Opposition unserious, very disdainful of the truth – Mohammed

Lai Mohammed

For not acknowledging the achievement of the Muhammadu Buhari Administration, the opposition in Nigeria is unserious and very disdainful of the truth, information minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said.
Besides, Mohammed also accused the opposition of deliberately perpetually blind to the monumental achievements of this Administration.
He spoke yesterday in Abuja at the inauguration of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) governing council.
The minister noted that opposition has made the practice of government perception managers very difficult with the speed at which it spew out fake news.
He said: “It is a tough time to be a public relations practitioner. I should know. At the Annual Conference and General Meeting of the NIPR in Ilorin in April 2017, I did say that for the Government Perception Manager, whether he or she is the Minister of Information, Commissioner for Information, Spokespersons for the President or Governor or for any government agency, it is an almost impossible task these days.
“Today, that observation is more valid than when I first made it in 2017 – especially for the Government Perception Managers. This is because we have an opposition that is unserious, very disdainful of the truth, lacks ideas and believes that being in opposition means crying wolf where there is one and spewing out fake information at the speed of light! Where is the seriousness in an opposition party throwing out a spurious figure of 10 trillion as the amount of money that has been looted under the present administration? What is Nigeria’s annual national budget?
“How do you react to an opposition that is deliberately perpetually blind to the monumental achievements of this Administration?
He however noted that the current administration has recorded a number of unprecedented achievements, seen and acknowledged by Nigerians who have benefitted from them, even when opposition said they have not seen them.
“While naysayers say they have not seen all these achievements, Nigerians who are benefitting directly from them have testified to the reality of the successes. ” he said.
While also identifying the social media as another wedge to professionalism in the practice of public relations in the country, the minister however urged practitioners not to be tied of project ting the image of their establishment.


Source: The Nation

CBN resisted pressure to float Naira – Spokesman

MR Isaac Okoroafor, the acting Director, Corporate Communications, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the apex bank resisted suggestions to float the Naira when the country was battling with the economic recession.

Okoroafor spoke at the Capital Chapter Congress/Dinner of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), FCT chapter, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Delivering a lecture titled, “Managing Public Confidence in a Period of Economic Challenge -The Role of Public Relations,” the CBN spokesman said the bank was vindicated afterwards for rejecting the suggestion.

A floating exchange rate is a regime where the currency price is set by the forex market based on supply and demand compared with other currencies.

This is in contrast to a fixed exchange rate, in which the government entirely or predominantly determines the rate.

“Several people both local and international made the suggestions that we float the Naira but we said no.

We resisted the option because we felt it was a wrong option and dangerous to the economy and we are very happy we proved them wrong.

“We believe we succeeded and what are doing now in to consolidate on the successes and address our failures,’’ he said.

He said that crisis was unavoidable; hence the need for public relations practitioners to be proactive.

Source: Nigeria Tribune

Punch Chairman, Aboderin, is Dead

Gbadebowale Aboderin

The Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbadebowale Wayne Aboderin, is dead. He was aged 60.

The company said Aboderin died on Wednesday at about 6.05am after a heart surgery at the First Cardiology Consultants, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Aboderin, who was also chairman of Punch Commercial Printing Limited, is survived by his wife, Titilayo, and children.

Source: This Day 

Not Too Young to Rule: Dogara says excluding youth from governance is crime against humanity

Yakubu Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has stated that the exclusion of young Nigerians from the decision-making processes on issues that affect them amounts to crime against humanity.
Speaking while receiving the Movement for the #NotTooYoungToRun in his office, he harped on the importance of opening up the political space to young people for the growth and development of Nigeria.
The Speaker stated that there is no criminality above excluding a greater percentage of people from taking decisions or participating in taking decisions on matters that affect them.
Only on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed that “In a few days to come, I will be joined by many promising young Nigerians to sign into law the ‘Not too young to run’ bill.” 
Dogara said he will be available to celebrate the milestone when the president signs the bill into law and urged the advocacy team to “make a big deal of the feat they have achieved”.
He said, “One thing that we must emphasise and continue to emphasise is that we must get our young people to develop the capacity to participate and lead.
“We must also ensure that they have political influence. Any environment that excludes half of its population would not be fair, and this is true for the young people that now live in this great country called Nigeria. We have to accord you your rightful place.
“To continuously exclude the young people from participating in taking decisions that affect them would have amounted to a crime against humanity.”
The Speaker maintained that it is important for the youth to get the right training from a young age to enable them take up leadership positions in the future and deliver successfully.
According to him, “We just didn’t do it (pass the bill) for the young people but as it is said, great leaders bother themselves about the next generation.”
He expressed delight that the bill which has become an inspiration to other sister countries will come into law before the 2019 election.


