OYO State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi’s, recent appointment of Accord Party (AP) members as caretaker committee chairmen has been hailed by the state chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

In a statement yesterday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Dauda Kolawole, said the appointment was in fulfillment of the “gentleman’s agreement between Governor Ajimobi and the Accord Party leader, Rasheed Ladoja.

Kolawole said the decision was taken after a meeting with all stakeholders in the affected councils.

The party condemned a protest against the appointment by a group of youths, who claimed to be ACN members.

The party said the implementation of the agreement had been delayed for over a year to avoid the betrayal suffered in 2003 when ACN then Alliance for Democracy (AD) entered a similar pact with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In Kwara State, council chairmen have denied allegation that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed was deducting or sitting on any fund accruable to them from the Federation Account.

At joint press briefing with the state government officials after a meeting of the council bosses with Ahmed at the Government House, Ilorin, the state Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Chairman of Ilorin-South Local Council, Dr. Adebayo Ishola, who was flanked by the association’s Secretary in Ekiti Local Council, Mr. Ogunleye Abraham, said the claim by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) was untrue.

In a statement, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abdulwahab Oba, quoted Ishola as attributing the inability of most of the councils to pay their workers’ salaries to the shortfall in their allocations from the Federal Account since last May.

Ishola cleared the state government of any wrongdoing, saying the councils have many statutory duties, including the payment of teachers’ salaries and allowances, pensions, funding of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

BENUE State House of Assembly yesterday directed Governor Gabriel Suswam to sack the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Conrad Wergba, within seven days.

The House gave the order following the alleged refusal of the commissioner to resign after the expiration of an ultimatum given to him to do so.

Wergba had allegedly made an uncomplimentary remark against the Assembly in his attempt to defend government’s stance on the allegation of delay in payment of workers’ salaries raised by the House, and had described the members as arm-twisting the Executive for “pecuniary motives.”

The House invited the commissioner to appear before it and during this meeting, he admitted guilt and apologised to members but quickly insisted that he had   evidence against the lawmakers. As a result, the House went ahead to ask him to resign.

Raising a point of Order 9 Rule 16 (f), the member representing Katsina-Ala East Constituency, Jato Iana, reminded the House that Wergba had flouted their directive by failing to resign after the expiration of the seven days’ ultimatum give him by the House.

Jato, who urged his colleagues to prevail on the governor to without delay, to sack the commissioner as earlier resolved by the House, stressed that it was proper for them to do so as the commissioner’s appointment was confirmed by the same House.

In their separate contributions, the Majority Leader, Paul Biam, Nick Eworo (Oju), Audu Sule (Agatu), the Minority Leader, Terkimbi Ikyange (Ushongo) and Kenneth Iyo (Gwer-West), all decried the lack of sober attitude of the commissioner and called for his outright sack.

Baba Odeh (Otukpo/Akpa), therefore, moved that Wergba be relieved of his appointment as commissioner by the governor within seven days and was seconded by Joseph Onah.

Ruling on the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Stephen Onmeje, who presided over the sitting, put the motion to voice vote and members unanimously supported the sack of the commissioner within seven days.

THE Nigeria-China Friendship Association (NICAF) is currently executing some projects to maintain its good relations with China.

NICAF believes that governments, corporate bodies and peoples of both countries, will reap the full benefits of this co-operation.

The position of NICAF was disclosed at its 20th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos where dignitaries from all walks of life, including the former Consul General of the People’s Republic of China, Guo Kun, were present.

In his speech, Founder/Chairman, NICAF, V. N. Chibundu, expressed gratitude for the kind gestures of all who had over the years taken active part in exchanges sponsored by foreign circles.

He explained that based on the request of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), a national people’s organisation engaged in people-to-people diplomacy of the People’s Republic of China with the purposes of enhancing people’s friendship, furthering international co-operation and safe-guarding world peace, NICAF had nominated Jacob C. K. Wood, managing director of Golden Gate Paradise Restaurant, Lagos, for the fourth China-Africa Friendship Award.

“This was essential because Wood had stood by NICAF since its inauguration in April 1994, while other Chinese had stood aloof because it is not in their character and cultural practices. This bold character, no doubt, ensured his popularity in government and foreign circles”, he said.

