Second tremor hits Kaduna in 24 hours.

Residents of Sambang Dagi in Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State witnessed another earth tremor in the early hours of Monday.
The incident occurred barely 24-hours after the first tremor was reported at Nok village about 20km away from Sambang.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the second vibration occurred around 4a.m Monday, leaving shocked residents scampering for safety.
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties.
Earlier, the Kaduna State government had in a press statement, urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm.
The government on Sunday appealed for calm, and sympathised with the residents of kwoi in Jaba Local Government Area, following the first tremor.
The government said in a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, that it had made a formal report to the appropriate authorities to investigate the development.
The statement said Mr. El-Rufai, had notified the geological and emergency agencies of the incident.
“The governor sympathises with the people in the Kwoi area over the reported earth tremor,” the statement said.
“He has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to mobilise to the area and comfort the citizens.
“The National Geological Agency has also been notified, and has been invited to investigate the tremor in the Kwoi area and provide appropriate guidance.
“The Kaduna State Government is receiving updates from the area and relevant government agencies have been directed to take steps to comfort the residents and to assuage their unease as they come to terms with an unusual event.
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to appeal for calm, and urges everyone not to spread unverified information, or create panic,” the statement said.
NAN reports that the first incident, which occurred at about 1p.m, shook the community and created some panic among the people. (NAN)

Second tremor hits Kaduna in 24 hours.

Residents of Sambang Dagi in Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State witnessed another earth tremor in the early hours of Monday.
The incident occurred barely 24-hours after the first tremor was reported at Nok village about 20km away from Sambang.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the second vibration occurred around 4a.m Monday, leaving shocked residents scampering for safety.
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties.
Earlier, the Kaduna State government had in a press statement, urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm.
The government on Sunday appealed for calm, and sympathised with the residents of kwoi in Jaba Local Government Area, following the first tremor.
The government said in a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, that it had made a formal report to the appropriate authorities to investigate the development.
The statement said Mr. El-Rufai, had notified the geological and emergency agencies of the incident.
“The governor sympathises with the people in the Kwoi area over the reported earth tremor,” the statement said.
“He has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to mobilise to the area and comfort the citizens.
“The National Geological Agency has also been notified, and has been invited to investigate the tremor in the Kwoi area and provide appropriate guidance.
“The Kaduna State Government is receiving updates from the area and relevant government agencies have been directed to take steps to comfort the residents and to assuage their unease as they come to terms with an unusual event.
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to appeal for calm, and urges everyone not to spread unverified information, or create panic,” the statement said.
NAN reports that the first incident, which occurred at about 1p.m, shook the community and created some panic among the people. (NAN)

Second tremor hits Kaduna in 24 hours.

Residents of Sambang Dagi in Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State witnessed another earth tremor in the early hours of Monday.
The incident occurred barely 24-hours after the first tremor was reported at Nok village about 20km away from Sambang.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the second vibration occurred around 4a.m Monday, leaving shocked residents scampering for safety.
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties.
Earlier, the Kaduna State government had in a press statement, urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm.
The government on Sunday appealed for calm, and sympathised with the residents of kwoi in Jaba Local Government Area, following the first tremor.
The government said in a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, that it had made a formal report to the appropriate authorities to investigate the development.
The statement said Mr. El-Rufai, had notified the geological and emergency agencies of the incident.
“The governor sympathises with the people in the Kwoi area over the reported earth tremor,” the statement said.
“He has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to mobilise to the area and comfort the citizens.
“The National Geological Agency has also been notified, and has been invited to investigate the tremor in the Kwoi area and provide appropriate guidance.
“The Kaduna State Government is receiving updates from the area and relevant government agencies have been directed to take steps to comfort the residents and to assuage their unease as they come to terms with an unusual event.
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to appeal for calm, and urges everyone not to spread unverified information, or create panic,” the statement said.
NAN reports that the first incident, which occurred at about 1p.m, shook the community and created some panic among the people. (NAN)

Second tremor hits Kaduna in 24 hours.

Residents of Sambang Dagi in Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State witnessed another earth tremor in the early hours of Monday.
The incident occurred barely 24-hours after the first tremor was reported at Nok village about 20km away from Sambang.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the second vibration occurred around 4a.m Monday, leaving shocked residents scampering for safety.
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties.
Earlier, the Kaduna State government had in a press statement, urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm.
The government on Sunday appealed for calm, and sympathised with the residents of kwoi in Jaba Local Government Area, following the first tremor.
The government said in a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, that it had made a formal report to the appropriate authorities to investigate the development.
The statement said Mr. El-Rufai, had notified the geological and emergency agencies of the incident.
“The governor sympathises with the people in the Kwoi area over the reported earth tremor,” the statement said.
“He has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to mobilise to the area and comfort the citizens.
“The National Geological Agency has also been notified, and has been invited to investigate the tremor in the Kwoi area and provide appropriate guidance.
“The Kaduna State Government is receiving updates from the area and relevant government agencies have been directed to take steps to comfort the residents and to assuage their unease as they come to terms with an unusual event.
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to appeal for calm, and urges everyone not to spread unverified information, or create panic,” the statement said.
NAN reports that the first incident, which occurred at about 1p.m, shook the community and created some panic among the people. (NAN)

Second tremor hits Kaduna in 24 hours.

Residents of Sambang Dagi in Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State witnessed another earth tremor in the early hours of Monday.
The incident occurred barely 24-hours after the first tremor was reported at Nok village about 20km away from Sambang.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the second vibration occurred around 4a.m Monday, leaving shocked residents scampering for safety.
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties.
Earlier, the Kaduna State government had in a press statement, urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm.
The government on Sunday appealed for calm, and sympathised with the residents of kwoi in Jaba Local Government Area, following the first tremor.
The government said in a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, that it had made a formal report to the appropriate authorities to investigate the development.
The statement said Mr. El-Rufai, had notified the geological and emergency agencies of the incident.
“The governor sympathises with the people in the Kwoi area over the reported earth tremor,” the statement said.
“He has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to mobilise to the area and comfort the citizens.
“The National Geological Agency has also been notified, and has been invited to investigate the tremor in the Kwoi area and provide appropriate guidance.
“The Kaduna State Government is receiving updates from the area and relevant government agencies have been directed to take steps to comfort the residents and to assuage their unease as they come to terms with an unusual event.
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to appeal for calm, and urges everyone not to spread unverified information, or create panic,” the statement said.
NAN reports that the first incident, which occurred at about 1p.m, shook the community and created some panic among the people. (NAN)

An Open Letter to Edison Daminabo of Deeper Life church, Port Harcourt - By Mark Jacob

Dear Minister Daminabo,

A few months ago the Nigerian media was awash with the story of the brutal murder of a female evangelist, Mrs. Eunice Elisha in Kubwa, a suburb in Abuja. This was scary news as it was a swift follow-up to the brutal murder of a Christian woman at a market in Kano.