Source: Day Post

S’South Govs Reject Waterways Bill, Back Power Devolution, Fiscal Federalism, Restructuring

Gov Seriake Dickson

Governors of the South-south zone have rejected the Waterways Bill proposed by the Federal Government.

The six governors of the zone, under the auspices of the South-south Governors Forum, have also resolved to unanimously work with like minds to ensure the restructuring of the country and a return to true federalism.

These were the outcomes of the emergency meeting of the governors convened by the governor of Bayelsa State and chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, at the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.

A press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Bayelsa State, Francis Ottah Agbo, said the governors noted that for Nigeria to be stable, peaceful and prosperous, it must be restructured and powers must be devolved from the centre to the federating units

The governors vowed to work with like minds across Nigeria to make restructuring and fiscal federalism a reality.

At the meeting, the governors rejected the Waterways Bill being proposed by the Federal Government.

The bill empowers the Federal Government to own and control the waterways and their resources and activities.

The forum condemned the bill and called on the Federal Government to embark on further consultations on it in order to get the buy-in of Nigerians.

Source: This Day

BREAKING: Zidane Steps Down As Real Madrid Manager

Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane has announced this decision to step down as Real Madrid manager with immediate effect.
The news, revealed at a press conference on Thursday, comes as a great shock, considering that the Frenchman guided Los Blancos to a history third consecutive UEFA Champions League title only five days ago.

Fulani Herdsmen Attack Benue, 5 People Killed

Suspected herdsmen have Killed one Kwaghaondo Ugber, his wife and three others in separate attacks carried out by herdsmen in Benue State.

The couple was retuning from their village in Anyiin, Guma LGA of the state when the attackers struck and hacked them to death.

According to a relation of the victims, Bem Ugber, the couple had boarded a motorbike from Iorza village, heading to Anyiin when the unfortunate incident occurred.

He said: “We gathered from the bike rider that they were ambushed close to Tse Adendem village on Anyiin Road by armed herdsmen, who shot the rider on the hand and after they all fell down, the rider managed to escape into the bush, but my uncle and his wife were not so lucky.

“We reported the matter to the Police after we got the information. Their remains were retrieved and because of the manner they were killed, we buried them immediately in my village, Tse Hwer in a Logo Local Government Area.”

In another attack in Tse Shitenger in Uvir council ward of Guma LGA of Benue State, Daily Post gathred that the gunmen also killed one Azegeor Shitenger, kidnapped Mrs Yonov Shitenger and injured many people.

A source in the state hinted our reporter that the herdsmen also set over 20 houses on fire.

Source: Premium Times

Obasanjo meets Afenifere leaders, says Nigeria needs to be rescued

Obasanjo

 

A former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday paid a visit to the leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, at the residence of the leader of the group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, Ondo State.
The meeting, which lasted for almost 30 minutes, had the former President calling for the cooperation of the group to save Nigeria from collapsing.

Speaking during the visit, Obasanjo commended the Afenifere for being at the forefront of fighting for the interest of the Yoruba nation while he was working towards the interest of the country as a whole, noting that the two parties were working towards the same goals of fostering unity among the people of the country but on a different pedestal.
The former President recalled how he had visited the leadership of the group some 20 years ago, seeking the group’s support for his election but said he was rejected by the group.
He said, “I remember visiting Pa Abraham Adesanya thrice in Lagos before the 1999 election and I was asked to join Afenifere and Alliance for Democracy then, but I told them that AD was a cul-de-sac.
“Pa Abraham told me that if I joined, things would change; but I refused to join them. I went back the second time, but they refused to work for my emergence.
“I went there again the third time, but Afenifere maintained their stand. They refused to vote for me; but I secured my votes outside Yorubaland, though they supported me in 2003 for my re-election.
“Our priority is now one. If we do not join hands to repair this country now, it will collapse and this could be disastrous.”
The Afenifere leader, Pa Fasoranti, while responding, said the visit of the former President was historic and first in about 20 years, adding that the Yoruba group was in support of the ex-President’s moves to achieve peaceful and virile Nigeria.
 He commended Obasanjo for his struggle to make Nigeria a better place, assuring him of the support of Afenifere to join hands with him in the struggle
Fasoranti said, “We want to encourage you in your struggle to make Nigeria the best. You are fearless and that is one of the traits of a good leader
“We have been watching you; and your dreams of a better Nigeria shall be realised.
“Nigerians are at a crossroads; we are tired of the killings, kidnapping going on across the country and the President is mute about it.
“We are in full support of all the letters written by Obasanjo to President Muhammadu Buhari on the state of the nation. We are dissatisfied with the state of affairs in the country. The country is not being run properly.
“Nothing is being done properly in this country presently. Look at the killings in the North. The President is very silent about it.
“We are all Nigerians. If he can keep silence about the killing of his people, that is bad enough.”
The Afenifere leader declared that the group was in total support of the coalition of political parties to forge alliance against President Muhammadu Buhari in the next general election.
“It will be the joy of everybody to present a formidable team to confront the evil government that is there now,” Fasoranti stated.

