I beg you in God's name- President Buhari begs Militants

– President Buhari begged militants to stop their attack

– He noted that they had weapons similar to Boko Haram

– The president said the economy was greatly affected by the activities of the militants

President Muhammadu Buhari has send a strong plea to members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to stop the havoc on oil and gas pipeline in the country.

The militant group has claimed responsibility for series of destruction on oil facilities in the Niger Delta region and has vowed to continue with the attack until zero oil is produced in the region.

Vanguard reports that President Buhari on Friday, June 24 pleaded with the militants in God’s name to stop their attack.

The activity of the militants has reduced the production of oil in the country thereby affecting it economically.

Also, the destruction of gas pipeline has also affected the provision of electricity in Nigeria.

The president noted that many militant groups were operating in the region and that some of them were armed with sophisticated weapons similar to what Boko Haram was using in the north east.

He also noted that the economy was badly affected by the activities of the militants.

Meanwhile, former militant leaders in Bayelsa state condemned the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers and other groups in the Niger Delta region, saying it was in no way aimed at advancing the interest of the people.
The ex-militant leaders led by General Africa Ukpariasa, General Pastor Reuben and the current local government caretaker committee chairman, Joshua Maciver issued a statement after a meeting with presidential adviser on Niger Delta, Paul Boroh‎; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu; the Bayelsa state governor, Henry Seriake Dickson and other stakeholders in the state.

How Fayose erred with his allegation against Aisha Buhari

– Governor Fayose unknowingly erred with his allegation against Aisha Buhari

– Fayose confuses the Halliburton scandal of 1994 with the Jefferson corruption of 2005

– The Hallibuton bribery scandal and the Jefferson bribery cases happened at least 11 years apart

A report on Premium Times has shown how Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state unknowingly mixed up the Halliburton scandal of 1994 with the Jefferson corruption of 2005 in his allegations against the first lady Aisha Buhari.

Both cases came to public awareness again after Governor Ayodele Fayose relived the controversy on Monday, June 20, stressing the role played by the first lady Aisha Buhari in the messy Halliburton scandal.

The governor’s outburst came after his personal account in Zenith Bank was frozen by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to Fayose, his rights have been trampled on by the anti-graft agency.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said President Buhari was far from being a clean man.

“Even the President cannot claim to be an angel,” the governor said, in reaction to the freezing of his Zenith Bank account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton Scandal (sic). When that American, Jefferson, was being sentenced, the President’s wife was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson. Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can serialize the judgment for people to see and read,” the statement added.

Fayose repeated the claim in a statement he released on Wednesday, June 22, by his chief press secretary, Idowu Adelusi. He said Mrs. Buhari refused to travel with the president to the United States because of her involvement in the scandal.

He said: “It is on record that the President has visited USA three times and his wife did not travel with him. Equally, she ought to have visited the USA last year September to chair a United Nation programme but she sent wife of the Senate president, Mrs Toyin Saraki to represent her.”

However, Premium Times’ fact check has shown how Governor Fayose erred in his allegation against Mrs Buhari.

According to the media platform, Fayose’s had clearly confused the Halliburton scandal with Jefferson corruption case when he said “Buhari’s wife was indicted over the Halliburton Scandal.”

William Jefferson case

Although, he cited the Halliburton scandal in his allegation against Aisha Buhari, Fayose was actually referring to the William Jefferson case of 1994.

Jefferson, between 2000 and 2005, used his position as member of the U.S. House of Representatives to offer illegal services to private companies for cash rewards.

However, investigations into the Jefferson bribery started in 2005 after an investor alleged he paid $400,000 in bribe through Jefferson, for him to help persuade top government officials in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon approve the use of a Kentucky-based technology company, iGate’s two-way broadband technology.

It was gathered that Jefferson and his family, according to US authorities, received the mentioned amount through his firm, ANJ Group, for services rendered to iGate, an American broadband technology provider.

On 30 July, 2005, FBI agents videotaped Mr. Jefferson receiving $100,000 in $100 bills in a leather briefcase at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Virginia.

He was also recorded telling an investor Lori Mody, who was acting undercover for the FBI that he needed to bribe former Vice President Atiku Abubakar with $500,000, which he described as a “motivating factor” to secure the broadband contract for iGate in Nigeria but unknown to Jefferson, Mody was wearing a wire.