Expectedly the uproar died down with each passing day and yes; and life goes on as though nothing has happened.

It is not the fact of this occurrences that matters much, rather it is the aftermath thereof – whether lessons have been learnt, whether there are measures put in place either by the Church or the government to prevent a reoccurrence of such hideous crimes.

To a large extent, I don’t expect much from the government of the day as events have shown that the security and liberty of Christians to live and practice their religion is not a priority. However, I am deeply concerned about the posture, body language, and yes, the loud silence of the big time church leaders in Nigeria.

I like the teachings of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, and I see him as a warrior of the gospel. But, truth be told, I was let down by his veiled gentle and “nice” reaction to the killing of that woman evangelist of his church in Kubwa. Was Daddy GO, as he is fondly called, just being politically correct or what?

I don’t know which church that woman slaughtered in Kano attends but whatever church it is, it failed to raise any eyebrows over the gruesome murder. Predictably, the results of this whimsical approach are coming out loud and clear for anyone to see.

Whatever the reasons for the pathetic reaction of our church leaders to these murders it is important to inform them that the brutal slaughter of Christians has increased in tempo, intensity, and magnitude especially in the North.

I woke up this morning and was upset by a story in the media credited to one Edison Daminabo, an “overseer of the Deeper Life Christian Ministry in Rivers State.

In the statement to the press, Daminabo “warned” Christians in the North not to revenge killings by herdsmen or other terrorists that have been slaughtering them in the past few months. He went further to say that the “killing of Christians in the North is a blessing to the faith.”

God, where art thou, I recall a scripture that says something like….. a time shall come when they shall kill you and say it is a service to God….. A man of God opens his mouth not to warn those who are killing the Christians but the poor Christians. A man of God looks at the brutal pictures and reads the true life stories of men, women and children slaughtered in their churches and houses and says it is a blessing? A man of God feels no pain for hundreds who are now widows and orphans because their husbands and fathers were slaughtered simply because they ascribe to Christianity? I am angry, yes angry with the church and very very angry with these church leaders who say peace, peace, and peace when murder and wickedness stare us in the eye.

My prayer this morning is simply that God should allow our church leaders especially those “hiding” in the South to just have a little taste of what we are talking about. May Edison Daminabo experience what the Pastors in the North have seen. Have a church locked up with members and set on fire with members roasting to death, have a pastor slaughtered like a ram while a jubilant crowd celebrates. As an Overseer I am sure he has not overseen the mass burial of 200 Christians murdered in one night in their houses. When he has passed through these I would like him to come out and proclaim that the killings are a blessing to the faith.

People have lost and are losing parents, siblings and relations everyday, not through natural disasters or accidents but deliberate designs of man. The least we expect from those in comfort is either to speak comfort or SHUT UP.

My name is Mark Jacob and I just want to make serious commonsense.

Mark Jacob is a barrister-at-law, a Christian from Southern Kaduna in Nigeria. He has lost family members to the terrorist attacks by Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen militia. He can be reached by email HERE.

Addressing the Issues of our collective existence - Captain Solomon Musa, SOKAPU President.

Speech By The National President Of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) At The Mass Peaceful Protest in Gwantu, Sanga Local Government Area Of Kaduna State, Organised BY SOUTHERN KADUNA PEOPLES UNION   - Thursday 25/8/2016

The great and peace loving people of Sanga and indeed, Southern Kaduna, I send you warm greetings from our brothers and sisters from other places in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

Today, we have come here, irrespective of our religion, political affiliations and ethnic groups, to inform you that we are sad witnesses to all the evil that has come over Sanga and many parts of Southern Kaduna and that we share your pains, anger and frustration.

We have come to this ancient land of civilised and accommodating people to demonstrate our solidarity with you and to insist that you have a right to live in peace and dignity as you pursue your livelihood, like any other persons in a free society as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We are together joining our brothers and sisters all over the world, and all men of goodwill and conscience to say that enough of the bloodshed of our harmless and armless people in Sanga and other parts of Southern Kaduna. Enough of blood shedding and kidnapping in Kaduna state. Let it Stop!
SOKAPU stand with you in demanding that the energy, commitment and funds with which the present government of Kaduna state is spending in co-funding a joint military operations in the forests and bushes of Birnin Gwari to rescue rustled cows and goats, should be extended to Southern Kaduna to safe human lives and secure properties.

While we appreciate and thank Governor Nasir el-Rufai for visiting some of our communities that were ravaged by herdsmen in Sanga and Jema’a LGAs, we are very unhappy that his promise to end the killings and wanton destruction of our homes and crops, and to fish out the culprits, was just a political statement.

As if to spite the governor, two days after his much celebrated visit around here, a cleric, Pastor Luka Ubangari, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Unguwan Anjo near Godogodo, was killed by people suspected to be armed herdsmen. Two days later, the same herdsmen, came to Ningon Community and shot dead Gambo Sule, 38 leaving his wife a widow and his five children fatherless. They also killed Benjamin Auta, 35 and father of two little children. A girl who survived that attack is presently receiving treatment at the Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa hospital in Kafanchan as a result of bullet wounds on her abdomen.

These are just very recent of all the undeserved evil that has enveloped the people of Sanga and many communities of Southern Kaduna - too numerous and painful to be recalled.

Indeed, it has been estimated that not less than 10,000 Southern Kaduna natives from 24 villages have been killed since the invasions of our communities started in 2011. In 2014, there were about 30,000 refugees fleeing killings and arson from Sanga areas alone. Today, majority of these natives are yet to return as herdsmen have converted their farmlands to grazing grounds under arms.
But, it was for the poor security situation in Southern Kaduna, that the people of these areas gave an opposition political party unprecedented number of votes since 1999 helping it to decisively defeat a sitting government.

We are sad to say that the situation is no better today, with a worse dimension added – Kidnapping and destruction of crops. While, almost every day someone is kidnapped in Southern Kaduna for a ransomed, growing crops are being ravaged by herdsmen.