Source: Punch Newspapers

Linda Ikeji pregnant, shares photos

Linda Ikeji

Top Nigerian blogger, Linda Ikeji, has opened up about her pregnancy and having sex outside marriage.
Miss Ikeji in a post on her blog, joyfully broke the news of her pregnancy.
However, the news was met with mixed reactions. Some social media users have questioned her stand on celibacy, which she passionately advised young girls to practice.
Reacting to the criticisms, Miss Ikeji posted on Twitter on Monday: “I preached celibacy to young girls because I feel that’s the right way to live until you meet someone very special that you love and who loves you and wants to be in a committed relationship with you. Passing body around and having multiple partners is not the way and I stand by it.
"And I’ve lived by it. But then I turned 36 and I knew there was nothing else I wanted more than to be a mum & wife and celibacy wasn’t going to get me that! I even did a video talking about how much I wanted these two things and God has finally answered my prayers. Beyond blessed.”

Nigerians Pressuring FG To Provide Jobs For Everyone – Garba Shehu

Garba Shehu

Garba Shehu, Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, has publicly denounced the pressure on the federal government to create jobs for every Nigerian, noting that the government can only do so much.

While speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, the president’s spokesperson said despite the federal government’s best efforts to create jobs in the country, it is an objective of the private sector to help out in enabling employment for jobless Nigerians.

According to him, the government is helping the private sector to create jobs by creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive for jobs to be created.

He also said that the government is trying to create the environment to encourage Nigerians to seek ‘self-actualization’ in place of depending on the government to create jobs.

He said, “I think that by and large, what the government has been trying to do is to expand the space for the private individual to ease the environment for doing business in this country so that people will seek self-actualization.”

“There’s too much pressure on the government to provide jobs which cannot be provided and cannot be paid for. Even the communist system has failed to provide jobs for every citizen in the country.”

“We’re not saying we’re not providing jobs, but on the scale that we’re confronted with, it’s only the private sector that can help. It is the job of the government to help create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive for jobs to be created.”

“Government within its own domain can create jobs, has been creating jobs; but, my point is that the government is in no position to create jobs for 180 million people in this country.”

According to a report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in December 2017, an estimated eight million Nigerians lost their jobs between January 2016 and September 30, 2017.


Source: Breaking Times

God will judge Jonathan, Obasanjo, others for mismanaging Nigeria’s resources — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has taken another swipe at successive Peoples Democratic Party administrations between 1999 and 2015, saying God will judge them for mismanaging the country’s resources.
“Nigerians know that there were no roads or rail lines, there was no power, despite the billions of dollars spent. Only God will judge this thing,” Mr Buhari said.
The president said he approached the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) shortly after assuming office and he told him there was no money in federal coffers.
Worse still, the president said, there was no infrastructure or any developmental achievements to point to as justification for draining substantial crude oil earnings.
“In those 16 years of PDP rule, Nigeria was getting 2.1 million times 100 (2.1 million barrels by $100 per barrel) everyday, every week, but when we came on board, the price fell to between $37-38 and hung around $40-$50.
“I went to the Central Bank of Nigeria, – the governor of CBN is here – and asked him, how far? And he said nothing was left apart from debts. I said, but this is what the country made? And he said: Yes. He knew, and I asked him, where is the money? All gone,” he said.
Kola Ologbondiyan, national spokesperson for the PDP, could not be reached for comments Wednesday morning.
But the president repeated these controversial talking points that oil sold at an average of $100 a barrel for the 16-year rule of the PDP without citing any authority for evidence.
PREMIUM TIMES examined the claim last October and found that it was inaccurate.
The president’s claim that he met “nothing” in federal treasury when he assumed office was also debunked in that article.

