It's PluxTIME: 2016-05-29

Nigerian Air Force deploys additional aircrafts to the South-South Region, to tackle militancy & economic sabotage

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed additional aircrafts to the South-South region, in support of the fight against militancy, economic sabotage and all forms of criminalities. The deployment which is in support of 'Operation PULO SHIELD', was necessitated by the recent attacks by militant group - 'Niger Delta Avengers', on the Nation’s oil and gas installations. The additional platforms, comprising of fighter aircraft, helicopter gunship and surveillance aircraft, are intended to enhance the capability of the Air Force to undertake offensive air operations and intelligence gathering in support of the surfaces forces.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Since the recent deployment, there has been an increase in air operations around critical infrastructure in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. These include but not limited to Escravos, Forcados in Delta State; Bonga oil field, Agbami offshore and Brass in Bayelsa; Bony in Rivers; Qua Iboe Terminal in Akwa Ibom State, and Opuekeba in Ondo State.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">The Nigerian Airforce, as part of efforts towards coping with the dynamism of emerging security threats, have also adopted a new concept of base defence to protect its air assets and critical installations. NAF urges members of the public not to panic at the sight of low level flying aircraft and to go about their legitimate businesses. Anyone with information about the whereabouts and activities on the militant group, can also reach out to them or other security forces.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">More photos...</span><br />
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Nigerian Air Force deploys additional aircrafts to the South-South Region, to tackle militancy & economic sabotage

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed additional aircrafts to the South-South region, in support of the fight against militancy, economi...

Residents in Benin kingdom advised not to cook with fire on Sunday 5th June

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">A press statement signed & released by Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, Mr. Frank Irabor, has advised Benin kingdom residents not to cook with fire on Sunday - the day of Igberimwin in the royal funeral rites programme. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"></a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">According to the statement, cooking without fire is in accordance with Benin customs & tradition and is part of activities for the continuation of the 15 days funeral rites of late Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa.</span><br />
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Residents in Benin kingdom advised not to cook with fire on Sunday 5th June

A press statement signed & released by Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, Mr. Frank Irabor, has advised Benin kingdom residents...

Buhari meets Jonathan over Niger Delta Avengers, refutes plans to arrest him

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President Buhari and Former President Jonathan met at the state house in Abuja yesterday night June 2nd, to discuss the increasing activities of Niger Delta Avengers and other militants in the Niger Delta region. </div>
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According to <a href="http://saharareporters.com/2016/06/03/buhari-and-jonathan-secret-meeting-over-niger-delta-crisis-and-anti-corruption-probe" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Sahara Reporters</a>, the meeting started at about <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1864488963" tabindex="0">9pm</span> at the president's private home. President Buhari in the meeting reportedly told Jonathan that there were no plans to arrest him or his wife Patience. The meeting is said to have been brokered by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.</div>
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Buhari meets Jonathan over Niger Delta Avengers, refutes plans to arrest him

President Buhari and Former President Jonathan met at the state house in Abuja yesterday night June 2nd, to discuss the increasing activiti...

Photos: Mentally-ill woman delivers baby by the roadside

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">sidents of Mambwe District, Zambia were this morning treated to a rude shock when a mentally-ill pregnant woman delivered her baby on the roadside. The incident attracted scores of on-lookers as women rallied around the woman and helped her give birth to a baby girl. Photo credit: Victor/Facebook</span><br />
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Photos: Mentally-ill woman delivers baby by the roadside

sidents of Mambwe District, Zambia were this morning treated to a rude shock when a mentally-ill pregnant woman delivered her baby on the ro...

Dan- Borno wants Boko Haram terrorists who 'surrendered' kept away from Maiduguri, amidst fear of suicide bombing

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The Nigerian Army yesterday announced that 77 Boko Haram members surrendered. They comprised of 17 men, 16 women, 16 male children and 28 female children. The surrendered terrorists were moved to Yamteke by combined team of 26 Task Force Brigade for preliminary investigation and screening.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Reacting to the news, Maiduguri-based vocal twitter activist who tweets about issues concerning IDPs in Borno State, posted the tweet. Is his fear valid?</span><br />
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Dan- Borno wants Boko Haram terrorists who 'surrendered' kept away from Maiduguri, amidst fear of suicide bombing

The Nigerian Army yesterday announced that 77 Boko Haram members surrendered. They comprised of 17 men, 16 women, 16 male children and 28 f...

former Adamawa state governor detains by EFFC over N1.9bn fraud allegation

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday June 1st, detained former Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri over his alleged involvement in a N1.9billion fraud which occurred while he was in office. Fintiri was sworn in as acting governor of the state following the impeachment of the former state governor Murtalla Nyako on July 15th 2014. An EFCC source who spoke with The Nation said Fintiri was invited following a petition ...<br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
“The governor was invited following a petition to the EFCC by a former member of his cabinet, who said he could not keep quiet on what transpired under Fintiri. From our preliminary findings, we discovered that while in office, the administration of Fintiri awarded two road contracts including a N1billion work for Yola township road and another N1.9billion for road project in Mararaba Garta, which was ravaged by Boko Haram. From our preliminary findings, the two projects were awarded to Roycon Limited. Although there was evidence of the execution of Yola road project, the contracting firm could not move to Mararaba Garta because of Boko Haram insurgency. But from records available, Roycon Limited was given a mobilization fee of N20million. But the said N200million was later traced to Mayim Construction and Properties Limited which is allegedly owned by Fintiri. About $3.8million from the contract sum was alleged to have been paid to Fintiri who used it to purchase a property in Taraba State.Investigation so far revealed that Fintiri took a loan from a bank to set up a tea farm on Mambilla Plateau. But when he allegedly got the $3.8million, he diverted it to offset the loan. We have taken Fintiri into custody, he might spend some days with us before being admitted to bail. We have a few issues to also clarify from him. When Fintiri became the acting governor, Adamawa State’s debts amounted to N8.7bliion but within four months, the profile rose to N13.85bliion"he said.</blockquote>
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former Adamawa state governor detains by EFFC over N1.9bn fraud allegation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday June 1st, detained former Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Finti...

