SOURCE: NAIJASHARPNEWS
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday asked 37 former members of PDP to resign their seats at the House of Representatives for defecting to the opposition APC, NaijaSharpNews source has reported.

The court perpetually restrained the legislators from effecting any leadership change in the assembly.

The court was delivering judgment in a matter brought by PDP asking that the legislators should not be allowed to take part in the activities of the assembly.

The presiding judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, held that the lawmakers no longer had any business, morally and legally in the assembly.

He said they should honourably resign from their seats as members of the House of Representatives, having moved to another political party while their tenure had yet to expire.

“Having perused the arguments of counsel and the constitutional provisions, it is clear and unambiguous that the defendants were sponsored by the PDP and won the election on its platform.

“It is also the court’s opinion that their tenure has not expired and there is no division in the PDP.

“The defendants are, therefore, not competent to vote or contribute to any proceedings in the House of Representatives.

“An order of perpetual injunction is, hereby, ordered, restraining them from altering or attempting to change the leadership of the House of Reps,’’ Ademola said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the PDP had on January 7 instituted a suit seeking to restrain the House of Representatives from altering the composition of its leadership.

The party had commenced the action following the defection of 37 legislators, who won elections on its platform, to the opposition APC.

Mr. Yunus Usman (SAN), PDP’s counsel, had, while arguing the originating summons, faulted the cross-carpeting of the lawmakers, saying that the legislators did so during the dependency of a judgment.

He argued that by virtue of the October 2013 judgment of Justice Evoh Chukwu, which said there was no division in PDP, the matter had been laid to rest.

Usman further submitted that by virtue of the provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Nigerian constitution, as amended, the lawmakers ought to have vacated their seats immediately.

According to NaijaSharpNews source, Mr. Mahmoud Magaji (SAN), counsel to the defendants, had in his submission, argued that it was wrong for the PDP to have sought to restrain its former members from activities of the assembly for defecting.

Other defence counsel, Mr Niyi Akintola, SAN, Mr Sebastian Hon, SAN, Mr James Ocholi,SAN, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN, and Jibril Okutepa, SAN, had prayed the court to dismiss the suit.

Source: NaijaSharpNews
There have been heavy gunfire exchanges around the vicinity of Nigeria’s presidential palace and the headquarters of the Department of State Services in the Asokoro District of  Abuja in the past one hour, security sources and residents of the area said/.

According to NaijaSharpNews sources, the expansive headquarters of the State Security Service, popularly known as Yellow House, is almost adjacent one of the remote gates of the presidential villa.

Residents of the nearby Aso Drive Area said the gunshots were either coming out of the SSS headquarters or the presidential villa.

A resident of the area said, “We don’t know what’s going on here. Heavy gunfire has been coming from the direction of the villa. The entire area has been barricaded. SSS operatives are scampering out of their headquarters as the gunshots get louder.

“Soldiers are now heading in the direction of the SSS headquarters with Armoured Personnel Carriers. Those of us living around here have been asked to stay indoors and not venture out.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, could not be reached for comments.

But the spokesperson of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, said the gunshots were triggered by attempted jailbreak at the Service’s headquarters by suspected members of the extremist Boko Haram sect.

She said, “What happened was that the suspects handlers went to feed the detainees here but suddenly they attacked him with their handcuffs, disarmed him and started shooting.

“The military was quickly called in before they could do any harm and that is responsible for the shootings you heard.

“It was an attempted jailbreak but it has been brought under control.”

It is however not clear how detainees, held in the highly fortified complex, got guns with which they shot at soldiers and SSS operatives for over an hour.

It is also not known whether there were casualties in the attack.

Military helicopters have now been deployed and are now hovering around the area, NaijaSharpNews source has reported.

A delegate at the ongoing National Conference in Nigeria, retired police AIG Hamma Misau has died at the National Hospital in Abuja. Mallam Misau died last night of an undisclosed illness at the age of 67, NaijaSharpNews source has reported.

 Naijapals learnt that Mallam Misau became famous after a photo of him taking a nap at the conference was shared  on social media three days ago.

Barrister Mohammed Hamma a cousin to the retired police officer confirmed his demise to SaharaReporters. He said a Muslim funeral is due shortly in Bauchi for the late delegate. Mallam Hamma Misau hails from Misau in Bauchi state.

Source: NaijaSharpNews
Dear Mr. President

I write to Nigeria and our President today, not as somebody who is proud of his choice of topic, but, as a frustrated Nigerian graduate who by ways of hopelessness provoked by the inadequacies of our government, is beginning to consider the prospects of identifying with one of the groups against the State.

