas or Energy industry.

• Knowledge of General Electric Oil & Gas equipment and operation, commissioning and startup.

• Capability in working under pressure, clear thinking, decisiveness. Team player skills.

• English knowledge, spoken and written.

• Familiarity with common PC software tools.

• EU work permit.

• NYSC discharge or exemption certificate at hand.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Desired Characteristics:

• Previous experience as FSE, Project Engineer in O&G Industry or Technical Support Engineer.

• Strong oral and written communication skills.

• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.

• Strong analytical ability.

• Knowledge of related product support activities.

• Ability to motivate support groups and convey urgency in customer needs and concerns

 

Click here to apply 

 


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Super Falcons to Set Out for Canada on 19 May

Nigeria’s senior women’s national team will begin their pre-World Cup training tour on 19 May in Toronto, Canada.

AfricanFootball.com has gathered from a spokesperson of the Super Falcons that the team will embark on a training tour of Canada before the start of this year’s World Cup on 6 June.

Nigeria will play their first two group stage matches against Sweden and Australia in Winnipeg before moving to Vancouver to face the USA.

The team are in the meantime preparing for a 2016 Olympic qualifier against Mali at home on 9 May.

The Super Falcons routed the same Malian counterpart 9-1 in the final qualification round of Women’s Football Tournament of the 2015 All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.


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Konga Teams Up with Don Jazzy & Tiwa Savage to Launch #FoundOnKonga Campaign

dt

Konga has teamed up with Mavin Superstars Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage to launch an exciting new campaign tagged; #FoundOnKonga.

According to Konga’s Marketing VP, Gabriel Gab-Umoden, the #FoundOnKonga campaign recognizes the empowerment that Konga gives to its customers and other stakeholders. It’s a collection and celebration of the unique stories that follow Konga’s customers as their purchases from Konga ultimately helps connects them to their personal happiness and success.

Gab-Umoden remarked that, “With the #FoundOnKonga campaign, we are joining Konga’s customers on a journey of happiness that only begins when they receive their dream item from konga.com. We are aware that beyond the purchase; we have also connected our customers to something infinitely more important – an overwhelming happiness.

We are honored to play this important and sometimes diverse role in the lives of our customers – from the man who finds the perfect engagement ring for his upcoming proposal, and the endless love story that ensues; to the young graduate that gets the perfect interview shirt that gives her the confidence to land a dream job.

These stories of empowerment are not limited to konga’s customers alone, but also extends to entrepreneurs that have taken advantage on Konga’s SellerHQ platform to make their businesses even more successful, and Konga employees that are all contributing to one of the most exciting success stories to come out of Nigeria.

Don Jazzy & Tiwa Savage, two of Africa’s biggest stars, believe strongly in what we are doing and have decided to collaborate with us in spreading this message of happiness. We are very excited with the whole campaign and ask everyone to join in the fun.

Today, we are releasing the ‘Happiness song’ that captures many sentiments from the #FoundOnKonga campaign; that sense of joy, empowerment, fulfilment, love, productivity, health, confidence and opportunity that follows happy Konga customers.

Click here to Listen, Download and Share the ‘Happiness song’.

Lookout for the #FoundOnKonga TV advert featuring Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage – debuting with an online release tomorrow the 21st of April at 11:11am.

Join the twitter conversation #FoundOnKonga for the latest updates, giveaways and promos in the campaign. Checkout the #FoundOnKonga page on Konga.com for more information.


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Abolish N100bn annual foreign scholarships – Commonwealth Youth Council Urges Buhari

CYC CHAIRPERSON, AHMED ADAMU & PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN

CYC CHAIRPERSON, AHMED ADAMU & PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN

The Commonwealth Youth Council, CYC, has urged the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to scrap awarding of foreign scholarships in the country after he is sworn in on May 29.

In a statement issued by the CYC chairperson, Ahmed Adamu, in London, the council said close to N100bn is spent on foreign scholarships annually by the Federal Government.

According to Adamu, who is also an economic expert, the expenditure had resulted in the abuse of the naira, triggering a devaluation of the currency in the process and depriving Nigerian universities of the necessary funding.

He said, “This figure is extremely higher when adding the cost of other self-sponsored foreign education programmes and I am using this medium to call on the Nigerian President-elect to consider this as one of the immediate policies he will adopt in the first 100 days in office.

“Nigerians and other internationals studying in United Kingdom contribute 2.3 per cent to Britain’s Gross Domestic Product growth and their patronages contribute 2.6 per cent to the overall UK employment. How different are foreign universities from Nigerian universities?

“We may talk about access to energy, Information Technology, resources, facilities, conducive atmosphere and efficiency, but all these can be provided in all Nigerian universities with the savings that will eventuate from abolishing foreign scholarships. If you divide N100 billion by the number of federal universities, you will see that each university will get N2.5 billion a year”.


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Injured Bale Out for Up to 3 Months

Real Madrid will be without injured Gareth Bale for two to three weeks, due to a soleus muscle injury in his left leg.

The Welsh winger was forced off the pitch after four minutes during Saturday’s match against Malaga after feeling a sharp pain in his left calf.

“Following tests carried out on Gareth Bale at the Sanitas La Moraleja Hospital by the Real Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in his left soleus. His progress will be monitored,” Real said in a statement.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti, in an interview in Italy, said the former Tottenham Hotspur man would miss the Champions League derby against Atletico Madrid, adding that Real must find “a solution especially in his absence.”

Gareth Bale Celebrates With Team-Mates Real Madrid's Second Goal Against Espanyol. Image: Getty.

Gareth Bale Celebrates With Team-Mates Real Madrid’s Second Goal Against Espanyol. Image: Getty.

