Fans Violence: Nigeria’s league mgt slams fines on Heartland FC

The League Management Company (LMC), has fined Heartland a total of N4,750,000 and ordered that they will play their next three home games behind closed doors after the revenge attack on regional rivals FC IfeanyiUbah, last weekend. 

The LMC also announced they face a suspended points deduction for the crowd incidence that trailed their Week 28 fixture against FC IfeanyiUbah at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri. 

One, Iyke Jacob, identified as the Club’s Supporters CLUB Chairman was also banned from all Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matches for the rest of the 2015/16 season by the League Management Company (LMC). 

An FC Ifeanyi Ubah player attacked by the irate Heartland FC fans The LMC also recommended to the the Imo State Football Association (ISFA) and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to reconsider the role of the ISFA Security Committee Chairman, Mr. Teddy Isiadinso who also serves as a Match Commissioner for the NFF. The recommendation was based on the Match Commissioner’s report which cited Isiadinso as pledging to accept responsibility for any breach of the peace before, during and after the match. 

The Owerri club were slammed six-count violations of the NPFL Framework and Rules by the LMC after reviewing reports and video evidence provided by the match commissioner and delegates to the match. Heartland were fined of N750,000.00 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) for failing to ensure restriction of access to restricted areas by unauthorized persons in the course of the match, in breach of Rule B13.52. 

The second count read, “You are in breach of Rule B13.52 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League, in that on Saturday, 23rd July 2016, after your Match Day 28 fixture: Heartland FC vs. FC Ifeanyiubah, you failed to ensure adequate security and crowd control particularly in the manner in which match officials and members of the visiting team were exposed to aggression and crowd violence perpetrated by your supporters”. 

For this breach, the club were fined another N750, 000. On the third count of the supporters encroachment on to the field of play and throwing objects towards the field of play immediately after the match in breach of Rule B13.18, 

Heartland were fined of N1,000,000.00 On the fourth count, the LMC charged Heartland for breach of Rule B6.23 of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL stating, “that on Saturday, 23rd July 2016, in the course of your Match Day 28 fixture: 

Heartland FC vs. FC Ifeanyiubah, your supporters hindered the complete video-coverage of the match, particularly the post-match scenes”. 

The penalty for this offence read, “a fine of N1,000,000.00 and a two-point deduction for hindering the complete video-coverage of the match, in breach of Rule B6.23, provided that the execution of the two-point deduction shall be suspended subject to a probationary period of the remainder of the season”. Heartland’s fifth charge  read, 

“You are in breach of Rule C1, punishable by virtue of Rule B15.16, of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League, in that on Saturday, 23rd July 2016, immediately after your Match Day 28 fixture: 

Heartland FC vs. FC Ifeanyiubah, some of your supporters assaulted match officials by hitting them and throwing objects (including plastic chairs, tables, stones and cans) at them”. 

Having being found culpable, the sanction by the LMC includes a fine of N1, 250, 000 being compensation to the four match officials and the match commissioner at N250, 000 for each of them. 

Heartland Supporters were also found to have attacked the visiting team players, officials and supporters leading to damage to the visiting team bus whose windows were shattered in breach of Rule C1. Consequently, the club has been ordered to play their next three home matches behind closed doors beginning with the August 7 fixture against Nasarawa United for breach of Rule B13.21. 

A pre-condition for opening the stadium to spectators and supporters again is that, “Heartland must take steps which shall include proper demarcation of restricted areas and workshops for stewards and supporters on code of conduct”. 

The LMC further ruled that “in view of the gravity of the incident and the complicity of the club and their officials, pursuant to Rule C18.6, Heartland FC shall also forfeit the one (1) point it previously earned in the match, provided that the execution of the one-point deduction shall be suspended subject to a probationary period of the remainder of the season; Lastly, the club were notified that “pursuant to Rule B13.23, 

Heartland shall pay for the costs of damages to FCIfeanyiubah bus and for injuries sustained by their players and officials”. Heartland must respond in writing accepting the sanctions or elect to be heard by a Commission not later than Friday, July 29. But should it fail to comply with this requirement within the time limit which constitutes a breach of the League Rules, it will be liable to be dealt with under the provisions of Section C. 

Furthermore, the LMC reminded the club that “in accordance with Rule E1, where an appeal or election to be dealt with by a Commission fails or is found to have been frivolous, you may be liable to such additional sanction as may be deemed fit in the circumstances”.

Vanguard

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DSS arrest 10 suspected kidnappers in army camouflage uniforms in Kogi

The Department of State Services (DSS), Kogi Command, says it has arrested 10 suspected kidnappers in the last six weeks where it recovered items which include three pairs of army camouflage uniforms in its bid to eliminate kidnapping in the state. Mr Joseph Okpo, the State Director of the command, disclosed this in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

Okpo said that four of the suspected kidnappers/robbers were arrested at Koton-Karfe along the Abuja-Lokoja highway, dressed in military combat uniforms. He gave the names of the suspects as Haruna Saleh (aka Auta), who is the ring leader, Kabiru Shaibu, Abdulmuminu Adamu and Tukur Shuiabu.