Woman pictured giving her husband a haircut in Lagos

This photo was taken in Lagos yesterday June 1st. The wife is pictured above giving her husband a haircut at their home in Lagos. Photo cr...

Annie Idibia gave a shout out to one of her husband’ s baby mamas who don’t stress the other parent over seeing their own kid

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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“I’ve been all about child abuse for the last few weeks… And I realize that there are so many forms of it! Even as parents we do this without even knowing!!!</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Let’s love our children more than the situations!!! Shout out to all the separated parents /EX who don’t stress the other parent over seeing their own kid!!! God bless you…</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Your reward is bigger and it is in heaven… #sayNo2Parentalalienation #saynotochildabuseforreal #loveyourkidsmore #whatGoneIsGone #letgo #livefree God bless u real big @s/o to @sunmbo great woman”</em></div>

Annie Idibia gave a shout out to one of her husband’ s baby mamas who don’t stress the other parent over seeing their own kid

“I’ve been all about child abuse for the last few weeks… And I realize that there are so many forms of it! Even as parents we do this witho...

Anambra State Governor Reveals The Truth Behind Police/MASSOB Clash In Onitsha

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The Anambra state governor Willie Obiano has now come out with a statement signed by Ogbuefi Tony Nnachetta who is the Honorable Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state explaining the true events of the day so as to put an end to speculation and conflicting reports.</div>
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You can read the statement below.</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Gentlemen of the Press,</em></div>
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1. I convened this conference today to offer some clarifications on the crisis that erupted in Nkpor yesterday between the law enforcement agents and the young men and women who staged a peaceful demonstration under different names to mark the annual Igbo Day. This conference became a necessity following the curious interpretations given to the incident by different segments of the media.</div>
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2. However, we are worried that the recent crisis in Nkpor appears to have opened an unpleasant vista on the reportage of issues of grave national importance in the contemporary history of the Nigerian press. We are concerned at how a strain of virulent sensationalism appears to have crept into the various accounts given by different media platforms on the incident (We hope for a more cautionary approach that takes cognizance of the fragile strands of national unity and the supremacy of objectivity over fanciful headlines in professional journalism).</div>
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3. It was in a bid to provide a balanced perspective on the matter that we issued a Press Statement yesterday to serve as a guide to journalists whose aim is to provide an objective account on the crisis to the public. Unfortunately, much to our perplexity, a great number of people preferred the sensational to the factual. It is for the purpose of separating the imaginary from the hard facts that we wish to restate as follows –</div>
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i. That the peaceful demonstration by youths who allegedly belong to the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to mark the Igbo Day was hijacked by hoodlums whose designs were antithetical to the peace and security of Anambra State.</div>
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ii. That these elements who infiltrated the peaceful demonstration, turned violent at Nkpor; fired live bullets at the policemen who were detailed to watch the procession and ensure that it was peaceful and burnt down a patrol van to send a dangerous signal to the entire neighbourhood that Anambra had lost the peace we had all enjoyed for two unbroken years.</div>
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iii.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />a. Nothing happened inside St Edmunds Catholic Church Nkpor. The confrontation was at a nearby Primary School.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />b. No house was burnt. We counted about 2 cars at Eke Nkpor and a motorcycle at Afor Nkpor.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />c. His Excellency, Governor Willie Obiano has already expressed his deepest condolences to families who lost their dear ones to this avoidable shootout.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />d. Items recovered<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />i. Dynamite<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />ii. Charms<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />iii. Machetes<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />iv. Banners (IPOB etc)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />iv. That the actual number of casualties can be ascertained from the office of the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State as against the curious figures being bandied in the press.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />v. That contrary to the sensational report alleging that some citizens who took shelter in a church were murdered in cold blood inside the chapel, no such incident happened in actuality. My team visited Nkpor this morning to verify that claim from the residents and it was dismissed as dubious and misleading. However, there was a gun battle between those criminal infiltrators and the police in the premises of a nearby primary school. We urge the general public to disregard this claim as it is false. It is the duty of the Obiano administration to protect the life and property of every Nigerian resident in Anambra State and a threat to the life of any citizen will be resisted with the strongest possible force.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />vi. We want to assure Ndi Anambra that calm has since returned to Nkpor and that people have resumed their normal lives under the re-assuring protection of the law.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />vii. We wish to appeal to our colleagues in the media and various Nigerians who have assumed the sacred duty of citizen journalism with their mobile phones to always place national interest far and above other considerations, especially in a season of anomie as the one our dear country has found itself in.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />viii. Thank you.</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Ogbuefi Tony Nnachetta<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Hon Commissioner for Information and Strategy<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Anambra State.</em></div>