I am a Nigerian and I love my country Nigeria. I had my Primary and Secondary School Certificates in the North. After the qualifications, I approached South-Western Nigeria for my Degree where I joined and graduated from Nigeria’s acclaimed best University years ago. I remain a student of Logic and strategy.  My first encounter with frustration directed at the State surfaced during my Secondary School days. At that level, I nearly missed my Secondary education because my mum who remains a teacher hardly earned her worth- the State Government would pay her once in eight months. I now had to outsource. I began to serve until I completed my secondary education. My frustration was that the State was unfair to her despite the fact that she took her time to serve it.

As a student of the University of Ibadan, I won several awards. Academically, I was a leader. I was among the three top graduates our Department produced that year. I paid attention to academic details. I paid that serious attention with the hope that when I graduate, I would have the concrete, realistic opportunity to contest for a job.  This impression was to be jettisoned few months after. My first job interview was a scam. I attended the second interview and met over Five Thousand Applicants for a job that required just two slots. I later realized that, that job advert was just ceremonial. They had already employed their candidates but only wanted to deify illegality. The seventh job I applied revealed something to me. When we left for the interview, then I was a corps member with one of Nigeria’s security outfit, I realized that securing a job in Nigeria doesn’t work under the principle of what you know. It rests on who you know first. In fact, many job platforms would require at the prima facie that you to fill in your source. Should you indicate your source of information about the job to be a search engine, you will never be considered in the first place until you indicate that you know of the job from ‘a thief that matters’.

While I was busy doing my applications up and down, one of my friends who could not appropriately write his name was on his way to becoming a leader in one of Nigeria’s first-class banks. He didn’t read accounting, he didn’t read economics, he read anthropology. His choice of course was/is not the issue. The issue remains that this friend never applied for a job for once but got it three months to the time he was to finish his NYSC. Do you know his secret? He was dating a top politician’s daughter. As I speak, this friend of mine works with the ‘lender of last resort' as a senior staff. The case of my friend perfectly captures the reason why things would never work in Nigeria, why no innovation, productive steps would be registered, after all, at the end of it all, if you like, know from Maiduguri to Badagry, no one will consider you if you don’t know anybody. That is why it pisses me off when some hogs sit there and say Nigerian graduates are not employable. Why would they be employable when eighty percent of the ones you induct are ground zero, brought up only because they know you or the other that matters? Why will they do what the job requires when the only knowledge they have is that they know somebody who can press for them, or you want them in for segxwal gratification or runz?

My roll of applications continued until my 20th application. This time, I reasoned that since I cannot secure a job elsewhere and doesn’t know anybody, I should create a job for myself. I think I made a mistake here. Instead of trying to set up a legitimate job at that stage, I should have hustled criminally never to get caught for me to survive first before setting up my legitimate business. I didn’t reason that way at first because I felt the government, people in the society who would go to a public arena and tell youths to create a job for them would buy into my idea and support me. Sincerely nobody, no individual despite working with professionals to erect my proposals with demonstration of concrete gain answered me. In fact, even those who I managed to text that I am so, so person doing so, so something and that they should allow me to come and present my idea to them never picked my calls thereafter. My Vice Chancellor, Senate Minority Leader and my State Governor are victims of this and others I approached. They never allowed me to present my idea to them and never picked my called after the first introduction. Why, because I am not coming from somebody that matters, because my father doesn't hold circles with them.

The job I created which has the potential of employing at least One Hundred and Fifty Nigerians in two years time, at the moment with Eight Corps members working for it began to run its course. The money I needed was Three Hundred Thousand to assure my future and the future of close to Two Hundred Nigerians including the Corps members who shared the dream and joined the movement. Nobody came to my rescue, no individual. Now, the future of  that job platform is fuzzy.

Now that it seems I am in losing in everything recommended by the State for me to survive because of lack of support, it seems I have some options. I feel as a student of Logic/Reasoning and Intelligence, since I am of no use to the State, and the State cannot guarantee my future all rounds, I should go against the State by identifying with some of the groups against it. The State doesn’t know how I survive; that I exist is not known to it. But that group may know.

Now, I know that Government creates jobs only on paper and at worst, for the children and other relatives of those that steer it. I am not among the categories. Mine is the category of abandoned graduates who, in fact, the government call at random, force them to pay One Thousand Naira for their deaths, gather them in a stadium and kill them in the name of giving them a job.

Now I know also that the people who preach that youth should create jobs instead of depending on Government should not be taken seriously. How can a youth who can barely eat, who although has graduated, is been frustrated and kept out of job by these Chairmen, create a job when you cannot support him/her when he comes to you? In fact, it pays to know that you talk of other ways of psyching one than embarrassing your tongue.

