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BIZARRE: Food vendor keeps late brother’s skeleton inwardrobe for two years

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Ngozi.jpg "> A food vendor in Anambra State, Ngozi Aloefuna, is in the eye of the storm after she was discovered to have been in custody of the remains of her brother who died of mental illness about two years ago. The corpse of Stephen Aloefuna, a former footballer with Rangers International Club in the 80s, was hidden in the family house for the past two years until it had decomposed to a skeleton. Residents of Amikwo Village, Awka South Local Government Area, where the incident happened, were benumbed by the shocking discovery, even as people accused Ngozi, the food vendor, of mischievously harvesting her brother’s body parts to cook the food she sells to the public in the market. Daily Sun investigation revealed that the woman was a popular food vendor in Eke-Awka market. Eyewitnesses to the horror told our reporter that the remains of the young man had turned into a skeleton when it was discovered by one of his brothers, who pressed Ngozi to show him where the late Stephen was buried. The man, stunned by the bizarre sight, raised the alarm that attracted neighbours to the room. The sight shocked the neighbours, as they never imagined that they had lived with a decomposing corpse for the past two years. While suspecting Ngozi of sinister motives, the villagers alleged that she was using her late brother’s parts to prepare food for her customers, as nothing could explain why she locked up his remains in a room for two years. It was gathered that the bewildered neighbours descended on Ngozi, as they demanded explanation for such evil. Sources disclosed that Ngozi admitted that it was the skeleton of her brother, Stephen, who died of mental sickness. However, her failure to explain why she hid the corpse increased people’s speculation that she had something sinister rolled up her sleeves. But when Daily Sun went to the residence of the suspect to probe further, her relations denied the claim, insisting that she was innocent of any diabolical act. A member of the family, who spoke with our reporter on condition of anonymity, confirmed the death of Stephen, who he said suffered mental problem for many years before his death. It was reported that Ngozi tried all she could do for him to recover from his sickness but all her efforts proved abortive. So, when he died, she called one of their brothers and reported the death of their brother, Stephen, but he allegedly shunned her and asked her not to bother him again. For the past two years, the corpse was denied a proper burial and abandoned in the room, where it decomposed to bones. The dishonour to the dead came to light recently when Mr. Ifeanyi Aloefuna accosted Ngozi and demanded to see where the deceased was buried. It was at that point that she led him to the room where he beheld the terrifying skeleton of the late Stephen. When this reporter asked Ngozi whether she was guilty of cooking her brother’s body parts, she said: “I am innocent. I did not kill my brother. Everybody knew he had a mental problem and was seriously sick before he died. Before he died, I was the only person that was taking care of him for years and nobody asked me how he was faring until he died. They said I killed him and used his body to prepare the food that I sell but only God knows the truth. I leave it for God to judge.” She explained that shortly after her brother’s death, she called their elder brother, that was living outside the state but he warned her not to disturb his peace. According to her, since she could not bury his brother alone, she left the corpse in a room and covered him. “I decided to cover him till he comes back because only I cannot bury him. After two years of his death, some of our family members came and asked of him and I told them he is dead and they said I should show them his grave. I opened his room and showed them where he died. Then I was arrested and taken to the police station,” she explained. Ngozi denied embalming the corpse with native herbs to dry it and prevent any odour in the neighbourhood. One of the residents of the area told our reporter that a pungent smell pervaded the air within the area for many months in the past but no one could trace the source of the stinking odour. It was after the shocking discovery was made that residents felt disgusted of inhaling such odour from a decomposing corpse. Daily Sun gathered that the remains of the deceased were taken to the police station, while Ngozi was detained and interrogated for some days. She was later granted bail when some of her kindred intervened. The relatives also buried the remains of late Stephen in their family compound. When our reporter contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Uche Eze, he confirmed the incident and said that investigations were ongoing.

BIZARRE: Food vendor keeps late brother’s skeleton inwardrobe for two years

A food vendor in Anambra State, Ngozi Aloefuna, is in the eye of the storm after she was discovered to have been in custody of the remains o...

Obasanjo absent at Council of State meeting

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/obasanjo-15.jpg "> Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, was absent at the Council of State meeting, held yesterday at the Council Chambers in Abuja to discuss possible postponement of the general elections scheduled for February 14 and 28. The governors of Benue and Ebonyi states were also absent and did not send their deputies. The Council of State consists of the president, the vice president, all former presidents and heads of state, all former chief justices, the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, all state governors, the minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the attorney general and minister of justice. The body is saddled mainly with advising the president on national issues, including the elections, security issues and ratifying key appointments like that of the inspector general of police. Those calling for election shift based their call on INEC’s inability to distribute enough permanent voter cards (PVCs) to registered voters. The former heads of state in attendance included General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Mohammadu Buhari, General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and General Abdulsalami Abubakar. The Council of State meeting recorded the highest number of attendance so far. Others in attendance were Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal. Former chief justices present were Alfa Belgore and Dahiru Musdafa State governors in attendance were those of Adamawa, Kano, Osun, Imo, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Anambra, Niger and Lagos. Others were Bayelsa, Kogi, Rivers, Kaduna, Enugu, Ogun, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kwara and Katsina and the acting Governor of Taraba State. Also in attendance were governors of Ondo, Plateau, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, Edo, Delta, Bauchi, Ekiti and Gombe. Deputy governors present were those of Abia, Borno and Oyo states. The early arrivals for the meeting were all the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors. Buhari, who had arrived in the Council Chambers at exactly 11:04 am, was immediately cornered by the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, and engaged in what was obviously the APC’s strategy as it regards the planned postponement of the elections. Despite persuasions by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, and the Principal secretary, Hassan Tukur, Buhari refused to go to the holding room, where he would have walked with President Goodluck Jonathan and other past heads of state on the red carpet. Instead, he went straight to his seat and continued his discussion with Aregbesola, and it took persuasive prowess of the Senate president, the SGF, principal secretary and the state chief of protocol to finally convince him to agree to join them at about 11:08 am. The APC governors were also seen in circles putting their hands on each other’s shoulders, discussing. One of them became hostile when he noticed journalists trying to listen to their conversation, warning them to keep off. There were also a lot of laughs and backslapping among the governors across party divides. The governors of Ogun, Lagos and Dr. Doyin Okupe were seen laughing and backslapping. On a lighter note, the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, tried holding back the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, when Anyim called him to put his presentation in order before the arrival of the president and the former heads of states and presidents. Amaechi was overheard accusing the NSA of overlooking the security challenges in his state, saying what was happening in his state was not different from the insecurity in the North- East.

Obasanjo absent at Council of State meeting

Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, was absent at the Council of State meeting, held yesterday at the Council Chambers in Abuja to discuss ...

Ihedioha tasks Okorocha over N6.6bn meant for Ngor OkpalaLG

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Emeka-Ihedioha1.jpg "> Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives and Imo State governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha, has challenged Governor Rochas Okorocha to explain how he spent N6.6 billion that accrued to the Ngor Okpala Council Area, in the last three and a half years. Ihedioha also asked the governor to explain to the people of Imo State how all the monies that accrued to the 27 local government areas since the inception of his administration were managed. Speaking at the palace of Eze Frederick Nwachukwu, Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers of Ngor Okpala Council Area, during a courtesy visit to the monarchs ahead of his campaign rally in the area, Ihedioha decried the level of decay in the local government system in the state. He said: ‘‘We will no longer fold our arms and pretend as if all have been well in our state while all the 27 councils have been under lock since the inception of All Progressives Congress (APC) government of Okorocha in June 2011. The level of decay is very alarming. ‘‘I challenge Governor Okorocha to without further delay, explain to the people of Imo State, particularly to the people of Ngor Okpala how he applied over N6.6 billion that accrued to it from the Federal Account Allocation since June 2011 till December 2014. Our money must be used to better the lives of Imo people. He should publish what he used the monies for. It is time for stock-taking and there will never be a hiding place for him as the day of reckoning has come.” The deputy speaker, who was in the palace in company with PDP leaders, including Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Achike Udenwa and Chief Onyenso Nwachukwu, bemoaned a situation where the statutory provision of five per cent of monthly allocations to the council areas for the traditional rulers had not been implemented under Okorocha and wondered where the funds had been kept.

Ihedioha tasks Okorocha over N6.6bn meant for Ngor OkpalaLG

Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives and Imo State governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha, has chall...