<em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Merriweather, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px;"></em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Merriweather, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Read more at http://www.herald.ng/anambra-state-governor-reveals-truth-behind-policemassob-clash-onitsha/#tk4bMwmlMdm2QLwF.99</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8;">The Anambra state governor Willie Obiano has now come out with a statement signed by Ogbuefi Tony Nnachetta who is the Honorable Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state explaining the true events of the day so as to put an end to speculation and conflicting reports.</span><br />
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You can read the statement below.</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Gentlemen of the Press,</em></div>
<em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Merriweather, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0.65rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
1. I convened this conference today to offer some clarifications on the crisis that erupted in Nkpor yesterday between the law enforcement agents and the young men and women who staged a peaceful demonstration under different names to mark the annual Igbo Day. This conference became a necessity following the curious interpretations given to the incident by different segments of the media.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0.65rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
2. However, we are worried that the recent crisis in Nkpor appears to have opened an unpleasant vista on the reportage of issues of grave national importance in the contemporary history of the Nigerian press. We are concerned at how a strain of virulent sensationalism appears to have crept into the various accounts given by different media platforms on the incident (We hope for a more cautionary approach that takes cognizance of the fragile strands of national unity and the supremacy of objectivity over fanciful headlines in professional journalism).</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0.65rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
3. It was in a bid to provide a balanced perspective on the matter that we issued a Press Statement yesterday to serve as a guide to journalists whose aim is to provide an objective account on the crisis to the public. Unfortunately, much to our perplexity, a great number of people preferred the sensational to the factual. It is for the purpose of separating the imaginary from the hard facts that we wish to restate as follows –</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0.65rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
i. That the peaceful demonstration by youths who allegedly belong to the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to mark the Igbo Day was hijacked by hoodlums whose designs were antithetical to the peace and security of Anambra State.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0.65rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
ii. That these elements who infiltrated the peaceful demonstration, turned violent at Nkpor; fired live bullets at the policemen who were detailed to watch the procession and ensure that it was peaceful and burnt down a patrol van to send a dangerous signal to the entire neighbourhood that Anambra had lost the peace we had all enjoyed for two unbroken years.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0.65rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
iii.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />a. Nothing happened inside St Edmunds Catholic Church Nkpor. The confrontation was at a nearby Primary School.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />b. No house was burnt. We counted about 2 cars at Eke Nkpor and a motorcycle at Afor Nkpor.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />c. His Excellency, Governor Willie Obiano has already expressed his deepest condolences to families who lost their dear ones to this avoidable shootout.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />d. Items recovered<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />i. Dynamite<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />ii. Charms<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />iii. Machetes<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />iv. Banners (IPOB etc)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />iv. That the actual number of casualties can be ascertained from the office of the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State as against the curious figures being bandied in the press.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />v. That contrary to the sensational report alleging that some citizens who took shelter in a church were murdered in cold blood inside the chapel, no such incident happened in actuality. My team visited Nkpor this morning to verify that claim from the residents and it was dismissed as dubious and misleading. However, there was a gun battle between those criminal infiltrators and the police in the premises of a nearby primary school. We urge the general public to disregard this claim as it is false. It is the duty of the Obiano administration to protect the life and property of every Nigerian resident in Anambra State and a threat to the life of any citizen will be resisted with the strongest possible force.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />vi. We want to assure Ndi Anambra that calm has since returned to Nkpor and that people have resumed their normal lives under the re-assuring protection of the law.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />vii. We wish to appeal to our colleagues in the media and various Nigerians who have assumed the sacred duty of citizen journalism with their mobile phones to always place national interest far and above other considerations, especially in a season of anomie as the one our dear country has found itself in.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />viii. Thank you.</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Ogbuefi Tony Nnachetta<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Hon Commissioner for Information and Strategy<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Anambra State.</em></div>