Your Excellency, to stay and die hungry pays less than to die with food in the belly. If you were in my shoe and you had the option of joining Boko Haram, Yahoo Yahoo to feed once and be killed, with killing under probability, and, may be, remain something for your family on the one hand, and  to starve and  die of  hunger because the society has refused to help you in all ways you have tried to be useful within the law, nothing for your family whatsoever, under the circumstances discussed above, which one will you choose?      I hope I will get this answer before the  job I have created will crumble, before the graduates working with me finally give up to consider what no one would welcome but could happily be done by a hungry and frustrated graduate!

Thank You Mr. President

From a frustrated Graduate

Via.

Via sent this via [email protected] to NaijaSharpNews.

Source: NaijaSharpNews
The European Parliament is planning sanctions against Nigeria and Uganda over their anti-gay laws, NaijaSharpNews source has reported.

The two countries have violated the Cotonou accord on human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, MEPs voted on Thursday (March 13).

According to AFP, there could be targeted sanctions, including restrictions on travel and visas, against “the key individuals responsible for drafting and adopting”.

Janusz Lewandowsk, EU Budget Commissioner, told MEPs that Brussels had already “had very frank discussions with the two countries” following the introduction of anti-gay laws in recent months.

“The outcome of these contacts will be very important in determining how our relations with Nigeria and Uganda develop under the Cotonou accord,” Lewandowski added.

A statement added that the European Parliament plans to review aid to the countries, but will aim to redirect it towards civil society rather than suspending it altogether.

Last month, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed an anti-gay bill on live television that could see gay people facing life imprisonment.

Earlier this year, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan signed a similar bill, which could see gay people facing lengthly custodial sentences, as well as banning advocacy of LGBTI rights.

Source: NaijaSharpNews
The immediate past Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu, on Tuesday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo remained the worst leader Nigeria had had since its independence in 1960, NaijaSharpNews source has reported.
Kalu spoke at an annual lecture organised by the Department of Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
He presented the keynote address, entitled ‘Youth Empowerment and Good Governance: Veritable Tools for Economic Development’.
The former Abia State governor said the closure of Hallmark Bank, where he (Kalu) had significant stake and Slok Air, were efforts deployed by Obasanjo to deal with him.
He said the former President’s action against Hallmark Bank and Slok Air slowed down the employment opportunities he (Kalu) would have created for Nigerians.
Kalu, however, enjoined the federal and state governments to initiate entrepreneurship programmes that would help achieve economic development.
The former governor said to achieve meaningful development, governments at all levels must empower the youths.
He observed that economic development was a major criterion for national development. NaijaSharpNews quotes him as saying-
”If there is no economic stability in the world, there will be no political stability,” Kalu said.
He added, ”Economic development can only be possible when youth empowerment and good governance are firmly rooted, and the true measure of good governance is the ability of a government to realise people’s human rights and deliver sustainable and equitable development.
”As long as there is corruption, economic development may remain a mirage. There is great need for all of us, especially the government to work hard and work together to eliminate poverty.
”I urge the federal and state governments to make good use of the potentials found in the economic departments in our country because it is the department that should be the centre of research for government at various levels.”

Source: NaijaSharpPNews
At least 89 people have been killed in North-Eastern Nigeria following two attacks by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect, NaijaSharpNews sources have reported. Two bombs blast in the city of Maiduguri on  Saturday killed at least 50. Just few hours ago, fresh attack unleashed on the people of Mainok left 39 others dead. the attacks is coming few hours after the relocation of the Chief of Army Staff,  Gen  Minimah to the North-East.

Source: NaijaSharpNews
News reaching NaijaSharpNews from reliable sources in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital, indicates that the home town of the Benue State Governor, Governor Gabriel Torwua Suswam Tingir, has been taken hostage by nomads in the State. Our sources in Makurdi said the assembly of attackers stormed the Governor's home town, Anyim,  in tens this afternoon, and also invaded Azege, Ayilmo, Iorza and Sevav  all in Logo local govt area of Benue state. Hundreds of People have been displaced as a result of today's unfortunate attack, NaijaSharpNews sources have said. The number of casualties have not been ascertained yet as at the time of filing in the report.

It can be recalled that the Benue State Governor, acting under the instruction of the President, Goodluck Jonathan, moved to sift Nomads out of the State, a move that provoked an attack that claimed  the lives of over 50 local residents late last month.

Moves to secure the police side of the story were unsuccessful as calls put through relevant Police authorities in the State did not go through.

The Justice Department is moving to seize more than half a billion dollars of allegedly corrupt proceeds from former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and his associates, in what officials called the largest such action in U.S. history, NaijaSharpNews source has reported.

In a court filing unsealed Wednesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., government lawyers said the U.S. has already frozen more than $458 million in bank accounts around the world, and seeks to recover at least $100 million more.

