Another 481 Nigerians evacuated from Libya - FG

The federal government on Sunday evacuated 481 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

The evacuation of more than 4, 511 others is expected to follow immediately. All the returnees will be temporarily camped at a reception centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, pending formal transfer to their states.

Amid joy and enthusiasm, the returnees were accompanied by Mustapha Maihaja, director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency( NEMA), Abike Dabiri, senior special assistant to the president on the diaspora affairs, and a representative of the national security adviser.

A delegation, led by Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, had negotiated the exit of the returnees with the Libyan government.

The returnees landed at the Port Harcourt International Airport around 5.05pm into the waiting arms of Onyeama and other members of the delegation.

Addressing the returnees Onyeama said: “On behalf of the President, I welcome you back to your country. Mr President and the good people of Nigeria were concerned about your well-being and sent a delegation. The President put all resources at our disposal to bring you back.

” We came and saw where so many of you were being held in difficult and inhuman condition.

“We had a good understanding with Libyan government and we are happy to bring back these Nigerians home. The Federal Government will do its best to return them safely to their various states.

“This administration will continue to protect every Nigerian at home and abroad. Many of you were trafficked, many of you were taken against your judgment. I want to assure you that you will not be abandoned.”

He unfolded plans by the government to rehabilitate the returnees including enrolling them for skills acquisition. - Cable Nigeria

Every drop of blood shed by herdsmen stains the conscience of those in power - Shehu Sanni

Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central, says every attack carried out herdsmen erodes the credibility and integrity of the Buhari administration. 

The lawmaker said the mass murder in southern Kaduna, Taraba, Benue, Numan and other affected places are “unpardonable and despicable crime”.

He said enough blood had been spilled by herdsmen.

Sani said the elite were more interested and preoccupied with the upcoming general election than the safety of the lives of Nigerians.

“The mass murder in southern Kaduna, Taraba, Benue, Numan and other affected places are unpardonable and despicable,” he said in a statement.

“These killings and bloodletting threatens the peace, stability and unity of our country. Helmsmen must confront Herdsmen. One minute silence and repeated words of condolences and sympathy cannot address the problem or end the bloodshed.

“Every attack erodes the credibility and integrity of the present administration and every drop of blood stains the conscience of all men in the position of power.

“Enough blood has been spilled by herdsmen to stain the Rivers of Niger and Benue.

“Mr President, there are vultures flying over the heads, the villages and communities of our people. No policy or programme or agenda of government is more important than human lives.

“No policy or programme or agenda of the government is more important than human lives. These five Ps must stop; protecting, pampering, paying, politicising and prevaricating on the herdsmen must stop.” - Cable Nigeria

Men with many wives live longer than those with just one – Tanko Yakasai

A ninety-one-year-old elder statesman, in Yakasai town of Kano State, Tanko Yakasai, has declared that men with two wives or more live longer than those with only one woman in their lives.

Yakasai, who have many wives and children, believes its even monopoly that reduces life expectancy.

Asked what he does differently in an interview with Punch, the 91-year-old statesman, who had lived his life as a journalist, said,
“Those who believe that polygamy reduces life expectancy are wrong! They are not speaking from experience .

“Many factors influence life expectancy . In some countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, etc, there is the problem of poverty and illiteracy.”

Yakasai, who served jail terms during the Abacha and Babangida regimes, added, “Because of that, people are not able to take care of their children well.

“I read an article on WhatsApp written by an expert . The article notes that those who practise polygamy live longer than those who practise monogamy . I agree.

Asked how he manages the rivalry among his numerous wives, he continued, “This is our culture.

“It depends on who they are . Sometimes, they manage to live together peacefully but sometimes , they quarrel among themselves . From my experience, what often leads to such a quarrel is the inability or refusal of the younger ones to submit to the leadership of the older ones.

“But in some cases, they live peacefully with one another, such that you would not believe that they are married to the same husband.” - Daily Post

Shocking !!! Brothers allegedly kill grandmother for money rituals

Four brothers suspected to be internet fraudsters have reportedly killed their grandmother, Grace Ovbiedo, for money ritual.

Two of the brothers have been arrested by the Edo State police command while two are declared wanted.

The incident occurred on December 12, 2017 at No. 28 Asowata Street, Ohovbe quarters, Ikpoba-Okha local government area of the state.

The suspects identified as Dickson Oluka, Salaya Oluka, Martins Oluka and Austin Enayi were said to have committed the act after consulting a native doctor who told them to stripe a live tortoise to their back and kill someone close to them before they become rich.

It was gathered that they tied the tortoise to their back as instructed by a native doctor, killed their grandmother and were caught while attempting to dispose the body of the deceased.

The Edo Police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwanbuzor, who confirmed the incident, said Dickson and Salaya have been arrested by the police and a manhunt has been launched for the other two suspects.

A live tortoise used for the purpose is said to be in custody of the police. - DAILY POST

1,667 civil servants sacked by Kogi govt. for certificate forgery

The Kogi State government has sacked 1,667 civil servants for alleged certificate forgery.

Eight permanent secretaries were also retired as part of the civil service reforms.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Petra Akinti Onyegbule, said those affected had served for four years and above.