The former Chelsea and AC Milan boss revealed Bale applied ice to the injury and that they will have to wait for the inflammation to subside before diagnosis.

Earlier in the season, Bale missed seven games- all of which the Los Blancos won, including the El Clasico.

He could also miss La Liga matches against Celta Vigo, Almeria, Sevilla and Valencia.


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Stop Inciting Ekiti people against us, APC Lawmakers tell Fayose

EKITI APC LAWMAKERS

APC LAWMAKERS OF EKITI HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

The 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the Ekiti State House of Assembly have described Governor Ayodele Fayose’s white flag to them as a farce.

The lawmakers, who were reacting to yesterday’s broadcast by Fayose, in which he called on people of the state to rise up in defense of their mandate, said the governor was never committed to peace in the first place.

It would be recalled that the embattled governor, on Friday, asked for forgiveness from his opponents even as he welcomed the idea of a political solution to the intractable crisis between him and the aggrieved lawmakers.

A statement by Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, Wole Olujobi, said the governor had in his broadcast on Sunday demonstrated that he was never committed to the peace he preached barely 24 hours before his inciting broadcast.

The APC lawmakers, therefore, advised him to stop inciting the people against them.

The statement reads in part: “How do you reconcile this inciting broadcast with a plea he made for peace not quite 24 hours earlier, which Ekiti people and indeed Nigerians thought was a good move by the governor to thaw the frozen relationship between him and the lawmakers?

“This is a confirmation of what Dr. Omirin said in his Sunday Punch interview that the governor can’t be trusted in any peace move.

“It is shocking that the governor, who refused to make any remark or commitment during the church service after the man of God appealed to him to embrace peace, could go on air few minutes after the church service to start inciting workers, traders, okada riders and artisans to defend him with their last drop of blood.

“As if his inciting live broadcast was not enough, Ekiti people were shocked when a public service announcement started running intermittently on the state media urging okada riders to look out for strange faces across the state and attack them because they are thugs that are being imported into the state by the APC lawmakers.

“They are also to converge on the House of Assembly as early as 6am on Monday to prevent the lawmakers from performing their legal duties”, the statement added.

Stressing that they were not planning any invasion of the state with thugs from neighbouring states, the lawmakers called the attention of Nigerians to the unlawful acts of the governor in his desperate move to ensure that the lawmakers were rendered ineffective in the discharge of their lawful duties.


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Why Saraki’s the best Choice for Senate President – Dele Momodu

Bukola SarakiPublisher of Ovation Magazine, Chief Dele Momodu, has made a case for former Kwara State Governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, to emerge as Nigeria’s next Senate President.

He stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today (Sunday) during a conversation on the structure of the incoming government in Nigeria and setting its agenda.

While admitting that former Benue State Governor, Senator George Akume, is another top contender for the number three position, Momodu said that Saraki is a much younger and vibrant politician, who hails from one of the All Progressives Congress’ strongest holds, Kwara State.

The national leadership of APC has reportedly zoned the Senate Presidency to the North-Central, with Saraki and Akume, who both hail from the geo-political zone, leading contenders for the plum position.

Presenting his arguments for the Senate Committee Chairman on Environment and Ecology, Momodu said “Saraki appeals to a lot of us younger folks because the next Senate is going to have maybe about 20 or more governors who are Senators. So we need a man who understands them very well.

“Nigeria has gone through so much in the past. So we need men who can hit the ground running. Not just politicians but people with extensive global networks and I think Saraki has that”.

The former presidential candidate of the NCP, however, added that the incumbent Senate President, David Mark, should not be ruled out of contention as he might be interested in retaining his position.

He, however, expressed doubts that the APC would allow that when they have a majority in the Senate.

The renowned publisher also shared his views on the outlook for leadership of the House of Representatives.

“One name you cannot ignore today is Femi Gbajabiamila. Femi made his name in the House of Reps for being very vocal (and) very powerful. He rises up to the occasion, he does not shy away from doing what is expected of him as a legislator”, he said.

Momodu noted that he had written an article published in the dailies in which he stated his expectations and named persons he felt would be right to be in the cabinet of the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

According to him, there are major ministerial positions he also expects the new government to take seriously.

“APC, I believe is blessed with a lot of very great minds. Of course Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State will be available to serve that government because his tenure as Governor will be expiring on May 29.

“I don’t see how anybody is going to ignore such a man”, he said.

The publisher also advised Mr. Buhari to “look beyond APC” and pick Nigerians from any part of the world who have distinguished themselves.

“We need men of accomplishment, we need women of solid characters”, he said, adding that former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, is one of such persons.

He also said that all geopolitical zones in the country must be represented in the new cabinet, “whether they voted for you or not”.


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Output Manager: Security and Governance, Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP)

International Alert employs over 200 people of 30 nationalities both in our London offices and in the regions where we work. Most are full-time staff, but we also employ consultants, interns and volunteers.

 

We are looking for a committed and experienced individual to lead one of the Outputs of this innovative and exciting programme:

 

Job Title: Output Manager: Security and Governance. Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP)

 

Location: Abuja

Contract duration: To 31st July 2017

 

Objectives

The Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) is a UK Department for International Development programme running from 2012-17, implemented by a consortium led by the British Council, together with Social Development Direct and International Alert.

 

The proposed impact of the intervention will be: “The negative impacts of violent conflict on the most vulnerable are reduced in NSRP target states.” The intended outcome of the intervention will be that: “Conflict is managed non-violently more often in NSRP target states’.

 

The programme works at the federal level, in eight states that currently experience high levels of violence and, within these states, in the most violent prone local government areas. The programme will deliver interventions aimed at preventing conflicts becoming violent, promoting appropriate responses when violence breaks out, and supporting reconciliation processes in the aftermath of conflicts.