The seizure is part of a kleptocracy initiative, aimed at recovering money that was looted by dictators from their own countries. According to NaijaSharpNews source

“General Abacha was one of the most notorious kleptocrats in memory, who embezzled billions from the people of Nigeria while millions lived in poverty,” said Mythili Raman, head of the Justice Department’s criminal division.

The U.S. government has moved to freeze $313 million in accounts in the Bailiwick of Jersey and $145 million in accounts in France. There are also investment portfolios and bank accounts in the United Kingdom worth at least $100 million that the U.S. has targeted, the official said.

Gen. Abacha became president of Nigeria in a military coup in 1993 and ran the country until his death in 1998. U.S. authorities charge that Gen. Abacha, his son Mohammed Sani Abacha, their associate Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and others embezzled or misappropriated billions of dollars from the government of Nigeria and others, and laundered the money by buying bonds backed by the United States using U.S. financial institutions.

Under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, the Justice Department seeks to seize the proceeds of foreign officials’ corruption and return the money to the harmed countries.

Source: NaijaSharpNews
Sponsors of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, have been warned to desist from their wicked and damnable acts or be prepared to face the wrath of both God and the full weight of the law. Major Almustapha who said he would do everything necessary within the law to hang insurgency, warned those involved to be fully prepared for the consequencies of their actions, NaijaSharpNews sources have reported.
 
The former Chief Security Officer, CSO, to late General Sani Abacha, gave the warning weekend in Orlu, Imo State, while speaking at a free skills acquisition and empowerment programme for over 3,000 unemployed youths, powered by a non-governmental organization.
 
‘The perpetrators and sponsors of this dastardly act should know that the innocent blood they shed on Nigerian soil will definitely work against them’, Al-Mustapha said. He roundly condemned the recent massacre of innocent students of Federal Government College, Bunu Yadi, by Boko Haram insurgents, stressing that such act was bad to extreme.
 
In his own address, the Chairman, National Population Commission, NPC, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, SAN, said Nigeria is beset with myriad of problems, which pose great challenges to the peaceful coexistence and welfare of the Nigerian people.
 
‘The increasing rate of armed robbery, kidnapping and other serious social vices is no doubt a product of the growing unemployment rate in the country’, Duruiheoma reasoned. While saying that solving this gigantic task of unemployment is beyond what the Federal Government alone can undertake, Chief Duruiheoma also opined that it requires the patriotic intervention of all stakeholders and well meaning Nigerians.
 
‘The provision of employment is one sure way of improving the quality of the population that will complement the laudable goals of the NPC. For an intervention project of this nature, there will be need for accurate and reliable demographic data for planning purposes’, Duruiheoma said.

Source: NaijaSharpNews
The DEPUTY Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Albert Akintoye, Friday,  alleged that the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, embezzled  the N110 million meant for some projects in his constituency. Hon Akintoye raised the allegation when the House Committee on Niger Delta met last week to examine the utilisation of the budget committed to the Ministry in 2013 for the realization of some projects in the oil rich Region, NaijaSharpNews correspondents have said.

According to the Deputy Chairman, of the projects meant for Mr. Orubebe to handle, it was only the one of his constituency fixed at N110 million that was ignored by the Minister after the allocation was made. According to Hon. Akintoye, Mr. Orubebe could not provide explanations on the whereabouts of the money in question. The acting Minister of the Ministry, Mr Deirus Ishaku, could not as well provide answers on the status of the money when he was asked by the House.

The committee invited the ministry of Niger Delta and the office of the Special Adviser to the president on Amnesty to explain to the committee how the 2013 budget was implemented and what they proposed in the 2014 budget.
Speaking on the missing N110 million after the budget defence, Akintoye expressed dismay over the total rejection of his constituency by the erstwhile Minister, saying he would not allow anybody to drag his political career to guilt.
He explained that “the fund was released for the constituency projects in the 2013 budget, but my constituency money was not released when all were released and all efforts since then to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of the money proved abortive”.
“I am the only PDP member from Ondo state in the House and as deputy chairman of the committee I’m not expected to be treated like this.
“The money is N110m  and has been in the ministry in the 2013 budget and 99 percent of the money were released to the listed constituency to benefit from the funds”, he stated.

Source: NaijaSharpNews
Armed Robbers numbering  seven today stormed  the branch of  the Vine Branch Church located at Yemetu, Ibadan, in Oyo State killing two policemen in the process of executing their mission in the Church. Confirming the incident to NaijaSharpNews correspondents in Ibadan, the State Police Command's Public Relations Officer, DSP. Olasibi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor said men of the State Police Command engaged the robbers in a gun duel that led to the deaths of the two officers.

