Nigeria’s sovereignty is negotiable – Wole Soyinka

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has lent his voice to the growing calls for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation, saying the sovereignty of the nation is negotiable.

Speaking during a visit to PUNCH Place, the corporate headquarters of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Kilometre 14, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, on Tuesday, Soyinka said decentralisation of the nation would ensure healthy rivalry among the component units.

The laureate said it was wrong for previous administrations in the country to say that Nigeria’s sovereignty was non-negotiable, submitting that the position was antithetical to development.

Soyinka added, “I am on the side of those who say we must do everything to avoid disintegration. That language I understand. I don’t understand (ex-President Olusegun) Obasanjo’s language. I don’t understand (President Muhammadu) Buhari’s language and all their predecessors, saying the sovereignty of this nation is non-negotiable. It’s bloody well negotiable and we had better negotiate it. We better negotiate it, not even at meetings, not at conferences, but everyday in our conduct towards one another.

Lionel Messi appreciated with a statue

Barcelona star Lionel Messi may have abruptly ended his international career after yet again losing out in the final of a major tournament, but that has not stopped Argentina from giving their due thanks to the attacker.

The Albiceleste lost to Chile on penalties in the Copa America final for the second year in a row, adding to the misery they suffered in the 2014 World Cup at the hands of Germany.

So-called forgery case against me is another wanton abuse of the judicial process- Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki, has described the allegations of forgery of senate standing order leveled against him and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu by the Federal government as another wanton abuse of the judicial process and making a mockery of the institution of justice.

In a statement released by his special adviser on media and publicity, Yusuf Olaniyonu yesterday June 22nd, Saraki said some people were trying to implicate him in keeping with their declared vow to ensure that even if their current efforts to nail him through the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) fails, they would find other ways to carry out their vendetta.

'It's a disgrace to Nigeria that 27 out of 36 states can’t pay salaries' - President Buhari says

President Buhari yesterday said it was disgraceful that 27 out of the 36 states in the Federation are grappling with inability to pay their workers salary. President Buhari said this during his interactive meeting with workers at the state house Abuja.

"27 out of the 36 states cannot pay salaries. This is a disgrace to Nigeria. It is a disgrace up till now that most of the states cannot pay salaries. 

What happened to all we have gotten over the years? We look up and down, left, right and centre, what have we saved? There was nothing because we developed a consumption culture that we were not supposed to develop. Most of your colleagues that have left service, I doubt if they are getting benefits. That is the situation we find ourselves in”he said

Jamie Vardy signs new 4year deal with Leicester worth £100k per week

Leicester city sensation Jamie Vardy has ended all speculation about his future by signing a new four year deal with Leicester City, the current English premier league champions, hereby ending all rumors linking him with a move to Arsenal. Announcing the news Vardy was staying at the club, a Leicester statement on their official website read;

Video: Fayose speaks on how he funded his campaign during the 2014 Ekiti state election

At a press briefing in Ekiti state yesterday June 22nd, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state spoke on how his 2014 governorship election campaign was funded. According to him, Zenith bank, donations and sales of political souvenirs all formed the sources of the funds he used for his campaign.He denied claims of receiving any money from former NSA, Sambo Dasuki...

Aisha Buhari blasts Fayose over alleged role in Halliburton scandal

Aisha Buhari, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, has rebuked the governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, over allegation that she was involved in the Halliburton scandal.

Ogun river suddenly turns into a 'dry land overnight'

A part of the popular Ogun River which flows under the Kara Bridge around Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State has suddenly gone dry.

Unidentified green plants are seen on the river while the water body has given way.

The Kara cattle market community under the bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway has become a Mecca of some sort with residents of the community and passers-by trooping to see the dried section of the river which once provided water for the Kara cattle and ram market.

WHY MUST WE WAIT FOR OUR HEROES TO DIE BEFORE WE CELEBRATE THEM IN NIGERIA?