Boko Haram kills 100 in Cameroon

<h1>…France sends military advisers to coordinate fight </h1><img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/attack-boko-2.jpg "> Boko Haram fighters have killed more than 100 people in the north Cameroon town of Fotokol, murdering residents inside their homes and a mosque, a local civic leader has said. The massacre comes amid a major regional offensive against the militant group, which has kidnapped hundreds and killed thousands in neighbouring northern Nigeria and has mounted increasingly bloody cross-border raids. Reports quoted the civic leader Abatchou Abatcha, as saying: “Boko Haram entered Fotokol through Gambaru early in the morning and they killed more than 100 people in the mosque, in the houses and they burned property.” The militants shot and killed one of his sons during the raid, he added. Many of the dead were found with their throats slit, according to Cameroon’s L’Oeil du Sahel newspaper. Cameroon’s Information Minister, Issa Tchiroma declined to comment on the massacre. He said the Cameroon army pushed Boko Haram out of the border town after heavy fighting, which killed 50 militants and six of its own soldiers. Meanwhile, a source close to the Niger government told Reuters yesterday the parliament in Niamey would vote Monday to send its troops to Nigeria. Meanwhile, France has sent military advisers to Niger’s southern border with Nigeria to help coordinate military action by regional powers fighting the Islamist group Boko Haram, a French army official said yesterday. The deployment was announced as warplanes pounded Boko Haram positions just over the border in Nigeria, a resident in the Niger town of Bosso said, and hundreds of Chadian troops massed at the frontier to prepare an attack. A French army official told Reuters a detachment of about 10 military personnel had been stationed in Diffa at the request of Niger, its former colony. “It is there to coordinate the armies on the ground in the fight against Boko Haram,” the official said. Speaking at a news conference yesterday, President Francois Hollande said Paris was also providing logistical and operation support, including by delivering fuel and munitions to countries fighting Boko Haram. However, he said France could not be expected to get involved in every crises around the world and accused other major powers of inaction in Africa. “This is a message to the international community and the biggest countries. Do your work! Stop giving lessons and take action!” Hollande said. “In Africa, we have to help the Africans a lot more to fight terrorism, because if we do not then other countries will be destabilised,” he warned.

Boko Haram kills 100 in Cameroon

…France sends military advisers to coordinate fight Boko Haram fighters have killed more than 100 people in the north Cameroon town of Foto...

Yobo meets Ndigbo in Lagos, preaches violence-free elections

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/yobo-jonathan.jpg "> Former captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles and ambassador of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward to Ward Initiative, Joseph Yobo, has sued for violence-free elections. He made the call at the meeting of various pro-Jonathan groups, drawn from different sectors of the Igbo community in Lagos State, which gathered at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac Town. As an ambassador of PDP’s ward-to-ward initiative, Yobo used the opportunity to woo every Igbo indigene to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan. He said his appeal could only be achieved in a peaceful atmosphere, where there would be no rancour. He, therefore, challenged Nigerians, particularly the youths to resist any attempt by those he described as desperate politicians, who might want to use them to foment trouble before, during and after the forthcoming presidential elections. Yobo advised the electorate not to allow anybody with the intention of causing violence to have their way, stressing that Nigerian youths must stand up and support what is good and say no to evil. In his words: “All Nigerian youths must work towards a free, fair and violence free elections. Those fanning the embers of war have taken their families abroad. So, don’t be deceived.” At the event, which was attended by representatives of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), market women, traders’ unions, community development associations, youth organisations, among others, Yobo said part of the essence of the meeting was to convey the good wishes of the President to them for their support. The former Everton Club star said his support for the President was total, adding that it was his conviction that Jonathan was the best man to lead Nigeria to a greater height. “He has achieved so much despite the countless distractions, and he has promised to do more. When you hear the President speak, you hear facts, realities and achievements. President Jonathan’s achievements have gone unsung but they are there for all to see,” he said. Yobo, who said he was a strong supporter of President Jonathan’s re-election bid, maintaining that he traveled from Abuja to Lagos was to interact as an in-law with Igbo indigene in the state on issues of common good and why they need to cast their votes for Jonathan for the second time. He thanked TAN’s members and promised to be present with members of the PDP ward-to-ward initiative at the mega rally planned to be organized in Lagos on Sunday by the initiative. Responding, coordinator of TAN, Prince Eke Obi, welcomed Yobo, noting that being an in-law; he was now one of their own. “You are now our son and we have realised that we are on the same page. Even before you came to us, we had since declared our support for President Jonathan to continue for another term,” he said. Those present at the event included the co-ordinator of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, Prince Eke Obi, Executive Director TAN, Ifeanyi Ekwulugo, Dan Edokwe, ED, TAN, Mrs Uche Obiora, Women Leader, TAN, Joseph Anurukem, Presidents of Enugu and Ebonyi States town unions, among others. 23 yrs boy started im

Yobo meets Ndigbo in Lagos, preaches violence-free elections

Former captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles and ambassador of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward to Ward Initiative, Joseph Yobo, has sued...

Presidency: Afenifere was wrong in endorsing Jonathan –YCE

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/JONATHAN-5.jpg "> Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) yesterday picked holes in the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office by the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere. The publicity secretary of the Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, recently said in Akure after a meeting between Afenifere and President Jonathan, that the group had endorsed Jonathan for a second-term in office. The meeting was reported to have been held at the residence of the National Chairman of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, during Jonathan’s presidential campaign to Ondo State. But rising from its National Executive meeting held at its national headquarters in Ibadan, YCE, popularly known as ‘Igbimo Agba Yoruba,’ distanced themselves from the endorsement. The meeting was presided over by its president, Major General Adeyinka Adebayo (retd). YCE’s position came few days after Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), also condemned Afenifere’s endorsement. Prof Bayo Olateju, who read the communiqué of the meeting said: “YCE is not a party to any purported endorsement given by any group or groups to a presidential candidate and so dissociates itself from such action as YCE did not at any time sit with any group of people to consider and come to such decision. “Nigerian Presidency should go to the best candidate who has the vision and mission of taking Nigeria and Nigerians from poverty to wealth; from insecurity of lives and property to living secured, prosperous and in abundance; regardless of party affiliations, religion or tribe.” While saying that YCE is apolitical, Olateju described Afenifere as a political group. He, however, cautioned that as respectable elders of Yoruba nation, caution should be taken in endorsing any candidate. YCE cautioned political parties against provocative and inflammatory public statements, capable of causing another civil war in the country. The Yoruba elders urged politicians to respect the peace accord signed in Abuja recently and shun violence or any act that could destabilise the country. Instead of attacking personalities during campaigns, YCE said politicians should concentrate on issues such as economy, security, stable electric power, industrialisation, employment, education for all, sustenance of the nascent democracy and good healthcare for the aged. Reacting to the call for postponement of the general elections, the elders said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has “not suggested any postponement and therefore, the February dates still remain sacrosanct.” The council also advised the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, to do his work as a true professional and discharge his duties without fear of favour

Presidency: Afenifere was wrong in endorsing Jonathan –YCE

Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) yesterday picked holes in the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office by the Y...

Count Chime out of plot against Jonathan –Ayogu

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Gov-Sullivan-Chime.jpg "> A member of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 109-member Contact Committee in Enugu State, Chief Fidel Ayogu, has dismissed as unfounded, recent reports linking the state Governor, Sullivan Chime, to alleged plot against the president by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors. Ayogu, who spoke yesterday at a PDP campaign rally in Igbo- Eze North Council Area of the state, where the governor canvassed massive support for the president in the coming elections, insisted that Enugu State was not collaborating with any political party in the forthcoming elections, contrary to claims by some candidates of the opposition parties in the state. Also at the rally, the people of Igbo Eze North Local Government Area and Senator Ayogu’s kinsmen expressed support for the PDP governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, urging all to put behind them, any crisis that may have arisen from the governorship primary election in the state in which the senator lost. Giving a vote of thanks before a capacity crowd described by Chime as intimidating, Ayogu countered insinuations that the Enugu governor was among five PDP governors plotting against Jonathan’s success in the presidential election. He said: “Chime has made sufficient and visible efforts in campaigning for Jonathan and the credit of whatever votes Mr. President garner in Enugu in the election should be given to the governor in view of the clear groundswell of support he (Chime) has galvanized for him.” Addressing the people earlier at the rally, Chime stated that the PDP in the state was popular, strong and formidable and does not need the collaboration of another political party to win elections. He said the clarification became necessary due to attempts by some former members of the PDP now in the opposition to mislead PDP supporters to vote for them and their political parties during the general elections. He told the people to disregard such machinations by those he described as “selfish politicians” and vote all PDP candidates during the elections. Also speaking, Ugwuanyi thanked the people of the area for the tremendous support they had given as he represented them for nearly 12 years in the National Assembly, and assured that he would do more to address their development needs if elected governor of the state.

Count Chime out of plot against Jonathan –Ayogu

A member of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 109-member Contact Committee in Enugu State, Chief Fidel Ayogu, has dismissed as unfounded, recent...

APGA stakeholders score Jonathan high

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Goodluck-jonathan2.jpg "> Stakeholders of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have declared that President Goodluck Jonathan performed creditably in the implementation of the nation’s transformation agenda, and therefore, deserved the support of all Nigerians to continue his good work. Addressing newsmen in Awka, the National Coordinator of APGA Elders Forum, Chief Nwobu Ator, said President Jonathan had successfully implemented his target in all segments of the transformation agenda and should be encouraged to achieve more. Ator, a second republic House of Assembly member and Director General of Peter Obi Campaign Organization, condemned what he described as the unwarranted criticism of the opposition that the president did not meet the dictates of his transformation agenda He said: “We believe that his footprints on the developmental landscope across the country can better be appreciated if his achievements are X-rayed and objectively highlighted. “Even the most implacable critics of Jonathan’s administration will agree that despite the enormous challenges, visible attempts are being made to overcome these challenges and bring about a new order of prosperity for the generality of the populace.” Ator said in spite of formidable challenges, institutional riot, corruption and the slow pace of bureaucracy, ministries in the country had made significant progress in furtherance of the vision and key objectives of the transformation agenda. He said about N1.7btrillion had been invested in country’s agricultural development.

APGA stakeholders score Jonathan high

Stakeholders of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have declared that President Goodluck Jonathan performed creditably in the implementa...