On why the Police were drafted to the Church, the State Police spokesperson said the Church had made an arrangement with a bank in Ibadan to move its returns for  safekeeping, thereby necessitating the presence of the Police escorts.  According to DSP. Olabisi Ilobanafor, no arrest has been made and no property of the church was taken by the criminals. No member of the church was caught in the firefight.

The Spokesperson who regretted the incident, said Police in the State have been deployed to ensure that the criminals are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

Source: NaijaSharpNews
In his remarks secured by NaijaSharpNews, Gov Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State raised very important questions, answers to which we may determine whether Boko Haram is purely a political organization or not... the Questions as extracted by NaijaSharpNews include-

“In Buni-Yadi, Yobe State, the soldiers withdrew
from checkpoint hours to the attack. Who ordered the withdrawal?...

In Shuwa and Michika,
soldiers withdrew, shortly
after that Boko Haram attacked, who ordered the withdrawals”?

“We also have the case of Gen. Mohammed Shuwa
(who was killed) in Maiduguri by the so-called Boko Haram.
There is an army unit there, but they didn’t respond during the attack. Who told them not to respond?

“The Air Force base was raided in Maiduguri. There
was a military base nearby; who gave the base the order not to
respond during the raid on the Air Force base?

“Either this thing is controlled by unknown
fellows or unknown Boko Haram strategic
commander is in the
defence system or are things being stage-managed?”

-GOV MURTALA NYAKO

Source: NaijaSharpNews
This picture obtained by NaijaSharpNews,  is embarrassing.It is an insult, in fact,  the highest. It is an embarrassment to the people down and the Minister greeting them. It is very idiotic on the part of the Minister to have even allowed this kind of scene.  This is disgusting. Its a shame. This human being called Orubebe is not even looking at them. He cannot even ask them to rise.  Shame on you in this character.
As -George Onmonya Daniel puts it, 'This is not some Nollywood movie. This is true. This is the height of arrogance and madness of Nigerian LOOTERS. This is really pathetic. What the hell is this? Loot billions and make yourself god. That's why they steal'

Source:NaijaSharpNews
Soldiers abandoned checkpoints and fled into the bush, leaving five villages and a town at the mercy of Islamic extremists who killed at least 13 people and firebombed a theological college in overnight attacks in northeast Nigeria that lasted hours, survivors told NaijaSharpNews source on Thursday.

On Tuesday, extremists killed 59 students when they struck a school in Yobe state, hours after soldiers were inexplicably withdrawn from a roadblock set up to protect the institution.

The recent string of assaults in an Islamic uprising gripping the northeast of Africa's biggest oil producer comes amid widespread criticism of military failures despite a 9-month-old state of emergency.

"It is curious that under an emergency rule when security operatives are on red alert, this mayhem still persists," Senate president David Mark said Wednesday in a statement calling the attacks an "open declaration of war."

Visiting African leaders also condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with Nigeria as it began official centenary celebrations Thursday marking the unification under British colonizers of the mainly Muslim north and majority Christian south.

It began with a conference on human security and a keynote address by French President Francois Hollande, who said Nigeria's struggles are France's struggles. He pledged support for Nigeria's fight against terrorism.

The latest attacks began around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on Kirchinga village of Adamawa state, near the border with Cameroon, with insurgents in a convoy of 13 all-terrain pickup trucks shooting as they lobbed firebombs into thatch-roofed huts.

Villagers fled but the attackers pursued them all the way to neighbouring Shuwa town, according to survivors who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

"When the soldiers at the military checkpoints saw the number of the attackers, they retreated into the nearby bushes as the gunmen operated without challenge during the operation that lasted throughout the night," said a pastor in Shuwa.

Blasts from firebombs could still be heard at 2:30 a.m. Thursday, survivors said.

The pastor said the soldiers remained in hiding while the assailants set numerous buildings on fire in Shuwa, including banks, a police station, the homes of prominent residents and a bishop, and a seminary.

They said at least 13 people were killed in Kirchinga and Shuwa, but the toll was expected to rise when the dead are counted in other attacked villagers.

Nigeria's military and President Goodluck Jonathan have insisted that the soldiers have the upper hand in the conflict. But the increasing frequency and deadliness of attacks appear to challenge those claims — more than 300 civilians have been killed so far in February in the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, all under the state of emergency that covers one-sixth of Africa's most populous nation.

Entire towns and villages were under the sway of the Boko Haram terrorist network when Jonathan declared the state of emergency in May. The military quickly forced the insurgents out of urban areas, only to have them regroup in forests and mountain caves where it has proved difficult to flush them out.