“NICAF again facilitated the issuance of appropriate Chinese Visa to Babatunde Fakeye, project Manager of Phamatex Nigeria Limited to visit Changchun, China, for business transaction early this year. As a result of the success of this transaction, the Embassy of Nigeria in Beijing issues Visa to five Chinese Engineers of Watertown Pharmaceutical Equipment Co. Ltd, to install Reverse Osmosis water system in their plant in Lagos”, he stated.

“However, the NICAF has now received a letter dated July 18, 2012, from CPAFFC, inviting five members to pay an official visit to China, during summer 2013”, he added.
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Candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Muhammad Buhari has asked the Federal Government to do everything possible to tackle the insecurity challenge currently pushing more people into ‘real poverty’ in parts of the north.

 Buhari, who made the call during a visit yesterday to the Kano State governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, described the security situation in Kano and some states in the region as ‘extremely sad,’ stressing that trade and other economic activities have been seriously stifled.
 “I came to greet the Emir of Kano and to sympathize and commiserate with you and him over the unfortunate incidents of bombings and the extra security measures being taken that are affecting our people,” he said.

 Buhari, who was in the state to commission CPC secretariat, lamented that Kano which used to be known worldwide as a centre of commerce, is now a shadow of its former self. “It is extremely sad, but I hope you will see through it as soon as possible,” he said.

 According to Buhari, even with the death of industries and security measures being taken in Kano, not everyone had initially realized the enormity of the situation to the economy of the country, “until the problem of Borno and Yobe got out hand.”

 “Having been a governor in that area, I knew that everyday at least 200 articulated vehicles leave here for Maiduguri and from the same end coming down this way. There in Maiduguri, you get traders from the Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Now all these have virtually gone. Try to imagine how many Nigerians and in particular, how many people from this part of the country are now pushed into real poverty,” he said. “I hope the government at the centre will do all it can to ensure the situation is reversed as soon as possible.”

 Buhari also told the gathering that CPC was opening a secretariat in Kano in order to settle down and play the role of an opposition, given that the internal squabbles affecting it had been resolved.

 Governor Kwankwaso said his government was working with security agencies to remove checkpoints in the state as soon as possible, so as to allow free movement of goods and persons in and out of the state.

 Kwankwaso commended Buhari for finding time to pay him courtesy call despite their different political party affiliations. “What General did is what all politicians are supposed to do, because being in different parties does not mean being enemies,” he said.

The 24 year old ex-beauty queen got engaged to her boyfriend of nine months, Funsho Peters, an I.T Solutions architect and CEO of Infinion Technologies limited (pictured above with her) on Monday August 27th.

 Diana is former MBGN Tourism 2009 and former Miss Tourism Africa 2009. Read about how Funsho proposed to Diana after the cut...



 The pair who had dated for 9 months now got engaged in the most dramatic matter as Funsho proposed to the former beauty queen on the 27th of August 2012, just two days after her 24th birthday. According to a visibly excited Diana, "he had actually tried to do it on my birthday at the Federal Palace hotel, he had arranged a dinner but when he came to get me,I was wit my friend Nkiru Achukwu and didn't feel like stepping out so we ate in.". She went on to give an account of how her dream night came through like it was scripted in a manner typical of a Hollywood love story.

 "Every Monday is movie night for us, and as usual we were meant to hook up sometime after he gets off work, usually he comes back home to get me. But I had other plans with my friend Amaka, she's working on opening her spa in a couple of weeks and needed my help, so I was shopping with her. When we were done, I tried to reach Funsho but he wasn't picking up his cell, I assumed he was still in the meeting he said he would be in, Amaka and I were at city mall which isn't very far from his office so I decided to drive down. On getting there his car wasn't at the parking lot so I knew he wasn't back. We then left for the galleria as Amaka said she wanted to see a movie.

