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Industrialists Issue Buhari Red Card Over N31tn Debt |The Source

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Fola James

Top Industrialists and businessmen in Nigeria under the aegis of  the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI  are angry that the Buhari government has nothing tangible to show for the over N31  trillion debt owed foreign and local creditors.

The LCCI had in July expressed deep concern over plan by the federal government to borrow $2.5 billion from the World Bank.

The chamber said the  fresh loan could push the nation’s debt stock to over N34 trillion by the end of the year, after records from Debt Management Office, DMO already indicated that the current public debt stood at N31 trillion at the end of June.

This is definitely not a cheery news for the LCCI, whose President Toki Mabogunje, said in Lagos, on Tuesday that the rising debt figure is giving many of her members sleepless nights, as the huge loans has not changed the lives of many Nigerians.

She said “LCCI is deeply concerned about the country’s rising debt portfolio without corresponding impact on output growth and economic development. According to official statistics from the Debt Management Office, public debt stock grew by eight percent to N31 trillion at the end of the second quarter, equivalent to 21 percent of GDP.

“At the peak of the pandemic in the second quarter, the Federal Government received financial support worth $3.4 billion and $288.5 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and African Development Bank (AfDB) respectively, while negotiations are also on-going for a cumulative $1.8 billion credit support from the World Bank, African Development Bank (second tranche) and Islamic Development Bank.”

The situation is already bad enough, LCCI said warning that taking fresh loans “could possibly push the country’s public debt stock to around N34 trillion by year-end, equivalent to 23 percent of GDP. The growing level of the country’s debt is fast becoming unsustainable in the light of dwindling oil prices and production.”

It further stated that the debt burden has left the federal government with barely 30 per cent of its income to spend on critical infrastructure.

“Our position is reinforced by the uptrend in debt-service to revenue ratio from 60 percent by year-end 2019 to 72 percent as of May 2020. The high level of debt servicing continues to hinder robust investments in hard and soft infrastructures which are key to stimulating productivity and improving living standards.”

I Will Never Pray For Buhari’s Success – Sule Lamido |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Governor of Jigawa State,  Sule Lamido, says  he would never pray in  the Mosque for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

And that he would never advice the administration on ways to make his government better for Nigerians.

Lamido was speaking to the BBC Hausa Service on the sidelines of Nigeria independence anniversary, the country which he said has recorded number of success despite many setbacks.

“You can’t say in the past 60 years of our independence that there is no progress, there is, but, honestly, our leaders are not taking advantage of the natural resources we have in the country to make us progress and live better,” he said.

The former governor said he cannot pray or advise someone who called him a thief and chased him out of power.

He added that it is left for Nigerians to weigh this administration and see the difference so as to let All Progressives Congress, APC, continue or vote them out.

“I am from an opposition party, no matter how much I love Buhari or his cabinet, I can’t enter mosque and pray for him.

“People called us [PDP] thieves and voted APC.

“So, it is left for them to judge now.

“If Buhari is doing good, they know and let him lead Nigeria forever, but if he is doing wrong, we are always there to come and takeover in order to do the right thing he has failed to do”, he concluded.

Insecurity: Again, Zulum Slams Military, Says It Should Concentrate On Insecurity Rather Than Focusing On Election |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State who has never hidden his anger over the various attacks he has faced in the past few weeks from the Boko Haram insurgents  has asked the Military to face their constitutional role and leave election matters alone.

Zulum charged the military to concentrate on the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency instead of the forthcoming Ondo State Governorship election which has been the major focus of the military these past weeks.

Zulum said this on Tuesday in reaction to the speech of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, at the opening of the combined Chief of Army Staff Quarterly Conference in Maiduguri, Borno State, where he praised the Officers and Men of the Nigerian Army for the professionalism exhibited the Edo State governorship poll, charging them to do same in Ondo State on Saturday. Zulum asked them  not to neglect their fight against insurgency, which is a major priority.

The Governor said that it is worth appreciating the Military for their steadfastness, and successes recorded by Operation Lafiya Dole, which has brought about relative peace in the state and aided to the safe return of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.