The DSS boss, however, did not disclose the names of the other six suspects who he said were arrested in different locations in the state. He said that an on-the-spot search conducted on the suspects and their vehicle showed that they were in possession of a locally made pistol and long barrel gun. 

Other items recovered include, three pairs of army camouflage uniforms; seven pump action cartridges; a cutlass; 14 cell phones; cash and one green-coloured Gulf3 vehicle with registration number KWL 946 FB. Okpo said that during investigation, the gang availed information to the existence of three unrecovered AK 47 and other weapons kept in a yet-to-be identified location.

“Intelligence further revealed that the group has links with other kidnap syndicates operating in FCT, Kaduna, Katsina and Niger States. “ The gang admitted carrying out six different robbery/kidnap operations along the Minna-Kontagora road, Niger State; Malumfashi, Mararaba-Jos and Jaji-Zaria roads in Kaduna State,’’ he said. 

He said that some of the alleged perpetrators of crime, especially robbery and kidnapping in the state included outsiders who used the state to further their nefarious acts. 

According to him, they do so due to the geographical/topographical peculiarities of the state. 

He said that the command would continue to collaborate with other security agencies and stakeholders to reduce crime and criminality to the barest minimum in the state and its environs. 

He warned all criminal elements to leave the state.The DSS boss stressed that the Service and other security agencies had taken advantage of the renewed zeal of the state government’s support in ensuring law and order in the area.

Vanguard

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Wike explains why he made peace with Amaechi

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State said on Wednesday he attended the peace meeting organised by the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, because of his commitment to peace and development of the state.

The IGP had on Tuesday in Abuja organised a peace meeting between Wike and the former governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.

Amaechi is the current Minister of Transportation.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had announced the postponement of the legislative rerun in the state earlier slated for Saturday following the burning of its office in Khana LGA.

Wike told PDP supporters at the Rivers West Senatorial District rally in Degema LGA that his administration would implement the resolutions of the peace meeting.

Wike said the people must be allowed to elect representatives of their choice into the State and National Assemblies.

“I was at the peace meeting because we love peace and want the state to move forward. I signed an undertaking on your behalf that we are prepared for INEC credible, free and fair elections.

“It is not in our position to have crisis because we are the ones losing,” the governor added

He pledged that the state government would partner with security agencies to ensure that peaceful elections were held in the state, adding that anybody who wanted the state to be set ablaze would be disappointed.

Wike expressed regret that some politicians were celebrating that the elections were postponed.

He pointed out that his commitment that Rivers State should have representatives at the National Assembly was because the people of the state had been shut out on the deliberation of the Petroleum Industry Bill and other legislation.

The governor, however, called on the PDP members to remain vigilant while expecting the rerun elections.

According to him, Nigerians know, the world knows that Rivers State is the PDP. So shall it be forever.

He pledged to ensure that development would spread across all local government areas of the state, adding that with the successes achieved in just one year, the remaining three years would witness more development.

Earlier, Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, said the massive turnout at the rally was an indication that the people would always vote the PDP candidates.

The peace meeting was brokered by the Police and the Department of State Services for the peaceful conduct of the rerun elections in Rivers State.

Punch

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APC govs meet Buhari, resolve to seek Ekweremadu’s removal

State governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have resolved to do all within their powers to ensure that Senator Ike Ekweremadu is removed as the Deputy President of the Senate, The PUNCH has learnt.

Our correspondent learnt that this was the fallout of the two-hour meeting the governors had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

The Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, had initially told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that the governors had decided to intervene in the crisis in the National Assembly, without giving details of the intervention 

But a source at the meeting told one of our correspondents that the consensus at the meeting was that it was an aberration for Ekweremadu, who is a Senator from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, to continue in office as Deputy President of the Senate. 

The source stated, “The governors sympathised with the President (Buhari) for working with a National Assembly that is largely seen as unfriendly.

“Particularly, they observed that in the absence of the President of the Senate, the next person is his deputy. They therefore agreed that it was an anomalous situation for a PDP person to continue as the Deputy President of the Senate.

“They sought and got the President’s permission to intervene in the matter in their own way.

“They argued that the truth of the matter is that rarely is there any Senator that emerged without the backing of their governors, hence the governors have some levels of influence on the federal lawmakers.”

Okorocha had, on Monday, said Ekweremadu should get ready to vacate his seat as the Deputy Senate President.

Okorocha had added that a candidate of the APC, Benjamin Uwajumogu, who contested in the last Saturday’s rerun senatorial election in Imo State, would displace Ekweremadu as soon as he joined the Senate.

The governor had said, “The position of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President is at the moment under heavy threat because in no distant time, the APC senator-in-waiting from Imo State, Benjamin Uwajumogu, will take over the seat on the grounds that it is an aberration that a PDP senator from the South-East is deputy to an APC Senate President because, before now, APC could not produce a Senator from the South-East zone.”

Our correspondent further learnt that Buhari at the meeting approved the release of N2bn each to all APC states.