 Funsho called on our way there and we agreed to meet up at the galleria. We got tickets for "The watch" for 8:10pm and Amaka got a ticket for "Dark knight Rises" for 5:50pm. The time was 5:30pm, he and I had seen "Dark Knight Rises" already but instead of waiting around doing nothing we decided to go see it again till it was 8pm and time for our movie. Funsho said he was hungry and was gonna go get something to eat. Amaka and I then went into the screening room. Minutes later Funsho joined us, then he left again at about 8:07pm.
 When Funsho wasn't back, I left Amaka and headed out. Once outside I saw him talking with Tosin Olukuade (Facuade Clothiers) and Omena Daniels (Bloke Magazine). I said hello to them, gave him his movie ticket and he said he would get the popcorn and drinks that I should go ahead, so I went back into the screening room. The movie hadn't started, Ads were rolling, Tosin came in and asked me to change sits because Funsho had a headache and would have to be going in and out so I should sit at the edge so people don't get disturbed. I obliged him, he went back out, few seconds later Omena and Tosin came back in and sat down beside me, I asked where Funsho was and was told he was coming. I was trying to contact Amaka on my blackberry and only looked up when I heard a song on the sound system "Runaway" by the Corrs and saw on the screen "you have conquered the world with your beauty and charm and my heart along with it...", I was wondering if I was in then wrong screening room until when I saw my name on the screen "DIANA ODIAKA" my heart flipped, I turned to Omena and Tosin asking "what's going on? Where is Funsho?". Then again on the screen, I saw my pictures and the words "please make me the happiest man on Earth..." "...will you marry me?" people started screaming and clapping, the lights came on and Funsho walked down to where I was seated, knelt down and brought out the ring. I was so stunned, I was speechless, I was just staring at him until Tosin screamed "take the ring". I stretched out my left hand and he slid the ring in. We hugged and kissed, people were screaming and clapping and kept chanting "kiss....kiss....kiss"...we obliged. I was so overwhelmed. I am so very happy. It was then I discovered a few of my friends were involved in the planning. Hossam and Ruby Dabbour (caliente), Angela Okparavero (angie's glam), Amaka Oguchi (miss commonwealth Africa), Francis Adeoye, Denrele Edun, Wale George (@walenut) Shola Ajayi ( @littleville of Reel Radio)".
  
 The lovebirds will make an announcement for the wedding dates soon.

As we earlier reported, seems voice of the people is really making an effect.

The lawmakers in Abuja National Assembly have said that the CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi Lamido, should put a hold on the new N5000 note for now so that they can look into its analysis critically.

The Senate today (Monday) overruled the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on its planned new currency policy and directed the apex bank to stop plans to introduce a single N5000 note with immediate effect.

The Senate also warned that no such policy that has far reaching implication on the people must be embarked on without the knowledge of the Senate and other stakeholders adding that “until this is done the CBN must stop action.”

Barely 14 months after the former Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, left office, he has explained the reason why he kept mum on national issues, saying he preferred to remain silent so as to ‘live long’.

Bankole, who paid a visit to the Matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief H.I.D Awolowo, in her Ikenne home, yesterday, met secretly with her for 30 minutes.

He, however, declined comments when he was approached by newsmen who got the hint of his visit to Awolowo.

The former Speaker, who was clad in white Kaftan, white cap and black sandals, drove himself to Awolowo’s residence at 1. 18 p.m.

He was received by Mama Awolowo in company of her daughter, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu.

He later went into a secret meeting that lasted about 30 minutes with the her.

Vanguard gathered that the meeting might not be unconnected with the issues of unity among the Yoruba and the alleged marginalisation of the race by the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The meeting also came five days after a meeting was held under the aegis of Yoruba Unity Forum, YUF, at the same place where issues bordering on the relegation of the race in the scheme of things in the country, among other things, were discussed.

Before the meeting, Bankole, who came with few security personnel in a three-car convoy, had told newsmen that he preferred to remain silent on state and national issues because he wanted to live long.

Bankole, who spoke in Yoruba, said “I did not run away; you know since I left office, I have not said a word. I prefer it to remain so.

“I will continue watching from a distance, I don’t want to dabble into what is happening because, I want to live long.”

Attempts made by journalists after Bankole stepped out of the reception room where he held the meeting with Awolowo, to disclose why he was in Ikenne failed, as he declined comments but continue laughing until he drove out of the Awolowo’s compound.

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has warned Monarchs in the state against the speaking of English Language in any public forum in the state as they stand the risk of losing traditional stool.

 The governor made this known last week in Owerri, while inaugurating the Imo Traditional Rulers Parliament and Community Government Council.