Otti laments lack of basic infrastructure in Abia communities

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ALEX-OTTI.jpg "> Abia State governorship candidate on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti, has bemoaned the near absence of motorable roads and other basic infrastructure in most communities in the state, promising to tackle the problem headlong if elected governor in February 28. Otti, who expressed the displeasure last Tuesday during a campaign tour of Ukwa East and West Local Government Areas of the state, said it was an act of wickedness for a government to watch the people of the communities go through such suffering due to lack of basic infrastructures. The APGA governorship candidate was particularly sympathetic with the situation in the Ukwa East and West, saying despite the fact that the local governments were oil- producing areas, they practically looked abandoned by government. “The issue of neglect of your area will be over if you vote for me and APGA during the elections. They always tell you Ukwa is a major part of Abia South but when it comes to political representation and development, they ignore you. But we will never do that and that is why we have chosen one of your own in the person of Chris Nkwonta as a senatorial candidate to give you a sense of belonging in Abia politics. “Irrespective of the fact that this area is the only reason why Abia is called an oil producing state today, basic infrastructures like good roads, good hospitals are almost non-existence here. They have abandoned you totally, leaving you only at the mercy of NDDC projects whereas our state gets 13 percent derivation fund from the Federal Government like other oil producing states,” Otti said. Promising that his government would change all that, he urged the people to vote for him and other candidates of the party during the elections.

Otti laments lack of basic infrastructure in Abia communities

Abia State governorship candidate on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti, has bemoaned the near absence of...

FG faults Lagos master bakers’ claim on cassava fund

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/FGN2.jpg "> The Federal Government yesterday faulted the statement made by Lagos State master bakers that its members in Lagos State never enjoyed the Federal Government’s disbursement of the N2.2 billion cassava bread fund since 2013. The National Chairman of Master Bakers Association, Simeon Abamulo, who stated this in Abuja noted that about 171 bakers across the nation were beneficiaries and that 96 master bakers across the country have received their equipment. “This is spread according to the geo-political zones. Six geo- political zones got something, at least four equipment including Lagos State,” he stated. According to him, the balance of the equipment have not been received because of the delay of Bank of Industry (BoI), which it promised that on or before next week it will mobilise the supplies. Reacting to the statement made by the chairman of the Lagos State master bakers that N14 million given to them was too much and that N5 million should be enough for each, Abamunlo stressed that even with the N14 million they are still managing it. “The N5 million cannot even buy one rotary ovum, which costs about N7 million and other equipment that cost millions which they know.” “The chairman himself is among the beneficiaries and others in Lagos State who are blackmailing this. This is not the time to play politics with food security. “The Minister of Agriculture is doing everything within his reach to make sure that food sufficiency and security is obtained,” Abamulo stated. Also speaking, National Provost, Jude Okafor, noted that out of N2.2 billion, N886 million has been received from BoI, which was given to the equipment supplies to supply equipment to the master bakers which they have done. According to him, out this N886 million, 96 have benefited, including Lagos State.

FG faults Lagos master bakers’ claim on cassava fund

The Federal Government yesterday faulted the statement made by Lagos State master bakers that its members in Lagos State never enjoyed the F...

I stand by my statement on missing N30trn – Soludo

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/soludo-charles-new.jpg "> Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Prof Chukwuma, Charles Soludo,Wednesday said he would not capitulate on his earlier claim of sleaze and mismanagement of the Nigerian economy under the watch of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, despite her decision not to join issues with him on the matter. He is however insisting that over N30 trillion of the nation’s revenue is missing or has been mismanaged under the Minister. In a three paragraph statement titled “I stand by my statements” made available to Daily Sun, Soludo, explained he has also decided to withhold part 2 and 3 of his three part response following the minister’s decision not to continue with a debate that has generated so much controversy within and outside the country. The former CBN governor’s statement read in part “My attention has been drawn to statements credited to the Hon. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in response to my latest article and call for a structured debate on the issues. According to the report, she no longer wants to join issues with me. In the circumstance of the moment, I therefore withhold parts two and three of my promised three-part response. Let me also state for the avoidance of doubt that I stand by every statement I made in the two articles viz: (1) “Buhari Vs Jonathan: Beyond the Elections”; and (2) “Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala and the Missing Trillions”. In particular, I insist that over N30 trillion has either been stolen or unaccounted for, or grossly mismanaged over the last few years. This figure does not include the estimated $40.9 billion (N8.6 trillion at parallel market exchange rate or nearly two years’ Federal Government budget) which the African Union’s (AU) recent report claims to be “stolen” from Nigeria each year…” He thanked Nigerians all over the world who have contributed to the debate so far, pointing out that with elections around the corner, it was expected that some vested interests will either choose to live in denial or attempt to politicise the issues. Soludo noted however that he was convinced from the debate so far, Nigeria’s economic management strategies would no longer be the same again as the managers now know that the citizens will rigorously and vigorously challenge them to account for their actions and inactions, stressing that the nation would be better for it. According to him, whoever wins has his job cut out for him, and to the extent that this debate has challenged the respective teams to seriously re-examine their blueprints to guarantee the security and prosperity of every Nigerian, the objective of his recent article has been accomplished since Nigeria must survive and prosper beyond Buhari or Jonathan. Recall that in a controversial piece in the public space recently, the ex CBN boss had alleged that Nigerian economy has been grossly mismanaged under Okonjo Iweala as Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy as an estimated N30 trillion may either have been looted or unaccounted for. But in her response to Soludo’s earlier claims, the Finance Minister accused him of aggravating the nation’s banking crisis having left a liability of over N5trillion.

I stand by my statement on missing N30trn – Soludo

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Prof Chukwuma, Charles Soludo,Wednesday said he would not capitulate on his earlier c...

Slok Air sues Obasanjo, Yuguda

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Slok-Air-International-Boeing-737-200_PlanespottersNet_305899-415x260.jpg "> There seems to be no let in the air in the quest by the management of Slok Air to reclaim its Air Operators’ licence as the company yesterday dragged former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to court over the controversial revocation of its licence 12 years ago. The embattled company had on Monday dragged the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Minister of Aviation and the Attorney- General of the Federation before a Federal High Court, Abuja, demanding N20 billion compensation for the grounding of its operations. But as a follow-up to the suit, Slok Air, yesterday took the bull by the horn by suing Obasanjo and his then Minister of Aviation, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, demanding N10 billion as cost of damages arising from the controversial revocation of its licence. In a six-paragraph Writ of Summons filed by the company’s lawyers, Messrs Amobi Nzelu Esq and Gabriel Adenyuma Esq, Slok Air urged the court to declare that neither of the two defendants had right to revoke its operating licence without due process. The Federal Government had announced the revocation of Slok Air’s Air Operators licence on March 12, 2004, barely a year after it was licenced. No tangible reason was offered by the Obasanjo-led Federal Government then for the action. But in the fresh suit, Slok Air, which is being bankrolled by the former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, also urged the court to declare that political differences “should not and does not constitute a valid ground for revocation of the plaintiff’s licence.” The summons read in parts: “A declaration that the defendants have no right whatsoever without complying with the due process to revoke the operating licence granted to the plaintiff. “A declaration that the operating licence granted to the plaintiff with reference No. FMA/ATMD/802/S.648/1/140, dated the 22nd day of April, 2003 and duly signed by the then Minister of Aviation, Dr. (Mrs.) Kema Chikwe, cannot be revoked verbally through electronic or print media without complying with the laid down procedure as relates to revocation of licence. “A declaration that the defendants maliciously and without any justification revoked the operating licence issued to the plaintiff. “A declaration that the political differences in whatever form or guise should not and does not constitute a valid ground for revocation of the plaintiff’s licence. “The sum of N10 billion only being general and aggravated damages against the defendants jointly and severally arising from the unlawful and illegal revocation of the plaintiff’s operating licence.”

Slok Air sues Obasanjo, Yuguda

There seems to be no let in the air in the quest by the management of Slok Air to reclaim its Air Operators’ licence as the company yesterda...