Another source, who attended the meeting, said the decision was based on what happened during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The source claimed that Jonathan had, before leaving office, released N2bn each to the PDP states at the time from the Ecological Fund.

He was alleged to have exempted APC states and PDP states, whose governors were at loggerheads with him, from the gesture.

“That issue was brought to the President’s attention and he has ordered the release of N2bn each to the APC states that did not benefit during Jonathan’s administration,” the source said.

To further cushion the effects of the downturn in economy on the states, Buhari was also said to have, during the meeting, approved that 50 per cent of money spent by states on federal roads be released to them.

Okorocha had, while briefing State House correspondents after the governors’ meeting with Buhari, said the state governors from the ruling party were concerned about the incessant happenings in the National Assembly and had resolved to look into the matter.

The two chambers of the National Assembly have continued to witness crisis since inception following the emergence of leaders, who were not the preferred candidates of the ruling party, the APC.

Crisis is currently brewing in the House of Representatives following an allegation by a former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, who accused the leadership of the House of padding the 2016 budget to the tune of N40bn.

Okorocha added, “We have come to reassure Mr. President that the APC governors are solidly behind him in his fight against corruption; his fight against insurgents and all his laudable projects.

“We are concerned about the incessant happenings in the National Assembly and we have taken it upon ourselves to look into the matter; that is the crisis in the National Assembly.

“We are going to look into the matter because we need a strong and vibrant National Assembly to make things move fast in the country.”

Okorocha defended the recent decision of the Nigeria Governors Forum for six state governors to travel to Germany for what they called “vocational training.”

“There is nothing like jamboree trip. We are going to Germany because we cannot do everything here without exchanging ideas. Everything you do in your home and your business, you share ideas.

“So, we want to see how they have done what they have done to succeed. It is the aspiration of Nigeria to be like other countries of the world,” he said.

When asked if the trip would be funded by states, some of who owed workers’ salaries, Okorocha responded, “So, who will fund it, you!?”

Despite the continued hardship in the states, the governor stated that a lot of improvement had been recorded in some states.

He noted that what the states were getting from the Federation Account was close to what they were collecting when crude oil was selling above $100 per barrel.

Other governors, who attended the meeting, included those of Kaduna, Kwara, Zamfara, Benue, Kano, Sokoto, Plateau, Niger, Ogun, Borno, Osun, Edo, Kogi, Adamawa, Nasarawa and Kebbi.

The meeting was also attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, among others.

Ekeweremadu, however, declined to speak on the plans being hatched by the APC governors to remove him as the Deputy Senate President.

One of his aides, who was contacted by one of our correspondents on Tuesday night, said he had no comments until he was well informed on the matter.

Punch 

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How Suspected Muslim Fanatics Hacked Female Redeemed Church Preacher To Death In Abuja

husband with 7 children of the deceased 

The husband of a female preacher hacked to the death in Abuja has shed more light into the gruesome murder of the 42 year-old mother of seven, Mrs. Eunice Elisha, the wife of a Redeemed Pastor who was murdered in cold blood in the early hour of Saturday July 9th by suspected Muslim fanatics while evangelizing around Gbazango and Pipeline area of Kubwa, a satellite town in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Eunice, who was a deaconess at the Divine Touch Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Old NEPA Road, Phase 4, Kubwa, was reportedly beheaded and stabbed in the stomach and leg by her killers, but a statement by the police has already debunked that claim.

It was learnt that her killers left her in the pool of her blood and carefully put her "severed head on her Bible, with megaphone and cell phone beside her dead body" but the Commissioner of Police in a statement said her body was intact.

Her dead body was discovered by the residents who alerted the police and evacuated her to the police station where her husband went to identify her. The husband of the deceased, Pastor Olawale Elisha while narrating the blow-by-blow account of the incident to journalists when the wife of Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo paid a condolence visit, said that his wife had gone out to preach in the neighbourhood at about 5 am only for him to hear the report of her murder.

According to him, "She goes out every morning for "Morning Cry" (Evangelism), which means when she wakes up in the morning, she takes her megaphone and preaches around the neighborhood.

"On Saturday she went out the same time, around 6:30 am, two of my children used to go out to play football at a field close to the house, but my children came back and told me that they heard some footballers saying that a woman preaching this morning was killed, and her megaphone was still there, that they cut her head and her legs."

"I told my children that it couldn't be their mother, but they insisted we should go there and check, I put on my clothes and went there when we got there, we didn't see anybody, they had even covered her blood with sand."

"However, a policeman confirmed to me that such incident happened, and the remains of the woman had been taken to Phase 4 Police Station, Kubwa.

"I rushed to my house and drove to the police station with two of my children, and at the entrance of the station I saw a pickup van coming out, inside it I saw the lifeless body of my wife at the back of the pickup Van, at this point, my children and I burst into tears."

Pastor Olawale expressed shock over the death of his wife and what might have been the reason for her murder. He said that his wife had no quarrel with anyone that could have warranted her murder, describing her as a martyr.

He recalled a day his wife told him that there is a mosque at the back of their house where the head of the mosque made a remark that her preaching wasn't saying the truth about God. That he cautioned to be very careful.