Anambra State Governor Reveals The Truth Behind Police/MASSOB Clash In Onitsha

The Anambra state governor Willie Obiano has now come out with a statement signed by Ogbuefi Tony Nnachetta who is the Honorable Commissio...

We won’t succumb to intimidation, blackmail – Buhari tells militants

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President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would do everything necessary to secure oil facilities and other government assets in the Niger Delta region.</div>
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The President gave the assurance during the democracy day lecture organised on Tuesday in Abuja by the Save Democracy Group Africa to mark the 2016 democracy day.</div>
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The theme of the lecture was: “The Change Agenda and Sustenance of Nigerian Democracy.”</div>
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The President was represented by the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal.</div>
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He said while his government would not shy away from finding non-military solution to the vandalism and destruction of oil facilities in the country, it would not succumb to intimidation and blackmail by any criminal element.</div>
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He said: “You will agree with me that two major reasons why our economy is in such a deplorable condition is the slump in crude oil prices.</div>
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“It is also due to decline in production as a result of the recent upsurge in activities of criminals and saboteurs in the oil producing region.</div>
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“While the control of the selling price of our crude oil is not solely in our hands, the challenge of militancy, criminality and vandalism is solely within our control.</div>
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“I therefore wish to restate that I have directed all the nation’s security outfits to take all steps necessary to secure the oil facilities and other government assets in the Niger Delta region.</div>
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“While our doors are open to dialogue, political and non-military solution on the matter, this government will not succumb to intimidation and blackmail by criminal element, coming to inflict further unnecessary social and economic hardship on the citizens.”</div>
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Buhari urged the perpetrators to desist from the act or face the consequences.</div>
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On insecurity in the North East as well as herdsmen and farmers clashes across the country, the President promised that he would not rest on its oars in finding lasting solution to the problems.</div>
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He said: “In the area of insecurity, I can gladly report that the government has recovered territories hitherto under the control of insurgency in the North East.</div>
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He said: “What remains is the ongoing military campaign to mop up pockets of insurgents scattered in forests and mountains of the region.</div>
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“In the meantime, government has started resettling the returning internally displaced persons to their original localities.</div>
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“The challenging task of rebuilding the region will start in earnest with the implementation of the 2016 Budget of Change.</div>
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“As to the rampant cattle-herdsmen clashes across the country, the Federal Government is partnering with state governments to find a lasting solution to the unfortunate menace.</div>
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“Among the solution being considered is the establishment of animal grazing reserve and other policies targeted at encouraging the nomad herdsmen to adopt modern methods of animal rearing.</div>
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“In the meantime, I have directed all security agencies to bring all perpetrators of the clashes to book.</div>
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“I wish to assure all Nigerians that there will be no sacred cows.”</div>
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Buhari commended the electorate for voting the All Progressives Congress into power, promising that his government would continue to work in their interest.</div>
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He said: “I can say unequivocally that the electorate made the right choice at the right time considering that this government came into power at the very brink of the collapse of our economy.</div>
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“Then for 16 years the nation was charaterised by flagrant misrule and impunity, resulting in unimaginable corruption, insecurity, massive unemployment, and economic meltdown.</div>
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“In order to arrest the slide into total social and economic chaos, this government has to take very difficult and painful decisions.</div>
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“Decisions required putting the nation back into the path of good governance by the rule of law.</div>
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“Restoring hope and security among its citizens and providing a sustainable and enduring environment for employment and economic growth.”</div>
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Buhari promised that the implementation of some of the government’s reforms would start with the implementation of the 2016 budget.</div>
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The guest lecturer, Prof. Ibrahim Gamabari, called for concerted effort to corruption and other vices that had affected development of the country.</div>
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source:today.ng</div>

We won’t succumb to intimidation, blackmail – Buhari tells militants

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would do everything necessary to secure oil facilities and other government assets...

American Judge joins Ondo guber race

<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">A Nigerian-born United States of American judge, Mr. Dele Alade, has joined the race for the Ondo State governorship election.</span><br />
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Alade is gunning for the seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.</div>
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The judge said his ambition to contest the November 2016 election in the state was to help the younger ones in the state develop and enjoy a bright future.</div>
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<img alt="APC-LOGO-17" height="288" src="http://cdn.dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/APC-LOGO-17-1024x923.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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He noted that the present Peoples Democratic Party’s administration in the state had failed the people, stressing that the APC had what it takes to take the state to the next level.</div>
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The New York-based judge said as a legal practioner, he also participated in the Nigerian politics through his membership of different political associations in the USA, which included the Alliance for Democracy where he was a national secretary in the United States.</div>
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He told Punch that, “This is a mission to rescue the masses out of poverty, though it is not an easy task but this is a mission to rescue the masses from the corrupt leaders. Attention will be specifically focused on youth empowerment, and the state will be repositioned as the number one cocoa producer in the country and the world.”</div>
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He promised to run an all-inclusive government saying, “I pledge to govern with the fear of God which shall enable me entrench the core values of equity, fairness, transparency, honesty, accountability, selflessness, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and unity while running an all-inclusive administration.”</div>

American Judge joins Ondo guber race

A Nigerian-born United States of American judge, Mr. Dele Alade, has joined the race for the Ondo State governorship election. Alade is ...

Buhari inherited rot from his predecessor- woke soyinka

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Prof Wole Soyinka has said it would take time for President Muhammadu Buhari to clear the rot he inherited from his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, whose administration, he believed, left a “heavy baggage” and “burden” that may take a while to tackle.</div>
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According to The Nation,he spoke in Johannesburg, South Africa at a public lecture on the theme: Politics, Culture and the New Africa. He said:</div>
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“This (Buhari) administration has inherited a heavy baggage. While I am critical in some aspects of the priority, I think that to clear up the mess left by previous administrations is going to take quite a while, especially in the economy sector. So, I don’t use words like optimism or pessimism; I’m just pragmatic. I look at what is on the ground and, of course, wherever I can intervene, I do both privately and publicly.”</div>
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Buhari inherited rot from his predecessor- woke soyinka

Prof Wole Soyinka has said it would take time for President Muhammadu Buhari to clear the rot he inherited from his predecessor, Dr. Goodlu...

How I joined YBNL-adekule gold

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One of Nigeria’s trending singers right now, Adekunle Gold who is signed to Olamide’s YBNL, during a recent interview revealed how he joined the label.</div>
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According to Adekunle Gold,he was merely “business friends” with Olamide since he helped the label design the logo and help design most of Lil Kesh and Viktoh’s work after they joined YBNL nation.</div>
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I would never have thought that an Olamide would sign me, so there is no way i lobbied or pushed or sent my songs to him to listen to before signing me on the label, it was em.. when I dropped Sade, apparently he liked it and everybody in the YBNL team loved it, so 2days to OLIC concert, the first one ever, he called me to come chill with him at the hotels for rehearsals and everything.</div>
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so 2 days after the concert, he called me that he would love to work with me that he thinks my song is a future and he doesn’t want it to change, i quickly took the deal before my guy would change his mind,” he said.</div>
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Adekunle Gold is set to drop his debut album this July.</div>

How I joined YBNL-adekule gold

One of Nigeria’s trending singers right now, Adekunle Gold who is signed to Olamide’s YBNL, during a recent interview revealed how he joine...