$6.5m ship purchase scam: EFCC questions NISA boss,Labinjo, wife

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/efcc-bos.jpg "> Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested President of the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), retired Navy Capt. Niyi Dada Labinjo and his wife, Bola. The couple were arrested at the anti-graft agency’s office in Ikoyi, Lagos, Tuesday, in connection with a ship purchase scandal involving an indigenous shipping company, Acenk Maritime and Energy Services Limited. The anti-graft operatives who have been on the trail of the Labinjos since last Monday, visited their home and offices in Apapa where they arrested one of his staff and wife’s younger sister, one Abigail Ezeibe. They also towed away three luxury cars allegedly acquired by the NISA boss over the past three months, upon discovery that the couple were outside the country. Our correspondent reliably learnt that NISA executives allegedly mounted pressure on the Labinjos to return home and face the EFCC, following a letter from the anti-graft agency to the association of shipowners to produce their president by last Monday. They reportedly returned home and showed up at the EFCC Ikoyi office where they were promptly arrested and detained overnight since they were not able to meet their stringent bail conditions. The terms of the conditions for bail are still sketchy, but Labinjo told Daily Sun on phone, Tuesday afternoon, that he would issue “a major press statement soon that will clarify the issue.” Build-up to the arrest of the Labinjos was a complaint launched last week by Mrs. Adenike Jolapamo-Onifade, daughter of the immediate past Chairman of NISA, Chief Isaac Jolapamo. Jolapamo-Onifade had accused the couple of allegedly diverting part of a $5.85 million loan facility granted by a first generation commercial bank to her company, Acenk Maritime and Energy Services Limited, for the purchase of two vessels. In her petition, Jolapamo-Onifade had accused Capt. Labinjo and Mrs. Bola Labinjo of diverting close to $2 million out of a $6.5 million deal to acquire an oil tanker and a fast speed intervention vessel (FSIV). The commercial bank gave a facility of $5.85 million while the beneficiary company was expected to make an equity contribution of 10 per cent or $ 650,000. She said that while the FSIV was purchased and delivered to Nigeria, the Labinjos failed to remit the remaining $2.3 million for purchase of the oil tanker. She said a good part of the $2.3 million had found its way from the shipbroker, Radunia International Corporation of Greece into various company accounts allegedly owned by the Labinjos. She said after waiting for more than a month without any headway, she approached one of her friends at a commercial bank where the Labinjos maintain their company accounts where she discovered that rather than pay for her 5,000dwt oil tanker with the balance $2.3 million, Radunia had been transferring the money into various accounts allegedly belonging to the Labinjos. She claimed that Radunia severally transferred money to Transunion Credit Agency Nig. Ltd, Global Shipping Activities Bureau Limited and Soughtafter International Synergy Ltd – all companies Jolapamo-Onifade claimed are owned by Labinjo and his wife. She alleged that a total of $1,125,530 (N216 million) of the first generation bank loan had been transferred by the supposed shipbroker, Radunia International Corporation, to the companies. The telex transfer documents revealed that Radunia transferred $220,000 to Transunion Credit Reporting Agency Nig. Ltd on 17/10/2014; $20,000 on 6/11/2014; $300,000 on 17/11/2014 and $350,000 on 25/11/2014. Radunia also transferred $230,000 to Soughtafter International Synergy Ltd on 6/10/2014 and $5,530 to Global Shipping Activities Bureau Limited on 6/11/2014. However, when contacted, Labinjo denied having any business transaction with Jolapamo-Onifade. “I am aware she had a business transaction with my wife. They had a MoU but along the line, there was a breakdown of the agreement. Trust was also lost. I am aware also that there are arrangements to return the entire loan to her so that she can go her way since the working agreement is not working,” he said.

$6.5m ship purchase scam: EFCC questions NISA boss,Labinjo, wife

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested President of the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), ret...

Fans go wild as Ghana beats Equitorial Guinea

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/f44e6b1d-9b49-4111-a813-702623a638ea-620x413.jpg "> Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against hosts Equatorial Guinea was halted for 30 minutes because of crowd trouble in Malabo. Ghana fans massed behind a goal after 82 minutes of the game to seek refuge from missiles being thrown at them. Bottles rained down as police battled to gain control, while a helicopter hovered over the stadium. Play resumed for just three minutes as Ghana completed a 3-0 win to reach Sunday’s final against Ivory Coast. The Black Stars had taken a 2-0 lead into half-time, having opened the scoring when Jordan Ayew dispatched a penalty after Kwesi Appiah had been fouled by keeper Felipe Ovono. They doubled their lead when Mubarak Wakaso drilled home following a counter-attack. At the end of the first period, crowd unrest was already evident, with the Ghana players shielded by police in riot gear as they left the pitch. Then, after Andre Ayew had tapped in Ghana’s third on 75 minutes and with only eight minutes left, the focus turned to their fans, who left the stands to seek safety behind one of the goals. Play was stopped as bottles continued to be thrown by the home supporters, littering the running track around the pitch. Chairs were also thrown after being ripped from the stands. With Equatorial Guinea only stepping in as replacement hosts in November, there were plenty of concerns about preparations and security before the tournament began. Two quarter-finals were then moved from Ebebiyin and Mongomo amid reported fears of potential crowd issues, although the Confederation of African Football blamed the poor state of the pitches. When police moved in to try to restore order in Malabo, it took a considerable amount of time before the Ghana fans were safely escorted from the stadium. There were doubts about the match resuming, with officials locked in discussions at the side of the pitch as the players remained on it. Once the field was cleared of objects, the match restarted, only for the referee to bring the game to an end three minutes later.

Fans go wild as Ghana beats Equitorial Guinea

Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against hosts Equatorial Guinea was halted for 30 minutes because of crowd trouble in Malabo. Ghana...

Elite Nigerian Refs Back from UK Training

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Nff_logo1.jpg "> •Heap encomiums on NFF The second batch of Nigerian referees to be sponsored on a capacity building programme in the United Kingdom returned to the country yesterday, full of appreciation to the Amaju Pinnick –led board of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The referees completed an eight-day training programme in the United Kingdom and departed Heathrow Airport, London for Lagos on Wednesday night aboard an ARIK Airline flight, arriving Lagos yesterday morning. Arriving in London on Monday, 26th January, the delegation rode by bus to Sheffieldshire in the northern part of England and was warmly received by staff of the Champneys Health Resorts. Made up of 18 referees and the Chairman of NFF Referees Committee (Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, who led the team), Chairman of the Nigeria Referees Association (Alhaji Ahmed Maude), Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau and FIFA Technical Advisor (Refereeing) and NFF Consultant on Refereeing, Mr. Linus Mba, the contingent members found their home for the duration of the training a very appropriate environment for the programme, away from any kind of distraction. The facility is used by The FA, from time to time, for their national teams, visiting international teams as well as some local clubs. Director of Confederation of African Football (CAF) Football Hall of Fame, Mr. Tunde Adelakun, who organised the training programme on behalf of the NFF, disclosed that he assembled some of the best and experienced English referees’ instructors, who belong to a consortium of former referees who formed an outfit known as ‘You Are the Ref. International Ltd.’ with its head office in Sheffield. Among these were Jack Waugh (a director of the outfit), Roger Dilkes (a former professional league referee), Keith Hackett (a former general manager of the Professional League Referees Management Company) and Mark Hasdey (a very experienced English league referee who spent considerable time in interaction sessions with the Nigerian referees). Among the emphasis during the course were: “Management and recognition of foul challenges; correct match incident analysis; high and medium intensity physical fitness training sessions and; correct match preparations”. Apart from watching some matches on television, such as Chelsea Vs Liverpool, for post match technical discussions, the Nigerian referees were accorded recognition when they arrived for the second leg of the Capital One Cup competition between Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspurs, and at the Premier League match between the Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers. In the classrooms, the referees had sessions on nutrition as well as a motivational talk by Mark Hasley. The impression of the Nigerian referees who participated in the eight-day programme is best captured in the communique which they handed over to the accompanying members of the NFF Referees Committee, which read thus: “We the referees wish to appreciate President Amaju M. Pinnick-led Board of the NFF, the NFF Referees Committee and Mr. Tunde Adelakun for the opportunity given to us to participate in this very well-packaged training programme “We are happy because the rationale behind this is the development and upliftment of refereeing and football in Nigeria. “The programme has physically and psychologically motivated us by the quality of the training received from top class instructors/assessors from the United Kingdom to fortify our experiencies on the modern culture of football refereeing. “Football refereeing worldwide is now demanding professionalism in approach and we are looking forward that the Nigeria Football Federation would initiate measures that would facilitate, at the earliest possible time, the professionalisation of football refereeing in Nigeria. “Finally, we are soliciting that President Amaju Pinnick-led Board sustains the momentum on the learning programmes because learning is a continous process, and in so doing our League will continue to improve.” The referees who made the trip include: Abosede Momoh; Uloma Nneka Nwogu; Hadiza Musa; Paul Umuago; Jelili Ogunmuyiwa; Ibrahim Umar Fagge; Jeremiah Akure; Francis Agbaegbu; Mohammed Ahmed Rufai; Ishiaku Ibrahim; Iheanacho Chukwuemeka; Dele Atoun; Obieze Okiridu; Sunny Atu; Sani Mohammed; Jibrin Isah and; Mohammed Aliyu Jibgi.

Elite Nigerian Refs Back from UK Training

•Heap encomiums on NFF The second batch of Nigerian referees to be sponsored on a capacity building programme in the United Kingdom returned...

Ibenge proud of vanquished DRC

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/IMG_0147.jpg "> DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge is gutted by the semifinal loss to Cote d’Ivoire but is proud of The Leopards race at the 2015 Africa Cup. Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday outclassed DR Congo in front of goal with three top draw goals in Bata to win 3-1 and reach Sunday’s final at the same venue. “I am disappointed with the defeat, we are competitors, we wanted to qualify, but we saw a team that must not be ashamed of their performance, that showed a good side of Congolese football,” Ibenge said. “This team doesn’t have a lot of games behind her, six in the qualifiers and five here. It takes time and there were serious players on the other side. “My players ran, they had some desire, but they lacked some maturity to disturb a well organised side. “I also blamed the fact that we conceded first. We were not focused enough, we made an individual mistake which gave them a lucky lead into the break.”

Ibenge proud of vanquished DRC

DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge is gutted by the semifinal loss to Cote d’Ivoire but is proud of The Leopards race at the 2015 Africa Cup. Cot...

AFCON 2015: Gervinho: Cote d’ivoire must win the final

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Gervinho.jpg "> Gervinho has urged the Elephants to march to the title after Ivory coast successfully booked its place in the 2015 Africa cup of Nations final. The AS Roma winger netted the second in a 3-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in an exciting semifinal encounter at the Estadio de Bata on Wednesday. The win secured Ivory Coast’s place in the final of the Africa’s showpiece for the third time in nine years. Having seen his country lost on penalties to Egypt in 2006 before missing from the spot himself in the Elephants loss to Zambia in 2012, Gervinho hopes it will be third time lucky for the Ivorians, who are seeking their first AFCON title since 1992. “It was difficult, we faced a good team,” said Gervinho in the aftermath of their win over the Leopards. “We managed to keep our calm and took advantage of our chances, we were efficient. No matter how you do it, you have to win this kind of games and it’s what we did. “We are going to enjoy the moment, it has been a long way for us. We’ll get back to work tomorrow.”