He also narrated another incident of a Muslim cleric who came to their house and asked his wife to give him food that he had an Islamic school and needed food, but my wife told him that she does not have any food at home, and the Mallam left.

The story was also corroborated by the second son of the deceased, John James, who said that his mother asked him to tell the strange Mallam that they don't have food.

James revealed further that few days after the Mallam came to their house,  his mother and himself took ill and almost died. He said that her mother kept emphasising that the strange Mallam caused their illness.

The wife of the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Folu Adeboye on Sunday also paid a condolence visit to the family of deceased.

During her visit Pastor Elisha said his wife was so committed to anything that is of God and that she was a "reckless giver to God’s work, she rarely missed any program in the church. We have seven children,” he stated.                          

Late Eunice was born on July 23, 1974; her husband stated they got married in July 2000.

The Divisional Police Officer, as well as the Divisional Crime Officer at Phase 4 Police Station, declined comment on the matter the duo referred journalists to the FCT command for any information as they claimed the case had been transferred to homicide department of the FCT Command.

According to a press release by the Commissioner of Police FCT Command, Alkali Baba Usman the police has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID)to lead an investigation into the murder case.    

Six (6) suspects arrested in connection with the gruesome murder of Mrs. Elisha are in Police custody and currently undergoing interrogation. He assured that the outcome of the investigation would be made public.

The CP commiserated with the family members of the deceased over the unfortunate incident and assured them and other residents of the area of the commitment and determination of the police command to fish out perpetrators of the heinous crime and bring them to justice.

He also seized the opportunity to enjoin residents and members of the general public to remain calm and cooperate with Police in the ongoing investigation.

The CP's statement dispelled the report in some sections of the media that the deceased’s head and leg was chopped off. 

"The Command wants to state that apart from marks of injury inflicted on some parts of her body, all parts of the deceased body are intact. The Police has taken custody of her remains for preservation and examination", the statement concluded.

As at the time of filing this story those scavengers living in shanties near the scene of the incident have fled as many of them were seeing carrying their belongings for fear of arrest by the police or reprisal attacks.

Saharareporters

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Funeral committee to document Keshi’s history

The Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung has charged the National Committee for the State Funeral of the fallen Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi to document the life history of the football legend, who died on June 8, as a reference for the younger generation.

The minister gave the charge when he inaugurated the committee on Friday in Abuja.

“This event is significant because apart from formally starting  the burial ceremonies, it also signals government’s commitment under President Muhammadu Buhari to honour its sporting heroes both living and dead,” Dalung stated.

“No sacrifice for this country will go unrewarded. When someone dies in this country, his history is forgotten. I don’t want this committee to allow this to happen. In writing the history of Keshi, it should be well-documented. The essence of this committee is to try to bring the complete life record of Keshi for people to study. It is not for us to change it. We want it written the way he was.

“We want the young ones to know Keshi as he was and study his life and times. There are people who will be inspired reading about what he did. His contributions as a player, captain and coach should be well-documented because they all have different contributions to help in the development of young people.”

Keshi’s elder brother and member of the committee Ambassador Joe Keshi thanked the Federal Government for constituting the committee for the burial of the late coach.

PUNCH

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Niger Delta Avengers blows up another Chevron pipeline, rebuffs FG’s dialogue move.

Delta Avengers today, said it would not negotiate with the Federal Government. 

The militant group, which blew up a crude oil pipeline belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, in the early hours today, tweeted: “This is to inform the general public that we are not negotiating with any Committee. 

If Federal Government is discussing with any group they’re doing that on their own” It said on its twitter handle: “At 1:00am today, the @NDAvengers blow up Well RMP 20 belonging to Chevron located 20 meters away from Dibi flow Station in Warri North local government area. 

” A source told Vanguard that the affected crude oil pipeline is between Opia and Dagbolo villages in Warri North. 

The attack is in spite of the declaration of a two-week ceasefire 48 hours earlier by the Federal Government to create a window for dialogue with militants. 

Confirming the attack, a security source said: “Yes, there was an attack this morning by militants on a Chevron facility.” “The pipeline had earlier been attacked by militants using the same modus operandi which is with the use of dynamite. 

“The attack was carried out at about 3am this morning,” he added. According to the staff of Chevron Nig. Ltd. who spoke on condition of anonymity, the company would draft a team of technicians to the spot to assess the extent of damage. 

Acting President, Prof Professor Yemi Osinbajo; governors of oil producing states; service chiefs; Minister of Defence, Dan Ali; Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty Programme,

Gen. Paul Boroh, among others, met, Tuesday in Abuja and resolved on a stand-down of military action in the zone. Governors in attendance at the meeting included Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

The Service chiefs were Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

Vanguard

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Former Super Eagle coach Stephen Keshi is dead

Former Nigerian National team coach Stephen Keshi is dead, his death was confirmed this morning by his relatives and the Nigerian Football Federation.