Skale's girlfriend claims that skale has been release- see twit below

Skale's girlfriend claims that skale has been release- see twit below

Dbanj thanks God as he poses besides all his awards

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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">He shared this photo on his IG page this afternoon and wrote "He that's faithful in the Beginning, is too faithful to continue.thank God all my Success is from You lord . June Baby😎 : my month of Continuous Special Delivery</span>

Dbanj thanks God as he poses besides all his awards

He shared this photo on his IG page this afternoon and wrote "He that's faithful in the Beginning, is too faithful to continue....

N’Delta Avengers: Soldiers invade Tompolo’s hometown

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Soldiers swooped on Kurutie (Little London), another community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, ‎in six gunboats at about 4.30 am, today (Monday), hunting for members of the Niger Delta Avengers.</div>
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The residents were asleep when they came, but many scampered into the bush when heard the sound of the gunboats.</div>
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The soldiers, who quickly cordoned the community, embarked on a house to house search.</div>
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“I am looking at the soldiers from a hideout in the bush, they are going from house to house. We know their tactics, so we ran away when they landed this morning at the jetty in the town, belonging to Tompolo’s father,” an informant said on phone at about 5.30am.</div>
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Tompolo has repeatedly denied having any link with the Niger Delta Avengers, but the military seemed to disbelieve him, and were chasing him.</div>
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It was gathered that Tompolo’s father was not in Kurutie when soldiers stormed the town this morning, but an over 70-year-old man, simply identified as Do Good Ikekama, is among the citizens allegedly molested and forced to take the soldiers around some homes.</div>
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Ijaw leader, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, confirmed the siege to Kurutie.</div>
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He said that despite‎ the appeal by the Gbaramatu monarch, HRM Oboro Gbaraun II, to the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (retd), that the soldiers should be professional in their duties, they were still harassing people.</div>
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However, the soldiers, according to reports, left the community at about 6.30am .</div>

N’Delta Avengers: Soldiers invade Tompolo’s hometown

Soldiers swooped on Kurutie (Little London), another community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, ‎...

Saudi Authorities Executes A Nigerian Man For Brutally Killing A Policeman

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A Nigerian man living in Saudi Arabia has been executed by authories for starngling to death a Saudi policeman.</div>
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Saudi authorities put to death a Nigerian on Sunday after convicting him of murdering a policeman, the latest in a surge of executions that has drawn concern from human rights groups.</div>
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It was 95th execution of the year in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom, which imposes the death penalty for offences including murder, drug trafficking, armed robbery, rape and apostasy.</div>
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Fahd Houssawi was put to death in the western city of Taif, the interior ministry said in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency. He had been found guilty of strangling the policeman and beating his head against the ground until he died, the ministry said.</div>
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Amnesty International has warned that at the current rate Saudi Arabia could see more than 100 executions in the first half of 2016 alone.</div>
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The London-based watchdog says that the kingdom carried out at least 158 death sentences last year, making it the third most prolific executioner after Iran and Pakistan. Its figures do not include secretive China. The executions this year are “higher than at the same point last year,” Amnesty said.</div>
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Murder and drug trafficking cases account for the majority of Saudi executions, although 47 people were put to death for “terrorism” offences on a single day in January.</div>
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They included prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr whose execution prompted Iranian protesters to torch Saudi diplomatic missions triggering the severing of relations between the Middle East’s leading Sunni and Shiite powers.</div>

Saudi Authorities Executes A Nigerian Man For Brutally Killing A Policeman

A Nigerian man living in Saudi Arabia has been executed by authories for starngling to death a Saudi policeman. Saudi authorities put to ...

JOHNNY DEPP'S DAUGHTER, LILY-ROSE DEFENDS HER DAD

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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">So we've been following the messy divorce of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard; and the domestic violence restraining order that ensued later on.</span><br style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;" /><br style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;" /><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Johnny's daughter has come out in support and defense for her father following the claims made by his soon to be ex wife.</span><br style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;" /><br style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;" /><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Lily-Rose Depp took to her instagram page and shared a fatherly picture of her as a baby with Depp holding her hands and helping her to walk</span><br style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;" /><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">She wrote: "My dad is the sweetest most loving person I know, he's been nothing but a wonderful father to my little brother and I, and everyone who knows him would say the same."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">TMZ also posted a photo of a handwritten letter that it said it obtained from Paradis.</span><br style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;" /><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">In it she described Depp as "a sensitive, loving and loved person".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">"I believe with all my heart that these recent allegations being made are outrageous, in all the years I have known Johnny, he has never been physically abusive with me and this looks nothing like the man I lived with for 14 wonderful years," the note said.</span><br style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;" /><br style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;" /><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Latest news also is that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) investigated the abuse claim made against Johnny Depp on May 21 but found no proof that a crime had occurred. </span><br style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;" /><br style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out;" /><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">According to People, LAPD Sgt Marlon Marrache reports that on the said day, the police responded to a domestic incident radio call. He said "the person reporting the crime did not insist on a report and hence no report was warranted. There was no evidence of any crime. A crime did not occur so the police officers left the scene and left a business card"</span>

JOHNNY DEPP'S DAUGHTER, LILY-ROSE DEFENDS HER DAD

So we've been following the messy divorce of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard; and the domestic violence restraining order that ensued la...