AFCON 2015: Gervinho: Cote d’ivoire must win the final

Gervinho has urged the Elephants to march to the title after Ivory coast successfully booked its place in the 2015 Africa cup of Nations fin...

Presidential debate: Why they are shielding Buhari

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/image-kbn0l321z-data.jpg "> The concept of pre-election debates has become a component part of the practice of democracy the world over. It provides a platform for aspiring political leaders to show case themselves, their programs and their visions to the electorate. Conversely, it provides the citizens a window into the mindset of the candidates, their comportment, their intellect, their grasp of pertinent issues, and their approach to tackling burning issues of the day. Pre-election debates are therefore looked forward to by both the candidates and the electorate because of the immense mutual advantages and benefits. Pre- election debates especially in respect of presidential candidates are particularly popular in the American electioneering campaign and processes leading to up to elections. The concept and practice which Nigeria has adopted from the inception of the ongoing Republic is definitely, borrowed from the American presidential democracy that we adopted in 1999. It has been going on since then and Nigerians have come to regard it as a positive development which they have embraced. Why then, should General Muhammadu Buhari and his APC be running away from availing themselves of the multiple benefits of the platform of a presidential debate and at the same time, denying Nigerians the critical opportunity of having insight into their flag bearer? What are they hiding or, why are they shielding their man from being exposed at a close range? Is it, as they are telling us, because, they are not “confident that the organizers of the debate will do justice” to their candidate? Or, is it because, like one with a counterfeit product, they lack the confidence of subjecting their product for scrutiny? Before we look at the true or likely rational explanation behind the latest gimmick of the APC, let’s look at their grounds of rejecting invitation to the debate. According to an official statement, the APC will not allow General Buhari to participate in the debate because of its perceived “unhidden bias and campaign of calumny…,” and that, the organizers of the debate have, “the toga of government control”. The Nigerian Election Debate Group, NEGD, according to the APC “brings into focus the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), National Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Africa Independent Television (AIT), owned by a PDP chieftain). And going by the avalanche of inflammatory statements, misinformation and blatant lies being propagated by some of these media against our party and candidates… and the failure of these aggressors to desist and apologise, have left the APC campaign with no option than to steer clear of any premeditated smear campaign that could be inimical to our prospective electoral success”. The statement further said the APC will not partake in the debate because of its status of a “party of progressive intellectuals, genuine technocrats, successful businessmen and women, and most of all eminent and courteous people of honour, who would never condescend to the level of sadistic gutter propaganda, all in the name of political exigency and crass opportunism,”. Shame! If the APC consist of “progressive intellectuals” we should by implication, assume that their flagbearer is similarly, not, only progressive but also an intellectual! If General Buhari is so erudite, why is he visibly scared of participating in a debate? By saying that participating in the debate tantamount to condescension, do we understand the APC to imply that talking to the people, allowing them the privilege of incisive insight into the workings of the mind or mental framework of General Buhari is a condescending act? In other words, the APC does not regard the people as deserving their “condescension” to explain to them what they (the people) ought to know or demand from them? This snobbish and contemptuous attitude runs contrary to the universal regard of the people as supreme in a democratic setting by telling us the balderdash that participating in the debate is, “inimical to our prospective electoral success”, the logical interpretation is that, the APC is seeking to cut corners, avoid passing through the crucible and other basic rudiments of elections. Because, they don’t have what it takes to go it the clean, straight route. Talk of making and omelet without breaking an egg! Why should anybody conceive participating in a debate as inimical to the prospect of electoral success of a candidate if, the candidate does not have skeletons in his cupboard? It is weird, illogical, strange and unreasonable because, to a mentally and physically fit candidate, who knows his onions and is clear-sighted, honest and confident about his mission, a debate with the opponent should be regarded as an opportunity that enhances prospects of his electoral success. The APC has by this, only succeeded in affirming Muhammadu Buhari’s deficiencies or, is it that the handlers of Buhari are scared that his frail physical health cannot sustain the stress of the duration of the debate? The APC says, by its composition, the NEGD is not capable of doing justice to its candidate in the debate. The APC however, has not explained because to all right thinking people that know how such presidential debates are conducted, it is inconceivable how the exercise can be skewed to favour or disfavor a participant. This is because, areas or subjects around which questions would be asked are conventionally given to the candidates in advance. Also, in this instance, the NEGD consists of such reputable bodies such as the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, in addition to the media organizations, institutions and individuals that the APC has pointed out as reasons for its skepticism. What the APC clearly appears to be doing is resorting to the infantile pranks and treachery of shouting wolf where none exists. The point here is, if the PAC is not comfortable with certain members of the NEDG on account of alleged proximity to the Jonathan’s administration, what does the party have against the other members who are known for their consistent impartiality on national issues? In any case, to allay the APC’s stated fears that organizers of the debate have a tendency to compromise conduct of the exercise, the party has been advanced the offer of selecting 50% of members of the panelists. Why are they still reluctant to go into the debate? The clear answer is that the APC will not have anything to do with a debate that exposes Buhari to Nigerians. It may interest the public to know that after all, the APC is not as such, averse to the idea of a debate because, they will jump at a given opportunity to engage in one, if and only if, the person that represents the party is any other person but Buhari. Certainly, the APC will make a volte face, change its present stance and concede to a debate organized by the same group they are now castigating, for the running mates of President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari! Nigerians are demanding, and General Buhari and APC must hearken to their demand for a debate between the presidential candidates. Nigerians want to know the stuff the candidates are made of beyond the razzmatazz and stage-managed campaign rallies so far coming from the political parties. The APC candidate has promised among other lofty goals, to “revamp the economy within the first year” of his tenure! Nigerians would want to know how much of the economy he understands as well as, the modalities for actualizing the economic blue print contained in the APC manifesto. The electorate will want General Buhari to articulate his vision on the strategic sectors of agriculture, education, health, and power supply, and youth unemployment among others. He has been chorusing his capability to solve the question of corruption and it will only be interesting as it is proper and imperative, that he takes Nigerians into confidence on how he plans to go about the task. From the debate, he will have been offered the platform of elucidating to the electorate, the seeming magic wand he intends to use in stamping out in “three weeks”, the monster of Boko Haram. Nigerians want to evaluate his powers of articulation of his vision on pertinent national and international issues of the day. As a presidential candidate aspiring to lead them, Nigerians have the inalienable right to scrutinize his ability to coordinate not only himself but also of affairs of state of over one hundred and sixty million people! •Chief Asara writes from Bayelsa State.

Presidential debate: Why they are shielding Buhari

The concept of pre-election debates has become a component part of the practice of democracy the world over. It provides a platform for aspi...

Dealing with cholera outbreaks

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/nigeria_polio_vaccine_child_public_health_ap_img.jpg "> The increasing reports of cholera outbreaks with attendant loss of lives in some parts of the country call for urgent action from the nation’s health authorities. Nigeria must move swiftly to stop the spread of the disease. Within the past two weeks, no fewer than 12 people were reported to have died of cholera in Anambra State; 20 succumbed to the ailment in two local government areas in Bayelsa State, while another 20 died in some communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. According to the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, 170 patients are being treated while officials of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Federal Ministry of Health are assisting the victims in the affected communities. The reports of cholera casualties in the country are becoming increasingly worrisome. Medical experts define cholera as a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhea, dehydration and death. It is an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water that has been contaminated with the bacterium, vibrio cholerae. The disease has a short incubation period, from less than one day to five days. It causes very watery stools that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if not promptly treated. Cholera mostly occurs in communities with poor access to safe drinking water and inadequate sewage treatment system. It is more common in developing countries like Nigeria where potable water is a luxury and haphazardly distributed. Since its discovery in 1883 by a German bacteriologist, Robert Koch (1843-1910), the disease has led to the death of so many people in the developing countries. According to a 2010 report, cholera has affected about 3-5 million people and kills between 100,000 and 130,000 people yearly globally. Available WHO statistics show that more than 70 percent of cholera cases are recorded in Africa, Mexico and few parts of Asia. In 2013, Nigeria recorded not less than 623 cases with reported 86 deaths. Zamfara State, with 1,110 cases and five deaths, had the highest incidence of the disease in the country, while Oyo State, with 29 cases and six deaths, had the lowest. The 2010 cholera epidemic is regarded as the worst in Nigeria since 1991. It recorded about 6,400 cases in 12 of the 36 states of the federation with 352 deaths. What these figures indicate is the need to move fast to contain the current outbreak. As explained by medical experts, cholera epidemics occur where there are significant breaches in the water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure used by groups of people, thus leading to large scale exposure to food or water contaminated with vibrio cholerae. The disease can also be contracted through the faecal-oral route via contaminated food, carriers of the infection and inadequate sanitary conditions of the environment. However, the principal mode of transmission remains the ingestion of contaminated water or food. Since the disease thrives in places where water sources are compromised, government at all levels must work in concert to ensure that all Nigerians have access to potable water. Good drinking water should not be a luxury. It is a necessity. It is, therefore, unfortunate that most Nigerians in both urban and rural areas still lack potable water. Since outbreaks of the disease occur in Nigeria virtually every year, there is the need for sustained public education on its prevention . Nigerians should also ensure that they do everything within their power to drink only potable water. Seafood, especially those eaten raw and undercooked, as well as fruits and raw vegetables are other veritable sources of the cholera infection that the public should take note of. Fruits and vegetables should be properly washed before consumption. The outbreak of the disease also calls for increased personal hygiene and public health consciousness. Let Nigerians form the habit of washing their hands frequently, especially after using the toilet. Indiscriminate disposal of faeces should be checked by the relevant health authorities while emphasis must be placed on the construction and maintenance of sewage systems. The reintroduction of sanitary inspectors should be considered as it will go a long way in improving environmental sanitation and reducing cholera epidemics in the country. Above all, the federal, state and local governments should promote hygiene and increase the supply of clean drinking water to all parts of the country.

