The Merchants of Lies and The Man Felix Idiga

By 

Mazi Ejimofor Opara

Every epoch of human existence produces its own unique sets of Legends and their array of uncommon accomplishments. Regrettably, there is no legend without a scar emanating either from the bruises of physical assaults or meta narratives; in extreme cases, both interplay to subdue their sterling records for reasons not so unconnected with deliberate mischief by human folks, disappointingly so, folks from the household of Legends.

Ositadimma Izuchukwu Anslem, 2018

 The hallmark and the very essence of living is not necessarily the actions that are targeted towards personal satisfaction and bliss. At the ultimate demise of all mortals, the chorus of a life well lived or not shall be heralded by the lives affected, positively or adversely. Amidst the narcissistic and egocentric epithets people assume with so much fanfare, the man Chief Felix Idiga is distinguished. In keeping to the enormous responsibilities of the title which his people conferred on him - "nkwa chukwu kwere Orlu", meaning God's promise to the Orlu people; "JAFAC" as he's preferably called has continued to be the figure that elicits smiles from the faces of his constituents, through his philanthropic outfit which has spanned for over a decade - The JAFAC Foundation.

Buhari meets security chiefs over insecurity

President Muhamamdu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with the nation’s security chiefs as part of efforts aimed at ending the spate of insecurity across the country.
The meeting was held inside the President’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; and the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, led the security chiefs to the meeting.
The new Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar, attended the security meeting for the first time since his recent appointment.
Apart from the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, also attended the meeting.

Obasanjo’s letter exposes corruption, nepotism in Buhari’s govt – Secondus

The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, said in Abuja, on Thursday, that the All Progressives Congress had become a lame duck after former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari asking him not to seek re-election.
He said that the letter also exposed the corruption and nepotism in the Buhari administration.
Secondus spoke when he and members of the party National Working Committee met with former ministers who served under the PDP regime in Abuja.
He insisted that that APC has failed “woefully” since 2015 when it assumed leadership of the country.

Malabu scam: Suit can’t shield Adoke from prosecution, says Malami

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Thursday insisted that his predecessor, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), must face  trial on the charges bordering on the alleged fraudulent $1.1bn Malabu transaction preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
 Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, heard  Adoke’s suit challenging the five counts instituted against him by the anti-corruption agency and adjourned till February 28 for judgment.

BoI gives loans to 7,000 entrepreneurs in C’River

The Bank of Industry has disbursed micro-credit loans ranging from N50,000 to N100,000 to over 7,000 beneficiaries in Cross River under the Federal Government’s Enterprise and Empowerment Programme .
According to a statement from the bank, the Executive Director, Micro Enterprise, BoI, Mrs. Toyin Adeniji, stated this recently in Calabar during the presentation of loan certificates to beneficiaries in the state.

Minister orders clampdown on authors of hate speech on social media

The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has directed the nation’s security agencies to tackle those propagating hate speeches, especially through the social media.
He said special attention should be given to notable Nigerians while tackling the menace.
According to a statement made available to journalists, Dan-Ali gave the directive at a meeting of the National Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

Full Text of Obasanjo To Buhari

THE WAY OUT: A CLARION CALL FOR COALITION FOR NIGERIA MOVEMENT
Special Press Statement
By
President Olusegun Obasanjo

Since we are still in the month of January, it is appropriate to wish all Nigerians Happy 2018. I am constrained to issue this special statement at this time considering the situation of the country. Some of you may be asking, “What has brought about this special occasion of Obasanjo issuing a Special Statement?” You will be right to ask such a question. But there is a Yoruba saying that ‘when lice abound in your clothes, your fingernails will never be dried of blood’. When I was in the village, to make sure that lice die, you put them between two fingernails and press hard to ensure they die and they always leave blood stains on the fingernails.
To ensure you do not have blood on your fingernails, you have to ensure that lice are not harboured anywhere within your vicinity.

Obi of Uruagu Coronation: Cultural Sustainability

Herdsmen offensive and the collective indecision

                                          Rowland Odegboh

There is seldom anybody who will claim that mass death still evokes shudder in Nigerians. Not since the emergence of the vicious Boko Haram suicides, and more recently the bumbling, but ruthless, Fulani herdsmen. Both have exposed Nigerians to unqualified goriness that has robbed them of the shock of carnage.

Before this time, mass death was not a common occurrence in Nigeria. Where there was mass death, it was a case of mishap resulting from plane crash and the like. It was few and far between and the attendant pain was not as severe as in the carnage occasioned by death in the hands of the criminal gangs. At least, the loss was taken as an act of fate. Where as the pain from the carnage is made worse by the arrogance of the blood-letters. They show no remorse and their response to public outrage has been more carnage which is inflicted at the least provocation.