The Governor pledged his administration’s continued support to military operations in the state through the provision of all the needed moral and material resources.

Zulum stressed the need for the military to intensify the onslaught against the insurgents for a final end to the crisis.

He said: “I want you to change the war narrative all together, to finish the crisis.

“Attack, they say, is the best form of defence.

“The Nigerian Army must therefore take the war to all the hideouts of the Boko Haram insurgents and should not wait and give the insurgents the opportunity of attacking first.

“The Nigerian Army must also embark on confidence building and confidence sharing mechanism, with communities and civil authorities so as to expose the terrorists, their collaborators and sponsors.”

Zulum also urged the Army to use the occasion of the Chief of Army Staff’s conference to look back on the challenges, successes and what is needed to be done to win the war.

While lamenting on the recent deaths of some officers and men in the fight against insurgency, Zulum consoled the army and their families for the losses, adding that the gallant soldiers must not die in vain.

Why NFF Appointed Waldrum As New Super Falcons Coach |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Randy Waldrum

By Akinwale Kasali

The Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, finally  settled  for an American, International Coach, Randy Waldrum as the head coach of the Nigeria women’s national team, Super Falcons.

Waldrum, over the years, have garnered a vast amount of experience, coaching women’s soccer specifically in the USA, from the College,  University and  professional levels.

The Texan was the first coach for National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) expansion side Houston Dash in 2014 and was in charge for three seasons.

The 64-year-old also has coaching experience at international level. He was in charge of Trinidad and Tobago from 2014 to 2016, where he led them to a fourth-placed finish at the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, and within touching distance of 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ qualification.

In a statement released on his official Twitter account, NFF President Amaju Melvin Pinnick said: “For the Super Falcons, I’m happy to announce that Randy Waldrum will be the man tasked with taking our women to the next level.

Waldrum was one of over 40 coaches interviewed by our Consultants, Phillips Consulting, with that list pruned to four. Waldrum got the job.

“I’m hopeful that our Coach will turn our dominance on the continent to dominance worldwide. Hopefully, with a new man in charge, our women can start proper preparations for football again.”

According to the member association’s official website, Waldrum will work alongside former Super Falcons goalkeeper and captain Ann Chiejine, who will be his first assistant coach, while Wemimo Mathew Olanrewaju will serve as second assistant coach and Auwar Bashir Makwalla will be goalkeeping coach.

Alex, Brigadier-General Nwogu’s Son, Murdered In USA |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Alex

By Adesina Soyooye

Tragedy has struck the family of a serving Nigeria Military Officer.

Brigadier-General Ignatius Nwogu, of the Nigerian Army, has lost his son, Alex, in a heart-rending circumstance.

Alex, 23, was shot dead at a Northwest gas station in Washington D.C, at about 1.30am on Monday.

He was, reportedly shot by two men who are now being looked for by the Police.  The Police has also promised  the sum of $25,000 for any information that would  lead to the arrest of the alleged suspects.    .

The late Nwogu, who hailed from Mbaise, Imo State, was reportedly hired as a tech consultant with a Northern Virginia firm, Ernst and Young, before he was murdered.

Will Ventura, a friend of his, was quoted as saying: “Never had any negativity about him, Really positive, really hardworking, and caring. And he had such a bright future ahead of him.”

Ventura revealed that the two of them had big dreams of opening their own consulting firm together.

The  late Akex was  a graduate of Virginia Tech. He graduated five months ago.

Two of his siblings, a brother and a sister, are resident in Alexandria.

The Police say Alex was a customer at the gas station when he was killed. They say there is  no information to release on the  possible motive behind the shooting.

But reports quote the Police   Department, in a tweet, as describing the suspects as two tall, black men with dark complexions possibly wearing New Balance shoes.

Said a neighbour, “I’m really sorry, surprised and shocked to hear about it,” and   expressed shock that this happened in such a wealthy part of the city.

The Metropolitan Police Department  say investigations ongoing.