According to sources in the state, Okorocha’s directive is one of the many ways the government is working to ensure that the native language and traditions do not go into extinction.

Meanwhile, Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri who was elected chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers was urged by the Governor to use the forum in promoting the ideals of Igbo culture and language.

Okorocha was also conferred with a traditional title of Eze Gburugburu of Ndigbo (ruler of all Igbo people).

A handsome, charismatic preacher was busted recently for allegedly passing the HIV virus to unsuspecting female church members during segxwal liaisons.
Pastor Craig Lamar Davis, who is married, is the former pastor of Full Gospel Baptist Church in Atlanta, where he preached rousing sermons and dispensed advice to lonely women. But Pastor Davis was allegedly passing on more than advice and counseling in his role as a spiritual leader.



The pastor was arrested for reckless conduct after police found that he was sleeping with several women with whom he was not married. A woman by the name of Ronita McAfee says that she met the pastor on Facebook and began sleeping with him.
Ronita says that she became concerned when one of the pastor’s ex-girlfriends called her to say that she had HIV. She claims that the pastor then counseled her … and told her to get tested. Davis then says that she noticed that the pastor himself was not interested in getting tested, even though she had also contracted HIV. This is what prompted her to seek out a warrant for his arrest.

“I had to voluntarily resign the office of minister to retain my integrity which has in recent days come under scurrilous attacks by powerful vested interests that were hell bent on besmirching the integrity and reputation that I painstakingly built over the years."

Following his sudden exit from President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet, ex-Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, has opened up on the activities that led to his controversial resignation.

 Reacting to the issue on Wednesday, he said he was forced to resigned because some “powerful vested interests” were bent on tarnishing his image. The former minister however insisted that he is proud that he left at a time that power generation and supply had greatly improved in the country.

Denying media reports that he had conflict of interest in his handling of the power sector reform, Prof Nnaji said: “I am confident enough to allow history and the Nigerian people to judge my performance on the task that I accepted from the President.”

He said he did all he was expected to do as a business owner before accepting the job of Minister of Power but that those who do not want Nigerians to enjoy steady power supply are uncomfortable with the fast progress he was making in the sector.

MAIDUGURI—A suspected bomber was, yesterday, killed in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, when a bomb, strapped to a wheel barrow exploded at Ramat Square along West End road and Gwange ward.

Confirming the incidents in a statement, Joint Task Force, JTF, Spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, said: “There was an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, explosion today (yesterday) at West End, Ramat Square General Area of Maiduguri metropolis.

“The device was concealed in a wheel barrow by suspected Boko Haram sect member and it exploded at about 8.35am. The owner of the wheel barrow was killed instantly, while attempting to escape.”

Sagir, however, said apart from the mastermind of the blast, no other casualty was recorded and that the area was cordoned off and swept by the Bomb Disposal Arm of the JTF.

ONITSHA—THE Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Tuesday denied a newspaper report that it would lead President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign in 2015.

Leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who spoke to newsmen in Onitsha, described the publication as false and baseless.

He said he had never met President Jonathan to discuss anything about his presidential ambition in 2015.

He said:  “The publication was full of falsehood aimed at distracting MASSOB because there was never a time I met Jonathan with Ojukwu’s wife, Ambassador Bianca to discuss anything concerning his ambition. MASSOB has no link with the Presidency because we are not politicians. We are  fighting for the actualisation of our own freedom in a country where Ndigbo are constantly treated like unimportant people.”

“It was a malicious falsehood by the writer who alleged that Uwazuruike and Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu went to see President Goodluck Jonathan in Aso Rock.”

The writer even went ahead to say that Jonathan gave me a brand new SUV, imagine? I wish to state it categorically clear to all that MASSOB shall never be distracted by any person or group of persons who hide under different amorphous groups to attack our noble quest for freedom.”Chief Uwazuruike called on MASSOB and entire Ndigbo to remain calm and peaceful, assuring that very soon, events in the nation would play a very big role in the emancipation of Ndigbo.

AT last, governors and leaders of the 19  states of the defunct Northern Region seem to have realised that the primary responsibility for arresting the many challenges facing the region in particular and the nation at large lies with them.