The military said recent attacks are being perpetrated by extremists escaping a sustained aerial bombardment and ground assaults on their forest hideouts along the border with Cameroon, an offensive begun after Jonathan fired and replaced his entire military command last month. On Saturday, the military announced it had closed hundreds of miles of the border with Cameroon to prevent militants using it as a launch pad for attacks.

Tens of thousands of people have lost family members, homes, all their belongings, businesses and livelihoods and thousands of acres of farmland have been abandoned by refugees who have fled the insurgents as well as the fallout from a military campaign tainted by gross human rights abuses.

Gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram terrorists, yesterday,  invaded Michika town and Shuwa village of Adamawa State, killing scores of residents before setting ablaze 3 commercial banks, houses and shops mainly  located along Maiduguri-Gombi-Adamawa federal highway, NaijaSharpNews sources have said.

Sources said, “the gunmen using Hilux vehicles and armed with Rocket Propelled Launchers and Improvised Explosive Devices invaded Michika town at about 4am on Thursday and wreaked havoc.

*Boko haram

“Apart from the attack on Michika, NaijaSharpNews sources said another group of terrorists attacked Shuwa village at about 4:45 am , setting ablazed many houses before fleeing the scene.”

“Also destroyed in the coordinated attacks are several number of vehicles and motorcycles parked on major streets”. The source said.
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Source: NaijaSharpNews
By Mark Simmonds, Foreign Officer Minister

Thank you, Mr President. Your Excellencies, distinguished guests: I am honoured to represent the British Government today – and to bring with me warm congratulations and best wishes from Her Majesty the Queen, on Nigeria’s 100th birthday.

It is a particular privilege to join you all as my Prime Minister’s representative, to celebrate this important day and to strengthen and renew the unique ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

I am honoured, Mr President, to speak today of Nigeria and Africa. I am always struck by Nigeria’s youth and vitality. I believe strongly that your country, and the countries represented here today, should be viewed through the lens of promise and ambition. I want to take this opportunity to focus on the great future ahead of Nigeria and its African counterparts face.

It is a future that is closely linked to the achievement of prosperity, stability and democracy. And I believe that, as is the case in Europe, it is the choices African leaders make in these three areas that will determine Africa’s future.

Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, said on Independence Day in 1960 that Nigeria’s relations with the UK were “always as friends.” That is as true now as 54 years ago.

Our relationship is rooted in our joint history; in the large and important Nigerian community in the UK; the deep and expanding trade relationship; and our countless educational, sporting and cultural connections.

So it is exciting to recognize, as we stand at the dawn of a new century for Nigeria, that the future brings with it extraordinary possibilities for your country, and for many African nations.

In 1914, the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates and Lagos, brought together peoples, territory and resources that had never before considered themselves as having mutual interests. That brought challenges- and perhaps still does.

But Nigeria’s diversity has brought the Country strength, resilience and a multitude of talent. It has growing international influence as a peacekeeper, as a leader in the African Union and on the UN Security Council. The Country has become the driving economic and political force of its region.

A child born in 1914 in Nigeria, joined a population of just 17 and a half million people. Now, the population is 10 times that figure.

In Nigeria today, more than 18,000 children will be born. In their lives, they could see Africa’s population quadruple; its GDP triple; a world where one child in every three is African.

They could witness extraordinary social, political, and economic shifts, boosting this continent’s global role as never before.

But, they could also suffer from the impacts of climate change and witness unprecedented competition, at every level, and perhaps unsustainable demands on Africa’s resources and environment. They will need productive jobs and will want a political, economic and social voice. Managing these challenges will test the leadership and vision of all those here today.

I believe we share a vision that we want to see realised in our lifetime. It is the vision of independent, thriving and dynamic African countries, overcoming poverty, famine and conflict.

It is the vision of African families raised without disease; economies managed effectively, linked to open markets and providing jobs. It is the vision of African states governed with the consent and participation of their peoples and fundamental rights protected for everyone, regardless of your gender, ethnicity, belief, disability or segxwality.

Whether it is in the tech hubs of Lagos and Nairobi or the scientific innovation in South Africa, energy and ambition can be found everywhere in Africa. This is why the United Kingdom is positive about the bright future for many African nations. This is thanks in large part to the achievements that many African governments have made, over the last decade, in lifting millions of people out of poverty and conflict. I would like to put on the record my admiration for this achievement.

These achievements have brought African countries a long way. But if the vision that I have set out and which I believe we share is to be truly realised, African governments must now allow their countries to flourish. While some African governments are helping their countries to take off, others are yet to make a clear choice between building open governments, institutions and economies, or putting up barriers, oppressing minorities and ruling through fear and violence. I have no doubt about which choice Africans expect of their governments.