In Godogodo, seven young men who dared to venture to their farms were found shot death, and the corpse of one is still missing. They were all said to have been killed by armed herdsmen.
Yet, with these nefarious acts, we are yet to hear that one single herdsman has been arrested and charged with murder. Instead, it is our youths who are putting their lives at stake to protect their communities that are always arrested by the Police and Soldiers and locked up in Kafanchan.

Could this weak law enforcement attitude, and selective arrest be linked with the thinking of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai in a tweet that later went viral, on the 15th July 2012, when he tweeted that:“ Anyone, soldier or not that kills the Fulani takes a loan repayable one day no matter how long it takes.” https://twitter.com/elrufai/status/224577000218689537
SOKAPU has no choice than to conclude that our governor may have been convinced by the well publicised statement of Kaduna State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MCBA, Dr Haruna Usman after the Gada Biyu, Akwa’a, Anjoh and Godogodo killings two weeks back. He had said that the Fulani had carried out the killings and destructions of some of these villagers in retaliation to the killing of a Fulani chieftain around there.
The seeming lack of interest by the governor in bringing the herdsman king-pin to prosecution would look like he already has a mindset that the herdsmen have natural tendency and right to take the law into their hands and kill anyone and cause havoc on any property he suspects of killing his own.
This is also buttressed by the desperation with which this government is doing everything to please the Fulani herdsmen, including the annexation of our lands into Grazing Reserve and Ranches despite its clear constitutional illegality and total rejection of the policy by Southern Kaduna Communities.
It is also evident that in Kaduna state there are two kinds of law for two different citizens. Today, Mr. Nasir Jagaba, SOKAPU youth wing President has been arrested, detained and charged to Court by the Governor over an innocuous statement in which he caution the governor on the grave consequence of demolishing Gbagyi villa.

But, Haruna Usman is still going about his business despite making a very incriminating assertion on the reasons behind the heinous crimes committed by his kinsmen.

In view of the above, on behalf of all the 67 tribal grouping of Southern Kaduna, SOKAPU wish to demand that:

1. The government of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai keeps his campaign promise of safe guarding our lives and property by also funding a formidable joint military operation to flush our murderers and restore ‘captured’ lands to their owners.

2. We demand for the release of all our youths unjustly detained in Kafanchan and restitution paid them over the haranguing experience they have been put through.

3. SOKAPU calls for the arrest and interrogation of Haruna Usman of MCBA. He should be made to produce or identify the Fulani that were “on vengeance” mission.

4. With all the seriousness we can muster, SOKAPU rejects completely the confiscation of 120,000 hectares of our ancestral lands as Cattle Grazing Reserves or ranches. Even when the constitution entrusts all lands in the hands of state governors, it was clear that no land should be taken from a community and allocated to another entity for the exclusive use for profit.

5. We call on both the state and Federal government to assist our Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, with shelter, food and roofs over their heads as they now live under sub-human conditions in public schools and private places they could find.
6. SOKAPU is also using this occasion to appeal to all our members, their friends, Churches, mosques, corporate organisations, NGOs and every willing person to generously donate to our IDPS.
Finally, SOKAPU calls on its members never to take the law into their hands no matter the provocation. However, we encourage all our communities to take every available legal means of defending themselves, their property and dignity against anyone set out to terrorise them, should government renege on that cardinal responsibility it owes them.
Thank you and May God guide you as make your ways back home.

Sign: Barr. Kaptain Solomon Musa
President of SOKAPU

Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai on Twitter
“We will write this for all to read. Anyone, soldier or not that kills the Fulani takes a loan repayable one day no matter how long it takes.”
twitter.com

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau fatally wounded ,commanders killed during aerial operation- Nigeria Army

The Nigerian Military, on Tuesday, disclosed that an aerial operation on Boko Haram enclave in Sambisa Forest, has left some members of the insurgent group, including its factional leader, Abubakar Shekau fatally wounded.
A statement by Army’s acting spokesman, Col Sani Usman, said Shekau was believed to have been injured on his shoulders, while some commanders of the group were killed in an aerial operation by the Nigerian Air Force.
According to the Army spokesman, the operation was carried out on August 19, 2016 as the terrorists were performing Fridayrituals at Taye village, Gombale general area, within Sambisa forest, Borno State.
Usman said, “In what one could describe as the most unprecedented and spectacular air raid, we have just confirmed that as a result of the interdiction efforts of the Nigerian Air Force, some key leaders of the Boko Haram terrorists have been killed while others were fatally wounded.
“The air interdiction took place last week Friday 19th August 2016, while the terrorists were performing Friday rituals at Taye village, Gombale general area within Sambisa forest, Borno State.
“Those Boko Haram terrorists commanders confirmed dead include Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman, amongst others, while their leader, the so-called ‘Abubakar Shekau’, is believed to be fatally wounded on his shoulders. Several other terrorists were also wounded.”

Herdsmen Kill Redeemed pastor in Kaduna.

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Sunday night killed one Pastor Luka Ubangari of Redeemed Christian Church of God at Shawa village, near Godogodo, in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Ubangari was said to have been ambushed, shot and killed while returning from evangelism to Golkofa village.
The incident occurred few days after Governor Nasir El-Rufai condemned incessant herdsmen killings during his visit to the area.
El-Rufai had described the killings as ‘senseless’ and promised that perpetrators are arrested and punished.
A source, who craved anonymity, noted that despite the governor’s promise herdsmen, “who are out to remove us from our ancestral lands, continue to kill our people.”
“We were happy that the Governor (Nasir El-Rufai) had visited and assured us of improved security and that the killers would be found and punished.
“To our shock, Pastor Luka Ubangari was ambushed, shot and killed as he was riding his motorcycle home after an evangelical visit to Golkofa.”

RESTRuCTUrING:WHY IS THE NORTH RELUCTANT? - BY JOHN DANFULANI

RESTRUCTURING: WHY IS THE NORTH RELUCTANT?

                                 By

                         John Danfulani, Ph.D
                         Johndanfulani@gmail.com

So far, major pan cultural clusters of Southern Nigeria like Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndi Ibgo et al  have added their receptive voices to the quest of restructuring the dysfunctional and poorly designed political structures of Nigeria. These groups and individuals are aggressively pressing their positions and prescribing how Nigeria political structure and power vested on each layer of authority should be  . All their discussions are littered with the usual concepts like; true or fiscal federalism, resource control, regionalism, weak centre,state police, and revenue sharing formula.