In August 2005, FBI agents raided Jefferson’s home and congressional office and

Military coup: Read what Nigerian army plans to do next

– Information coming from the Nigerian army indicates that those behind peddling the rumours of a military coup to overthrow President Muhammadu Buhari’s government will be investigated and tracked down

– On Wednesday, June 22, it was reported that some army officers met some Niger Delta militants in order to back them in them taking over the government of President Buhari

The Nigerian army said there was never any thing like a military coup to overthrow the present government. The army authority said it will do all within its power to see that the people linked to such “dangerous” rumour are fished out and thereafter face the music.

Col Sani Usman, director of public relations of Nigerian army revealed in a statement on Thursday, June 23 that the Nigerian army as a product of democracy would never think of such “anti-democratic misadventure.”

Usman said under the leadership of the chief of army staff, Tukur Buratai,, the army would rather remain focused as a professional institution that would have nothing to do with such “abomination and heinous crime.”

Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff speaking to newsmen
The army spokeman who spoke on behalf of the command said the military will continue to remain loyal to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Force, President Buhari, come rain, come shine.

The statement the army released to dismiss the military coup allegation is given below:

“The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to another campaign of calumny and distraction by faceless criminal gang of economic saboteurs that hide under the aegis of Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF) alleging that some officers of the Nigerian Army approached them for support to overthrow our duly elected present democratic government.

“This is baseless and most unfortunate allegation that existed in the warped minds of the originators of such weighty allegation. The Nigerian Army wish to state that this is not true and hereby distanced itself from this weighty allegation.

“We also see this speculation as a dangerous distraction to our effort in fighting insurgency and other criminal elements in the country.

“The Nigerian Army would like to send a strong and an unequivocal warning to those speculating a coup by the Nigerian Army (NA) against the Government to desist forthwith. We would like state in clear terms that we are a product of democracy and a focused professional institution and would have nothing to do with such abomination and heinous crime.

“We wish to state further that the NA is the greatest beneficiary of democracy and therefore cannot ever contemplate any anti-democratic misadventure, certainly not under the command of the present Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai. Rather, we see this type of dangerous speculation as a declaration of war to destabilise the present government by these unscrupulous elements.

“The Nigerian Army is investigating those behind the dangerous insinuation in order to unravel the real motive behind it.

“We would like to reiterate our unalloyed loyalty to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We would also like to reaffirm our unconditional support and obedience to civil authority.

“We wish to further assure Nigerians and indeed all peace loving people that the Nigerian Army and indeed its personnel will never be involved in such terrible misadventure.

“We wish to further add that no matter how long it takes, we would track and find out those behind these insinuations and bring them to justice.”

On Wednesday, June 22, the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF) alleged that some people were ready to instigate anarchy in the Niger Delta region, as part 

BREAKING NEWS: Senator Ben Bruce in serious trouble

– Senator Ben Bruce might be losing some of his assets to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON)

– AMCON is set to take over 3 companies belonging to Ben Murray-Bruce and his brothers

– The asset seizure scheduled for Thursday, June  23, is due to the lawmaker’s failure to off-set a huge loan

– Senator Ben-Bruce and his brothers reportedly failed to settle an N11 billion loan owed Union Bank and acquired by AMCON.

Ben Bruce’s assets to be taken over by AMCON.
AMCON was established on July 9, 2010, as a key stabilizing and re-vitalizing tool for stabilising the nation’s financial system.

Its enabling law empowers it to acquire non-performing loan assets of Nigerian banks at fair values and then put them to economic use in a profitable manner.

Senator Bruce and his brothers had allegedly been using their companies between 2005 and 2007 with various sums of money borrowed from Union Bank.

After they repeatedly defaulted in paying back, AMCON purchased the loan in 2011 to save the bank from collapsing.

AMCON is now seizing the assets belonging to the four companies used in securing the loan – Silverbird Productions Limited, Silverbird Showtime Limited and Silverbird Galleria Limited.

The properties include those at 133, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, Plot No 1161 (Silverbird Galleria), the plaza at Central Area Cadastral Zone AOO, Abuja, and the magnificent structure located at Abonnema Wharf Road and Abali Park in Port Harcourt City of Rivers state.

