Assets declaration by civil servants

By The Editorial Board [The Guardian]

The directive, the other day, by President Muhammadu Buhari, making it mandatory for all workers in the federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to declare their assets signposts another level of the effort at winning the war against corruption. No one should be in doubt that asset declaration is a veritable part of the ongoing sanitisation process and extending it to civil servants, as it ordinarily should be, is a welcome development. Except those who have something to hide, the directive should be fully accepted and obeyed immediately as there is a compelling need to rid the civil service of corruption.

The directive came on the heels of overwhelming evidence of financial improprieties and sundry corrupt actions among government workers as gathered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in collaboration with financial institutions at the end of the Bank Verification Number exercise. Mind-boggling deals have been revealed involving all levels of officials in the country’s public service to the extent that, according to reports, what has been found with politicians pales into relative insignificance.

Electricity generation sinks to 1,580MW

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) yesterday confirmed that the power generation level has dropped to an all-time low of 1,580 Mega Watts (MW), thereby dampening hopes of early resolution of the nation’s power supply crisis.

The power generation slide, which was earlier attributed to gas pipeline vandalism, was said to have been accentuated by the on-going industrial dispute in the nation’s power sector.

Already the epileptic supply has been deeply impacting on commercial and domestic activities, as consumers continued to groan under intense heat and business collapse, even as fuel scarcity has blighted private power generation.

According to the TCN’s System Operations, the lower generation automatically degenerated into lower power allocation to the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) across the country.

Yakubu Gowon finally accepts fathering a love child, 48 years after

Ex-military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, retd; yesterday owned up to fathering a love child with the late public relations expert, Princess Edith Ike Okongwu, bringing to an end the 48-year-old paternity dispute over Musa Gowon.

Musa Gowon. Musa, who returned to Nigeria at the end of last year, after about 23 years in a United States prison, was acknowledged by Gen. Gowon upon the report of a conclusive DNA test.

The paternity dispute was the subject of a legal action that reached the Supreme Court in Nigeria, which Okongwu won.

However, execution of the judgment was thwarted by the arrest of Musa by United States law enforcement officials in Dallas on the charge of importing heroin into that country.

Open Heavens 9 March 2016 Wednesday daily devotion: AUTHORITY OVER DEMONS

AUTHORITY OVER DEMONS 

Memorise: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; – Mark 16:17

Read: Luke 9:1-2 (KJV)

1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Bible in One Year: Joshua 1-3, Job 34:1-15

MESSAGE

Ese Oruru: Until Nigeria makes an example of people like Senator Yerima, there 'll be thousands of Yinusa- Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka and human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana have criticized individuals masking Ese Oruru's abduction with religion, adding that the perpetrator should be prosecuted so the victim could get justice.

Both men spoke during a joint press conference titled 'Justice At Bay: The Long, Twisted Road to Ese' held on Sunday, March 6, in Lagos. 

"Culture is not static; it is dynamic and evolves. It is humanity. Ther is no culture without human beings. If you say you are religious, there are others who could come to say they are holier than you are. We should take religion out of Ese's abduction. We are talking about criminality. Nobody should say people are Islamaphobic. We are only against criminality. Who invokes religion in criminal matters? Who brings religion into issues of government and constitution? If you want to bring religion into a criminal matter, then let us talk about other things. When we are talking about crime, don't diffuse it with religion." Soyinka stated.

GEJ denies making statement on the state of the nation

As shared by the former President. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. 

Photos: Anglican Bishops, principal, parents laud Governor Ambode over rescued school girls

Anglican Archbishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos Mainland Diocese, Most Rev. Adebayo Dada Akinde has commended the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, saying the prompt, positive and practical response of the government contributed largely to the success story of the safe rescue of the three kidnapped female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu.

Akinde who led other bishops of the Anglican Church, Principal of the school, Ven. Olaoluwa Adeyemi and parents of the three rescued female students on a “thank you” courtesy visit to the Governor at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday, March 7, said the success story of the rescue of the girls cannot be complete without the laudable efforts of the Lagos State Government.

The Sons Of Futa Jalon (Part 1) By Femi Fani-Kayode

“The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future”- Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Saurdana of the Sokoto Caliphate and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Parrot Newspaper, 12th October, 1960, recalled by Tribune, 13th November, 2002.

These are interesting words from the most reverred, prominent and powerful Fulani leader in the history of modern Nigeria. The Saurdana's world-view, vision and intentions are well-encapsulated here and they are self-evident. They need no further explanation or analysis. 

To add to the Saurdana's contribution and to butress his point,  in August 2001 President Muhammadu Buhari, a proud and ascetic Fulani man whose mass appeal, popularity and following has reached cult-like proportions amongst the working class Fulani population in Nigeria said the following: "God-willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of sharia throughout the federation". 

Badeh denies $1m was found in his Abuja home, challenges EFCC to provide proof

Embattled former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, has denied claims by EFCC that $1 million was found hidden in his Abuja home. A source at EFCC had claimed that they found $1 million during a search at Badeh's home at Number 6, Ogun River Street, Maitama‎ Auja. Badeh refuted the claims in a statement issued by his counsel Samuel Zibri, challenging EFCC to provide proof to substantiate their claim.

The statement reads

Lagos Assembly wants Mile 12 Market relocated

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called for the relocation of the Mile 12 Market after a deadly ethnic clash left many dead in the area.