According to the family relatives Mr Keshi complained of being  unwell yesterday being Tuesday, 7 june at night and was rushed to Faith Hospital at Benin government reservation area where he died at 3am in the morning.

The news was confirmed this morning on the Nigerian Football federation twitter handle.

Mr keshi lost his wife last year who battled with cancer before she died. He is survived by 4 children and his mother. Rest in peace our hero.

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PDP will appeal Kogi tribunal judgment.

The state election petition tribunal had on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by the former governor for lack of merit and legal incompetence.

Awoniyi told newsmen, shortly after the judgment of the tribunal, that consultation was already going on within the party’s legal team of lawyers on how to appeal the judgment.

“Our lawyers are already reviewing the judgment with a sound mind to appeal, we absolutely believe in the efficacy of our justice system.

“I appeal to our supporters to remain calm and not to aggravate their grievances, we have absolute confidence that justice will be done at the end of the day,’’ Awoniyi said.

The former deputy governor told newsmen that the desire to appeal the judgment was to deepen the country’s electoral laws.

The former governor was said to have gone for Umrah (Lesser Hajj).

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United States of America expresses concern over Niger Delta violence

The U.S. Embassy to Nigeria on Tuesday expressed concern over the reports of attacks and other incidents in the Niger Delta.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Embassy’s Public Affairs Unit in Abuja. It states that the U.S. mission to Nigeria is monitoring reports of attacks and other incidents in the Niger Delta and it shares the concerns of all Nigerians about these attacks.

“The U.S. remains supportive of efforts, including the promotion of dialogue, to address grievances in the Niger Delta,” it stated. It appealed to all parties to resolve their disputes through peaceful means and emphasize that human rights of all Nigerians must be protected.

It called on all Nigerians to persevere in efforts to achieve common goals. It stressed on the need to end violence and curb the activities of criminal elements. It called for the establishment of conditions and mechanisms for profound, positive, and lasting changes in the region.

According to statement, there is the need for the provision of economic opportunity and the needed services for residents of the Niger Delta.

Vanguard

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Niger-Delta Avengers: Osinbajo Meets governors, Service Chiefs

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is currently holding a meeting with governors from oil producing states and the nation’s service chiefs.

The meeting, which is taking place at the Conference Hall of the Vice President’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja is believed to be aimed at finding a lasting solution to the renewedmilitants activities in the Niger Delta region.

The meeting also has in attendance the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru, who joined the governors of Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo, Delta, Edo and Abia states.

The meeting was still ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

Dailypost

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Federal Government threatens to withdraw license of recalcitrant banks, telecom companies.

The Federal Government, Tuesday expressed shock that employers in the financial sector, especially banks were breaching its directives to stop further retrenchment, threatening to withdraw the operating license of any bank or telecommunication company that breached its directive to stop mass sack of workers.

Speaking to Nigerian journalists at the ongoing 105th session of the International Labour Congress, ILC, in Geneva, Switzerland, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, warned that government would sanction erring companies because government had a duty to protect jobs in this harsh economy.

Ngige was responding to questions on alleged breach of his earlier directive to banks and other financial institutions to stop further retrenchment of workers pending the stakeholders meeting scheduled for next month.

The minister, who spoke after his speech to the ILO National Assembly, said: “We will go a step further if they continue. We know what to do. After all, the banks have the licenses giving by the government.

We know what to do. They need to comply. They need to come to the negotiation table. We did (halted the spate of sack to hold a stakeholders meeting) that in the oil industry and we succeeded. Even if you are going to lay off, there is a way to declare redundancy, there is a process.

 Section 20 of the Labour Act says it. You must call the unions and discuss with them. You don’t just treat them as slaves in their own country and you want us to keep quiet.

 “We want them to maintain the statusquo. As far as I am the minister of labour, I will protect the interest of workers; same to the telecommunication companies, they are also talking about compiling lists without discussing with anybody.”

Vanguard

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MY MOTHER, MY WORLD.....

I wish to use this wonderful opportunity to thank you mom for bringing I (juu boy), my elder sister ifeoma (ify lyn) and my younger sister Joy(nne mum) like used to call us when you were still alive. It’s unfortunate you no more alive to watch your nne mum and ify babe turn into mothers with lovely kids and your favourite juu boy struggle to become a man.

You were a lovely and lively woman. I could remember how you carried on in taking care of I and my siblings after dad died. You would work and do other small business just to provide for us. I could still recall so many business you did then, i enjoyed going with you to Uhum monastery to go get eggs on weekends some eggs which I kept hoping they will hatch into chicks. It was so lovely and fun being with you.

Your husband died during Christmas period on his way back to the village to take some things for Christmas home and arrange things before he will come back and we all travel for Christmas. But he never returned. The next thing I noticed was you crying with lots of people in our house, I hated to see you cry. I came and asked you where dad was some days later you told me dad went to see God in heaven and he was going to come back someday.  

I was 5yrs then and too naive to understand death then. Even when I saw your head has been shaved I wasn’t happy about it, because I felt you weren’t looking that cute like you used to.  I asked why you had to cut your hair you told me it wasn’t looking fine again and that you wanted new hairs to grow out, with time I noticed you wore white cloth regularly but I was just too naive to sense you were mourning your husband.