Premium Times reports that the planned takeover followed the June 17 interim orders granted by Justice Cecilia Olatoregun-Ishola of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/790/16 – Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria & 3 Ors. v. Ben Murray Bruce & 4 Ors.

The order allows the Receiver/Manager to take possession of the said properties. AMCON had on April 18 appointed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, appointed Muiz Banire, the receiver/manager over the sprawling properties.

Named as defendants in the suits are Senator Murray-Bruce, Guy Murray-Bruce, Michael Murray-Bruce, Guy Murray-Bruce and Jonathan Murray-Bruce, who is the senator’s first son.

An AMCON insider said Mr Banire had concluded arrangements to take over the assets on Thursday morning (today).

First page of court order clearing AMCON to take over Senator Ben Bruce’s assets.

First page of court order clearing AMCON to take over Senator Ben Bruce’s assets.

As of the time of filing this report, Silverbird TV station has stopped live transmission of its programmes. Also Rhythm FM is said to have shutdown operations as at the same time.

Guests and staff have also been asked to vacate all premises of the Silverbird TV stations and Cinemas.

In the same vein, the Lagos division of the Federal High Court has frozen the accounts of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, which is owned by Ifeanyi Ubah.

The court action was sequel to a request of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) for an interim injunction against the company.

According to The Punch, Justice M.B. Idris, while granting the exparte order on the application of Mr. A. B. Mahmoud SAN, counsel for AMCON, on Wednesday April 13, restrained Capital Oil and Gas and Ubah from dealing with any assets or funds of the company within the jurisdiction of the court.

The court also gave order freezing all the bank accounts of the company until the matter is finally determined.

Ubah, who is a major player in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry has been in a protracted negotiation and court battles with AMCON who purchased nearly N100bn debt of Capital Oil and Gas from several banks.

The federal government on Monday, May 30, made fresh moves to recover loans granted to various commercial banks and cooperate organizations in Nigeria.

The recovery of loans granted by the Asset Management Corpor

SHOCKING: Army planning to overthrow President Buhari's government- JNDLF

– The Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF), a body of different militant groups has warned President Muhammadu Buhari

– The group made this known on Tuesday, June 21 while revealing that some top army officers are planning to sack Buhari’s government through a coup d’état

JNDLF, which claimed responsibility for the threats issued on launching a missile attack which caused pandemonium in the Niger Delta region, stressed that people behind the coup plot were getting ready to instigate anarchy in the region, as part of their ulterior motive to overthrow Buhari’s government.

The militants revealed this in an electronic statement that some high ranking army officers were already involved in the plan of the coup, because they approached the leaders of their group, with an appeal that they should continue with the ongoing attacks on oil installations and petroleum pipelines.

JNDLF alleged that the “coup plotters” wanted to use the continued destruction of oil facilities as the real reason to overthrow the federal government.

President Muhammadu Buhari and chief of army staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai
The electronic statement released, was signed by those who identified themselves as ‘General’ Torunanaowei Latei (Creek Network Coordinator); ‘General’ Agbakakuro Owei-Tauro (Pipeline Bleeding Expert); ‘General’ Akotebe Darikoro (Commander, General Duties) and ‘General’ Pulokiri Ebikade (Intelligence Bureau).

The militant group stated: “We are constraint to let the cat out of the bag today that PresidentMohammadu Buhari should be wary about the security of this country as some military men are making move to remove him from power by instigating civil unrest in the country.

“Some top military men through their civil agents approached us to cause and continue the vandalization of the oil and gas pipelines in the Niger delta region so as to use as an excuse to take over the government from democracy to military rule in the country.

“We said no as such plan will not work and not in conformity with our genuine desire of agitation.The military want to disgrace him now and let him quickly look into the

issues and make pronouncement for his administration to be in peace.

“Let president should analyze certain memo from the military concerning Niger delta region before taking action or otherwise the military will use that as a platform to remove him. We know the issue of Niger delta is political and we preferred

political solution to resolve it but if the president refused.”

The group further added that President Buhari should apply the necessary measures to solve the Niger Delta region problems, in order to for the ploy of these top military to fail.

It said:

“We received several calls unknown to persuade us to continue the bombing and that when succeeded in overthrowing the government we will be placed on a better position, we said capital NO!