Presidency says list of stolen and recovered loots will be released this week

I’m under pressure to devalue naira – Buhari

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<article class="post-61580 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-democrazy-day category-featured" id="post-61580" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Article" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="td-pb-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; width: 580px;">
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<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7167863529667065" data-ad-slot="6351738510" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="-webkit-transform: translateX(-50%); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 250px; left: 275px; margin-bottom: 21px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; transform: translateX(-50%); width: 300px;"></ins><span style="text-align: justify; widows: auto;">It is exactly one year since Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ahead of the official commemoration of his ascension to power, Buhari spoke with some journalists on the issues that have dominated his reign. Excerpts:</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Looking</em></strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> at the last one year, how would you assess what has happened in terms of your expectations when you took office, the challenges you met and the progress made or lack of it?</em></strong></div>
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I am sure you will recall that during our campaign, we identified three problems for our country. First was security — the situation especially in the North-East then. Second was the economy — unemployment; and third was corruption. I am sure you can recall that these were what we identified.<span style="widows: auto;">In the North-East, when we came in, Boko Haram occupied 14 local governments and they had hoisted their flags and called the areas their caliphate. But I can assure you that Boko Haram is not holding any local government presently, but they have progressed to using IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and by taking on softer targets — people in mosques, churches, marketplaces, motor parks, killing them in tens, twenties and fifties that you all know about, and killing schoolchildren.  So, I think we have made substantial progress in that area. If you know anybody living in Maiduguri or Yobe, he or she will tell that people are going back to their homes; those who moved to Kano, Kaduna or even here in Abuja are now moving back and they are trying to continue with their lives.  On the economy, again we were unlucky. We are now a mono-economy and everybody is dependent on oil revenue. The oil price collapsed and we were exposed. From 1999 to 2014, the average price of Nigerian crude that was sold was $100 per barrel, but when we came in, it plummeted to about $30 per barrel and now it is between $40 and $50 per barrel. At some stage, I got the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to give me a list of the things we have been spending our foreign exchange on and it showed food items such as tomato puree, grains, rice, wheat and even toothpicks. I didn’t believe it and I still don’t believe it because if he said we were building so many factories, buying essential raw materials and spare parts machinery, I would have believed it. But to show me that what we were consuming majorly was just food items? I believe that Nigerians from the eastern part of this country, from the west and north, about 60 per cent of them, eat what they produce because they cannot afford to buy foreign food. So, what was happening was that people who had plenty of naira, they just filled the papers that they were importing food and were given foreign exchange; they invested the money outside in whatever form. My belief was strengthened when we got into trouble about the import of petroleum products. We conducted a survey and we found out that one-third of what Nigerian marketers claimed to be bringing in, they were not bringing it in. They were just signing the papers and taking the money out. So, people were doing the same thing with food products. But I think subsequently, when we get to the court with some people, you will hear more about it.</span></div>
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The third one was on corruption, I would speak about that in two days’ time (Sunday) and also on subsequent attempts to prosecute where we have found evidence; about where the monies have gone and the different banks either here or outside the country, we would let you know.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">We know that your party did not support the idea of a national conference when it was held, but one year after, it is like the clamour is rising again, given some of the challenges such as security and the economy, and people say all these issues were addressed by the National Conference report. Would you have a rethink by going back to see what is good in that report?</em></strong></div>
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No, I don’t want to tell different stories. I advised against the issue of national conference. You would recall that ASUU was on strike then for almost nine months. The teachers in tertiary institutions were on strike for more than a year, yet that government had about N9bn to organise that meeting [National Conference] and some [members] were complaining that they hadn’t even been paid. I never liked the priority of that government on that particular issue, because what it meant is that the discussions on what the National Assembly ought to do was more important than keeping our children in schools. That is why I haven’t even bothered to read it or ask for a briefing on it and I want it to go into the so-called archives.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The progress that has been made in the fight against Boko Haram is widely acknowledged not only in Nigeria but outside the country. But as we have made progress with Boko Haram, other serious security challenges have arisen. You have the issue of the herdsmen and the killings; you have the Niger Delta Avengers; the Biafra agitation; and incessant kidnapping. Can Nigeria’s security infrastructure deal with these multiple fronts that are opening up?</em></strong></div>
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To speak in the order the question was asked, on the herdsmen, note that Gaddafi ruled Libya for 43 years. During his 43 years, Libya was a small country in terms of population, but very big in terms of resources. They have oil reserves, light crude like Nigeria’s crude. But he was quite generous to some of the countries in the Sahel. He took their young men and trained them. But unfortunately, he didn’t train them to become electricians or plumbers, bricklayers or mechanics. They were trained to shoot and kill.  When that administration was removed, of course, those who removed it knew that he stabilised his country by using these people from the Sahel, so they pursued them and they went back home. You know what happened in Burkina Faso, Mali, and a few of them we believe are around the North-East. I am sure you know that here in Nigeria, our border with our northern neighbour, Niger, is at least 1,500km-long; it is such an open country that you cannot stop donkeys from crossing; you cannot stop camels neither can you stop people from crossing the borders. Only God can effectively guide these borders. So, some of them found their way here. Even on the recent herdsmen [killings], I asked one of the governors if the herdsmen were fighting perennially with the farmers and he said there was a difference, which means that these people were either hired to come and fight and worsen the ethnic relationship in Nigeria or they have no profession other than fighting for a fee. But these are just reports that still have to be confirmed later. So that is what I can answer about the herdsmen and I think the law enforcement agencies are working very hard to identify them.  