Jonathan, Okonjo-Iweala ran Nigeria like a come-and-chop restaurant — Shehu Sani

The Senator-elect for Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, on Saturday tackled President Goodluck Jonathan on the sale of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, and the  last-minutes sale of the Nigeria Telecommunications Limited, NITEL.
He also carpeted the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her economic policy.
The senator-elect also described the current impasse in the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, as a disgrace to Nigerian workers.
Mr. Sani, while receiving the Kaduna state executive of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, who visited him in his office in Kaduna, said the privatization exercise under President Goodluck Jonathan is a monumental theft of Nigeria’s collective resources in the interest of a few.
“The sale of PHCN has not translated into consistent electric power in our homes, in our offices , in our markets and in our work place,” he said, adding that the issue of privatization has also seriously affected many workers who were employed in those institutions for decades.
Mr. Sani also stated that, “the last minute-sale of NITEL to a private firm at a time when the government is supposed to be preparing notes for handover is also suspicious or irrelevant at this time”.

Judge rejects National Assembly Clerk’s moves to drag Obasanjo into Buruji Kashamu’s suit

A federal judge Friday dismissed a move by the Clerk of the National Assembly to drag former President Olusegun Obasanjo into a court suit filed by Buruji Kashamu, a Senator-elect from Ogun State.
Mr. Kashamu, who is wanted in the U.S for drug related offences, had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, claiming that there is a move to abduct and forcibly transport him to the U.S. to face trial.
In the suit, 12 individuals and government agencies were joined as respondents.
They include the Inspector General of Police; the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC; Director General, Department of State Service; the Interpol National Central Bureau; and the Attorney General of the Federation.

Woman, 3 kids escape death by whiskers in Owerri

A house wife and her three children narrowly escaped death at Orji, Owerri North local council area of Imo State, when the Golf 5 saloon car mysteriously caught fire midway into their trip home.
Vanguard gathered that the ill-fated Golf car caught fire opposite one of the new generation banks (names withheld) at about 4pm, while the car was in motion.
Vehicular movement along the ever busy Owerri-Okigwe federal highway was held up for hours while the fire raged.
One of the stories surrounding the burnt car was that the lucky woman, who went to bring her children back from school, noticed that the Golf car was malfunctioning.
“The badly shaken woman was obviously on school run. On stopping to check what was wrong with the car, the vehicle caught fire almost immediately”, a man who claimed to be an eyewitness recounted.

Nigerians seek government care for women impregnated by Boko Haram members

Some Nigerians have called on the Federal Government to ensure that women who were impregnated by members of the Boko Haram while being held hostage are taken care of.
Hundreds of people mainly women and young girls have been rescued by soldiers who have control of territory initially controlled by the insurgents. Some of the women, held captive sometimes for several months, were already pregnant when rescued.
A Nigerian resident in United Kingdom, Oluyomi Soyinka, said the pregnant women should be relocated because of the stigma.
‘The Federal Government should look at ways of setting up a department to look after the would be mothers and their children when they arrive,” Mr. Soyinka said. “The mothers will have to be counselled and educated or trained on a vocation; I also suggest they are relocated because of stigma. The children should be looked after and trained by government from birth.”
In her remark, Dupe Olaoye-Osikolu, a journalist and Chairperson of National Association of Women Journalists, Lagos, said authorities should allow journalists talk to the rescued women.
Bidemi Osunlalu, a nurse, also called on the government to take full responsibility for the women and their children when they are born.

Woman, 3 kids escape death by whiskers in Owerri

The Speaker of the Ogun state House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi, on Saturday shunned victims of a ghastly accident which occurred along the Owode-Siun-Abeokuta expressway.
The accident claimed three lives, and injured 10 others.
The crash, which occurred at Onipepeye village, along the Owode-Siun-Abeokuta dual carriageway, involved two commercial vehicles: a white Nissan Premiere, with registration number LSD 770 BZ and a green Space wagon, with registration number GGE 950CQ.
A PREMIUM TIMES correspondent, who met the accident victims in company with other sympathizers, reported that Speaker Adekunbi got to the scene of the crash in his official car barely few minutes after the accident occurred, but drove past the scene even while bodies laid on bare ground and injured victims wreathed in pains.

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.