The Assembly, which described the conflict that resulted in the destruction of property running into millions of naira as unfortunate, urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to find another location for the popular market, a statement said.

The lawmakers sent their condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the clash and condemned the killings and criticised the soldiers stationed at the market for failing to stop the conflict from spreading.

Some of the solider had been accused of taking sides in the clash between Yoruba and Hausa youths and the Assembly called for an enquiry into the incident.

Ray Tomlinson, Man who invented the Email is dead

Internet pioneer Ray Tomlinson, who is credited with the invention of email, has died at the age of 74.

The US computer programmer came up with the idea of electronic messages that could be sent from one network to another in 1971.

His invention included the ground-breaking use of the @ symbol in email addresses, which is now standard.

Tomlinson died of an apparent heart attack on Saturday, according to reports.

Open Heavens 8 March 2016 Tuesday daily devotion: HE KNOWS THE END FROM THE BEGINNING

 

HE KNOWS THE END FROM THE BEGINNING 

Memorise: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. – Revelation 22:13

Read: Jeremiah 1:1-5 (KJV)

1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:

2 To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Bible in One Year: John 19:17-21:25, Job 33:19-33

MESSAGE

How we kidnapped Lagos school girls - Suspects

The prime suspect in the abduction of three school girls in Lagos, Emmanuel Arigidi has revealed that twelve people were involved in the operation.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday after they were arrested and the girls recused, Arigidi said the operation was planned at Majidun area of Ikorodu.

“We went to Maya bridge to enter Canoe and went to the school around 8pm. After we gained entrance into the school, we took away three girls and we took them to our hideout,” he stated.

” But along the line, we had disagreement between ourselves and I was actually the one that started it. I told other members of the gang that what we have done is not good and that I don’t like it.

No ransom paid to free abducted Lagos school girls – Police

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has said that no ransom was paid to secure the release of the three kidnapped girls of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, (BMJS), Agunfoye-Lugbusi, Ikorodu.

At a crowded press conference at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos on Sunday, Owoseni said the children were rescued using the application of modern technology and that no ransom of any kind was collected by the kidnappers. Lagos CP, Fatai Owoseni and Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State.

The commissioner wanted the public not to encourage kidnappers to demand ransom as any ransom paid would encourage others to go into the unholy business. He said three suspects, including the prime suspect, Emmanuel Arigidi, were arrested, adding that the girls were in stable condition.

Labour minister, Ocholi dies in car crash

The Minister of State for Labour, James Ocholi, has died in a road crash along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

The accident in which Ocholi’s wife, Blessing and son, Aaron also died, occurred at Rijana, Kilometre 57 on the highway.

Ocholi and his wife were married for 27 years.

Kaduna State sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Mr. Francis Udoma said: “The minister and his son died on the spot; the wife died in the government hospital in Doka, Kaduna State.

“The driver, the chief detail, the orderly and the P.A (Personal Assistant ) were injured.”

James Ibori to complete his prison term in Nigeria

Nigerians serving jail terms in the United Kingdom will soon be transferred to Nigeria to complete their period, following an agreement signed between the Federal Government and the UK government.

According to a top government source, former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, will be part of those that will be repatriated to complete their jail term in Nigeria.

Ibori still has more than six months to stay in prison.

The British government has also promised to give Nigeria one million pounds (about N280 million) to assist in the comprehensive reformation of Nigerian prisons to ease the stress of the inmates.

AFCON 2017 qualifiers: Siasia invites 42 players for Egypt

Coach Samson Siasia has invited 22 home –based professionals and 20 overseas –based players for Nigeria’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-take against the Pharaohs of Egypt this month.

Siasia, who was named last week as Super Eagles’ Head Coach, passionately appealed to all Nigerians, including the sporting media, to rally round the team and show belief as the Eagles host the Egyptians in Kaduna on Friday, March 25 and play away in Alexandria on Tuesday, March 29.

The 22 home –boys are expected to hit camp at the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on Sunday, March 6 before the overseas –based boys arrive as from Sunday, March 20.

Mile 12 Crisis: “Fulanis are dominating, cunning and relentless” – Fani-Kayode

A former minister of aviation and PDP Chieftain, Femi Fani-Kayode, has reacted to the bloody clash between Hausa and Yoruba people today at Mile 12 area in Lagos.

Read what he wrote on his Facebook page:

$20 Billion (N3.94tn) idle in Nigerians’ domiciliary accounts – CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday raised the alarm that about $20bn (N3.94tn) was lying idle in different domiciliary accounts of the citizens.

The Deputy Governor, Financial System Surveillance, CBN, Dr. Joseph Nnana, stated this during a meeting of the Joint Appropriation Committees of the National Assembly with government officials on the 2016 budget.

Nnana said, “Distinguished chairman sir, we have $20bn lying idle in various domiciliary accounts of many customers at the various banks across the country.

“This is part of the reasons why the naira has continued to slide against the US dollar.”

He alleged that some privileged Nigerians were behind the consistent slide in the value of the naira by embarking on dollar speculation to the detriment of the local currency.

Open Heavens 22 February 2016 Monday daily devotion: APOSTATE OR REFORMER?

APOSTATE OR REFORMER? 

Memorise: Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. – James 5:4

Read: 1 Kings 18:41-46 (KJV)

41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

45 And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Bible in One Year: Luke 14:25-17:10; Job 27:1-12

MESSAGE