Now about the militants in the South-South: when we came in, I got one of the senior officers [in the army], a major-general, and asked him to revisit the agreement the late Yar’Adua signed with them. I said he should get a copy of the gazette so that we could see the agreement to know what stage we were in. I haven’t received a comprehensive report on that yet, but I believe the officer is working hard. I saw him responding to some of your colleagues [journalists] a couple of days ago in the papers. Meanwhile, I have told the military and law enforcement agencies that the promise this government took was that this country had to be secure before it could be effectively managed. So we can’t wait for that report before the military re-organises itself and secures the Niger Delta area. So I think very soon they would do some serious operations there.  But for Biafra, those looking for Biafra have a tough job. A lot of them that have participated in the demonstrations were not born and didn’t know what people like us went through (fighting Biafra) by walking from the northern border to initially Abakiliki, then coming back and starting from Awka to Abagana and to Onitsha.We lost our friends and relatives; about two million Nigerians were killed. They thought it was a joke, so I think they have a problem. Kidnapping is a very serious thing because like the operations of the militants where they are destroying installations (in the Niger Delta) — I was going round the world telling people that we are going to secure Nigeria and by our performance in the North-East, they believe us and people are prepared to come and invest in Nigeria. But nobody would invest in an insecure environment. Those who had been in Nigeria for so many years can conduct feasibility studies. But why do they put money into paying militants or paying for corruption? This means with all the goodwill we are winning, we may not be able to benefit in the long run because of the kidnapping and the actions of the militants. So, it is a top priority for this government to address. Once we settle down to make sure that we deal with militants, we will deal with kidnappers also.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">There have been so many pronouncements by your government that once the budget is passed and assented by you, that we would see progress in the economy. But even the budget assumptions today are threatened; from where do you expect to get your revenue to implement your projects and even the N500m needed for the palliatives? For instance, oil production has dropped to almost half due to militancy; even revenue coming from taxes is declining. How are you going to assure Nigerians that this budget, which the government is hinging its programmes on, is going to be implemented in such a way that it trickles down to the masses?</em></strong></div>
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That is a major challenge for us. It is not going to be easy to complement the revenue as we promised in the budget. I think I mentioned initially that the market plummeted from an average of $100 per barrel for crude oil from 1999 to 2014, and suddenly went down to $30 per barrel and now it is between $40 and $50 per barrel. I was constrained to approach the Governor of the Central Bank to find out how we spend our foreign exchange. When he went and checked the records, he found out mostly that it was spent on food bills such as wheat, rice, flour, bread and toothpicks — Nigerians are so sophisticated that they only use Chinese toothpicks. I was shocked.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Looking at the anti-corruption fight by the EFCC and how the probe of the arms funds has shown that some of the funds were allocated to the PDP campaign. But your critics have accused you of probing the PDP campaign funds while not probing your own campaign funds and that you have people in your government that allegedly used state resources to sponsor your campaign. How will you explain this?</em></strong></div>
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I don’t know whether I have some official protection. If I don’t have it, why haven’t you started the investigation?</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">…because the constitution gives you immunity?</em></strong></div>
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I see, very good. But then, it doesn’t extend to all the executives and party leaders and the party leaders are there. If anybody has received $100m to give to the party, I think he should be asked to tell us where he got the $100m. I know those we would eventually successfully prosecute; they wouldn’t leave it, neither will they let their friends leave it. We do not believe if we were so reckless, we would get away with it. I don’t believe it. Do you remember the three and half years when I was in charge of the petroleum ministry, have you forgotten the $2.8bn (issue)? If you have forgotten, I haven’t. Have you forgotten the PTF [Petroleum Trust Fund]? In the PTF, at one stage, we had more than N53bn at a time, we planned and spent it. It was investigated subsequently. So I assure you that I feel perfectly safe. But nobody is perfect, only God is perfect. But let me tell you, from being governor of the six states (the old North-Eastern State), which was only for seven months, to the petroleum ministry, to Head of State, and to PTF, I tried not to expose myself, and I hope God will continue to help me.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">You were a military Head of State; you contested elections several times, and became president last year. What are your thoughts on your administration in the last one year?</em></strong></div>
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We came into power at a very difficult time. We discovered too late that we had put ourselves as a nation in a mono-economy, depending only on petroleum. From 1999 to 2013, the average cost of Nigeria crude oil per barrel was $100. Unfortunately, when we came in, it had reduced to an average of about only $30. We suddenly discovered that we are depending on petroleum; we import virtually everything, including food.</div>
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On the issue of insecurity, it was there during our campaign and we knew about it; we knew about the saboteurs in the South-South, and then the unemployment. We have a huge number of unemployed persons. I’m told the population of the unemployed youths is about 65 per cent. And for a country of our size, this is something for which we must be concerned. We campaigned on insecurity, unemployment, bribery and corruption, which have done much damage to this economy.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Nigeria is said to be difficult to govern. Did you find it to be so?</em></strong></div>
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There are a lot of problems in the country. You have insurgency in the North-East. But how did Boko Haram start? If you could recall, it was like a group of political thugs, and along the line, a young charismatic leader called Mohammed Yusuf emerged. That young man assumed that reputation in the North-East because of the way he preached.</div>