 

International Alert is an independent peacebuilding organisation that has worked for over 20 years to lay the foundations for lasting peace and security in communities affected by violent conflict. Our multifaceted approach focuses both in and across various regions; aiming to shape policies and practices that affect peacebuilding; and helping build skills and capacity through training. Our regional work is based in the African Great Lakes, West Africa, Latin America, Lebanon, the South Caucasus, South Asia and the Philippines. Our thematic projects work at local, regional and international levels, focusing on cross-cutting issues critical to building sustainable peace. These include business and economy, gender, governance, aid and security and justice.

 

 

Job Purpose

To provide NSRP strategic and technical management that will deliver programme results, specifically in relation to Security and Governance Output (Output 1)” The post holder will:

Lead the conceptualisation and implementation of NSRP activity under Output 1

Provide technical guidance to ensure the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of all Output 1 activities at Federal, State and Local levels

Develop and manage relationships with a wide constituency of actors and stakeholders, with particular relevance to the work conducted under Output 1

Contribute to overall NSRP strategy-setting and monitoring at a senior level, and to the overall capacity development (skills and knowledge) of the NSRP delivery team

Duties and Responsibilities

The main duties of the role are as follows:

 

Lead the evolution of technical design and conceptualisation of NSRP activity under Output 1:

Lead development and revision of output and component plans, ensuring that they continue to meet client, stakeholder and beneficiary requirements, are realistic and achievable, technically sound, and represent best possible value for money;

Consult widely with relevant actors at Federal, State and local level to develop and document an in-depth understanding of stakeholder and beneficiary perspectives, needs and requirements in relation to Output 1, as well as identifying strategic entry-points for achieving NSRP results;

Provide subject-based technical guidance and leadership to regional teams to ensure that regional / state level work planning is fully aligned to programme and Output 1 objectives and delivers envisaged results;

Work collaboratively with the Technical Advisers ( Peacebuilding Adviser & Gender and Conflict Adviser) to ensure that all activities planned under Output 1 benefit from comparative experience with respect to conflict-sensitivity, peacebuilding approaches and gender and social equality factors;

In consultation with the monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management team, conceptualise innovative and effective approaches to promote the results and achievements of the programme, particularly in relation to Output 1;

Lead, in consultation with other members of the management team and the Programme’s Technical Advisers, on the design of terms of reference, including the monitoring and quality assurance arrangements, for inputs relating to Output 1.

Provide technical guidance to ensure the implementation, monitoring and reporting of all Output 1 activity at Federal, State and Local level:

Establish, and provide management and oversight of, the Output-level workplan, ensuring effective prioritisation of work both within the output and across the programme as a whole; management and oversight of operational budgets, value for money strategy, risk management and M&E for the output;

Maintain strong working relations with the NSRP’s federal and regional delivery teams, agreeing and signing off on Output 1 activity contained within state level workplans; and providing technical and management support to the preparation of regional / state workplans;

Identify and commission Nigerian partners to deliver work under the output, balancing innovation against risk to make informed judgements about partner selection; delivering appropriate support and nurturing effective, collaborative relationships;

Identify and source national and international consultancy and training resources to provide value-added inputs to the programme in line with output plans; establish technical delivery standards and quality assure all inputs and deliverables from consultants and other resources commissioned and deployed;

Quality assure the delivery of Output activities and impact from a technical perspective;

Provide technical inputs (training, facilitation, accompaniment, research, strategy development, etc) in line with expertise relevant to management of violent conflict and peacebuilding, including leading on capacity development strategy for NSRP staff and partnering organisations;

In consultation with the M&E Manager design intermediate indicators which assess the performance of individual activities and components; design and implement a process of capturing and reporting the data so as to inform on-going output and programme design; collaborate with the M&E Manager to ensure that data gathering process for logframe indicators is completed in line with standards;

In consultation with the Deputy Programme Manager (Resources) agree value for money efficiency indicators covering key elements of components under the Output;

Identify, evaluate and if appropriate design mitigation measures for risks affecting the performance of the Output;

Report on all aspects of work carried out under the Output to the timeframes, standards and formats set by the Programme Manager.

Develop and manage relationships with a wide constituency of actors and stakeholders, with particular relevance to the work conducted under Output:

Establish, maintain and actively manage effective relationships with key stakeholders within relevant Federal and State level institutions (government and non-governmental) that will facilitate effective delivery of and contribute to raising the programme’s profile and impact;

Build credibility for NSRP in the area of management of violent conflict with DFID advisers, other relevant programmes and key figures within the development community;

Identify and, with agreement from Programme Manager, participate in cross-sector coordination and knowledge sharing & transfer forums that can maximise visibility and impact for NSRP, acting as a spokesperson for the NSRP as required.

Contribute to overall NSRP strategy-setting and monitoring at a senior level, and to the overall capacity development (skills and knowledge) of the NSRP delivery team:

Using personal and professional insights, provide regular input to the overall strategic direction of NSRP through active participation in all relevant staff fora as directed by the Programme Manager;

Support the Programme Manager with readily available advice, insights and analysis related to Output 1;

Coordinate and manage contributions to the development of programme policy, strategy, design and work planning, drawing on own knowledge of the sector, stakeholders, partners and clients, sector risks, opportunities and trends;

Contribute to the overall development of ‘best practice’ in the design and delivery of multi-faceted conflict prevention programmes, helping to foster an appreciation within Nigeria of the NSRP as being “exemplary” in its field;

Support the Programme Manager to identify the strengths, gaps and lessons within the team; provide technical and management coaching as required;

Lead occasional “in-house” seminars, workshops and other fora to ensure that knowledge of the NSRP’s work and achievements are shared amongst the whole team;

Undertake professional development activity each year in line with own objectives and in agreement with the line manager.