In 1914, as Nigeria was being born, Europe stood on the verge of tearing itself apart. Europe’s future was uncertain. Its path towards democracy, prosperity and stability unclear. It was the choices European leaders made that have brought European countries to where they are today. Many of those choices brought success. But, as we sadly know, some of the choices brought terror and devastation to millions.

If African nations are to avoid in the next century the mistakes European nations made over the last 100 years, then ultimately, African leaders – you here today – must make the right choices.

It is no exaggeration that the leaders here today hold in their hands the fate of possibly 1 billion people and their prosperity.

I have been privileged to see the ancient mosques of Timbuktu and to sit on the shores of Lake Kivu. I have been from Addis to Abidjan; from Cape Town to Khartoum. I’ve seen the mosaic of nations, cultures and histories that make up Africa’s richness.

Africa’s variety defies easy categorisation. But I believe there may be a guiding narrative that will critical to Africa’s emergence: three areas in which the success of African governments will not be judged by rhetoric, but by outcomes. They are democracy, prosperity and security.

The first choice is on democracy: African nations will need to direct themselves with determination towards democracy. This is a call from Africans themselves, who – with a smart-phone in their hand and twitter at their fingertips – want to shape and define their future; choose committed leaders and hold them accountable.

By virtue of her scale and energy, Nigeria could lead the way. Next February’s elections will be a vital milestone - Nigeria’s fifth consecutive Presidential election under civilian rule. Mr President, you have committed yourself to ensuring that the elections are free and fair. I am confident Nigerians will accept nothing less. And in doing so, you and your government could be a role model for many other African governments.

Secondly, thanks to the rising African middle class, strong growth rates, and increasing stability, African economies are on the verge of take off. But, to get the wheels off the ground, African economies will need to choose to couple transparent, capable and visionary economic management with investments in infrastructure, education and energy.

At the same time, the journey towards sustainable prosperity can only be fuelled through African governments taking strides to unlock barriers to markets; reducing the cost of doing business; and stamping out corruption.

Here, once again Nigeria is critical to success in the region and beyond. Non-oil growth is still 6%. But there’s potential for much more: genuinely transformational growth, especially if privatisation underway in the power sector delivers what it promises.

But democracies do not flourish nor do economies grow in the midst of instability. So the final area I want to highlight – for Nigeria and elsewhere - is the imperative of providing security for all citizens. Any government has the right, and indeed the obligation to defend its territory and people from terrorism. As it does so, it also has a duty to be the protector of its citizens and their universal and inalienable human rights.

The defence of Africa’s people, and the proportionate use of legal force, are mutually reinforcing. The UK will partner African governments in seeking the eradication of violent extremism. But if we ignore the values that we want our own children to benefit from, we will act as a recruiter for the likes of Boko Haram and Al Shabaab. We must not forget what it is that we defend.

The UK will continue to work with you all on African issues in the UN Security Council. We are partners in the Commonwealth, which African countries continue to join. We want to see a strong, ambitious African Union. We are opening Embassies and High Commissions across Africa, building linkages and strengthening our understanding. And we are expanding our network of trade and investment experts throughout African countries.

UK Aid has been transformative for many African countries, tackling the roots of poverty and conflict and building the foundations for countries that can flourish. Our commitment to working in partnership on development – as here in Nigeria – remains. It is right that my government made a brave decision in 2010, in spite of the UK’s serious economic challenges, not to balance our books on the backs of Africa’s poor.

We are one of Africa’s largest traders. Indeed, in Nigeria we remain the largest investor, and are making strides to meet our ambition to double bilateral trade here, from £4 billion in 2011 to £8 billion this year.

As one of the world’s largest exporters and with our global leadership in education; logistics; retailing; creative industries; hydrocarbons; agriculture; banking; renewable energy; pharmaceuticals; financial services; extractives; research and development; and with businesses that pride themselves on sound ethical governance, the UK has much to offer Africa’s emerging economies.

Some will say we are doing these things out of self-interest. Let’s be clear. It is in the UK interest to promote democracy, stability and prosperity. But it is also in Africa’s interest too. And it’s an indicator of Africa’s importance in the 21st Century that the UK, and many other nations, seeks to build and sustain the partnerships that will take African countries well into the next century.

I want to see Africa, Africans and African nations succeed. There is a bright future for this continent; fuelled by its energy, entrepreneurship and ambition. As Nigeria has shown, much has already been achieved.

Yet, the future journey will not be easy, the challenges will be great. But that opportunity that is at the fingertips of so many African people – with their governments’ help – must be seized. It is about making the right choices. It is about bringing true democracy, prosperity and stability to every one of your citizens.

Last year, we saw the parting of one of the World’s greatest leaders: Nelson Mandela. His death has left a challenge to all political leaders – Africa’s included – to meet the aspirations of our people, to demonstrate the same “servant leadership” that Mandela showed us. To choose transparency, to choose reconciliation, to choose partnership and opportunity for all.