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One afternoon, the group wanted to go and bury one of their own. Most of them were on motorcycles; some wore helmets and some did not. Then, there were the military patrol vehicles. The normal thing was for them to wear helmets, but the group had a way of wearing their headgears, which made it difficult to wear helmets. Instead of arresting them and taking them to court to pay a fine of some N250, the patrol team just shot six of them, hell was let loose. The situation went out of control for the police, and the military took over. Mohammed Yusuf went into hiding; the military looked for him, arrested and handed him over to the police, and he was murdered.</div>
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That’s why we now have Boko Haram. I know all these because I was once a governor in the North-East and I follow the political developments there closely. For unemployment, things became clearer and compounded when we became a mono-economy. We abandoned agriculture, left solid minerals, and everybody rushed to the town to get oil money. Now, we’ve found out that that oil money is not available. Then, corruption is what we are going through now. How can you take $2.1bn meant to fight insurgency and share among yourselves and think that nothing should happen? Not to talk of when political money is being raised for elections and the Central Bank, NNPC, Customs funds where the funds were collected from. We’ve made some progress in recovering this money. We’re giving the people the opportunity of fair trial. They take the money and pay into some persons’ accounts, and there are signatures of some persons who admit that they had taken the money. Somebody comes and calls another, saying, ‘you’re a member of this party?’ The other person responds by saying ‘Yes’. Then, he’s told, ‘take a N100m to go and keep,’ and the other person doesn’t ask any questions. You take N100m and disappear, and subsequently you complain that you have received money for doing nothing?</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Considering the hike in the price of fuel and the devaluation of the Nigeria, which have led to hardship, what would you tell Nigerians to give them the hope that things will be better?</em></strong></div>
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In 1984, we were advised to devalue the naira and withdraw subsidy, whatever their perception of subsidy was in Nigeria. We even had subsidy on flour. The IMF and World Bank talked about subsidy removal. My argument has been that those who devalue their currencies have developed economies, where there is local production and they export the excess. They have good infrastructure. So, they devalue their currencies to sell their products outside their shores, and employ their people.</div>
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We claim to import food, but this is a lie. People just take the money out of the country. How many factories have we built? So I refused to devalue the naira. They talk about petroleum subsidy. I say what do they mean by subsidy? They say Nigeria’s petroleum is so cheap that it encourages smuggling into our neighbouring countries: Cameroon, Chad, Niger. But I know the four refineries we built can produce 450,000 barrels, we have 20 depots… we didn’t borrow a kobo. So even if we put something on top and pay the cost of refining and travels to filling stations and small overhead, we’ll still be selling at a good price.  But they say there’s a lot of smuggling. I said these countries where they claim petrol is being smuggled to, they can’t consume more than what one city in Nigeria does. I was asked how I knew, and I said, for three and a half years, I was Commissioner for Petroleum under Obasanjo. At the time I was removed, naira exchanged for $3. Now you need N350 to get a dollar! I challenged Nigerian economists to tell me what benefits Nigeria has earned from the devaluation so far. How many factories have we built by killing the naira? I had to reluctantly give up because the so-called Nigerian economists come and talk things to me, and when I raise issues, they talk over my head instead of inside my head. For us to lose over N300 (every year, we’re losing the value of the currency by N100), what for? Let them tell me how many factories they’ve built. I find myself in a very difficult state because the economists cannot tell me why we should continue to devalue our naira. People say import, and we find out that we are just importing food! We’re now planning to stop importation of rice, wheat, maize in three years’ time. On the value of the naira, I’m still agonising over it, that the naira should be reduced to such a disgraceful level over the last 30 years. I need to be educated on this. But I’m not ruling this country alone. I’m under pressure and we’ll see how we can accommodate the economists.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">What are you thinking about privatisation of refineries?</em></strong></div>
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I believe in privatisation, but I believe before you do it you have to look at your state of development as a nation. The first refinery in Port Harcourt was built to refine 60,000 barrels per day. It was upgraded to refine 100,000 barrels per day. Another one was in Port Harcourt to refine 150,000 barrels per day. So Port Harcourt alone has the capacity to refine 250,000 per day of Nigerian crude. So, you’re not importing anything.  As Commissioner for Petroleum, I signed the contract for Warri to refine 100,000 barrels per day; Kaduna, 100,000 barrels per day. We laid pipelines up to Maiduguri, Gusau, all over the country. We took tankers off the road, and then some greedy people in this country took over and now all the refineries are not working. Nigeria has to go cap in hand, like a non-oil-producing country, and buy fuel and bring into Nigeria. With this background in mind, do you want us to privatise our infrastructure as scrap?  So, we’re just starting to get them repaired. We want to make them work so that we don’t sell them as scrap. We can’t spend so much money to put up the refineries, just to sell them as scrap. I think that will be disservice to the country. Let’s repair them and negotiate to sell them at good prices. We don’t want them to dictate how much we sell fuel in this country after we’ve sold the refineries to private investors.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Are you satisfied with the performance of your team and do we expect changes?</em></strong></div>
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I expect to hear from you. But look at what has been happening: after the election, I went to thank Jonathan for what he did — conceding defeat. A former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), told me he had an experience in handover and asked if he should advise me. I said, yes. He said committees in the ministries met and wrote handover notes and Obasanjo set up transition committees to work with each ministry and at the end, Obasanjo took whatever he wanted from the reports. I agreed. Jonathan agreed. When I came to sit down, Jonathan’s ministers complained, saying, ‘Why would Jonathan allow Buhari to take over government before he is sworn in’. They refused to cooperate. So I took over without knowing what Jonathan’s government contained.</div>
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After we were sworn in, I began to debrief the Permanent Secretaries, taking two ministries per day, to just try and find out what they had. They had 42 ministers; the economy had collapsed. We reduced 42 ministries to 24 and we had to ask some permanent secretaries to go on several grounds.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Note: This interview was sourced from one of the media organisations present at the event. </em></strong><br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Source: Punch</em></strong></div>
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I’m under pressure to devalue naira – Buhari

It is exactly one year since Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ahead of the official ...