It reads: “In order to get the best replacement for the retired permanent secretaries, directors who have been in office for eight years and above, but are yet to attain the retirement age or maximum number of years in office, were allowed to write the exams to fill the position of permanent secretaries.

“The result of the exams, which held on December 12, 2017, and followed by interviews, is yet to be released. Until the result is out, we won’t be able to put a definite figure to the number of directors who will be affected by the compulsory leave.

“This move is in line with the government’s policy to ease the top heaviness of the service and correct a situation where the civil service lacks workers at the lower cadres while the top is heavy, leading to an inverted pyramid.

“The Kogi State government is carrying out reforms at different stages to reposition its civil service for effectiveness, efficiency and productivity.

“The screening, which began in 2016, has since ended, and the reversal of the inverted pyramid at the civil service is another phase of the much needed reforms meant to ensure the civil service plays its role as the engine room of government efficiently and effectively.

“In addition, 1,667 civil servants were dismissed for certificate forgery. This figure is expected to increase as more reports come in from institutions where enquiries for certificate verification have been sent to.

“Another 107 workers were dismissed for fraud.” - The Nation

60-year-old Woman docked over N2.3m fraud

A businesswoman, Christiana Oladipo, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos accused of defrauding a woman of N2.3 million.

Oladipo was arraigned before Magistrate O.J. Awope on charges of obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.

The accused, who resides at Ayobo area of Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty and was admitted to a bail of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Awope said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, had told the court the accused committed the offences sometime in November 2017 at Ayobo, Lagos.

Ayorinde said that the accused fraudulently obtained N2.3 million from the complainant, Mrs Titilayo Olanrewaju, on pretext of selling a Lexus jeep LR 330 to her.

“The accused, who claimed she was selling cars, showed the complainant some cars on her phone and the complainant made her choice.

“After negotiation, the complainant paid the money but the accused relocated to Ogun,” he said.

Ayorinde said that the accused was arrested through her son.

“The accused son was seen in a club, he was apprehended and that led to the arrest of the accused,” he said.

The case was adjourned to Jan. 29, for mention.

The offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 314 stipulates 15 years imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretence.

Nigeria must be restructured - Balarabe Musa

Elder statesman and former governor of Old Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari makes him sad because nothing has worked under his administration.

The former governor said this while fielding questions from Sun newspapers on situations and events that made him sad in the country last year.

He said, “One of them is the inability of this government to perform. Because everybody expected this government to make a difference but they have not. In some areas they are even making things worse.”

Speaking on the New Year speech of Buhari, the former governor insisted, “I am not impressed in any way. How can I be when the ordinary people in a country that produce petrol, cannot buy it at a reasonable price?
“As I am talking to you now in most parts of Nigeria, a litre of fuel sells for N200. Our economy, in the name of privatisation has deteriorated so much. Why has the situation become so bad? It is because of the foreign manipulations that want to hand the leading role of the economy to the private sector.

“Our economy was stable and progressive when we had the leading role of the state in the economy. Back then one dollar was sold at one naira. Presently, there is nothing to enable the government to control prices, corruption and unemployment.

“How can you expect the private sector to solve this problem? Whether we like it or not the role of the public sector must be strengthened. So that everybody must make public interest first and the enlightened self interest second. There is no other way round.”

Balarabe also maintained that the country must be restructured, adding that people talking against it were the ones stealing and stagnating the country.

He continued, “Those people that are talking against restructuring are the ones who are stealing public funds using the institutions we have today particularly the leading role of private sector.

“Look at the scandals in the oil industry, pension fund in everywhere. This stealing has been facilitated by the attempt to privatize everything and bring about minimal government input.

“That is the situation in which government can only just oversee key economic sectors.” - Daily Post

2019 election : Buhari’s return poses danger for Nigeria – ADP

The Action Democratic Party (ADP) says Nigeria is under serious risk if the All Progressive Congress (APC) government led by President Buhari returns to power in 2019.

ADP spokesman, Prince Adelaja Adeoye disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Sunday.

Adeoye added that the citizens should obtain their permanent voters cards to vote out the president in 2019 general election.

“The recently released report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) where over 10 million Nigerians have lost their jobs since 2015 is a deal breaker for a government that promised Nigerians 3 million jobs a year.

“We now have an unemployment rate of 18.7% even though some claim that it could be more the party said. This is just in less than 3 years of this APC government and is a clear pointer to the danger that a Buhari return poses. The impact of Buhari’s maladministration is terribly telling on the citizens,” Adelaja noted.

He said, “The extension of the tenure of service chiefs was the first in the unfolding of Buhari’s plans and the continuous retention of Aminat Zakari, his relative in INEC is another plot to rig the 2019 polls.”

The party, however, said it was battle ready to thwart all the plans of the president but requires the support of well meaning Nigerians.

Adelaja said that ADP was the only party with clean and formidable structures capable of defeating Buhari in 2019.

The party spokesman, however, urged Buhari “to heed warnings from notable Nigerians who have been prevailing on him not to seek reelection in 2019, as the same citizens who voted for him overwhelmingly in 2015 are now against him, that he should retire peacefully back to his country home in Daura.” - Daily Post