Ondo Court Slams Life Imprisonment On Church Founder And Five Members |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Justice

By Ayodele Oni

After five months of trial, an Ondo State High Court has jailed, for life, the Founder of a new generation Church, and five of his members.

Justice Olusegun Odusola  pronounced a guilt judgement on the Founder of Sotitobire Praising Chapel, Prophet Babatunde Alfa. and five others  over the stunning and mysterious disappearance of a year old boy, Gold Kolawole, in the Church, in 2019.

The Judge pointed out that after the prosecution and defence Counsels  presented their arguments, he came to conclusion that the convicts were guilty of the two -count charge of kidnapping, aiding and abetting to kidnap, based on the circumstancial evidence presented by the prosecution.

Justice Odusola also accused the police of  complicity, compromise, and lackadaisical attitude after Gold got missing, which led to the burning of Sotitobire Church.

The convicts, however, still have the option of appealing against the judgement of the High Court.

Ondo Poll: Sultan, Former Head Of State Abdusalami Abubakar, Others Sue For Peace |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ondo Election Peace Accord

By Ayodele Oni

Members of Nigeria Peace Committee, has rallied actors in Saturday Governorship election in Ondo state with a plea to them to sheathe their swords.

Coming after series of violent attacks  in virtually all parts of the state, they were told by the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad, to see the election as a mere game and not a do or die affair.

Speaking during the signing of peace accord by governorship candidates of political parties on Tuesday in Akure, organised by the National peace committee (NPC), under the leadership of former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, the Sultan said that election was like a game of play by many players on the pitch.

He appealed to them to shun any form of violence and thuggery and call their supporters to order, so that the election could be free, fair and credible like that of Edo State.

“I like to make it clear to all of us as citizens of this country and to the players who are going to be on the pitch on Saturday to contest for one single seat of governor of Ondo State for the next four years, that peace is the ultimate.

“I like to call on you to see the signing of accord this morning not just a mere ceremony or formality, but a commitment by all of you.

“Let all of us obey the rules of the game, I call it game because election is a game where there will be only one winner and others who do not win, I won’t call them losers.

“There will be one winner and that winner has already been ordained by Almighty God. We don’t know who is that person.

“So, as contestants tell the citizens of Ondo State what you can’t do and what you will do for them, their votes must count as INEC has assured us that every vote must count.

“Talk to your supporters to remain peaceful, do not allow thuggery to take place anywhere not only near the polling booth even in entire state throughout the duration of election on Saturday.”, the Sultan said.

According to him,   “power belongs to Almighty God and he gives it to whom he wants, at the time he wants, and he takes it away from the person or persons without even alerting them, so let us not play God.

“Do not sign this accord, if you know that you are not going to maintain peace during the election on Saturday,” he added.

Meanwhile,  the three leading Governorship candidates promised to allow peace to reign during and after the election as well as shun any act that could undermine the pact they have signed.

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who pledged to  abide by the content of the peace accord commended the the National Peace Committee for its commitment to ensure  peaceful election in the State.

Also,  Mr Eyitayo Jegede of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) called on security agencies, especially, the police to ensure a level playing ground  for all the contestants, arrest and prosecute anyone that foments trouble during the election.

Mr Agboola Ajayi of Zenith Labour Party(ZLP), who is also the Deputy Governor of the State, assured that members of his party would continue to conduct themselves in a peaceful, democratic and civilised way.

Dignitaries at the ceremony include Bishop Matthew Kuka,  John Cardinal Onaiyekan, INEC Chairman, Momoud Yakubu, and representative of the Inspector General of Police(IGP).

Kwara United Makes History, Signs Brazilian Winger On A One Year Deal Ahead |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Lucas Ribeiro Alves

By Akinwale Kasali

Kwara United Football Club of Illorin, Kwara State, has taken a bold step and made history by signing a foreign player to bolster its team ahead of the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League Season.

The Club snapped up sensational Brazilian winger, Lucas Ribeiro Alves, on a one-year loan deal a few days after former Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba, joined the Kwara State Club Side from Israeli League Side, Hapoel Afula Football Club.