After a prolonged period of silence in the face of terrorism in their major cities and communal killings on the Plateau, the governors have conducted series of meetings at the Niger State Lodge in Abuja under the chairmanship of Governor Aliyu Babangida of Niger State.

A committee of 40 eminent persons, led by Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim has been assigned to pursue reconciliation, healing and the restoration of security throughout the troubled north.

Babangida declared soberly: “We have realised that most of the challenges we are facing of poverty, unemployment, youth restiveness and violence are manifestation of rejection of the core values of honesty, equity, fairness and justice in our communities, societies and indeed the nation ….

“This is the time to restore the admirable lost values and virtues that previously distinguished us … We must show respect for and understanding with one another, irrespective of our differences.”

We sincerely hope that this moment of realisation will last and is genuinely and generally shared by leaders from that part of the country.

It is a positive and commendable development, taking into account that when the Boko Haram terrorist organisation launched its bloody campaigns about this time last year, there was what many termed a cult of silent approval among some sections of the leadership. Some even openly grovelled before the group as if eager to save themselves and families from being targeted.

There was this mistaken notion that the terrorists were fighting for the interests of a particular religion and that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan was the primary target.

As a newspaper, we knew from experience that this notion was wrong and shared our concern. We are convinced that violence and anarchy in any part of the country is a problem for all Nigerians, but the immediate theatre of violence will naturally bear the primary brunt.

We wish the Ambassador Ibrahim committee success in its assignment and urge the Federal Government and all Nigerians to render whatever assistance necessary to restore peace, security and healing to northern Nigeria.

We look forward to a new future where religion, ethnicity and regionalism will cease to divide us. Rather, our diversity should be our strength and the building blocks of a greater nation.

If the leaders of the north are sincere and apply themselves to this task, with the help of all Nigerians the problems confronting us from that end will be a thing of the past soonest.

Cameroonian authorities yesterday told Daily Trust that they gave a prior warning to Nigeria before the Lagdo dam water release that caused deadly flooding in parts of Adamawa State at the weekend.

 
 The Foreign Affairs Ministry, Water Resources Ministry, Governor Murtala Nyako and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were told about the impending floods days ahead, Cameroon’s deputy high commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. David Sinou, told our reporter in Abuja yesterday.

 

He showed Daily Trust a copy of the note verbale dated August 23 written to the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Abuja, and copied to the others, informing them of the coming flood.

The note verbale was stamped ‘received’ by the office of the head of protocol at the ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja on August 23.

It said, “The High Commission of the Republic of Cameroon presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and has the honour to intimate to the latter, the Lagdo Dam on the River Benue in Cameroon due to excessive rainfall this year has nearly reached the limit of its capacity.

“It is therefore expected that if recorded rainfall continues as it is in the next one week, the banks of the said dam will overflow, and intermitted release of its content will be done.

“In anticipation of the possible flooding of its plains and coupled with the spirit of article 111, paragraph 3, of the 5th session of the joint commission between Cameroon and Nigeria, that took place in Abuja, in November 2010, relating to the exchange of information on the activities of the Lagdo Dam and the Lake Nyos, the Cameroonian authorities are notifying the Nigerian government in order to take the necessary pre-emptive and precautionary measures, by informing the relevant Nigerian authorities within the potentially prone regions so as to avert collateral damages that may ensue from the release of water.

“The High Commission avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the ministry the assurances of its highest consideration.”

Ambassador Sinou, however, told Daily Trust that Cameroon is commiserating with the people and government of Nigeria over the deadly flooding.

When our reporter contacted the Foreign Affairs ministry for comments, the spokesman Mr. Ode Ogbole said he would have to find out first if the Cameroon letter was actually received.

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We alerted affected states–NEMA

NEMA acknowledged receiving the Cameroon warning but said it went on to alert authorities in Adamawa and neighboring states on possible flooding prior to the release of the Lagdo dam water.

The agency’s director general Muhammad Sani-Sidi told Daily Trust in Abuja yesterday that after receiving the warning from Cameroon on August 23, they immediately alerted Borno, Adamawa, Taraba and Benue state governors whose states were at risk.

But he did not say what exactly those states did in response to the alert.

Sani-Sidi said so far 15 people were confirmed dead in the Adamawa flood, as reported by Daily Trust on Monday.