As I grew I started to understand dad was gone and gone forever, but I didn’t feel it much because you provided almost everything we needed. You would take us to school and made sure we came back, I would come to your office sometimes after school because you worked at UNEC and I school at university of Nigeria primary school so I stay with you in the office till you close from work and we go home, while my sisters go home with our family friend that normally brought us home after school.

I made sure I stayed with you all the time because I was just so fund of you. But you later felt so sick that you couldn’t go to work for months, you couldn’t take us to school anymore. It was so serious that my granny moved in with us to take care of you. You stayed for months in the hospital, still it didn’t make you feel any better. Your illness became worst by day that we always did fasting and prays from 6am to 12non every Saturday. I prayed to God to heal you because if you die am going to die with you. You will at times get better and we will all be happy, few days you will get sick again. I was so so worried because I missed everything we did together, I missed how we all ate together most times from one bowel with love.

I saw the struggle in you to stay alive, the day you died I felt it in the morning so  I refused to go to school, you couldn’t talk that morning you only waved at me that I should go to school. I wasn’t myself at school that day, I wasn’t just concentrating at school all I wanted was for school to dismiss so I could come home and see you. I was in primary 4 then if I could recall. Finally the school dismissal bell rang; I came home with my siblings that day on a public transport. Getting to the gate of the compound, our neighbor was already at the gate to take us to her house. She told us that water poured everywhere in the house and that till after its cleaned up before we can enter the house, I doubted it at first but because of the trust we had where she was we believed her and went to her house.

While at her house people were just coming to peep at us, like we were celebrities on a VIP. Later in the evening she took us to our house and we were told mom was dead. I felt the world turn upside down, I couldn’t cry. Throughout the night I was just reflecting back to the memories we shared with you, it was hard for me to accept you were gone just like that. Without any word to your only son whom you were so so fund of.

Your absence took many things away from me, the way I socialize as a kid then and so many more I wouldn’t want to mention. The world thinks you’re gone but you still live on in my life and have made a space in my hearth where no one can ever replace. The world will someday celebrate you with me for bringing me to the world. You were, you are and will always be the best mom in the world.

Your Son

Chukwuemeka Ugwu (Juu Boy).

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Letter to Niger Delta Avengers.

My Letter To Niger Delta Avengers And Their Supporters.
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Before I start I have a few questions for you supporters.
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1. Where did the Niger Delta Struggle go to in the last 6 years'
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2. Why is there so much vandalization of oil facilities off late'
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3. Is it true you don't want Tompolo arrested
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4. Is the allegations leveled on Tompolo  true' If no, why has he not honoured the invitation and if yes, then the so called development money you are looking for was outrightly swallowed by him.
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Thank you, permit me to roll in my mind on the issue on ground.
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Before the emergence of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as president, the likes of
Ankio Briggs,
Asari Dokubo,
OpunaboNkot 'Tariah,
Ledum Metee,
Edwin Clark etc were always on Television telling Nigerians and the world how the South-South has been marginalized by the North and the West despiteher oil.
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By divine and metaphysical error, Goodluck Jonathan from the South-South, the presumed Nazareth of Nigeria became the president of Nigeria after President Umaru Yaradua's death in 2009.His emergence came as a joyous daybreak to end our age-long marginalization .
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There was a beacon light of hope for my region. Immediately, the Niger Delta struggle stumbled and died or gone Comatose.
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The Niger Delta activists mentioned above became Jonathan's spokespersons and abandoned the struggle. In 2011, Nigerians, Hausa,Yoruba, Igbo, Christians and Muslims voted massively for Jonathan. Thereafter, administrative thieves were appointed Ministers and head of federal institutions,- Convicted criminals received presidential pardon.- Militants were given contracts running into billions of Naira.- Impunity and corruption became the norm.
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All these and many more replaced the Niger Delta struggle for resource control. The need for constant electricity, portable water, good health facilities, good road network, massive manpower development etc went into oblivion. Even the recent Ogoni UNEP report that would have changed the live of an average Ogoni man was not implemented by their regional brother - president. Recall that NDDC was established by Olusegun Obasanjo a Yoruba man. Ministry of Niger and Amnesty Office was established by Late,President Umaru Musa Yaradua, a Northerner. Regrettably, this two federal agencies including NIMASA and NNPC became conduit pipes for Jonathan's Wife, Nyesom Wike, Deziani Allison, Godswill Apkabio and many cronies of Jonathan to Molest and siphon funds meant for the development of the Niger Delta region.
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Credibility died.
Equity died.
Competence died.
Due process died.
Conscience died.
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And the Niger Delta struggle died in their son's hand.
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Former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, knowing that the South - South may not have the opportunity of Producing the President of Nigeria again cried out and they called him a betrayer. They fought him with federal might and pushed him out of PDP, a replicate of what Joseph's brothers did when they sold him to the Ishmelites.
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But today Amaechi is laughing because they pushed him to stardom.
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Even the East/ West road that was awarded by former President Obasanjo and inherited by Yaradua and later Jonathan is still not completed.
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Bayelsa State today does not have an airport or a strong federal government institution that can generate employment opportunities for Bayelsa youths. Few months to the Presidential election, Ankio Briggs, Asari Dokubo, Edwin Clark, Nyesom Wike, Tompolo Government, Kingsley Kuku, etc awaken the Niger Delta struggle.
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What a shame, What an irony'
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For five years nobody heard them because they were swimming and sleeping on money. When Goodluck Ebele Jonathan eventually contested and lost the 2015 Presidential election to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the APC,the House of Assembly of all South-South states became a compensation point for militants ( Former and Active).Everything was done with the police and INEC to ensure that cronies of Jonathan and his wife were declared winners of the governorship and House of Assembly elections in the South-South especially Rivers State and Bayelsa.
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And if Jonathan had won the last election and ruled for another ten years, there won't be any hope for the actualization of the Niger Delta Struggle.
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Go to Oloibiri and other villages in Ijaw land and see the level of environmental degradation yet their son was president of Nigeria for six years.
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People are living a stone-age life over there, no land to build a house, no pipe burn water, no hospital, no school and no road yet some people will seat in Abuja and Portharcourt collecting billions of Naira as Champions of the Niger Delta struggle.
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I read some few days ago that the President has directed the release of the funds meant for the clean up of Ogoni Land. What their own son was reluctant to implement after spending a whole six years in office, but here is a man in less than 1 year set up a committee to look into the delay and now they are ripe to implement.
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Who is fooling who? Are they fighting for the cause of Niger Delta or their pockets?
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When you bomb an oil installation, you put your own people at risk health wise.
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Your waters in the village is contaminated
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You reduce the federal allocation to the state
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You reduce power supply capacity.
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Buhari does not stay in your village, he does not need water to drink from your village, the power supply any where he is will not blink a second even if you decide to bomb your whole village. This is a compendium og foolishness.
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The people who will suffer from the mental selfish exercise were not empowered the last 6 years, those who benefited from the loots have squandered the loots on women, drinks and landed property if not why has Tompolo even after his bank account was frozen and some of his property sealed by the federal government, he still choose to be in hiding.
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Niger Deltans Be Wise!
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What Good luck could not give to them in the last 6 years, they now want Buhari to give them in 1 year, madness indeed.

