Senate President, David Mark, asks Buhari to genuinely reconcile Nigerians

The Senate President, David Mark, has advised the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to launch a reconciliation initiative to appease the feelings of some aggrieved persons across the country.
He made this statement at a Thanksgiving mass ahead of the end of the 7th senate at St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Apo, Abuja on Thursday.
In a press statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Mr. Mark said “What the nation needs now is genuine reconciliation of all sections of the country and not otherwise.
“What must be paramount is the service, welfare and security of Nigerians irrespective of ethnic, religious or political differences.”
Mr. Mark also said the insecurity situation needed to be addressed especially in the North East zone, were Boko Haram has caused mayhem.
He also advised public office seekers against desperation for power.
“There is no need to be desperate for power, since power comes from God,” he said. “Once we acknowledge this, we will not be at each other’s throat.”
Mr. Mark gave credit to Almighty God for sustaining him throughout his eight years as President of the Senate.

Tension in UNIZIK as SUG president queries VC on alleged corruption

Temsion is mounting at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka following a letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Joseph Ahaneku by the president of the Students Union Government, SUG, Mr. Noble Eyisi over some perceived anomalies in the institution.
As the students were circulating the letter in the campus,Tuesday, security operatives tried as much as they could to mop up the document, but it was late as most people in the university community had got copies of it.
In the letter, several allegations were leveled against the VC by the SUG, most of which bordering on corrupt tendencies.

Rivers Commission continues probe of 2015 elections politically-motivated killings

A Commission of Inquiry to investigate politically-motivated killings before and during the 2015 general elections in Rivers State will continue its sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday (today).
The Commission, instituted by Chibuike Amaechi, the Rivers State governor, is also investigating damage to properties and grievous bodily harms to persons ahead and during the polls in the state.
Headed by Chidi Odinkalu, the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, the panel adjourned sitting last Monday after listening to witnesses’ accounts of violence during the election.
“We had to adjourn to properly streamline people coming to testify, as we expect individuals, groups, as well as institutions like the Nigeria Police Force to appear before the panel,” Mr. Odinkalu, a Professor of Law, said.
Other members of the Commission include Ayo Obe, Nlerum Okogbule, Owunari Georgewill, Joy Ejiofor, Michael Akere, and Richard Ofuru.
Mcarthy Oriye, an Assistant Director at the state Ministry of Justice, is a Counsel to the Commission; while the Secretary is Samuel Egbe, Permanent Secretary, Policy/Strategy, Office of the Head of Service.

Zik's first son is dead

Chief Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe, the first son of pioneer President of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe is dead.

A family source who pleaded not to be named, said he passed on at Boromeo Hospital Onitsha on Sunday at the age of 75.

It was gathered that he had been battling protracted respiratory- related ailment for some years.

Until his death, Chukwuma was the Owelle of Onitsha, a traditional position he inherited from his father in 1996 . Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe died 19 years ago on 11th May, 1996.

Don’t expect too much from Buhari, Cardinal Okogie tells Nigerians

The Catholic Archbishop Emeritus, Anthony Okogie, on Sunday urged Nigerians not to expect too much from the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, saying change is a gradual process.
“Nigeria seems to be on a collision course with destiny and the hopes of many are hanging in the balance. I can understand the sense of urgency and expediency in the expectations of Nigerians,” he said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
“Yet sincerely, I think we are expecting too much too soon. Change will come but it will be gradual but surely.
“It will amount to putting the cart before the horse to expect radical revolution from the General.
“We must exercise patience and give him chance to deliver on his promises. What he needs more than anything is our support, cooperation, collaboration and goodwill,” he said.
The cleric urged Mr. Buhari to focus on providing quality governance on assuming office, and pay less attention to distractions.

Senator-elect, Ben Bruce, under fire for anti-corruption tweets

A senator elect, Ben Murray Bruce, has come under fire from Nigerian youths on micro-blogging site, Twitter, following his anti-corruption tweets.

Mr. Bruce, who tweets via @benmurraybruce, had joined other legislators, including Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator-elect Solomon Adeola who in recent times urged the incoming administration to cut down on government expenses and fight corruption.

But the youths saw it as an opportunity to attack the Silverbird group chairman for what they consider his under performance as director general of the Nigerian Television Authority.

Some Nigerians wondered why he didn’t transform NTA the way he has done with his Silverbird Television.

PDP Crisis: Party Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, calls for ceasefire; woos Ayo Fayose

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmadu Mu’azu, has appealed to all members of the party across the country to put behind them the disappointment of defeat, rest all misunderstandings and put the survival and stability of the party ahead of all other considerations.

Mr. Mu’azu, in a statement on Tuesday, said although the party’s defeat in the last general election was painful, members should key into the intervention by President Goodluck Jonathan and not allow the situation to further divide the party.

“The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has noted the various reactions that trailed the unfortunate loss of our great party in the last general elections,” Mr. Mu’azu said in his statement. “In the last few weeks, the media has been fishing on these reactions with a section even blowing it out of proportion to a level that has become a threat to our oneness as a family.

HOW S/AFRICAN MERCENARIES HELPED NIGERIA TO ROUT BOKO HARAM

RECENT successes recorded by the Nigerian Army in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency are not unconnected with the clandestine strides of a group of South African bush warfare experts, hired in secrecy by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led government, it has been revealed.
The group, known as Specialised Tasks, Training, Equipment and Protection (STTEP), led by Colonel Eeben Barlow, had, since January, taken charge of the training of elite strike group within the Nigerian Army in a tactic known as “relentless pursuit,” which involved mimicking Boko Haram’s hit-and-run tactics with non-stop assaults.
President Jonathan’s decision to hire STTEP, it was disclosed, was due to government’s failure to either tackle Boko Haram or free the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls.
This consequently proved decisive in the invasion of strongholds of the Boko Haram insurgents, leading to the freeing of hundreds of girls and women hitherto used by Boko Haram as slaves and wives.

JONATHAN’S MEN THROW OUT JOURNALIST FROM VILLA Punch report

President Goodluck Jonathan’s handlers on Monday walked out a journalist from the Presidential Villa in Abuja, in what could be a new style of intimidating newsmen.
Their first victim is Mr. Ubale Musa, the State House correspondent of German Radio, Deutsche Welle.
Musa’s accreditation tag was withdrawn by security operatives attached to the Presidential Villa.
The embattled journalist was expelled from the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for asking visiting Chadian President, Idriss Derby, a question authorities found to be embarrassing.
Musa had asked the visiting President to explain the relationship between the multinational task force fighting in Lake Chad and the South African mercenaries fighting with them.
Derby simply responded that he had no information concerning mercenaries from South Africa.
Shortly after the visiting President left, Musa was invited by security operatives and his tag was withdrawn.

JONATHAN APPOINTS EMIR SANUSI UNIBEN PRO-CHANCELLOR

The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, was on Monday appointed the pro-chancellor of the University of Benin, Edo State.
Speaking at his palace on Monday, after receiving his letter of appointment from the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, Mr. Sanusi said doing good always has its rewards.
He explained, “I’m saying this because as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria then, I came to the rescue of the university by spending N500 million to construct a bridge yearned for by the university for over 30 years.
“If at that time one told me I would reap the reward of that job almost immediately I would not agree, but today, in Allah’s favour, I’m being appointed the pro-chancellor of the university, something that is telling one that he should always think of being good not only to his close people but to everybody far and near.”
Mr. Sanusi cautioned governments against establishing too many universities. He said what Nigeria needs today is quality education that will herald the much needed development.