“When asked of their names they are above Major General’s level. They refused to disclose their names but their intonations seem like yoruba and Hausa. Our agitation is not for selfish interest but for the overall benefit of the Niger delta region.

“We’ll not kidnap any person, kill or hostage taking of any expatriate in the country but will continue our agitation with clear determination to actualize our course in Nigeria.

“We believe their sinister plan because their is ceasefire in the region for dialogue, but since then the attitude and actions of the service chiefs show that such plan could work for them.”

In a news that came up today, some groups of Niger Delta militants asked the federal government to be ready for more attacks in the oil-rich region of Nigeria as the two-week ceasefire between them and the government comes to an end.

TROUBLE: PDP Senate caucus withdraws support for President Buhari

– Peoples Democratic Party senators have withdrawn their support for President Muhammadu Buhari

– The senators said they will no longer cooperate with the APC government until they cease their belligerent acts

–  The 49 PDP senators in August 2015 had expressed their decision to support the president

The ‎Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators caucus in the upper chamber of the national assembly have withdrawn their support for the President Muhammadu Buhari’s-led government.

The lawmakers announced their decision at a press briefing at the National Assembly on Wednesday, June 22. The PDP senators listed the alleged continuous victimization of its members by anti-graft agency, proposed trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu for alleged forgery of senate standing rule as part of the reasons for their grievance against the APC-led government.

In a statement read by Emmanuel Bawcha, deputy minority leader said: “We condemn the plot to remove the senate president and his deputy through illegal means. We will no longer cooperate with the APC government until they cease their belligerent acts.”

In August, 2015, the minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, joined 48 other PDP senators to express their decision to support the president.

“The PDP senate caucus reiterates its support to M‎r President Muhammadu Buhari and his quest to bring about a greater Nigeria,” Akpabio had said.

Former Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Azubuike Ihejirika arrested by DSS

Azubuike Ihejirika

– Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major-General Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd) has been arrested by operatives of the DSS

– It is believed that Mr Ihejerika was arrested in connection with Arms deal probe

Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Security (DSS) has arrested the erstwhile chief of army staff (COAS) Major-General Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd) has been arrested by operatives of the DSS, reports reaching Naij.com says.

The ex-army boss was reportedly picked up last night, June 21 at his residence in Maitama, Abuja.

It is believed that Mr Ihejerika was arrested in connection with Arms deal probe involving former national security adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.

Recall that an Australian Negotiator, Dr Stephen Davis insisted that former governor of Borno State, Modu Sheriff and former Chief of Army Staff, General Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika are Boko Haram sponsors.

But Ihejirika described the allegations against him as frivolous and unfounded. He said the allegation was meant to divert the attention of the country and its security agencies thereby causing division.

After OJB's death, see what is happening to another prominent Nigerian Entertainer

– TV personality Emma Ugolee says he has been receiving calls since OJB Jezreel died on Tuesday, June 14

– People were calling to check on him since he is suffering from same ailment as OJB

– Ugolee shares his will power

Emma Ugolee undergoing dialysis last Christmas day
TV personality, Emmanuel Ugolee popularly called Emma Ugolee has been battling with chronic kidney ailments for four years now.

The producer and anchor of TV show on HipTv, The Gist, which strictly discusses issues around the entertainment industry in general with key players including musicians, actors, writers, sportsmen amongst others, as panelists has been receiving numerous calls from friends and family members after the death of OJB Jezreel on Tuesday, June 14.

Ugolee wrote on the several calls and his ailment on Tuesday, June 15:

“Too many phone calls yesterday with everyone just checking to see how I was doing.

It all made sense when news filtered in that OJB had just died from a disease I’ve battled with for over 4years now.

The general concern being the psychological impact of being reminded of the likelihood of one’s demise thanks to the unpredictable & deadly nature of living without a funtional kidney.

For closer friends, aware that I had lost many associates to this struggle. 3 being in the last 3months and that each one lived with issues less complicated than mine, calling me was like checking up on a pal on death row. Lol

Now it was time to return the calls and assure every single one that the unfortunate event is no reason to lose faith. It’s no proof that I must toe a similar line. That I am not holier than any whose journeys have ended and thus wise enough to understand that logic does not explain the sustaining power of grace.