So again I wish Nigeria a happy hundredth birthday. And I look forward to the next century of our partnership, and of Nigerian – and African – success.

Source: NaijaSharpNews
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, has described the suspension of Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as a bad omen for Nigeria. Hon. Tambuwal made the statement in Ogun shortly after a closed door meeting with the erstwhile President of Nigeria, President Olusegun Obasanjo, NaijaSharpNews Correspondents in Ogun have reported.

Honourable Tambuwal who hailed the legal post-suspension moves by the CBN Governor, reminded  Nigerians that the House had already taken a stand on the suspension and will follow up the legal dimension assumed by Sanusi.

Asked whether Sanusi's suspension will introduce economic inconsistencies for the country, the Speaker said he was not an economics. On his mission in Ota, the House of Reps leader said he was in Ogun to discuss issues of National importance. Speaker Tambuwal who described Obasanjo as the key in the management of Nigeria, reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP at all levels.

Source: NaijaSharpNews
The Governor of Benue State, Governor Gabriel Torwua Suswam Tingir, has said those behind the sustained attacks and killings of innocent Benue indigenes are terrorists who only disguise as herdsmen, NaijaSharpNews correspondent in Makurdi has reported. Gov Suswam, in his comments made after the recent killings in the State  said the terrorists in Benue have assumed the herdsmen dimension only to attract public sympathy while executing unarmed and peace loving people of the State.

The Governor who enjoined Benue residents to cooperate with security agents disposed to the State, said the President has directed that stiff security measures be applied in the State in a bid to contain the killings.

"The recent attacks on Benue State including parts of Makurdi have displaced lots of people and disrupted the peaceful co - existence of
 our dear state. l had approached Mr. President and he promptly sent a Team of Security Agents (GOC of Nigeria Army and a DlG of Police,
 Operations) to quickly move to end the terrorist attacks. These terrorists disguise as herdsmen so as to attract public sympathy while killing innocent and unarmed people. We are determined not just to end the attacks but bring the terrorists to justice.
 l enjoin you to remain calm and cooperate with the security agents to suceed as you go about your normal businesses, I sympathise with those who have lost loved ones and properties to these senseless killings" Governor Suswam is quoted to have said.

Source: NaijaSharpNews
To forestall any breach of security in Lagos State, especially in the light of intelligence report that some dislodged Boko Haram sect members are relocating to the South-west, personnel of the Nigerian Army (NA) have been placed on high alert in strategic areas and flash points, NaijaSharpNews source has reported.

This is just as the Army in the last seven months has arrested about 54 members of the sect in different operations in Lagos and recovered as many as 14 explosives, AK47 rifles and various types of ammunition from the arrested suspects.

The outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the NA, Major General Obi Umahi, made this disclosure in an interview with journalists during the change of guard to mark his handing over to his successor, Major General TI Dibi.
It would be recalled that the Army had not long ago arrested over 60 Boko Haram suspects who had sneaked into the state after being dislodged from the North-east.

Umahi urged his successor never to work on the assumption that elements of Boko Haram sect are not within the command’s Area of Responsibility (AOR), adding that he should keep watch round the clock and ensure that his alertness level remains high.
Umahi said one of his trying moments as GOC 81 Division was the realities of the existence of Boko Haram elements within Lagos and Ogun States, which are within the commands area of responsibility.

He said, “The most trying moment for me was the point we realised that we were already living with Boko Haram elements. Though we had always assumed they could be around, the realities did not dawn on us until we made the first arrest of 12 suspects.
“At that point, we had to expand our dragnets and spread out networks to garner as many within as possible. This proved a tedious challenge for us but, at the end, we were able to mop 42 of them up. So, I can say that I am leaving Lagos safer than I met it.”

He added, “While some of the initial 12 were set free after screening from the State Security Service (SSS), others are currently facing trial with exhibits such as 14 explosives, AK47 rifles and various types of ammunition, among others.
“The 42 who were subsequently arrested by the command have been profiled, screened and are awaiting trial by the appropriate authorities,” he said.

Umahi said, “They did not come to us as well prepared military intelligence but as rumour. All the same, we do not leave any information lying down. We have acted in response to it and the signs are evident in all military formations.”

Last July, a national daily,  THISDAY, had reported on how a two-week raid carried out by a Joint Task Force led by operatives of the Nigerian Army, 81 Division Headquarters, Lagos, may have saved residents in Lagos and Ogun States from possible attacks by terrorists, who had already perfected plans to simultaneously bomb 16 landmark locations in Lagos including tank farms in Apapa and Ijora as well as the popular Third Mainland Bridge.B