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Cynthia Morgan launches charity for the needy

Cynthia Morgan 

 

Morgan had undertaken a tour of two communities, Bariga in Somolu and Makoko community in Yaba areas of Lagos.

During her visit to the two densely populated communities, the artiste donated food items and toiletries to the residents.

The singer also splashed the pictures of her activities on her Instagram.

Some of her posts read: “This is me telling these beautiful kids that where you sleep today does not determine your future.

“God does not sleep or slumber; today is definitely one of the most important days in my life.

“It has been an amazing journey for me and I just want to thank God for supporting me enough to support others and making us all smile at the end.

“The kids were so happy and I was happier.

’’ Morgan shot into limelight following the release of two singles entitled:“Don’t Break My Heart,’’ and “Lead Me On’’, which had been on the airwaves with comments from critics.

Although she is considered one of the youngest artistes in the Nigerian music industry, Morgan has showed the sort of experience peculiar to an industry oldie.

Born on Sept. 23, 1991, Cynthia Ikponmwenosa Morgan, but popularly known by her stage name, Cynthia Morgan, is also a songwriter.

The 23-year-old popular singer is, no doubt, a beautiful woman! Her music is a combination of pop, hip-pop, dancehall and rap.

Dancehall is a type of Jamaican popular music which developed in the late 1970s, initially as a sparser and less political and religious variant of reggae.

 Vanguard

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Child Abuse... A must read by every parents.

To me, child abuse does not only mean the wrong use of or ill-treating of a child like the dictionary defines it but it also means the teaching of bad behavioural patterns to a child through the bad examples you exhibit. When a child is not thought the right conduct of living and he grows up acting contrary to the rules of the land and the rules of God, such a child has been abused. His right to good training and good living as an honest citizen has been abused. Such a child never finds contentment and happiness.

Whenever a child’s right is being abused, the child is invariably being abused. Its everyone’s duty to see that this right of the child is not abused. A child like they say is for everyone… like this song they sing when a new baby is born “He that hears the cry of a baby should come, he that hears the cry of a baby should come quickly, it’s not only one person that owns a child”. A child is for everyone, it is only for the parents when while it’s still in the womb, but as soon as the child is been delivered, it’s for everyone.

Some people think that once a child is not theirs, they do not have a responsibility towards the child. That is very wrong. An adult has the right to correct any child that is not behaving as he ought to anywhere. The correction one makes to a child now can be the child’s saving grace in life and can a well be one’s saving grace in the future. I hate it when I see here parents fight over an adult that corrected there child doing wrong with a cane, saying no one should help them in training of their  child, that they can do that themselves.