Whilst  Southern Nigeria groups and political juggernauts are patriotically adding fuel to the flame of restructuring discourses, two reactionary and retrogressive  northern Nigeria groups called Arewa Consultative Forum( ACF) and Arewa Elders Forum(AEF) are singing a discordant tune. And hatching sundry conspiracy theories on a very popular advocacy that its time is at hand. To these groups peopled by elements that killed the mission of Nigeria's founding father on their alter of greed and corruption, southern Nigeria groups orchestrating the project of restructuring have a short gun in their sleeves. In a plainer  language, ACF/AEF kingpins and their docile followers believe the South had made all necessary preparations to stage the final mass for Nigeria. And ready to use any national dialogue or discussion forum to actualize their mission of ending the British colonial masters 1914 contraption called Nigeria.

On a separate front, northern Nigeria self appointed ultraconservative ideologues in the media are busy diverting attention with their doomsday predictions and parochial narratives that the problem isn't with  political structures and allocation of powers thereof  but poor leadership and corruption. Leading this cream of ethno-religious jingoist is an old Nupe journalist turned Hausa-Fulani Mr. Mohammed Haruna who in recent times wrote two discouraging articles in his syndicated columns titled "Atiku Abubaka's Formula For A "True Federation, and In Defense Of Osinbajo". Other lightweighted  Northern Nigeria tusks like Bala Mohammed(On Restructuring:Another View), Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed( Beginner's Guide on Restructuring) and Sani Abubakar (Restructuring Nigeria: Be Careful What You Wish For, Or How You Demand For It) joined the fray. Because of their biases and outdated mentality of we-are-born-to-rule,they tactically supported the status quo. Their concomitant insincerity denied their discourses the intellectual depth capable of engineering further ding dongs on this matter of national importance.

These ultraconservative northern elements shackling on the myths and realities of yesteryears opposing calls for restructuring knows the quantum of injustice their political and military cabals meted on other Nigerians, right from time immemorial. That accounted for a bull headed resistance to any advocacy that seeks a redress to the present lopsided and terribly skewed  political structures of Nigeria.

If the North is not hiding something or unduly benefiting from what all can see is holding the nation back, why the resistance? We have read and seen them talk on how the former Northern Region built its economy from groundnut and cotton pyramids. Is their lands no longer arable enough to stage a repeat of building an economy on proceeds of pyramids? We all know that they are afraid of a likely resolution that will allow states control resources found in their domains. They are afraid of questions that will inquire the formula used in creating 44 LGAs in Kano while Lagos has less despite surpassing the later in population.The north is afraid of others rejecting the anachronistic system of creating grazing reserves in other place instead of ranching by those who owns the cattle. We know, as well as they do, that they are afraid to answer questions bordering whether the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or some holy books that will guide our actions as a people in country called Nigeria.

ACF/AEF and their corrosive penman sandwiched in a single news outlet that  its mission is spreading ethno-religious sentiment and supremacy and their young recruits can run but they can't hide. Their negative disposition to this raging quest for restructuring  is a waste of time because they are only postponing the evil day. The momentum is too good, because  all well meaning Nigerians are fire up. And had already rolled up their sleeves in readiness for the show. No amount of diversionary machanism will quench this blazing fire of restructuring.

Mr. Atiku Abubakar told his northern kith and kins the truth and the whole truth  by saying they better agree to talk about the future of Nigeria on a round table to avoid talking in some unpredictable situations. I totally agree with Mr. Abubakar's take.

Usain Bolt Roared into Olympics history.

Usain Bolt roared into Olympic history here Sunday, capturing an unprecedented third consecutive 100m crown to confirm his place in the pantheon of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen.
The 29-year-old Jamaican legend, competing in his final Olympics, powered over the line in 9.81sec, vanquishing drug-tainted American rival Justin Gatlin who took silver with Andre De Grasse of Canada claiming bronze.
Gatlin, who had been booed by the Rio crowd as he was introduced, crossed in 9.89sec with De Grasse just behind in 9.91.
Bolt galloped away in celebration after a superb win, basking in the adulation of the stadium and even taking selfies with fans during his lap of honour.
He then delighted the fans with his traditional “lightning bolt” pose as reggae blasted out of the stadium sound system.
The victory left Bolt standing alone in the 120-year history of sprinting in the modern Olympic games.
No other athlete — man or woman — has ever won three consecutive individual Olympic sprint titles.
It also leaves Bolt on track to complete an incredible “triple-triple” of clinching 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles for a third consecutive Olympics.
Bolt, the 2008 and 2012 Olympic champion, had already earned the right to be regarded as the greatest sprinter in the history of athletics after accumulating more golds on the track than anyone else.
But the Jamaican’s latest triumph erases any last lingering doubts that he deserves to be ranked alongside the likes of Muhammad Ali, Pele and Michael Jordan as the kind of once-in-a-generation athlete who transcend their sports.
Bolt’s win — his 18th gold in Olympic and World Championships since 2008 — averted what might have been a public relations disaster for the drug-tarnished world of track and field.
A corruption scandal involving the sport’s former rulers, who were accused of accepting bribes to cover up positive drug tests, and an investigation which alleged an elaborate state-sponsored doping system in Russia have plunged track and field into the worst crisis in its history.
A gold medal for Gatlin on Sunday would have made uncomfortable viewing for many — world athletics chief Sebastian Coe among them — who have advocated that serial doping offenders should be banned for life.
But those fears were swept away by the smiling, laughing figure of Bolt, for so long the sport’s most charismatic showman.
Gatlin, who has served two drug bans during his long career, made a powerful start to lead over the first 50 metres.
But as soon as Bolt’s head came around the midpoint the American was in trouble and the defending champion surged home around a metre clear of the field.
AFP

A New militant group blows up pipe line in Delta

A new militant group, Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, which threatened to blow up oil installations in the upland of the Niger Delta region, on Wednesday, made good its threat.
The group reportedly blew up a major trunk line operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company in Isoko, which feeds Eriemu Manifold.
NDGJM claimed responsibility for the attack saying it was part of the group’s demolition of oil facilities tagged ‘Operation Zero.’

Trump becoming president a “frightening” prospect – German FM

 German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier believes Donald Trump becoming US president would be a “frightening” prospect for the world, his spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Steinmeier “is not neutral” on whether the Republican candidate is fit to occupy the Oval Office, the spokeswoman, Sawsan Chebli, told reporters.
“He is of the opinion that it is frightening, if you follow Trump’s remarks, what could become of this world if Trump actually became president,” she said.
“The foreign minister is calling attention to that and that is his right.”
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokeswoman told the same news conference that she would stand by her policy of not commenting on the US election campaign.
Steinmeier, a Social Democrat, had already compared Trump last week to a “hate preacher”, saying he had much in common with “fear-mongers” in Germany’s right-wing populist AfD party as well as advocates of Britain’s exit from the EU.
French President Francois Hollande said Trump makes “you want to retch” following the Republican’s “hurtful and humiliating comments” against the Muslim parents of a slain US soldier who criticised the candidate.
Trump’s bid to take the White House is reeling from a series of self-inflicted scandals after he disparaged Muslims, babies, firefighters and the military, prompting his Republican stablemates to issue awkward denunciations.
He stirred new controversy Tuesday over comments interpreted by some as a threat of violence against rival Hillary Clinton.