Dealing with cholera outbreaks

The increasing reports of cholera outbreaks with attendant loss of lives in some parts of the country call for urgent action from the nation...

Five killed in Ibadan tanker inferno

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tanker-burnt-in-lag-ib-express.jpg "> Five people were yesterday killed when a diesel-laden tanker crashed into many vehicles along the Apata-Abeokuta Road in Odo- Ona area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. An eyewitness said the tanker driver, who was said to have loaded diesel at the Apata depot of the Nigerian National Pe troleum Corporation (NNPC), may have experienced break failure before losing control at Olugbode junction. This, it was gathered, was followed by its ramming the tanker into other vehicles which were moving at slow speed due to traffic congestion that usually occurs on the ever-busy road. He said both the injured and the dead were taken to a private hospital, Oluseyi which is located very close to the scene of the incident. He said that what made the case to be mild despite the number of casualties recorded was that the tanker was loaded with diesel, saying, “we would have been telling another story if it had been loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol”. Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, the spokesperson of the Oyo State Police Command, confirmed the incident, stressing that he got a distress call from somebody and made the necessary contact thereafter. He, however, said that he was yet to get official briefing from the Divisional Police Station in the area as at press time, but promised to get back as soon as he’s through with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

Five killed in Ibadan tanker inferno

Five people were yesterday killed when a diesel-laden tanker crashed into many vehicles along the Apata-Abeokuta Road in Odo- Ona area of Ib...

EU budgets €4.4m for polls

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Voting2.jpg "> The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria, yesterday, revealed that the European Union (EU) has budgeted €4.4million for the forthcoming elections in the country. Speaking during a breakfast meeting with journalists yesterday in Abuja, EU EOM Deputy Chief Observer, Ms. Hannah Roberts, also decried the implementation of only one out of the 50 recommendations the EU made in 2011. Disclosing that its budget for the current election mission was €4.4 million, Roberts said the sum covered security, specialists, stay of all observers, including those who would stay to observe the early stages of the election petitions and other logistics. While reiterating the non interference of EU observers in the electoral process, Roberts added that the mission was already putting together, information from its long term observers who had been on ground in different states. She said the EU EOM would release a preliminary statement two days after the elections had been conducted. “It is just as important, how ballots are counted as how they are cast. So, it is critical that observers are looking at not just the voting, but also the counting and the collation. “We would try and do that as much as possible, but we have some limitations as regards security. “We would also be here the following day in case there is any re-polling and we would be following the collation process in the days after election. “We would also be here for the second election for governors and Houses of Assembly. Again, our presence in polling stations would be limited because of our number, but citizen observers would be out in greater numbers,” Roberts said. The EU EOM Deputy Chief Observer also said that using the established methodology set by the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, the assessment would consider adherence to national legislation and international instruments, which Nigeria is signatory to. Roberts said the mission was also looking forward to see how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would deliver on its great task of ensuring free, fair and credible polls in Nigeria.

EU budgets €4.4m for polls

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria, yesterday, revealed that the European Union (EU) has budgeted €4.4milli...

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the missing trillions (3)

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/okonjo-iweala-ngozi.jpg "> Being concluding part of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, former CBN governor’s response to Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s reaction to his earlier article on state of the economy. S econd, my earlier article stated that the minimum forex reserves should have been at least $90 billion by now and you did not challenge it. Rather it is about $30 billion, mean ing that gross mismanagement has denied the country some $60 billion or another N12.6 trillion. Now add the ‘missing’ $ 20 billion from the (Nigerian national Petroleum Corporation) NNPC. You promised a forensic audit report ‘soon’ and more than a year later the Report itself is still ‘missing.’ This is over N4 trillion, and we don’t know how much more has ‘missed’ since Sanusi cried out. How many trillions of naira were paid for oil subsidy (unappropriated?) How many trillions (in actual fact) have been ‘lost’ through customs duty waivers over the last four years? As coordinator of the economy, can you tell Nigerians why the price of automotive gas oil (AGO), popularly called diesel, has still not come down despite the crash in global crude oil prices, and how much is being appropriated by friends in the process? Be honest: do you really know (as coordinator and minister of finance) how many trillions of Naira, self-financing government agencies earn and spend? I have a long list but let me wait for now. I do not want to talk about other ‘black pots’ that impinge on national security. My estimate, Madam, is that probably more than N30 trillion has either been stolen or lost or unaccounted for or simply mismanaged under your watchful eyes in the past four years. Since you claim to be in charge, Nigerians are right to ask you to account. Think about what this amount could mean for the 112 million poor Nigerians or for our schools, hospitals, roads, etc. Soon, you will start asking the citizens to pay this or that tax, while some faceless “thieves” were pocketing over $40 million per day from oil alone. You alluded to debt relief in your response and tried to take credit. Well, your CV is honest enough to admit that your two achievements in office as finance minister under Obasanjo were that “you led the Nigerian team that struck a deal with the Paris Club” and that you “introduced the practice of publishing each state’s monthly financial allocation in the newspapers.” You are right about the two achievements. Let me put on record that Nigeria would have secured debt relief under anyone as Minister of Finance. President Obasanjo secured debt relief for Nigeria. Much of his first term was used to get Nigeria back into the international community and to campaign for debt relief. Before you were sworn in as Minister of Finance, President (George) Bush visited Nigeria and both of us accompanied President Obasanjo during the meeting. There, Mr. Bush promised to support Nigeria with debt relief and asked our president to ensure that he met the conditions of the Paris Club. Obasanjo mobilised the global political support and coordinated all of us to ensure that the government met the check-list of ‘conditionalities,’ as required. I spent five weeks in the hotel with my team (as coordinator/chairman for drafting the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy, NEEDS). Some of the reform targets in NEEDS became the ‘conditionalities’ Nigeria was required to fulfil to merit debt relief. You and I signed the various MoU with the IMF on behalf of Nigeria (the policy support instrument). We had a great team at work and each member of the economic team had specific aspects of the conditionalities to deliver: Bode Agusto was in-charge of the budget; Oby Ezekwesili held sway at Bureau of Public Procurement and later Minister of Solid Mineral, and Education (but specifically tasked with delivering on EITI and procurement reforms); Nuhu Ribadu was at the EFCC fighting corruption; I was at the Central Bank delivering on monetary policy and banking reforms; Steve Oronsaye worked hard to delist Nigeria from the FATF; Nenadi Usman was in-charge of the parastatals; El-Rufai held forth at FCT and in charge of public sector reforms; privatisation programme went on, etc. Did you know that the IMF wrote President Obasanjo threatening that there would be no debt relief if the CBN did not meet some monetary targets, and do you know the magic we performed to meet them? Can you tell Nigerians which of the ‘conditionalities’ that you personally implemented? With the groundswell of political support and Nigeria meeting all the ‘conditionalities,’ debt relief was assured. Your major role as stated in your CV was to lead the team to negotiate the specific terms of the relief, having fulfilled the conditions. I still believe that Nigeria should have gotten far better terms than you negotiated. Of course, with your eyes on returning to the World Bank after office, I did not expect you to boldly stand up to the donor community in defence of Nigeria. Was there a conflict of interest on your part? By the way, can you tell Nigerians why you were eased out as Finance Minister and you cried like a baby begging Obasanjo to still allow you remain in the Economic Management team – barely a few weeks after the debt relief? Why were you eventually also removed from the economic management team if you were so important? Ironically, President Jonathan has recycled you, with a bigger title and greater responsibilities. But the difference is that the team that did the actual work is no longer there, and the world has seen that the king is naked. You are brilliant, Madam, but you need serious help. Having spent all your life in the World Bank bureaucracy largely in administration/operations, no one will blame you if your economics has become a bit rusty. There are firebrand Nigerians all over the world to draft to service. It is certainly embarrassing to Nigeria for you to be bothering World Bank economists to help you with most basic economic analysis. Your response on the poverty issue is deeply troubling. You accuse me of using “2011 statistics on poverty by the NBS to support his argument, while ignoring more recent figures.” At least you did not refute the NBS figure as valid. In the next sentence, Madam went ahead to note, “as stated in the Nigeria Economic Report 2014 by the World Bank, poverty in Nigeria has dropped from 35.2 percent of population in 2010/2011 to 33.1 percent in 2012/2013.” Did you notice that you have quoted two figures for poverty for the same year as being equally correct? So, for 2011, was poverty 71 per cent (according to NBS) or 35 per cent, according to the World Bank? To the best of my knowledge, the last published household survey by NBS was in 2011. The World Bank does not conduct household surveys in member states to determine poverty incidence. So, when and by who was the survey that gave the World Bank figures? What worries me is that this government is the first in our history to attempt to manipulate our national statistics under Okonjo-Iweala. When NBS published the poverty figures in 2011, she felt indicted and incensed. She called upon the World Bank to come and examine the ‘methodology’ and get NBS to ‘review’ its numbers. Oby Ezekwesili (as VP, Africa Region rejected the call to try to tamper with a country’s statistics). Once Oby left, the ‘World Bank’ started talking about ‘new figures,’ without conducting any new surveys. I was told about it by a World Bank economist and I cautioned that it was a dangerous gamble that would damage the credibility of the NBS. If you want to ‘review methodology,’ you conduct another survey but you can’t change ‘methodology’ because you don’t like the published figures. No government in our history has tried it: even Sani Abacha allowed a poverty survey that put poverty at 67 per cent under his regime. At this rate, who will believe statistics coming from the Nigerian government again? Is it now the World Bank that sits in Washington and allocates poverty numbers to Nigeria? Something smells here! Madam alleges that the NBS – as a parastatal under the National Planning Commission (under me) departed from the ‘international standard method of poverty measurement.’ How and when, Madam? I was in office at National Planning for 11 months from July 2003 to May 2004. A poverty survey was conducted in 2004 and the results computed and published in 2005/2006 – more than a year after I had gone to the Central Bank. Or perhaps, it was a clever way to divert attention from your manipulation of published economic statistics. The NBS published its poverty data in 2006 when you were Minister of Finance, and you did not question the ‘methodology’ because the figures looked good. In 2011, the poverty numbers (using the same methodology as in 2005/2006) indicted the government and suddenly, the ‘methodology’ is wrong. Interesting times! Now that you decide, which economic statistics published by NBS to accept and which ones to ‘change the methodology’ to give favourable figures, you can keep feeding your manipulated figures to your international media circus for the vain glorious awards to sustain an empty hype, while Nigerians groan under hardship. We can actually ask Nigerians whether they are get ting better off now, contrary to your bogus figures. Many of Madam’s responses were comical, but this one is classic. According to her, the chief economic adviser and NBS “worked hard to determine how many jobs we need to create in a year” and went on to ask, “why didn’t Soludo do this when he was CEA?” (Lol!). Madam, any good economist needs less than 10 minutes to compute this figure, not the (months? of) ‘hard work’ by your team. My calculation is that the number of jobs Nigeria needs to create each year to significantly reduce unemployment rate to sustainable levels in the next few years is at least three million, and not the 1.8 million by your team. We are talking about the Nigerian economy, please. Your magic wand for mass housing is the Mortgage Refinance Corporation with 23,000 mortgage offers – for a country with 17 million housing deficit! Then, there is the pedestrian proposal of a new development bank – financed with loans from the World Bank, etc? A World Bank loan to set up an other ‘development bank,’ where we already have Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, NEXIM, Federal Mortgage Bank, etc? People have totally run out of ideas and can’t see anything for Nigeria without through the prism of the World Bank. I will offer you free consultancy on how to set up a development bank without a World Bank loan but we don’t need another one now. I actually gave President Yar’Adua a two-page note for a N3 trillion development fund then, and if we plug your leaking pipes, it could actually be a N10 trillion fund. I envisioned and set up the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) – Africa’s premier infrastructure bank! Frankly, I don’t understand why you seem highly troubled that the Soludo you thought had “disappeared from the political space” seems to be still around. Well, let me assure you that I will only ‘disappear’ in God’s own time. I gave credit to two past presidents who laid the foundation of the market economy we operate today. You did not contest or contradict any of my points. Rather, what you see is that Soludo must be ‘looking for a position.’ Pity! If I am looking for a position, I would be running around one of the candidates now, just as you are busy dancing Atilogwu dance at (Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria) TAN and PDP rallies, struggling to keep your job. How Yar’Adua drafted me to contest for governor in Anambra and )All Progressives Grand Alliance) APGA leadership as well and how I was “stopped” on both occasions are in the public domain. But I am not deterred for one minute. Chinua Achebe said that on leadership, Nigeria is a country that goes for a football match with its 10th Eleven. I am proud and happy to have offered to serve my people, and for the service of Nigeria, I will do it again and again. How many times did Abraham Lincoln, (Barrack) Obama, (Ronald) Reagan, etc contest before they got there? I actually encourage everyone who believes he/she has something to offer to get involved or stop complaining. I am happy seeing the increasing critical mass of professionals (like you) now getting involved. It is good for Nigeria! What is at stake is the survival and prosperity of Nigeria. Next elections are critical, and for me the key is the ECONOMY. We must offer Nigerians clarity on the choices before them. Can I propose a three-way debate with you (representing PDP/ Federal Government), nominee of APC (Utomi or Fayemi? or any other), and myself (as independent citizen – I don’t belong to any of the two). Let us have two bouts of debate between now and February 12, 2015 focusing on: CBN/AMCON and the financial system (if you want); our economy and its outlook, and agenda/ alternative paths to sustainable prosperity post elections. Choose the dates and times, and for the sake of Nigeria, I will fly in. You can invite any of your international media friends as moderators. I feel the pain of the 180 million Nigeri ans whose tomorrow you have carelessly rendered bleak, and when I think of what the missing trillions could do for them, it becomes extremely urgent that we all must deepen the debate. Eagerly waiting for your response, please! Concluded