Travel requirements

Regular travel will be required to programme areas across Nigeria all of which suffer from insecurity.

The post holder will be required to comply with the NSRP Security Management Plan.

Occasional unsociable hours will be required to be worked, for operational purposes

Personal Specification

At Alert, we have introduced Talent Management to our business model as we believe talented people are crucial to the success of our work. We believe all individuals are talented and success comes in matching the right talents to the right roles. For this role, the skills, qualifications and experience listed below are important, but we believe that to be great in this job you are likely, first and foremost, to have a talent for supporting partner and stakeholders understanding and analysing conflict at community, regional and national levels and visioning a peacebuilding response which can strengthen relations and deliver positive change at all levels. You will also have a talent for developing and delivering clear project plans and budgets, and gather lessons from practice to inform strategic planning for the programme and its stakeholders

 

Essential Requirements

This is what we will be looking for above all else:

Post-graduate Degree in International Relations, Social Sciences, Social Development or a related field.

Significant experience of managing field-based peacebuilding or development projects or programmes.

Proven success in designing strategies and projects, project planning and impact monitoring

Proven success in managing partnerships and collaborative working relationships.

Experience of sourcing and managing external consultants, both national and international.

At least five (5) years’ experience of responsibility for financial management of projects including designing and managing budgets and financial reporting.

Knowledge of project management and planning tools.

Familiarity with log frames, baselines, and indicators and fluency in using these tools.

Ability to facilitate meetings and processes.

Familiarity with rights, inclusion, gender equality and human security frameworks.

Excellent report-writing and oral presentation skills.

Excellent communication, networking and inter-personal ability.

Excellent strategic, analytical and problem-solving ability.

Strong computer skills (e.g. MS Word, Excel etc).

Desirable Requirements

Post-graduate degree or certificate in conflict management and/or peacebuilding

Experience of implementing projects on managing violent conflict through strengthening capacity and coordination.

Experience of managing DFID-funded programmes.

Experience of human resource management including recruitment, performance review and mentoring/support.

Advanced theoretical grasp of monitoring and evaluation processes and strategies.

Strong capacity in gender analysis and linking gender into conflict analysis.

Summary Terms and Conditions

Salary: Competitive INGO salary

Leave entitlement: Up to 36 days per year including Bank Holidays and the days between Christmas and New Year.

Notice period: There will be an initial six month probationary period during which notice will be one month on either side. On successful completion of the probationary period the notice will be three months.

Working hours: Based on Nigerian Law

Relocation Allowance: There will be some relocation support. However, as this is an unaccompanied post, the relocation allowance does not, unfortunately cover dependants. Nor will accommodation costs be covered by Alert

 

Application Closing Date: Friday, 8th May, 2015 at 5pm (UK time)

Interviews Date: 18th May, 2015

 

 

Method of Application

Interested and qualified candidates should send a completed Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form to: jobs@international-alert.org

Click here to download Application Form

Click here to download Equal Opportunities Form


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Rivers pensioners cry out to Amaechi, ‘We’re Dying, Pay our three-months Arrears’

Rotimi AmaechiWith the buzz around the recently concluded general elections gradually subsiding, pensioners in Rivers State have appealed to the State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who was busy with the elections as Director-General of the Buhari/Osinajo Campaign Organization, to pay them their three months pension arrears before the end of this month.

The pensioners, who spoke on Sunday under the aegis of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Rivers State Chapter, lamented that the state government had not paid them (pensioners) since January, 2015.

A statement by the State NUP Chairman, Mr. Edward Festus-Abibo, and Secretary, Mr. Joseph Agbo, disclosed that members of the union had been suffering untold hardship as a result of the unpaid arrears.

The statement pointed out that such ugly situation had not happened in the past, even as he wondered why politicians and other workers had received their pay to date, with the exception of pensioners in the state.

The pensioners said, “We regret to inform you that senior citizens of this state have not been paid their monthly pension allowance since January, 2015 to date (three months).

“We are suffering untold hardship under the midst of plenty. This kind of ugly situation has never occurred in the history of Rivers State. It is unbelievable that Rivers State Government owes pensioners when politicians and other workers have been paid up to March 2015.

“What evil have we committed that warrant this type of punishment? Before we were paid December, 2014, we protested twice and lost two of our members during the protest.

“What an ugly situation! Presently, some of our members had been sent to their grave because of lack of medical care and starvation”.

It noted that pensioners in the state were currently owed six per cent increment since October 1, 2003 and 15 per cent increment since 2007, adding that such increases had been computed and sent to the governor for approval and release of fund for the past two years.

The statement added, “Recently, pension increase of 33 percent has been approved with effect from 1st July, 2010 and the State Government had not implemented it.

“We therefore, call on the state government to pay our monthly pension allowances for the months of January, February and March 2015 and other outstanding increases on pensions from 2003 to date before the end of this month (April)”.


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Jonathan’s Transition C’ttee ‘Trickish’ – Buhari Campaign Spokesman

APCPCO-Garba ShehuThe Director, Media and Communication of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Malam Garba Shehu, has described the transition committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan, as “trickish”.

The committee set up by Jonathan, who lost the March 28 presidential election, is headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

The committee is expected to meet with the one to be set up by the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), ahead of the May 29 inauguration of the new administration.

But Shehu, in an op-ed, which was published on Sunday, said Jonathan’s committee was constituted by “the worst of our prejudices”.

The APCPCO spokesman, therefore, warned the Buhari-led incoming administration to be careful about its choice of people who would constitute its own version of the committee.