I woke up about 5:30am on 7^th of June, 2016, had my morning devotion and went about getting ready for the day’s work. I was really not expecting any surprises like the one I got when I took a quick glance at my phone on my way out for any messages and news updates. The first news that popped up at me was a rude shock, Stephen Keshi is dead! At first, I thought it was one of those fake news so I decided to confirm the authenticity of the news from Channels news website, and loo and behold the news was there confirming Stephen Keshi’s death. Sudden sadness welled up within me as I decided to right there on the spot observe my one minute silence in honour of the departed hero.

Buhari begins first phase of homegrown school feeding across the country

• No counter-part funding required to start, but state govts welcome to complement
• N70 per meal estimated
• Caterers to be paid directly by the federal government
• Programme expected to spur Agric, and create jobs 
• Will also foster children's nutrition and learning 

To ensure the effective implementation of the National Home-grown School Feeding, HGSF, Programme, the Muhammadu Buhari presidency has already provided enough funds in the 2016 budget that will ensure that in the first instance 5.5 million primary school pupils would be served one free hot meal a day.

Making this explanation Tuesday afternoon in Abuja was the Senior Special Assistant, Media & Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, who added that while states are an active participant in the school feeding plan, their counterpart funding is not required to start the programmer's implementation.

Willing states are however being encouraged to complement the programme so it can reach more pupils, but state governments cannot and will not be compelled to do this. However the support of the states is vital whether they are able to fund in addition to what the FG will do or not, according to the SSA, saying "we want the states to embrace this programme, it is good for the people, it's a win-win for everyone."

Muhammad ‘The Greatest’ Ali (1942-2016)

Written by the Editorial board of The Guardian Newspaper

Boxing great Muhammad Ali who has just died aged 74 was the hand that fitted the gloves – unique, supremely gifted and arrestingly good looking. Long before he announced himself to the world with his victory over Sonny Liston as a 22-year-old challenger in 1964, declaring himself The Greatest at the heavyweight world title fight, or even his first professional fight in October 1960 against Tunney Hunsaker, the ‘Loiusville Lip’ (famous for having plenty to say) had a focus: to be the superstar in his own galaxy. To capture the essence of Muhammad Ali in a short space then is to do injustice to his life and times. That essence is and would ever remain a reference point in boxing and global sport history.

Nigerian Govt opts for ranching

The Federal Government may have jettisoned the idea of developing grazing reserves across the country, preferring instead to pursue the development of ranches.

No fewer than 14 states have provided 5,000 hectares of land each amounting to 70,000 hectares for grazing reserves.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who disclosed government’s new direction in Abuja yesterday while declaring open stakeholders’ meeting on ranch development, said Nigeria must embrace modern ways of livestock development.

INEC employs blind Ex-NYSC member who lost his sight during 2011 elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has employed an ex-youth Corps member, Daniel Oluwatobi, who lost his sight while serving as INEC ad hoc staff in Yobe State for the 2011 elections.

Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who led a team of INEC’s National Commissioners, Secretaries and Directors to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) headquarters for the presentation ceremony, praised Corps members for their patriotism, dedication and commitment to election duties.

We Won’t Stop Bombing, Militants Tell FG

Meanwhile, militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, said yesterday that in spite of the federal government’s deployment of fighter jets and the military in Delta State, it would not relent in its violent attacks on critical oil installations in the region.

The group, which said the heavy presence of the military would not stop them from their planned action that would shock the whole world, noted that Gbaramatu, now under military siege, was just one kingdom out the several Ijaw kingdoms spread across seven states.

The group, in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Brig-Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, said emphatically, “it is not our business what goes on in Gbaramatu Kingdom but our concern is the innocent children, women and aged people whom the Nigerian military has chased away from their homes now taking refuge in the forest”.

Power Sector Illegally Sold, Fashola Says

The Federal Government and labour agreed yesterday that the power sector was illegally privatised but they differed on how to redress the “illegality.”

Labour leaders are demanding for the cancellation of the sale and reversal of 45 percent increase in tariff effected in February.

However, the government said though it agreed the deal was fraudulent there were legal issues that might make it impossible to reverse the sale.

Speaking at a Senate public hearing on the electricity tariff yesterday, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said government’s interests were illegitimately sold to some private businesses.