Credit : The Punch

10 most dangerous Dogs in the world.

 Ten most dangerous Dogs in the world

No 1: Pitbulls

Pitbulls weighs around 55 to 65 lbs. If you are someone, who is familiar with almost all the dog breeds, then I am sure, seeing a “Pitbull” in the list of “top 10 most dangerous dogs” must be a big surprise. When compared to other dog breeds, death rates caused by Pitpulls are far higher. Due to its aggressive nature, some state governments have even banned breeding of Pitbulls


No 2: Rottweilers

Even though “Boxer” is listed one among the top 10 most dangerous dog breeds, by nature these are not so aggressive. Boxers are very intelligent and hard to train. Since these dogs stay energetic the entire day, their energy has to be utilized in positive ways. It can weigh around 70 lbs


No 3: Boxer

Even though “Boxer” is listed one among the top 10 most dangerous dog breeds, by nature these are not so aggressive. Boxers are very intelligent and hard to train. Since these dogs stay energetic the entire day, their energy has to be utilized in positive ways. It can weigh around 70 lbs


 No 4. German Shepherd

“German Shepherd” is a very intelligent and powerful animal. However, they are reported to be more dangerous too. That’s why it has raised them to 4th in the list of top ten most dangerous dogs. These dogs can serve you loyal but when they are not treated well, they can be dangerous too. It weighs around 100 lbs


No 5: Chow Chows

These dogs are very independent. However, when they are not bred with proper attention, they easily turn aggressive. As one of the top ten most dangerous dogs, it weighs around 70 lbs


No 6: Huskies

Although Huskies look puffy and soft, reports say that 15 people have died in the last 20 years because of them. Like the Malamute, the Husky is primarily known as a sled dog. Huskies are athletic and energetic dogs. Since these dogs are very energetic, they should be taken on regular walks. A well-trained Huskey will be very loyal to its family’s lives

No 7: Wolf Hybrids

All dogs are descendants of wolves, but many of today’s dog species are still directly crossbred with these wild animals. Because of the inherent danger in breeding a wild animal with a domestic one, these dogs are often extremely skittish and unpredictable, to the point that many states have made it illegal to own a wolf hybrid. The CDC determined that wolf hybrids were responsible for the deaths of 14 people in the United States from 1979 to 1998.


 8. Alaskan Malamute.

Alaskan Malamutes weigh around 100 lbs and are very intelligent breeds. Just like Huskies, these are very energetic. However, when their energy is not used positively, they can turn aggressive.


 9. The Great Dane.

The Great Dane is a large German breed of domestic dog known for its giant size. The German name of the breed is Deutsche Dogge, or German Mastiff. The French name is Dogue Allemand. The Great Dane is one of the tallest dog breeds


No 10: Doberman Pinschers

Dobermans weighs around 65 to 90 lbs and are widely known for alertness, loyalty and intelligence. You can see these dogs guarding almost everywhere. It usually attacks when its master’s family faces some sort of danger. It also takes over when it is aroused.

Aisha Buhari’s Embarrassing Grammatical Infelicities at USIP- By Prof Farouk Kperogi.

Aisha Buhari’s Embarrassing Grammatical Infelicities at USIP, By Professor Farouk Kperogi

I am aware that this article won’t endear me to several of my thin-skinned Buhari/APC partisan readers who, interestingly, wildly acclaimed my past articles that pilloried former First Lady Patience Jonathan’s sidesplitting grammatical transgressions.  But I am never one to shy away from embarking on what I’m convinced is a just and fair undertaking because of a fear of backlash from mawkish, hypersensitive crybabies.

In any case, in my Saturday column—and in my Facebook status updates—I have defended Wife of the President Aisha Buhari against Gov. Ayo Fayose’s brash and reckless calumny against her. In an ironic twist, it was her bid to give the lie to Fayose’s charge that she couldn’t visit the US without being arrested that caused her to come here and give a speech at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) that is the subject of this column.

Mrs. Aisha Buhari’s speech at the United States Institute of Peace didn’t rise to the level of former First Lady Patience Jonathan’s legendary contortion of English grammar, but it was inexcusably egregious nonetheless, not least because it was supposed to be the product of preparation and forethought.

In general, the speech was riotously incoherent, lacked lexical and semantic discipline, and was peppered with avoidably ugly and elementary grammatical infractions.  Mrs. Buhari vacillated between reading from a prepared script and speaking off the cuff.  But the prepared speech and Mrs. Buhari’s extemporizations were indistinguishable: both were tortured, infantile, error-ridden, and cringe-worthy.  Winston Churchill’s famous putdown of his opponent—”He spoke without a note and almost without a point.”—seems to apply to the Wife of the President. (Watch the video below.)

Below are highlights of the infelicities that stood out like a sore thump during Mrs. Buhari’s 10-minute speech at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, DC:

1. Subject-verb agreement. Like Patience Jonathan—and former President Goodluck Jonathan—Aisha Buhari doesn’t seem to have any respect for subject-verb concord rules in English grammar. These howlers illustrate this: “I want to…thank the international community for giving us a solutions…,” “those that needsto be…,” “the school have been running…,” “adult ones that needs the opportunity.”

Most people know that a singular subject (such as “the school”) agrees with a singular verb (such as “has”) and a plural subject (such as “those,” “adult ones”) agrees with a plural verb (such as “need” instead of “needs.”) That means the Wife of the President should have said, “those that need to be,” “the school has been running,” “adult ones that need the opportunity.”

Of course, “a solutions” is a self-evident bloomer: you don’t pluralize a noun that is preceded by the indefinite article “a” because “a” signals nominal singularity. In other words, “a solutions” is both ungrammatical and illogical since it implies nominal plurality and singularity simultaneously. It is either “solutions” or “a solution.”