He stated, “The President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has earned an incredibly high amount of goodwill following his acceptance of the outcome of the election, which itself had the effect of de-escalating tensions not just among Nigerians but all over the continent.

“But the President’s committee on transition and handover looks to be a trickish one. It seems to be like one drawn to ‘massage’ the numbers and ensure safety for ‘team Jonathan’.

“Some names on that list have certainly made the eyes pop out of their sockets. In the President’s list, you have men and women who reflect the worst of our prejudices; men and women who have made themselves the mouthpieces for everything regressive.

“This is one reason why President Buhari and his party cannot be too careful on choosing who they will give their part of the assignment to. There is no room for complacency in doing this either. Nothing that puts the new government at a risk should be allowed to happen”.

Shehu, who cautioned against including politicians in the committee to be set up by Buhari, insisted that the committee should be made up of purely technocrats.


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Defection of G-5 Govs to APC Nailed PDP’s Coffin – Ex-National Auditor

5-rebels-govs-360x225A former National Auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Ray Nnaji, on Sunday faulted calls for the sack of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, following the party’s poor performance in the just concluded 2015 general elections.

X-raying the party’s performance, Nnaji said “Lack of internal democracy in PDP was the cause of the woeful outing in the general elections”.

The former national auditor, who spoke with a PUNCH correspondent in Enugu, Enugu State, stressed that PDP “elders”, who contributed to the defection of five governors to the All Progressives Congress, APC, should be held responsible for the party’s failure in the presidential, as well as the other polls, in which the party suffered embarrassing defeats.

He accused the unnamed PDP elders of not allowing internal democracy to thrive in the party.

While exonerating the Mu’azu-led PDP national executive committee of blame for the party’s failure in the presidential election, Nnaji insisted that all members of the party should share in the blame for the party’s poor outing in the general elections.

He said, “The fact that the party failed woefully in the elections should not be attributed just to the national chairman or the national executive committee.

“Everybody should share in the blame. Remember that before he (Mu’azu) came in, there was crisis in the party.

“The people that should be blamed are the elders who allowed five governors to decamp to the APC; that move nailed the coffin of the PDP.

“Such a thing has never happened anywhere in the world. So, all those who contributed to the defection of the five governors should be blamed.

“If those five governors had not left, the opposition would not have been strong enough to effectively challenge PDP in the elections”.

Nnaji, however, noted that the development was good for the country’s democracy as well as the fortunes of the PDP.

According to him, it is an opportunity for the PDP to know its true members and those he described as “saboteurs”.

“There is nothing static in life except change; it is also an opportunity for the party to know who is a true member. Some people are saboteurs, they pretend to be genuine members but in truth they are not.

“The leadership of the party should not be left to people who are only interested in lining their pockets”, he added.

Nnaji suggested that the Mu’azu-led NEC should be given a chance to revive the party’s fortunes.

“The leadership of the party should not be crucified; they should be given the opportunity to redefine the party so that it could become a credible opposition that can wrest power from APC in 2019.

“This is possible because some of the people that caused problems in PDP are now in APC and surely they will also cause problems in APC”, he said.


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Fire Guts INEC office in Benue

inec_hqThe Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Area Office in Katsina-Ala, Benue, was gutted by fire in the early hours of Sunday, April 19, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The office serves as the commission’s collation centre for the Benue North-East Senatorial District.

Louis Ochai, INEC Public Relations Officer in Benue, who confirmed the incident on Sunday in Makurdi, said the commission was yet to ascertain the cause of the incident.

He explained that no sensitive materials were destroyed, as all sensitive materials as well as card readers were removed immediately after the elections.

The April 19 incident brings to three, INEC offices gutted by fire in the senatorial zone in the past three weeks.

(NAN)


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Don’t Mistake My plea for forgiveness as an Act of Cowardice –Fayose tells APC Lawmakers

Ayodele-FayoseGovernor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said plea for forgiveness should not be mistaken as an act of cowardice by his opponents, saying his tenure in office would be determined only by God.

He said he took the step to seek a genuine reconciliation with the aggrieved 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, who were plotting his impeachment.

The governor spoke on Sunday at the thanksgiving service organised for him at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Anglican Communion, Ado Ekiti, to celebrate the Supreme Court judgment, which affirmed his victory as the duly elected governor of Ekiti State.

Fayose said, “I asked for forgiveness for reconciliation and to pursue genuine peace. Waving the olive branch does not mean cowardice, it is for peace.

“Conspiracy is against God’s will. What better way could one seek peace other than asking for forgiveness”.

The governor advised the APC to emulate President Goodluck Jonathan, who conceded defeat and saved Nigeria from disintegrating.

“When I contested for Senate they said I lost and I did not fight anyone. I did not go to the tribunal and I was saying good things about the government then. The opposition should be courageous enough to accept defeat. I follow Jonathan in and out of office. Jonathan gave up for survival of Nigeria. Jonathan prevented the prophecy that Nigeria would break up in 2015.

“I’m enjoying the mandate of God through his people and that cannot be controverted. My sin is because I allowed the common man to breathe the air of hope.

“The people have spoken (governorship election), they said it was military intervention. They spoke the second term (presidential election), is that one photochromic? And they spoke again the third time (House of Assembly election).

“If God that gave me victory cannot defend me, I better go home. If the people cannot defend the mandate they gave to me, I better go home. Power doesn’t come from man. Power belongs to God. Anyone against the voice of God is following Satan’s way.

“In a democracy, you need a simple majority to win elections, but I enjoy total majority. They want to take government by force, firing shots at people; that is coup against the people. They said they are coming again tomorrow, we are waiting for them”.