Emma, Ali Baba and others on kidney care awareness campaign
The fact that a pattern surrounds you, does not mean your future has been molded by it.

Your faith, your vision, aspiration & motivation must tower above your environment all the time. That explains why people make it out of the ghetto.

Beating the odds posed by environment has always been so for all of the great men you know.

Events around your predecessors must not define your journey.

A good example is the story of the Brazilian footballer Neymar.

From a land where the world’s greatest footballers hail from.


Emma Ugolee, Toolz and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu during one of his campaigns
Logic would say it can’t get better than Pele, Zicco, Bebeto and Ronaldo for him. They had pretty much sealed the bar where they set it. Dooming any follow up act as staying under their shadows.

Neymar didn’t allow the fame of his predecessor’s eclipse his believe to do better and break new records.

And just that, he has done. Tiped to join R.Madrid @ 14, he scored his 100th professional goal on his 20th birthday and is still the only Brazilian athlete in history to make the cover of Time magazine.

What around you shakes your faith in you? What around you weakens your resolve to try breaking new grounds? What tempts you to want to conform to playing out a predictable script?….. Nothing!!!! Should be the only answer you know.

So if you want to think achieving Hollywood as a Nollywood player, please think it. If you think family trends would end with you, please believe it.

Believe in the uniqueness of your path. Do not be spinning around the world. With faith, take a stand and watch the world adjust – Emma Ugolee

(Originally inspired by late Muna Ibekwe)  ”

Since Ugolee has been up and doing, he has being leading several campaigns on kidney care. The TV personality was close to late singer Nomoreloss in his lifetime.

Girl dies after sharing a passionate good night kiss with her boyfriend

– A 20-year-old woman got a severe allergy attack after kissing her boyfriend

– Minutes of kissing her lover she suffered from shortness of breath

– The girl was rushed to hospital, where doctors fought for her life but to no avail

A tragic story of Myriam Ducré-Lemay, aged 20, was told by her mother after she tragically died of a severe food allergy. The incident occured in October four years ago but came to light only now.

Myriam Ducre-Lemay died after kissing her boyfriend
Willing to to raise awareness about the dangers of food allergies the girl’s devastated mom, Micheline Ducre, described the heartbreak she suffered when her daughter passed away after kissing her boyfriend.

According to Mrs Ducre, Myriam was preparing for bed when her man went for a late-night peanut butter sandwich and then brushed his teeth. The lovers shared a goodnight kiss but shortly afterwards the girl began experiencing shortness of breath.

She didn’t take her adrenaline pen and her asthma inhaler did not work. She then asked her boyfriend if he had just eaten peanuts and when heard an affirmative answer asked him to call an ambulance.

“Everything was going well in her life. She told me she was in love. It was the first time I saw my daughter with such bright eyes. Sadly, she did not have the time to tell him she had a peanut allergy,” her mother, Micheline Ducré, said.

Peanut allergy is a type of food allergy to peanuts. It is different from nut allergies. Physical symptoms of allergic reaction can include itchiness, urticaria, swelling, eczema, sneezing, asthma, abdominal pain, drop in blood pressure, diarrhea, and cardiac arrest.

Anaphylaxis may occur. The allergy is recognized “as one of the most severe food allergies due to its prevalence, persistency, and potential severity of allergic reaction.

Greedy snake chokes to death while trying to devour a full size goat

– A huge six meter python bit more than it can chew and paid for it

– The greedy snake was found by villagers who tried to free a goat but it was too late for it

– The unfortunate predator was later released into the nearby forest

A voracious 6m long python almost choked to death after trying to swallo a goat whose size was too much for its jaws. The snake and its prey were found last week by villagers in Mallik Sobha village, Jalpaiguri district, eastern India.


The giant python was found coiled around the lifeless animal
The locals heard a goat screaming near the forest and immediately rushed to the spot where they saw a terrifying picture — a giant python was coiling around the lifeless body of the goat trying to devour it whole.

The villagers called a wildlife specialists but the team could not visit the area on time. Luckily for the reptile, ten men took matters into their own hands, they pulled the goat out of the python’s mouth but by that time it had already been dead.