2. Redundant pronoun. Pronouns typically take the place of a noun and save us the torment of ungainly repetition. That’s why, in Standard English, pronouns don’t typically appear in the same sentence as the nouns they refer to. In her USIP speech, Mrs. Buhari said the following: “As you are all aware, Boko Haram issue, it is a global issue attached to terrorism, which need [sic] to be addressed globally.”

“Boko Haram issue” is the antecedent for the pronoun “it” in the sentence quoted above, which makes the pronoun superfluous since it appears in the same sentence as its antecedent. “Boko Haram is a global issue…” would convey the same meaning—and without the ungrammatical baggage. I admit, though, that redundant pronouns of the kind I identified in Mrs. Buhari’s speech occur in nonstandard native English dialects. But we are talking of an official speech in a formal context in a foreign, English-speaking country.

The sentence also violates the basic principle of pronoun-antecedent agreement. The principle says, “A pronoun usually refers to something earlier in the text (its antecedent) and must agree in number — singular/plural — with the thing to which it refers.” The phrase “which need” refers to “Boko Haram issue,” which is a singular subject that needs a singular verb, i.e., “needs.”

3. A curious resultant “done.” During her speech, Mrs. Buhari praised the University of Maiduguri for remaining open even in the worst moments of Boko Haram insurgency. “The university really done us proud,” she said. This is a misuse of the past participle “done” that linguists call the “resultant done.” It is curious because it is typical of the informal, nonstandard (and sometimes illiterate) speech of the American south.

In Standard English, the sentence would be reworded as, “The university has done us proud.” If we want to be faithful to Mrs. Buhari’s lexical and structural choice, we would rephrase it as, “The university really did us proud.”

4. Buhari’s government as a “recent regime.”Mrs. Buhari puzzlingly referred to her husband’s administration as “the recent regime.”  Here is the context: After thanking the “international community” for its military and financial support that led to the defeat of Boko Haram, in a rather awkward transition, the Wife of the President said, “In which the recent regime has done so far considering what we inherited—the level of insecurity in the country—we can now say that we successfully fought the Boko Haram insurgency.”

Apart from the weak, messy transition, that’s some really dizzyingly incoherent verbal blizzard! But the bigger issue is that she called the current administration “a recent regime.” There are two problems with that. First, the word “recent,” especially when it is applied to administrations, implies an immediate past, that is, that which precedes the present. It is both ungrammatical and illogical to speak of an incumbent administration as “recent.”

Second, there is always a tone of disapproval when a government is referred to as a “regime.” That is why the word is often reserved for military and other totalitarian governments. Even the Associated Press Stylebook defines “regime” as “the period in which a person or system was in power, often with a negative connotation. For example, Saddam Hussein’s regime, the Nazi regime.” I hope Mrs. Buhari doesn’t consider her husband as the honcho of a regime.

5. “Academicians.”  Mrs. Buhari called university lecturers in the audience “academicians.” Well, it’s OK to refer to university teachers as “academicians” in Nigeria and in other non-native English-speaking countries, but it doesn’t hurt to learn the proper form when you address native speakers in their own territory. Educated native English speakers call university teachers “academics,” not “academicians.”

Here is an abridged version of what I wrote on this in my December 6, 2015 column titled, “Academician” Or “Academic”? Q and A on Nigerian English Errors and Usage”: [A]n ‘academic’ is someone who teaches or conducts research in a higher educational institution, typically in a university. In British and Nigerian English, academics are also called ‘lecturers.’ In American English, they are called ‘professors.’

“An ‘academician,’ on the other hand, is a person who works with or is honored with membership into an academy, that is, an institution devoted to the study and advancement of a specialized area of learning such as the arts, sciences, literature, medicine, music, engineering, etc. Examples of academies are the Nigerian Academy of Letters, the Royal Academy of Arts, the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, etc.

“Not all academics are academicians and not all academicians are academics. In other words, you can teach in a university, polytechnic, college of education, etc. and never be made a member of an academy, and you can become a member of an academy without ever being a teacher or a researcher at a higher educational institution. Note that while most academicians are also academics, most academics are never academicians.

“A little note on pragmatics is in order here. Although many dictionaries have entries that say ‘academician’ and ‘academic’ can be synonymous, this isn’t really the case in actual usage, at least among educated native English speakers. It is considered illiterate usage in British and American English to call higher education teachers and researchers ‘academicians’; they are properly called ‘academics.’ Many dictionaries merely capture the entire range of a word’s usage without discriminating socially prestigious usage from uneducated or archaic usage.”

Concluding Thoughts

Mrs. Buhari obviously needs a lot more help than she is aware of and is getting. She is grossly ill-served by her speech writer, who also probably manages her social media accounts. The recent grammatical bloopers from her Facebook page (which were quickly cleaned up after she became the object of ridicule on social media) could be an indication that her speech writer is also her social media manager.

Given how much she is thrusting herself into the public eye, her poor grasp of English grammar will soon become grist to the humor mills—like it was for Patience Jonathan. She can avoid this by doing the following: (1) recede to her quiet, unobtrusive self, (2) bone up on basic English grammar, (3) surround herself with people who give a thought to grammatical correctness and completeness, or (4) speak in Fulfulde or Hausa and get an English translator.

All Eyes On American Voter -By John Danfulani

ALL EYES ON AMERICAN VOTER

                              By

                   John Danfulani,Ph.D
                 Johndanfulani@gmail.com
                 +2347082622012

The Republican National Convention (RNC) in Cleveland and Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia wrapped-up a marathon intra-party presidential candidate selection process of the U.S.two major political parties. After observing most of their convention rituals the RNC selected a TV celebrity star and real estate mogul Mr.Donald J. Trump. And the DNC made the former First Lady, a former U.S. Senator and Secretary of State Madam Hillary Rodham Clinton. Madam Secretary is her party's establishment candidate
while Mr.Trump is an outsider that outflanked a horde of establishment candidates during the  GOP primaries.

While canvassing for support of  their party faithfuls, the duo unveiled their economic, immigration, security and foreign policy programmes. Madam Secretary campaigned within the ideological boundaries of her party. Mr. Trump crossed some long standing ideological borderlines of the GOP. Their approaches to core party philosophy reflected on internal party unity or disharmony before, during, and after their conventions. Mr. Trump's  philosophical rebellion made  party juggernauts and former Presidents steer clear the Cleveland convention. As a party with longstanding conservative principles,self acclaimed ideological puritans and constitutionalists, most heavyweights believed attending Cleveland Convention is tantamount to committing ideological suicide. It was so bad at the GOP's front that the convention host state Governor and  Mr.Trump's former rival John Kasich didn't show face. On the other hand, Madam Secretary got total support from her party's heavyweights, President Barak Obama and the First Lady, Vice President Joe Biden, former democratic presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, and her archrival during the primaries and democratic populists Senator Bernie Sanders.