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Jonathan to Handover National Peace Policy Document to Buhari – Omeri

national_orientation_agency_noa_mike_omeri_A National Peace Policy is one of the documents that will be in President Goodluck Jonathan’s hand over to the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd.) on May 29, 2015 Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri, has said.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, Omeri said the National Peace Policy is the brainchild of stakeholder agencies – the National Institute for Conflict Resolution, NOA, the National Stabilisation Reconstruction Programme of the British Council and partner NGOs.

Omeri said the draft strategy framework for managing conflicts and building peace would soon be submitted to the Federal Executive Council for ratification.

According to him, the successful handling of the fears surrounding the general election and the structures put in place during the period, need to be institutionalized to serve as a blueprint for peace building in Nigeria.

The draft peace policy, which is expected to be ratified by the FEC before the handover date, is part of the documents which the incoming government will inherit from the Jonathan government.

Omeri added that details of the draft will be harmonised at a stakeholders’ forum on Tuesday with the Civil Society Legislative Action Committee leading the third sector input into the final document.

He pointed out that government was desirous of putting in place an enduring framework for managing conflict situations especially in a diverse society such as Nigeria.


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Chukwumerije’s Death, ‘Big blow’ to Education sector – Shekarau

Uche ChukwumerijeThe Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has described the death of Sen. Uche Chukwumerije as a ‘big blow’ to the education sector.

Chukwumerije, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, died on Sunday at the age of 75 after a long battle with lung cancer.

Shekarau’s condolence message, which was conveyed through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Nnamdi Olebara, was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.

According to the minister, Chukwumerije’s death is also a big loss to Nigeria’s democracy.

He described the late senator as a pragmatic and forthright politician who was highly cerebral and unrepentantly patriotic with a clear and straight stance on every issue.

“His contributions to the reforms in the education sector are tremendous and priceless; he was an esteemed team player who has left the education sector better than he met it.

“We in the education sector commiserate with his family and pray to God Almighty to grant his gentle soul eternal rest; solace to his family and loved ones and bless Nigeria with more Uche Chukwumerijes”, he said.

NAN reports that Chukwumerije was also a former Minister of Information.


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David Mark, PDP Mourn Late Chukwumerije

UCHE-CHUKWUMERIJE(1)Senate President David Mark, has described late Senator Uche Chukwumerije as one of the brightest and fertile minds in the Senate.

Chukwumerije passed on at the Nigerian Turkish Hospital Abuja after a prolonged battle with lung cancer. He was aged 75.

“He radiated intelligence, exemplary conduct in both public and private life. He was a team player who brought meaning to hard work. He was focused and determined to make positive difference”, the senate president said.

He added that in the Senate, Chukwumerije was a shining light and a pathfinder. “We shall miss him. No doubt he left a vacuum that would too hard to fill. He was a consummate and passionate Nigerian who believed in the sanctity of the peace and unity of the nation”.

Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Muazu on behalf of the National Executive Committee and the PDP family nationwide, has mourned the passing of Senator Chukwumerije to the great beyond.

Chukwumerije, until his demise, was a member of the PDP.

Eulogizing the late politician in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh yesterday, the PDP said “We are indeed deeply saddened by the loss of this great Nigerian, a highly respected statesman, who has made immense contributions to the development of our dear nation.

“Senator Chukuwumerije lived a patriotic Nigerian and a brilliant lawmaker, who gave his all and discharged his responsibilities with unequalled forthrightness, loyalty and commitment to the service of our dear fatherland.

“He was a democratic icon and an outstanding party-man who remained committed to the ideology of the PDP and the visions of the founding fathers. We will greatly miss him. Our hearts and thoughts go out to his family as we pray God to give them the fortitude to bear this great loss”.


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Aftermath of Elections: PDP Chairmen to meet Mu’azu

PDP NATIONAL SECRETARIAT

PDP NATIONAL SECRETARIAT

Peoples Democratic Party chairmen from across the 36 states of the federation will converge on the Wadata Plaza, national secretariat of the party in Abuja for a crucial meeting with the National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, on Wednesday.

According to The PUNCH, the meeting will be the first national meeting of the party since the party’s dismal outing at the April 11 governorship and state assembly elections.

Quoting an anonymous source in the party, the report said the meeting would also review what went wrong and how the party would survive as an opposition party.

From May 29, the All Progressives Congress will take over power at the centre as the governing party just as it will also control majority of the states of the federation.

The source said, “The PDP has never been an opposition party before and for the party to survive, we will need to be focused for the next four years. During the meeting, we will do a post-mortem to understand what really went wrong because the party spent a lot of money during the elections.

“Some state chapters of the PDP have already said they would go to court to challenge their defeat at the polls. They will also give us a report of what happened and present the evidence they have”.

The source said the party would also strategise on how to win the supplementary elections in Imo, Abia and Taraba states as well as the inconclusive House of Assembly elections in some states.

The source said the party would also need a re-orientation to adjust to its new role as the leading opposition.

He said, “Presently, the morale of our supporters is very low because apart from losing the presidential elections, we have lost control of the National Assembly and virtually the entire North and almost the entire South-West.

“Nobody wants to remain in the opposition and that is why so many of our leaders have defected. We will discuss all these at the meeting as well”.

The source, however, stressed that there were some moles in the party that needed to be exposed for the party to succeed.

“Some people in our party would have defected to the All Progressives Congress but they were told to remain in the PDP to cause instability. We will try to identify them as well and get them out of our party”, the source said.


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Buhari Cannot Reverse Pump Price of Petrol below N87/litre – IPMAN

petrolpetrolPETROLThe Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigerian, IPMAN, Ogun State, has said that it would be almost an impossible task for the President-elect, Gen. Muhamadu Buhari (retd.), to reduce the pump price of premium motor spirit, also known as petrol, to N40 per litre.