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the missing trillions (3)

Being concluding part of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, former CBN governor’s response to Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s reacti...

I’ll never succumb to intimidation –Dickson

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/dickson-bayelsa.jpg "> In the last few weeks, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has been under pressure over the rumoured plot to unseat him and the series of attacks over alleged lull in the economy of the State. In this interview tagged “One Hour with Dickson” the Bayelsa State helmsman bares his mind to journalists on a wide range of issues. Excerpts: Febuary 14 will make it your third year in office. While study ing some of your statements and body languages, it seems you are uneasy. Can you identify the challenges you have faced and how you have been squaring up to them? I have been in political service for quite some time and I had been exposed to service for our people even before I ventured into partisan politics. At no time did I believe that being the governor of Bayelsa State was going to be a bed of roses. I knew clearly what the challenges were but there are things I have come to find out that I didn’t imagine before. For example, the cynicism of much of the Bayelsa public, the negative mindset and the passion for believing negative rumours and blackmail, and the way false propaganda spreads in this state. Some of these things I had a fair idea of but I didn’t know the extent and you won’t even know until you are a governor. When we came in, the revenue situation was not as bad, it was far better during the days of my predecessor at least towards the end of his tenure. But then I didn’t also imagine that some time down the line, we will be managing deductions from our monthly revenue such that as at today, what we presently receive is about 40 per cent, even going to less than 40 per cent of what we received when I started. When I came in and I looked at my programmes and the available funds, I thought I had funds to embark on these ambitious programmes in every sector but I didn’t imagine that about a year down the line, funds will dry up such that today we are receiving just about 40 per cent of what we started with. So, these are clear challenges. The political challenges are always there, even challenges you didn’t expect will come from every quarter. Again, one thing I have discovered is that unlike other states, our people are used to pulling somebody down, to imagining negative things, stories and even saying negative things. We don’t know much about how to support somebody to succeed; it is as if in leading the state to the next level, they don’t have any role to play. When you look at the way they behave; even leaders, elected officials, and the way they take governance as if it is the responsibility of only one man, the governor, it is simply amazing. If you are in the National Assembly, you don’t owe any obligation to anybody, to your state and even that much to your constituency. If you are a Minister you just stay far away and do your job, in whatever office. Even within the state our attitude is to stay far from the problem and then worse still, throw bricks at the governor and the government. We do not have the intention of sharing the vision and supporting anyone who is steering the ship of state. If you are at any level and you think that your people are poor, do something about it; so where are the houses, schools you have built for them, the hospitals, roads you have developed for them, the industries and even human beings you have built. So, we don’t have that shared vision of service delivery, it is the responsibility of only one man. I am not just talking about people outside the government, that is the attitude from people within. They are the same people who earn the salaries, the same people through whom jobs are executed month after month; contractors are paid through them, they know the true state of the finances and then when they go out, either they don’t relate with their people and just concentrate on themselves and families and think of how many cars to buy and houses to build; and they portray the government inadvertently or sometimes even deliberately in that type of negative light, whereas in other places where even salaries are lower, appointees are fewer, government bills are far less, people have shared vision. If you are in the National Assembly, you think of how many roads you will put on the federal budget, if you are having a position of influence, you do so but when you see this small state and the opportunities we have at other levels and you sit down here as governor grappling with these developmental challenges, you are trying your best and you turn around and all you see and hear are complaints. What of all these other people? So nobody owes responsibility for development of our people except the governor? So, we don’t have this shared vision of promoting development. Recently, I received a number of vehicles from a Bayelsan leader, Chief Dan Etete, former Petroleum Minister. He drove then to the state; he didn’t give them to his friends and supporters, he didn’t form an NGO or a political group; he came and gave them to the state. He said “ have this to support your public transportation system”. That is the attitude of the old school. So I want to appreciate him for what he did and say to other indigenes of Bayelsa. ‘if you are doing well, don’t keep your money only for politics’ because from the attitude and the reports that I see, from the intelligence available, there are people who boast about how much money that they have saved only to fight elections. Some will spend it to subvert and undermine their own state government but they don’t boast about money they have spent to build the life of the people, that is part of the discon nect that the allies, leaders, people who have benefited from this state have done. Most of them don’t even have houses, they stay away from Bayelsa, they have no direct connection, they don’t even stay here, their children don’t even come here; they stay in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt, that is the closest. This is the season of politics and Bayelsa is no exception. What is the government doing to ensure the delivery of free, fair and credible election in Baylesa State? This state has less political challenges. We are far more stable politically than many other states around and the reason is obvious. Firstly, because of our mature tolerance and approach to handling political issues. Secondly, the political calendar is such that the governorship election is not coming up right now and sometimes that is why we wonder why some people have started getting unduly excited. After all, there is no governorship election or nominations right now to take place in this state. All those who mean well for this state should be rallying round me as leader of the PDP, the President’s party, to solidify the home-base and then mobilise support for the President. But unfortunately, you are aware of the deliberate acts of distraction that are going on. But as I said we are not distracted, we are committed to doing what is right and proper. I am a tolerant politician and a democrat. I have always believed in the fact that people should be encouraged to exercise their franchise freely and that has been demonstrated in so many ways unlike the situation that existed before we came. People were attacked at political rallies even within the same political parties; thugs were after people. You knew what happened, for example, when in 2011 the CPC Presidential candidate now APC Presidential candidate visited Bayelsa, you know what the government at that time did and how that rally was disrupted. In contrast, you saw the steps my government took to ensure their safety and guarantee their right under the laws and constitution and thus peacefully had their political rally. Any other outcome would not have sent out the right message to Nigeria from the President’s home state. You can see what is going on in other states which we condemn but you can imagine what would have happened if there had been some violence right here. They would have used whatever would have happened here as a justification. That is why sometimes I say many of our people are yet to fully understand the quality of leadership that I am giving here. Human memory is very short; they have forgotten their past experiences when people who disagreed with the powers- that-be then would not be allowed entry into Baylesa. You can see how people who disagree with us are operating freely in the state and my only requirement is that they should do so within the confines of the law because there is a difference between opposition politics and subversion and even treason. So as a government, we will do everything to support the exercise of the free franchise of our people. There is no one who will tell you in this state, either within our party or the opposition elements that I have failed to protect and guarantee their lives. No one is running away from Bayelsa. I myself faced a commission of enquiry in this state; I faced warrant of arrest. For two years, I came into Bayelsa secretly because of the prevailing climate. But the environment we have created is such that everybody comes around; it’s our state and that was why I said don’t banish anybody from any community. All those who couldn’t go to their communities in the past as a result of that disruptive politics as I came in I directed that they should return. So, we are committed as a government to support the fact that people should freely come out and cast their votes for candidates of their choice without intimidation and violence and we are working with the security agents to ensure that happens. Now in this state, we have done far better than most other states in terms of the percentage of collection of the PVCs. I believe your statistics are wrong because the last briefing I received on this issue of the collection rate of PVCs, it was about 80-85 per cent.