With Cleveland and Pennsylvania over Mrs Clinton and Mr.Trump are criss crossing the length and breadth of the U.S. to market their visions and missions to Americans, irrespective of their party affiliations. Before the November 8th Presidential poll, Mrs Clinton and Mr. Trump, as well as their running mates; will engage in Presidential and Vice Presidential debates.They will answer questions on economy, security, and Foreign Policy - either from the anchors of the debate or audiences within the debating arena. These face-offs are guided by ground  rules agreed by the participating parties and the National Council On Presidential Debates.

American presidential elections do attract global attention because of the dominant  influence of the country in the world . Its 2016 poll have a new high record of global attention because of the conduct and pronouncements of leading participants  before their conventions. In their attempts to proffer solutions to the economy, illegal immigration, global and homegrown terrorism, refugee crisis, inter-racial relationship, law and order; some of them (now one of them) pledged a walked-away from some America's bilateral and multilateral commitments with other State Actors and international governmental and nongovernmental organizations. These intentions, by one of the candidate, have triggered reactions from statesmen of other nations like Vicente Fox of Mexico and the head of Catholic Church Pope Benedict XVI. The French President Francois  Hallande added his voice on the ongoing campaigns by saying the GOP candidate's comment sometimes makes him feels retching . A direct interference in the U.S.politics that has no reference point in recent memory.

To ameliorate the menace of illegal immigrants crossing their porous border with Mexico, the GOP candidate proposed building of a Great Wall on the border.And Mexico, not the U.S.who raised the structure will pick the bills. Mr. Trump's solution to ISIS and other terror related palavers is complete banning of all Muslims from entering the country. Breaking trade deals like NAFTAC and bilateral economic relations with countries like China is one of his economic strategy of creating jobs at home and increasing the wealth of his nation. Mr. Trump also threatened to abandon the U.S.obligation to NATO and treaty of mutual and security cooperation with it Second World War foe Japan. His main rival did not make a statement showing any unwillingness to continue to honour any bilateral and multilateral commitments with  states and non state actors at the international level. She proposed some very opposite solutions and strategies with her GOP rival.

When Mr. Trump started advancing his unprecedented proposals to GOP members during their party primaries, the world assumed his words will boomerang and collapse his mission, prematurely. The GOP establishment and ideologues also thought he was a joker stretching his comedy too far. Heck,international community, independent Americans, and GOP establishment misjudged and underrated the resonating gravity of Mr. Trump’s maverick tantrums with GOP caucus goers and primaries participants. When GOP establishment resolved to stop the Real Estate Developer turned politician to save their party from an ideological flip flopper and calamitous invader, their action was; too little, too late.

American voter has two diametrically opposed options starring him in the eye. His 8th November 2016 decision has repercussions that transcends his territorial boundaries.His decision is capable of shattering the internal political system, economic deals, strategic alliances, and resolutions of conventions and protocols that have since become acceptable ethics in the modern world.

The pertinent questions here are:

(a) Is American voter aware of the enormity of the global responsibility on the shoulder of his country?

(b) Is American voter aware that his country is founded on the basic principles of rights and liberty of mankind. And his constitution encourages propagation those ideals in all parts of the globe?

(c) Is American voter in the know of the global security and economic implications of his country's reneging from its bilateral and multilateral commitments?

In contemporary world history, when all hope seems lost ,America always rising to the occasion. America has led the world in spreading the messages of justice, freedom, and liberty. America taught the world the lesson of freedom and liberty by leading the war against slavery and colonial subjugation across the world. America joined forces of good in the First and Second World Wars and defeated axis of evil that set the world in turmoil. The world have great faith in America's democracy and institutions.And sincerely hope that American voter will make an informed decision that will address his internal socio-economic challenges without shying away from their global responsibilities that have been the stabilizing force of the world systems.

Mbaka attacks Buhari, says Nigerians may not vote him in 2019.

Enugu Catholic priest, and Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu State, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerians will not vote for him in 2019 if he does not address the high level of hunger and suffering in the country.
Mbaka has been one of Buhari’s most vocal supporters since he asked Nigerians to reject the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2015 presidential pol and predicted Buhari’s victory.
But, in a surprising turn of events, Mbaka attacked Buhari in a recent message, details of which were obtained by journalists on Tuesday night.
In the message, Mbaka noted that there was too much suffering in the country, and faulted the President for not appointing the right people.
He also accused the President of listening to the wrong advice.
The message partly read, “The issue is that Mbaka is speaking as the Spirit leads him – there is hunger everywhere. My job is to tell leaders the truth, the landlords are crying, the tenants are lamenting, sellers are crying, buyers are lamenting – there is hunger on the streets.
“I can’t keep quiet when things are going wrong.
“I am telling the President to look around him and know those who are advising him rightly and those who are telling him that there is no trouble.
“The President should know that there is trouble – if things continue like this, in the next election, nobody will vote for him.
“Whether they like it or not, I am speaking the raw truth.
“If the President should have somebody like me and he cannot be talking with me, then there is a problem.
“There is a problem somewhere; somebody who can advise you without asking for anything and he is representing the poor masses in the country and he won’t tell you lies.
“He will praise you when you are doing well and when you are not doing well, he will look at you in the face and tell you.”
Continuing, he said, “I don’t need the President; I need God, I need the Holy Spirit, I need Jesus; there is suffering everywhere, people are suffering.
“To feed is now a problem, and an hungry man is an angry man.
“Hunger and anger will lead to danger.
“So, let him know whether he can do away with some advisers around him and bring in the people who are experts in economic revamp.
“There are people who are experts in that; let them begin to empower people, people are not empowered, they are still walking around in vicious circles, planning and planning and planning.”
Mbaka said there were no spaces left in mortuaries across the country.
“Hunger is everywhere, many neighbours don’t eat again, many are being attacked by hunger, hunger is becoming a normal thing and there are people responsible for this.
“Mortuary and ambulance business is now thriving because many cannot afford drugs.
“In today’s Nigeria, many are becoming hawkers, who will buy from you, with what?
“Everyday, more pipelines are being blown, the Avengers are at work and up till now, there is no solution.
“You know when certain things begin to happen, you begin to ask some questions, somebody like me will begin to ask – when will this end?
“If it continues in the next three months, there will be no money to pay salaries – the vicious effect is disastrous and when salaries cannot be paid, teachers will come home, students will stop going to school, there will be more kidnappings, more hooliganism, more armed robbery, more prostitution, immorality will be on the increase.”
He urged Buhari to sit up and stop going after the leadership of the Senate.
Mbaka equally bemoaned the continuous depreciation in the value of the naira.
“So, the President should sit up – there is a red light blinking on the country.
“The issue of Saraki and Ekweremadu, nobody wants to listen to such stories any more, whether Saraki is the President of the Senate or Ekweremadu is not this or that, the countrymen are tired of such stories.
“We need economic experts, gurus, sages that are sincere, who can come in and think about our economic revamp and judicial reformation.”