The association said the prevalent situation in the industry could not allow such reversion, noting however, that the price could be reversed to N87 per litre with a caveat – the Federal Government builds refineries in some parts of the country.

The Chairman of IPMAN, in the state, Adeleke Bada stated this shortly after the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Bada, who was flanked by other members of the executive of the association, was reacting to the advice given by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David West to the President-elect to reduce the pump price to N40, saying the price is not realistic.

He said “that is not possible, if you look at the nature of the market, that isn’t realistic. Do we have the refineries?

“The only reason that can be possible is when we have our own refineries and we do not export our crude oil for processing. If the processing is done in Nigeria, then it can be sold at the rate of N40 but not until all the refineries are fixed”.

The IPMAN boss, however, blamed the non-compliance of sale of Premium Motor Spirit at the N87 stipulated price on the expenses incurred by the marketers while trying to make the product available to Nigerians across the country.

He said that levies being imposed by various regulatory bodies and unions have forced the marketers to inflate the prices of fuel to recoup their investments.

He said “that is why they do not want to leave IPMAN alone. The government has not increased the price of fuel, it is still N87 per litre.

“But by the time you get to the depot, after paying around N2.6m for your  ticket, a lot of levies are to be paid, levies from PTD, IPMAN and all others, adding them all together with the cost of transporting your trucks to the station, no one is ready to run at a loss.

“I even give them (marketers) kudos for selling the fuel because they do not want the masses to suffer despite all these anomalies. That is why if you can afford to buy it at the prices they sell, then go on because we make use of it every day”.


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Council Polls: Lagos PDP Advocates use of Card Readers

card readerThe Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos State chapter, has called for the use of Smart Card Readers for the state’s local council elections just as it decried the delay in the conduct of the polls.

The party in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Mr Taofik Gani, also berated the Lagos State Government for failing to conduct the council polls long after the expiration of the tenure of the last elected council officials.

According to the Gani, the composition and existence of the councils as they presently stand is illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic.

The party argued that “the administrators appointed by the state government for the councils are not recognised nor accommodated in any of our governing laws. Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution as amended states that only democratically elected local government council is guaranteed.

“It is thus unexpected that a state like Lagos that says it progressive and democratic can continually disregard this constitutional provision and allow illegal, unconstitutional councils since October 2014 when the tenure of the last councils terminated”, the party stated.

The PDP, however, called on the State House of Assembly to make necessary amendments to enable the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, accommodate the use of PVC and Card Reader to conduct the council polls.

“We shall mobilise our votes and stand to protect it. We have no doubt that our soaring influence in Lagos state will cut across at least 35 LCDAs and 250 Wards during the polls”, the party reiterated.


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Pics: ISIS beheads & shoots more Ethiopian Christians in sickening new video

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Two months after ISIS in Libya beheaded 21 captured Egyptian Christians on a beach, the ones in Ethiopia have done same. In a 29mins video released over the weekend titled ‘Until It Came To Them – Clear Evidence’, ISIS showed the beheading of at least 30 Christians they described as ‘followers of the cross from the enemy Ethiopian Church’.
16 of the men were lined up and shot in a desert, while 12 were marched to a beach and beheaded. Ethiopian government condemned the act and called for the extermination of the terrorist group in the world. Meanwhile Europeans are getting scared now, because Libya is just a few hundred miles from the coast of Italy.

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Ijaw group asks GEJ to grant Presidential pardon to James Ibori before he leaves Aso Rock

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An Ijaw group called the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, in Delta State, over the weekend asked President Jonathan to grant presidential pardon to former governor of Delta state, James Ibori, before he leaves as president of Nigeria on May 29th.

“Ibori should be freed. Hundreds of persons, who looted heavily from government coffers are walking freely in the streets. The continuous incarceration of one corrupt man among a million other corrupt citizens cannot change the menace of high level corruption in the country. Ibori’s imprisonment could be seen as a witch-hunt and such is highly barbaric and provocative and the Nigerian government must quickly do something about his matter. Despite the ordeals Ibori is passing through, Deltans hold him in high esteem and his great achievements while in office cannot be discountenanced.

There should be no sacred cow among political office holders. Ibori’s case is not different, he is a victim of circumstances. Release him and let him breathe fresh air and let other corrupt public office holders be tried as well.” National President the group, Mr. Austin Ozobo, in interactive with newsmen, said (Vanguard)

Source: Vanguard


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Couple arrested for stabbing 10-year-old girl in her private part

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A couple, Eucharia Chukwuma and Jerry Oko-Oboh residing in Joshua street, Ajangbadi area in Lagos state have been arrested for stabbing 10 year old Chidinma pictured above in her private part over allegations that she fiddled with the private part of their 3 year old daughter, Peace on April 6th.

According to Punch, on the day of the incident, the 10 year and the 3 year old, who are neighbours, went out to play. After the couple’s daughter returned home from playing with Chidinma, she complained to her parents that Chidinma had fiddled with her private part. Angered by the allegation, the girl’s mother Eucharia went to Chidinma’s house and met with Chidinma’s mother, Ofia.

She asked to see Chidinma and when she saw her, she told the little girl to follow her. On getting to the couple’s house, Chidinma denied the allegation and was beaten up and stabbed with a broken bottle and smeared it with pepper. Chidinma’s mother, hearing the cry of her child, rushed to the couple’s house but found that the door was locked.

Seeing the harm they had done to Chidinma, the couple immediately fled their compound. They were later arrested by the Okokomaiko Police station and dragged before an Apapa Magistrate Court on a three count charge bordering on assault.