He said 10,524 persons were affected in 10 local governments. “This sudden release of a large volume of cascading waters from the reservoir has put so many communities in this area at risk; threatened human lives, disrupted socio-economic activities, led to environmental degradation and large scale ecological dislocation,” he added.

Sani-Sidi said more water release is being expected through to October. A report from the Cameroonian authorities “indicated that if the trend of heavy rainfall experienced this year continues in the next few weeks, more water will be released from the reservoir till October this year,” he said.

The House of Representatives yesterday said it will investigate the refusal of Aviation minister, Stella Oduah, over her refusal to grant permit to three foreign airlines to commence commercial flight to Abuja.
 
 Daily Trust had exclusively reported that Oduah has denied approval for some foreign airlines to extend their services to Abuja airport in addition to Lagos where they now operate.

Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, vice chairman of the House committee on Aviation, Rep Ahmed Rufai Chanchangi (CPC, Kaduna) said such action by the minister amounts to attempt to “suffocate the entire north which has no sea ports like the south.

“When we resume, a petition will be presented on the floor of the House over the issue. It is unfair for her to think like that because its only the airlines that can decide where they want to land and here Kano is the best option so why didn’t she ask them to land in Kano since it is the first airport in Nigeria and it used to service the whole West Africa. We will surely call her to order”, Chanchangi said.

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Also speaking on the matter, House deputy minority leader, Rep. Suleiman Kawu Sumaila (ANPP, Kano) called on President Goodluck Jonathan to call the minister to order because of her actions geared towards marginalising the north.

He said “There is no justification for her action except that she is a tribalist and no amount of grammar can explain her refusal to grant them the much needed permit because they have enough passengers coming to Abuja.

“Why must she insist that they  land in Enugu? Why does she want them to connect with local airlines to fly their passengers from Abuja to Enugu? This is a clear indication of sectional agenda the minister is implementing. She is hell bent on marginalising the north in the aviation industry?”

On his part, Rep. Aliyu Sani Madaki (PDP, Kano) said: “I understand there are certain government officials who are simply trying to bring bad blood between certain sections of the country and this government. She should resign because she is acting as a minister of certain section of Nigeria.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it is discussing its proposed currency restructuring policy with the Senate. Mr Ugochukwu Okoraofor , the CBN Director of Corporate Communications,  disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

 
 He also said that the apex bank did not intend ``in any way`` to implement the proposal without the Senate’s consent. “We have entered discussion with the Senate carefully because we want their approval.

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“The law is very clear on this matter and it must not be forgotten that the CBN Act empowers us to restructure our currency system. “I am sure that in a day or two, we will end all discussions on the matter,” he said.

It could be recalled that the CBN had made public its intention to restructure the nation’s currency system. The apex bank said it planned to introduce N5,000 naira notes and coin the N5, N10 and N20 notes in 2013, under a programme it tagged “PROJECT CURE.”

ENUGU—THE Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, Enugu Electric Distribution Zone, yesterday, called on the five South-East governors to order the demolition of all structures built under high tension power lines and other power installations to prevent electrocution of the people.

The company particularly asked the Enugu State Government to urgently remove the large billboard it erected under the 330KV high tension power line near Haijag Construction Company along Enugu-Onitsha expressway in Enugu.

The metal edge of the billboard, which bears the inscription of Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City, also known as Centenary City, almost touches the power line and constitutes serious danger to workers of the Construction Company and petty traders within the area.

The PHCN Public Affairs Manager in the zone, Mr. Eseme Udoh, who conducted newsmen round some of the affected power lines within Enugu metropolis, yesterday, regretted that despite repeated warnings to property owners within the zone, they have continued to erect illegal structures directly under high tension power lines.

He said that occupants of such structures are exposed to danger as they would be easily electrocuted if any problem occured on such power lines, adding that necessary precautionary measures should be taken by members of the public by way of rejecting occupation of such structures or doing business under power lines.

He said: “If you can recall, the PHCN had problems in Port Harcourt and Ibadan in the past when live wires snapped on people. The one in Port Harcourt was at a bus stop and killed several people and that of Ibadan was in a market where many market women were affected.

“As a responsible organisation, we have embarked on sensitization of members of the public and customers especially those who have structures under high tension power lines.”