I’ll never succumb to intimidation –Dickson

In the last few weeks, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has been under pressure over the rumoured plot to unseat him and the series of attacks...

Osinbajo laments Nigeria’s woes

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Buhari-osibajo-fashola-pastor.jpg "> The Vice Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, lamented the woes rocking Nigeria, saying the country needs visionary leaders. Osinbajo, who was the guest speaker at the annual lecture series in commemoration of Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s 73rd birthday, said it is an irony that the country blessed with abundant human and natural resources still struggles to attain greatness. Speaking at the lecture with the theme, “Harmonising Virtues To Gain Heaven Earthly Prosperity,” Osinbajo traced the challenges to insincerity of purpose by the leaders of the country. He said: “Our challenges are poverty-112 million extremely poor despite being the largest economy in Africa -we are one of 33 of the poorest countries in the world. Infant mortality -3.9 million children have died between 2009 and 2014. Maternal mortality – 55,000 women die every year of diarrheal disease – 110,000 yearly deaths. Literacy – 10.4 million children out of school and 80 per cent graduates jobless.” He added: “ God gave oil and left it to man to develop it for use as fuel, gas, plastics etc. Subduing the earth, he put us in communities and he expects us to create, law and order. Fair and just governments; economies that benefit everyone, help and protect the vulnerable. Responding, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) lauded the organisers of the event and urged Nigerians to be upright in their dealings and be close to God in holiness to obtain mercies and blessings of God. The lecture attracted eminent Nigerians and media icons like the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors and Managing Director of The Sun Newspapers, Mr. Femi Adesina and frontline clergymen.

Osinbajo laments Nigeria’s woes

The Vice Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, lamented the woes rocking Nigeria, s...

Alleged inducement of pastors: Amaechi’s claim ungodly –PDP

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/buhari-n-osibajo.jpg "> Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concerns over the claim of Rivers State Governor and Director General of All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Or ganisation, Rotimi Amaechi, that some pastors have been financially induced with the sum of N6 billion to galvanise support for the PDP presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Governor Amaechi, who made the claim on Tuesday at a campaign rally in Emohua, Rivers State, alleged that pastors who benefitted from the money had been circulating documents claiming that the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, would Islamise Nigeria, if elected. But addressing newsmen in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, challenged governor Amaechi to unveil the identity of the pastors and accused the APC of dragging revered men of God into politics. Metuh said: “ We are completely astonished that APC descends to bring religion into politics, directly. “Pastors are revered; to bring their character to disrepute all because of politics is ungodly. “We challenge the director general of APC campaign to state his facts: the pastors involved and where the huge amount came from. “We are shocked that APC could bandy N6 billion, may be it is because they don’t have respect for our currency.” Metuh further advised the Rivers State governor to seek the face of God for forgiveness over his claim. Also at a separate media briefing, Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Femi Fani-Kayode, dismissed the allegation by the APC that the ruling party was seeking postponement of the general elections.

Alleged inducement of pastors: Amaechi’s claim ungodly –PDP

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concerns over the claim of Rivers State Governor and Director General of All Progressives Congr...

Ebonyi gov alleges plot to use fake security men, corpsmembers to rig polls

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Elechi-2.jpg "> Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State yesterday alleged a plot by some politicians to use fake security operatives and National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members to rig this month’s elections in the state. He stated that some politicians had devised means of rigging the elections by providing fake military, police and NYSC uniforms that they intended to use to intimidate the electorate in the state. The governor, who raised the alarm when the new Coordinator of the NYSC in the state, visited him in his office, urged the people of the state to be more vigilant and watch out for such fake corps members and security personnel during the general elections. Elechi, however, urged the NYSC directorate and security agencies to device means of identifying their genuine members to avoid giving the state and the country a bad name before the international community, especially when foreign election observers were already in the state. He noted that the NYSC scheme had contributed immensely to the development of various communities in the state and Nigeria in general through its community development service programmes. The governor called for the assistance of corps members in the state to help the government in the enumeration of genuine traders at the Abakpa main market for allocation of lock-up stalls at the International market. The Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Gladys Mbachi, commended Governor Elechi for the conducive atmosphere in which the NYSC scheme operated in the state through the approval and release of funds for payment of transport fare back home for passing-out corps members.

Ebonyi gov alleges plot to use fake security men, corpsmembers to rig polls

Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State yesterday alleged a plot by some politicians to use fake security operatives and National Youths Serv...

Gowon to Jonathan, Buhari: Accept election verdict

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Yakubu-gowon.jpg "> Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon has expressed fear over what he described as comments from political leaders and party supporters ahead of this month’s general elections, admitting discomfort with the trend and dimension the political campaigns are taking. General Gowon, who spoke when the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) management led by the Director-General, Brig- General Johnson Olawuni, visited him in Abuja yesterday,z urged the presidential candidates like President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen Muhammadu Buhari, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) respectively to accept final verdict from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). His words: “Yes, there are anxieties in the country but we pray that God will touch the heart and minds of those with negative intent so that nothing untoward happens. What we want in Nigeria is to have a peaceful, free and fair election and I appeal to all Nigerians especially the political parties and the leadership of those parties to ensure that all their supporters vote peacefully. “I appeal to the political leaders to prevail on some of their extreme supporters and members making extreme statements that can enrage or trigger trouble. They must ensure a peaceful election and essentially accept the final result from INEC who has the only authority to announce the final election result. “Let me say that since this election is going to be a secret voting, every individual has the right to vote who he wants and I want to urge every Nigerian to vote according to their conscience and not be intimidated into voting for somebody you doesn’t want to vote for. On the deployment of the corps members for electoral duties, he said: “I have gone round and seen some corps members on electoral duties and I was impressed that they were doing it very well. I have always congratulated them and I am also impressed that the scheme is deploying them for the forthcoming general elections.” Earlier, Brig. Olawunmi had explained that the purpose of the visit was to appeal for his intervention to Nigerians and political leaders to ensure the security of the corps members before, during and after the elections. “The purpose of this visit is about the corps members that would soon be on electoral duty. NYSC has been part of the electoral process but precisely in 2011, we were unlucky to lose some corps members as a result of post-election violence. Since then, we have gone the extra mile to take precautionary measures to ensure that such did not repeat in this country,” he said.

Gowon to Jonathan, Buhari: Accept election verdict

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon has expressed fear over what he described as comments from political leaders and party supporters...

Nigeria naira at new record low against dollar

Nigeria’s naira fell 0.75 percent in volatile trades against the dollar shortly after the forex market opened as demand for the greenback su...