The case is currently in court.

 

Source: Punch


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Obasanjo plotting to extradite me to the US- Buruji Kashamu alleges

7

Chieftain of the PDP, and Senator-elect for Ogun East Senatorial District, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has raised alarm over what he describes as a plan by former President Obasanjo to instigate local and foreign security agencies to arrest him in Nigeria and extradite him to the US, to answer to some alleged drug-related charges. Recall that Prince Kashamu was the one who got the Federal High court order that banned the former President’s autobiography, My Watch, which has now been vacated by the same court.

Prince Kashamu had accused Chief Obasanjo of dedicating some portions of his book on his alleged involvement in drug pushing and an allegation that he is a wanted fugitive in America, a subject matter he said had already been surrendered to a competent court of jurisdiction.

In a letter titled “Prince Buruji Kashamu: Abduction Plans By United States of America Agents in Collaboration with Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria.”  sent to the National Human Rights Commission NHRC signed by his lawyer, Mr Ajibola Oluyede dated April 15th, Prince Kashamu
said the former President’s plans to extradite him to the US is a form of revenge against him for the comprehensive political defeat he (Obasanjo) suffered because of Kashamu in the PDP.

“Kashamu has instructed that we bring certain important facts and records to your attention with regard to the illegality of this plan and the malicious and unpatriotic motives of those behind it and seek your urgent intervention in accordance with the jurisdiction expressly given to your commission by the National Human Rights Act 1995 as amended to carry out and inquiry into the matter in order to establish the culpability and compromise of certain institution in this despicable plan and to protect our client’s fundamental human right to liberty, life and dignity of the person. Kashamu’s enquiry revealed that indeed there had been moves by US officials within the region to secure the assistance of the head of the INTERPOL division in Nigeria, Mr Solomon Arase, a Deputy Inspector General, for the arrest and delivery to the US officials of Kashamu for transportation to the US without following the due process required by the Nigeria Extradition Act. Mr. Kashamu’s informant revealed that Arase has confirmed that one Donna Chabot approached him in January 2015. The said Ms Chabot is an attache with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the American Embassy route Des Almedies BP 49 Dakar Senegal and requested that INTERPOL Nigeria assist in the abduction of Kashamu for the purpose of his forcible transportation to the US to face trial before Judge Norgel” the statement in part reads.

Source: LIB


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Nigerians among 700 who died in boat mishap in the Mediterrenean sea

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There were a few Nigerians in the boat that capsized in the Mediterranean sea early yesterday April 19th claiming the lives of about 700 people. The illegal migrants drowned while on their way from Libya to Italy.
With yesterday’s accident, it means that at least 1,500 migrants have died so far in 2015 while on route to Europe – and some of them are Nigerians.
Source: LIB

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“I swear I never dated Ubi, I was dating someone else’ – Emma Nyra

5

In an interview with with Golden Icon, she said;

“No I never dated him. I get that him and Iyanya gist. No, we never dated. We have a business deal together I never dated any of them. I swear I never dated him. I was dating someone else in the industry, but we’re not dating right now” she said

Asked how she feels about Ubi Franklin’s recent engagement to actress Lilian Esoro, she said
“Yes I am happy for him. He is in a happy place. To marry somebody, you have to be in a certain level in your life. I am happy for him”.

On her relationship with Ubi’s fiancee, she said

“I don’t really know her very well. Because when they met I was more of doing my own thing so I don’t really know her very well but I wish them the best really”she said.
Ubi and Emma were in a relationship for about 3 years but they broke last year.

Video of the interview below…

Source: Golden Icon


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Femi Oke comes for comedian Ali Baba after the latter made a joke about Chibok girls

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Al Jazeera journalist, Femi Oke took to twitter to respond to Ali Baba’s tweets concerning the possibility of finding Chibok girls in one place, describing it as cruel comedy. Ali Baba responded to her and explained his stance. See that below..

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Photos: Kunle Afolayan, Tunde Kelani, Yemi Shodimu, others walk against piracy in Lagos

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Kunle Afolayan, film director Tunde Kelani, Kehinde Bankole, Yemi Shodimu, and others held a peaceful walk against piracy this morning. They marched from Ikeja Under Bridge through Awolowo way to the Governor’s office in Alausa where they are waiting for the governor to attend to them. See more photos below…

 

Source: LIB


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See the wedding pics that have captivated millions of people in China

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This couple’s stylish pre-wedding photos have captivated millions of online users in China. The couple, Gerong Phuntsok and Dawa Drolma, from Tibet, a very small minority group in China, did their photo shoot in both modern and traditional attires and shared it on social media. According to Xinhua, China’s official state news agency, the stylish photos have been viewed by 80% of internet users in China – which would mean hundreds of millions of people.

The groom, who works in advertising, tried to explain what made the photos so popular…

“Maybe we represented thousands of young people from ethnic minorities, who left their hometowns to pursue a ‘modern life’ but chose to return to tradition after feeling a void in the heart. I think we found an echo with other web users. As we fight for our dreams, some of us get lost. So we wanted to say with the photos: stick to your beliefs.” Gerong said

Below are some comments from users;

 “The pictures have shown two completely different lives in the cities and in the rural. When the couple wears traditional costumes, they represent the Tibetan people and their unique lifestyles; but when they wear modern clothes, they have turned into a trendy couple,” says user Yanzhi Jiangxi.

“I’m so jealous of how the couple can handle living in the city and in the rural at the same time,” commented Leimo Leimo.

 

Source: Xinhua


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Photos: Drunk man spotted on the streets in Abia state

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According to an  eyewitness, the drunk man passed out last night and slept on the ground till early this morning. No one tried to disturb him.

 

Source: LIB


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