The new arrival will be unveiled soon, according to the player’s Greece-based Nigerian agent, Peter Denise Alade.

The Afonja Warriors, as Kwara United Football team is called has been on the trail of the former Corinthians winger, with Alade playing a key role in the arrival of the South American to the Ilorin-based club.

Alves, who can also function as a midfielder, had a stint in the US cut-short following the outbreak of COVID-19 in March.

The 25-year-old is hoping to play a big role in Kwara United’s campaign next season, but admits the NPFL is a new challenge.

“I feel good, it’s a challenge and I’m going to learn a lot here. After I left the US due to coronavirus, I returned to Brazil but Peter (Nigerian agent) told me to come here (Kwara United), he said they play good football in Nigeria,” Alves told Newsmen.

“I’ll do my best to help the team; what’s important is the team. So many things like the food and the way they drive here is new to me, but I enjoyed the reception I got. It’s a lovely place to be.”

Nigerian agent, Alade, CEO of Prime Sports Management, said Alves would bring along the Brazillian flair to Kwara United.

“Lucas is a highly disciplined professional footballer. He will bring the Brazillian style; he’s a playmaker with good passes and scores goals too,” Alade said.

2023: Ezeife, Ben Obi, Others Brainstorm On Igbo Presidency |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Chukwuemeka Ezeife

By Akinwale Kasali

Prominent personalities from Igbo Extraction are not leaving any stone unturned in the bid to actualise a long awaited dream of having a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2023. come 2023.

Former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, said a President of Igbo extraction is long overdue, and the actualisation of this goal can only be realised when other zones in the country support the project, hence the need to reach out to them.

Ezeife made this statement at an event organised by a Group called the Global Movement for Igbo President 2023, GLOMIP.

Airing his view on the discussion, Senator Ben Obi, a PDP chieftain, said that for the Igbo Presidency to be realised come 2023, the two major political parties, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the main opposition party, PDP, must zone their presidential tickets to the South East zone and allow Nigerians choose from whoever they want.

“Ndigbo cannot elect a President alone, rather, they should intensify effort and deliberate on the lobbying of the North West, North East, North Central, South West and South South.

“After reaching out to other zones, the next hurdle would be the political parties that have the constitutional right to sponsor people for elections.

“Mobilising our people to be on the same page and speak with one voice on the sole project rather than having different demands and agitations outside the call for an Igbo President, so that we shall not be looked upon as a confused people”, he said.

Adding to his earlier contribution, Ezeife hinted on the importance of the people of South East zone fighting harder to achieve the goal.

“Power is taken, not given. We shall send our Steering Committee members to Bola Tinubu and Northern aspirants to see reason why Igbo should produce president and have a rethink.

“Virtually every part of Nigeria I have visited talks about President of Igbo extraction. I urge Igbo to unite in pursuing the goal. Each group that supported the project have already pencilled down names of people they felt are qualified for the job.

“More people outside South East support Igbo Presidency. We must have a strong body of elder statesmen to go to people of influence to lobby,” Ezeife added.

Former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih, regretted the pessimistic utterances of some Igbo people towards their quest for the number one seat in the country.

According to her, former President Olusegun Obasanjo won presidential election because Nigerians decided to compensate the Yoruba for late Abiola’s loss, insisting that such should be the case of the Igbos.

She said: “I’ve been discouraged by the Ndigbo through their pessimistic utterances. I feel disappointed when I hear them ask questions like, ‘Will they give us?’

“When Nigerians realised the injustice they meted on Abiola, they decided to vote for Obasanjo. He was not voted for by his people. He won because Nigerians wanted to appease the Yoruba.

“If Igbos like it or not, a President will be imposed on them. An agreement by all Nigerians will make it possible. Jonathan is not an Igbo man. Ijaw is not Igbo. They should not impose him on us. Whoever that’s flying their kite should stop it.

“I trust Nigeria to give us the slot to appease us. We’re not talking of secession now, but injustice.”

Annenih, however, condemned some people from Igbo Extraction flying the kite for former President Goodluck Jonathan to come back as President to stop such propaganda, insisting that the South South are not Igbo.