The Ahamdu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, has appointed LEADERSHIP  as the official newspaper of  her golden jubilee anniversary.

The university communicated the appointment to LEADERSHIP in a letter from the office of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, and titled “Appointment of LEADERSHIP Newspaper as Official Newspaper of the ABU @50 Anniversary.

The letter was signed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor administration and chairman of the anniversary implementation committee, Prof. Ibrahim Na’iya Sada

Parts of the letter read; “I write on behalf of the ABU @ 50 Implementation Committee, to convey the Vice-Chancellor’s approval for the appointment of your paper-LEADERSHIP Newspaper, as the official newspaper of the University’s Golden Jubilee Celebration slated for October 4th to 24th November, 2012 as requested in your letter of July 24, 2012.

It would be recalled that the members of the anniversary implementation committee had visited LEADERSHIP last month to seek their support and cooperation for the event.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s lamentation at the opening of the 52nd Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that he was the most criticised President in the world drew condemnation from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday.

During the NBA meeting, Jonathan asked why he was being held responsible for the state of insecurity, electricity failure, decaying infrastructure even though his administration inherited these problems.

In a statement yesterday, the ACN considered Jonathan’s position as an admission of failure, incompetence and un-preparedness to govern.

On behalf of the party, National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said: “What a nation expects from a President even at a time of crisis are words that will inspire the citizens and give them confidence that the helmsman is on top of the situation and not the kind of words credited to Jonathan, which are only capable of demoralising the citizenry and telling them things are out of control and that he is completely at loss as at what to do.”     

“Great leaders in the world like Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower and JF Kennedy, are remembered today more importantly for the quality of leadership they provided their various nations at moments of crisis. Even in the face of imminent defeat and paralysing casualties, Winston Churchill was still able to inspire and rally his people to victory and faced with Cuban Missile crisis, President J. F. Kennedy did not throw up his hands in despondency.”           

The statement continued: “Hasn’t anyone told President Jonathan that the buck stops on his desk? Hasn’t anyone told President Jonathan that an administration inherits both the assets and liabilities of its predecessor in office? Hasn’t anyone told President Jonathan that his responsibilities as President include clearing the mess left by his predecessors in office while at the same time leaving his own legacies? Does President Jonathan expect sympathy from the citizens by this open admission of incompetence and resignation to failure?”

It added: “What Nigerians expect from their leader are uplifting words, words of inspiration that can bring out the hidden potential of its citizens, words that will galvanise Nigerians to positive action and imbue them with self-esteem and not the kind of lamentation of President Jonathan that has served only to confirm that the ship of state has no helmsman and everyone is at peril.”

NIGERIA’S rise to great economic heights and prosperity would only be possible through ensuring that the infrastructural sector is developed and effectively managed through Public, Private and Partnership (PPP), former Head of Interim Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, has said.

Shonekan spoke in Lagos yesterday at the National Basic and Advanced PPP Capacity Building workshops organised by the Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in Lagos.

Shonekan, who is the chairman, Governing Board of the Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), however, noted that Nigeria had not been able to harness the huge resources in the private sector to cover up the infrastructural deficit in the country because of lack of technical capacity.

“It is my prayer that we achieve a shared understanding of the fundamental principles of PPP project structuring and development towards up-scaling Nigeria’s infrastructure stock.

“Infrastructure, as we are all aware, is the backbone that drives national economic development; infrastructure drives efficiency with which goods and people are moved. Only by ensuring that this vital sector is developed and effectively managed can Nigeria rise to the great economic height and prosperity our people deserve. I expect you to champion infrastructure rebirth in Nigeria via PPP using tools and techniques you will learn from this event.

“It is an empirical fact that the technical capacity to develop and prepare bankable PPP projects is the key that will unlock private financing of infrastructure projects through PPPs in Nigeria.

“As you are aware, it is often said that the three key impediments to the rapid development of the PPP space in Nigeria is capacity, capacity and capacity for project development and preparation.”

Shonekan urged the participants to take full advantage of the well-experienced faculty and sound teaching approach adopted by the resource persons to learn to the fullest and ask questions freely to gain knowledge.

In his goodwill message, Director, Development Finance Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Paul Eluhaiwe, said Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and poor competitive stance in service delivery arising from the former, were retarding its pace towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.