Anyway in this present generation you cannot trust anyone with your child because the so called male adult claiming to correct a girl child may have a very bad intention towards the child, as adults now molest children in secondary school age even primary school age. One time in Enugu very close to my area a young boy of 28yeqrs was stripped naked and beaten mercilessly by his street people.

Do you know what he did? This guy has a neighbour whose child just came back from the dormitory; the small girl was in JSS1 and just came back for second term break. This useless adult she calls uncle is so close to her family, the guy stays in there house most times and would jokingly refer to her as my wife which everyone saw as nothing. On this faithful day, it was a Monday morning when everyone has left the house for their different activities. This guy living next door knowing everyone has gone out entered the house and started raping the small girl, I don’t know if the small girl was really scramming but the little girl eldest brother who is also a friend to the rapist guy suddenly rushed home to collect his second mobile phone he forgot at home. Having his own spare key to the house, he did not knock but just opened the door and saw his friend on top of his little lovely sister stack naked.

The brother wasted no time but took the rapist friend cloth closed the door and raised alarm, other street boys rushing to know what was happening saw the rapist guy naked with blood on the cushion where he was raping the little girl who was in pains. They dragged him out on the street stack naked and gave him the beating of his life, after they have paraded him round the street naked, they handed him over to the police.

Parents, especially mothers should start teaching their little daughters what they should know as soon as they are 3yrs of age. I could remember hearing my sister tell her little daughters kamsiyochukwu who is 3yrs old and success who is 5years old...”if anybody touch your bombom at school or anywhere if you come home you tell mummy, am your friend so if such thing happen tell mom immediately because if you don’t tell mommy you know your satan friend and no more Jesus friend”. She would also say… “do you still want to remain mommy and Jesus friend? They would shout yes!! She would give them a hi-five and a hug”. My sister was able to achieve this because her daughters see her as a mother and a friend, but that does not mean she does not scold them when they do something wrong? But she does that with love.

While being so conscious of the male adults do not however be ignorant of the female adults. Most female adults molest and abuse girl children by engaging them into lesbianism. Teach them also if any aunty touches them in there bom bom they should also tell mommy too.

You and your husband as the parents should also not abuse your children. Mother please and please stop taking your bath with your son. Once a boy is 2years please do not take him to bath with you. You may still be thinking he is still a kid but this is how they spoil. The brain of a child stores negative things more than the positive things. That is why you wonder where they learn most of the bad things they do.

Father please do not undress in the presence of your little daughter, once she is up to 2yrs ask her to go to the children’s room whenever you want to undress. You may think she is just a kid but let me tell you this. My uncle, who was meant to take her kids to school on a Friday morning didn’t come back on time from the place he went to very early in the morning. So he called me to help him take his kids to school, by the time he called me it was already late so I rushed to school. Getting to their school their fellow students were already done with the morning assembly and was already in class. In one of the classes in the nursery section I saw a little girl kneeling down with tears, being the type that love children and hate to see them cry. I went to the class and was try to plead with the teacher to pardon her for my sake she now told me what she did.

Do you know what she did? I was told by her class teacher that she was reported by her class friend whom she told… “my dad’s thing is very big”. We talking about nursery kid here ooo not primary ooo. Have you seen the embarrassment and the shame she brought to her parents, how would you feel if you’re called by your daughter’s school that she said a thing like that?

Parents please be mindful of what you do in the presence of your kids, do not kiss your husband in front of your kids. Do not fight and exchange vulgar words in the presence of your kids, if you’re having issues wait till they leave for school or lesson before you fight or do whatever you wish. Parents please select the kind of movie your children watch. I could remember how a movie I once watched as a kid that almost influenced my morals “problem child, naughty Jef and these aki n paw paw nollywood movie”.  Please parents if it’s possible regulate the kind of things they watch by installing a television and dvd in their room and then buy nursery rhymes and educative movies for them.

Do not ever think you can watch any movie with them, when a kissing or sex scene appears you send them an automatic message to go get water for you or to get something for you. Children are very smart, it will get to a point they will want to know that thing that happen in the part of the movie that require them getting water for daddy. I could rememeber one little girl then that told his father… “Daddy why is it if this people want to kiss in the televisition you will tell me to go and get water for you?”….. Have you seen?. Some parents don’t even ask them to leave, they will keep thinking in their mind, what does she know, she is just 2yrs.

Mother you have to be very observant of your daughter, when your daughter starts avoiding an uncle she used to be fund of, ask her questions and watch her closely. When a lively daughter suddenly starts becoming withdrawn, you need to ask her question. And please so not allow any adult refer to your little daughter as my wife, because men can be very wicked and deceptive. When they see she has grown they tend to use that opportunity of my wife and molest them. Never bring a male house help to take care of your daughters, female house helps molest kids ooo, but it’s more on the male side.

And lastly, parents please take out time to discuss deeply with your children, no matter how hectic your job may be. Before she gets to the puberty stage you may have to teach her what she should know, what she should expect to see at a period of time. If you allow another person teach your child what you should have thought her, they may teach her wrongly.

Please share this with a friend and safe the future of the children out there…

Source: aminformed.blogspot.com

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