Former appropriation committee chairman submits petition against Dogara to EFCC, ICPC, , others.

A former Chairman, Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has submitted a petition against the Speaker of the House of Representatives and some principal officers of the House to anti-graft agencies in the country.
Jibrin, who accused Dogara of corruption and budget padding – a claim the speaker denied, said it was now up to the anti-graft agencies to do their job.
He disclosed this via his official Twitter account.
“What a day! Submitted petition against Speaker Dogara and twelve others. Now it’s over to the security and anti corruption agencies,” Jibrin tweeted.

Federal government scraps HND programmes.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved a comprehensive reform of Nigeria's tertiary education system, scrapping the award of the Higher National Diploma (HND) by the nation's polytechnics.
In effect, the award of the HND will be limited to only the students currently admitted for the programmes.
Also, all the programmes currently being run by the polytechnics, which are not technology-based, and which are about 70 per cent,
will be scrapped.
Under the new rule, the polytechnics will now become campuses of the proximate universities with the Vice Chancellors of those
universities appointing provosts for the polytechnics, subject to the ratification of the Universities Councils.
The polytechnics will now be limited to award of the National Diploma (ND) while those desirous of further education will be awarded
the Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) by the proximate university.
To kick-start the new policy, the nation's two most prominent polytechnics - Yaba College of Technology and Kaduna Polytechnic -
will henceforth be known as City University of Technology, Yaba and City University of Technology, Kaduna.
And to give legal teeth to these approvals, the FEC approved the submission of two Executive bills to the National Assembly for enactment into law.
With education being on the concurrent list, the states may wish to consolidate their tertiary institutions. But if they do not wish to follow the federal example, their programmes will continue to be regulated by the relevant agencies of the Federal Ministry of Education.
The first bill will concretise the setting up of the two city universities while the second will approve the preparation and consolidation
of all federal polytechnics and colleges of education as campuses of proximate universities.
The Ministry of Justice will do the preparation and submission of the two bills to the National Assembly.
Minister of Education, Mall. Adamu, told journalists after the weekly meeting of the council that under the reform measures, her ministry would, however, continue to licence private polytechnics and colleges of education for the award of qualification at ND and National Certificate in Education (NCE) levels.
She said: "There will be no more award of HND.
After we have exhausted the current students under the programme, there will be no more award of HND. This means that there will be no fresh admission for HND programmes. And in addition, any programme that is not technical will be out of the polytechnics. About 70 per cent of polytechnic graduates are in the non-technical courses. It is going to be a rigorous implementation programme."
A ministerial committee to ensure the smooth implementation of all that is required for the take-off of the reform initiatives is to begin work immediately.
Mall. Adamu said: "The HND certificate will remain a legal tender in Nigeria and holders of such certificate will continue to be recognised as the equivalent of first degree holders without discriminatory remunerations and limit to progression in the work place.
The NCE certificate will be retained as the minimum teaching qualification at the basic level of education. Any higher qualifications by
these private or state-owned polytechnics will be only affiliation with a university. So, HND is no longer in existence, but existing HND will be respected and considered legal tender."
The council also approved the Federal Government's formal take-over of the Waziri Umaru Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi, which will be the College of Technology campus of the Othman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, as well as the Hussein Adamu Polytechnic, Kazaure,
Bauchi, which will be a College of Technology of the proximate university in the state.
Also, the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, Imo State, has been taken over as a campus of the Federal University of
Technology, Owerri.
A state that had never had any federal institution, like Bayelsa, is to have a College of Technology as a campus of the College of Technology of the University of Port Harcourt.
Also, Bali, in Taraba State, is to have a college of technology as a campus of the proximate university.

Why Bank Manager committed suicide - FCMB

First City Monument Bank Plc says its official, Olisa Nwakoby, who committed suicide on Friday in front of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Lekki, Lagos State, had personal challenges and became frustrated.
The bank, however, noted that neither the management nor colleagues of the deceased were aware of the challenges, adding that it was working with Nwakoby’s family and the police to unravel the nature of the challenges.
Forty-four-year-old Nwakoby, said to be the manager of the bank’s branch in Lekki, shot himself in the head over a bad debt estimated at N350m on Friday.
The deceased was said to have given out the sum as loan to a bank customer, who allegedly failed to service the loan.
He was reportedly under pressure from the bank’s management to repay the loan and became frustrated as he could not meet the demand.
But the Acting Group Head, Communications and Brand Management of the FCMB, Lola Egboh, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone on Sunday, said the suicide had nothing to do with the bank, adding that she did not have the knowledge of any loan.
Egboh, who described Nwakoby’s death as shocking, said the bank would have come to his aid if it was aware that he had emotional challenges.
She said, “It is rather unfortunate that the incident happened. Mr. Nwakoby was a member of staff of the FCMB. We are not aware that he was facing personal challenges, which led to the incident. As a bank that caters to the well-being of its workers, we have counsellors who could have helped him. This came as a surprise to us as it was to the public. It is such a trying time for the family; we have been in touch with them. There is a lot of speculations going on at the moment, a lot of them unfounded.
“We are working closely with security operatives and his family to understand what could have led to the personal challenges. I am not aware of any loan. I can’t comment on speculations.”
Efforts to speak with the family proved abortive as of press time. But a source close to the family said, “They were too distraught to speak to the press now.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said a pistol and live cartridges were recovered from the scene, adding that Nwakoby corpse had been deposited at the Lagos Island Hospital’s morgue.
She said, “At about 9.45am on Friday, one Olisa (Nwakoby) allegedly shot himself in the head with a pistol in front of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church on Northern Foresore Estate, Lekki.
“A team of policemen attached to the Ilasan division visited, examined and photographed the scene. The exhibit, a silver America pistol with five rounds of unexpended ammunition, was recovered to the station while the corpse was removed and deposited at a morgue for autopsy. Investigation is ongoing.”


Credit : The Punch.