Defend yourself against killer herdsmen – OPC tells Benue, Kogi residents

The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) New Era on Tuesday enjoined people of Benue and Kogi States and other states experiencing killings of innocent Nigerians by suspected herdsmen to henceforth reject it by defending themselves.
OPC New Era while condemning what it described as ‘lackadaisical’ attitude of President Muhammadu Buhari towards finding a lasting solution to the problem, added that the current government in Nigeria is a complete failure when it comes to security.


The group in a press statement signed by Comrade Razak Arogundade (President) and Comrade Adeshina Akinpelu (Public Relations Officer) condemned President Muhammadu Buhari for failing in his constitutional responsibility of protecting the life of an average Nigerian.
The duo, however, suggested that, “time has come for people to find other alternatives to defend themselves”.
They added that, “How can you preside over the affairs of a Nation when you cannot protect the life of an average Nigerian? The Fulani herdsmen are killing innocent members of the public with impunity and yet your government is on a daily basis defending them, coming up different ridiculous excuses.
“As a Yoruba pressure group, we are appealing to Nigerians especially people of Benue, Kogi and some parts of the country which have been experiencing recurrent killings by Fulani herdsmen to find alternative ways of defending themselves”.

Speaking further, OPC New Era also warned the marauding herdsmen to steer clear of Yorubaland.
“OPC New Era is using this medium to warn these terrorists called ‘Fulani herdsmen’ to steer clear of Yorubaland because we are prepared to protect our people from any form of attack. Government at various levels in Southwestern part of Nigeria should support OPC and other pressure group to defend and protect our people from these criminals”.

Killings: ‘Your Sunday protest not enough’ – Group tells CAN, CBCN what to do

The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, Inter-society, has urged Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and other Christian bodies in Nigeria to take other available lawful steps, apart from last Sunday’s protest, to stop the killings of Christians, invading and burning of Churches in Nigeria by Islamic jihadists masquerading as killer herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents.

Inter-society, in a statement yesterday by its board chairman, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, said: “other available lawful steps at the disposal of Nigerian Christian leaders would be a welcome development and a clear and commendable departure from the weak, watery, cowardly, atrocity friendly and pro establishment statements issued by some key Christian leaders in recent months in Nigeria.

“Having carefully read and studied the two statements that called for the last Sunday’s protest, it gladdens our heart that Nigerian Christian leaders are beginning to wake up from their chronic slumber and realize the dangers of imminent extinction of Christian faith in Nigeria and its replacement with Islamic caliphate throughout the country, particularly in the Middle Belt, Southeast and South-south Nigeria.

“We join other Nigerians of good conscience to call on all Christian leaders in Nigeria to shun the crude pursuit and worship of ill-gotten wealth and rise in strong defense of Christian faith in Nigeria.

“We also call on them to focus and properly direct their energies towards the protection and growth of Christian religion from the crushing hands of Jihadists and be tolerant of indigenous religions and their sacred places of worship.

“Instead of dissipating energies locating and destroying bushes, forests, community squares and centres of artifacts and other religious symbols of traditional religionists, crusade warriors should focus their attention more on real enemies of the Christian faith including conquering of aggressor Jihadists by prayers and anointing and leave traditionals religionists and their sacred symbols of faith and places of worship alone.”

”Inter-society alleged that, “In 2014 alone, terror Boko Haram killed over 5700 mainly Christians in Nigeria while terror Fulani Herdsmen killed 1,229 Christians in the same year, and over 1000 Christians have been killed in the past four months, adding that Christian death toll may mostly likely hit 4000 or more by the end of 2018 and by the end of this year 2018, if care is not properly taken, it may most likely be the bloodiest year for Christians in Nigeria in the hands of terror Fulani Herdsmen.”
“Independent concerns over undeniable complicity of Nigerian security forces especially the Nigerian Army and the Police in these killings have continuously grown and manifested openly across the country. The invasion and ransacking by soldiers of the Nigerian Army on 26th April 2018 of the Parish House of Rev Father Vesuwe Benjamin; a priest attached to the Catholic Archdiocese of Gboko; barely 48 hours after terror Fulani Herdsmen invaded St Ignatius Catholic Church in same Benue State and massacred two Priests, two catechists and fifteen other parishioners; is a clear case in point.
“The soldiers had invaded his Parish House and turned everything including his sacred cassock wardrobe upside down claiming that they were searching for weapons kept by the Rev Father; yet none of the Fulani Herdsmen that massacred 19 worshippers at St Ignatius Catholic Church in the State, with their AK-47s has been arrested.”
It said, “Beyond calling for protest by CBCN and CAN, more lawful and coordinated efforts are needed to checkmate the ongoing orgy of butchery on the ground of faith in Nigeria.


Source: Daily Post