Chris Isiguzo, the President, Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ), on his part  maintained that the unity of the country was non-negotiable.

His words:”Unity is sacrosanct. Anything contrary I’m not part of it. We’re totally in support of addressing marginalisation. For us to achieve this project, we must go beyond rhetorics.

“Igbo alone can’t and won’t be able to achieve the presidency. We need other sections of the country. Power is not given, but taken.

“Our people must be determined to reach out and consult widely to mobilise our people. We must not necessarily be united, but we can’t afford to be divided in this project.”

Speaking on the theme, “Actualising Nigeria’s Igbo Presidency”, the convener of the event, Comrade Iyere, said the quest for President of Igbo extraction would be a global project which will be presented to the British and European Union parliaments as well as government agencies in the world.

He explained that the idea is to ensure that the coming presidential candidate will not spend his money in campaign saying that if he does, he will be forced to recoup when he mounts the seat of power, thereby leaving Nigeria worse than he met it.

Iyere insisted that only a President of Igbo extraction can rewrite the wrong and steer the nation’s economy in a better direction.

In 1999. the main political parties zoned their Presidential candidates to the South-south to compensate for MKO  Abiola’s  fate in the hands of the Military which denied him Presidency, in 1993, after he obviously won it.

#EndSARS Campaign: Police Reform Imminent – Osinbajo |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
VP Yemi Osinbajo

By Akinwale Kasali

Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, says he is embarrassed by the activities of the Police Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad, FSARS.

Osinbajo, a Professor of Law, is worried about the brutalisation of Nigerians FSARS,  and the demand by Nigerians for it to  be scrapped.

Osinbajo said he is concerned and angry that young men and women  arrested, are in some cases, maimed or killed by men of the Nigeria Police Force is disheartening.

In a statement, his spokesman, Laolu Akande, expressed his disappointment in the activities of FSARS personnel.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu had, on Sunday, banned the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from undertaking routine patrols as well as on “stop and search” duties.

The Vice President, who had, earlier, held a meeting with the IGP at his residence, said the President and himself had discussed the matter on a number of occasions, with the President expressing displeasure over reports on activities of FSARS, and was resolved to ensure reforms.

“Such violations are completely unacceptable because these are individuals who are meant to protect Nigerians.

“The arrest, maiming or killing of young people or anyone at all, is completely wrong.

“It is unlawful and illegal and anyone involved in this act ought to be investigated and prosecuted.

“Today, I had a meeting with the IG and we reviewed several of these issues.

“The President is very concerned about it; he wants to see a reform.

“You are probably aware that the IG has issued a statement looking at all these issues, in particular, the warning against the use of these tactical units such as SARS for purposes of doing anything other than anti-robbery.

“For example, he specifically said that you cannot have a situation where SARS says they are investigating cybercrime by arresting young men and women carrying their laptops and phones.

“Cybercrime is an electronic crime.

“I don’t see how you can investigate that by seizing people’s phones in a taxi or in their cars,’’ Osinbajo said.

He said it was obvious that a few bad eggs in the Police were causing all of the problems because it was all over the place, in different states.

Osinbajo said that the IG’s statement, banning FSARS and others, was the first step.

“He has said clearly that police men must wear police uniforms.

“You cannot say that because you belong to a tactical unit, you can dress in your casual clothing and be armed.’’

By dressing casually, the Vice President said that people “can’t even tell the difference between robbers and the police if you are not properly dressed in police uniform.

“So, clearly, a reform is in the offing’’.

“So, I will like to encourage civil society activists, young men and women, who bring this regularly, by the way, to the attention of government and the police.

Osinbajo also said that activism was important because “they have been able to bring a lot of these issues to the attention of the Police and government.

“And that is an important part of the process of the reform’’.

He said that the Federal Government would ensure that every one of those allegations against FSARS was properly investigated.

According to him, those found responsible will be prosecuted and publicised so that people will know that prosecution has taken place.

“I am very confident that we will have a reformed police force and that process has already begun’’.

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