A team of wildlife experts arrived too late to save the goat
They then tied ropes around the python and pushed it into the sack, holding it by the neck and took it in a cycle rickshaw, as no animal rescue van was available to release in the Sonakhali forest.

Rohul Amin, the owner of the goat, said: “This is not the first time pythons have come out of the forest and attacked domestic animals. They have killed two to three cows, lambs and sheep in a year. I am heartbroken with my loss. I had never imagined my goat would meet with end this way.”

The snake was identified as a Burmese rock python, which is one of the five largest species of snakes in the world. It is native to a large variation of tropic and subtropic areas of South and Southeast Asia.

They are often found near water and are sometimes semi-aquatic, but can also be found in trees. Wild individuals average 3.7 m long,but have been known to reach 5.74 m.

Buhari lacks understanding of Nigeria- Akintola

–  Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari does not understand Nigeria

– He says that Buhari will not implement the recommendations of the  2014 National Conference

– Akintola says that there is great need for Nigeria to operate a federal system

– He said Jonathan was not sincere enough to make some implementation of the confab report

The senior advocate said he doesn’t see Buhari implementing the 2014 conference report because Buhari “isn’t a politician and he doesn’t understand the political arithmetic of Nigeria and he doesn’t understand the political geography.

Chief Akintola says Buhari lacks the true understanding of Nigeria.
Of course, he has been Head of State before, he has been governor, he has been a minister but he still doesn’t understand the complexity of the structure.

He isn’t in the mould of an Obasanjo or a Babangida. Even when you look at his exposure and administrative style, it is a style that is patterned after his military background.

Everything he does, even in speech presentation, even in body language. So, he isn’t a politician in the mould of Obasanjo and Babangida who are military-politicians.

For instance, IBB knows everybody that is somebody in this country; he will address them by their first name; Obasanjo knows everybody that is somebody in every nook and cranny of the country. These are people who understand Nigeria and they know it in and out.”

Akintola further opined that “Buhari belongs to that old, conservative school; so you cannot cast him in the same mould with Atiku. Atiku is a seasoned politician and he has interacted and he is still interacting with people across the length and breadth of the country and he knows the danger that is ahead of us as a nation; he knows that we are yet to build a nation, that we are still a country of many nationalities and  there is need for us to operate a genuine federal system of government.

There is no different federal system of government; you are either practising it or you aren’t and one of the cardinal principles of federalism is that every component part should be allowed to develop at its own pace. But see what we are having today.

Why are many states having problem? Why should states, like Gombe, Ekiti, Ebonyi, be comparing themselves with Lagos, Akwa-Ibom and Rivers? It is only mad people that will be doing the same thing, using the same method and be expecting different result. What we are practising cannot help this country and it is high time we appreciate that.

For instance, I am from Oyo State; my state doesn’t have crude oil and its likelihood of it having it is remote, but we have the population, which is an asset and we have the capital base. If you practise true federalism, my state will be richer than Bayelsa and Rivers put together.

The state of California doesn’t have crude oil but it is richer than Texas. If you pass your pipeline through my line, you pay for every inch it occupies! We brought that to the fore at the confab that there is no need for any state to be afraid. It is ignorance of the principle of federalism, of the law, of the political arithmetic of the country that is causing the problem.

If people truly appreciate what federalism entails, how it is practiced in civilized world, they will know that a state like Kano should be the first to embrace it because of its huge population,” Akintola stressed.

Drawing an analogy, Akintola said: “Why do you think the South African president rushed to Nigeria because of MTN?  It is because of our population; they have the technological know how in Africa, they own Shoprite, they own MTN but they don’t have the market base.

So, when Nigeria sneezes, South Africa will catch cold.  States like Sokoto, Oyo, Kano, have no reason to fear the oil producing states because they have what it takes to even be richer than them. Bayelsa will not

Niger Delta Avengers list conditions for peace

– Militant group reveals reasons for seeking dialogue with the federal government

– Informs President Buhari on what will happen if the proposed dialogue is made political

– Warns that pipeline bombings may not easily cease if there is no change in the forms of negotiation

The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has revealed that it is ready for a dialogue with the federal government in order to stop its pipeline vandalism.

The group which has been bombing pipelines of major oil companies in the Niger Delta region for some months, stated via a press statement made available on their website, informed that all they want is peace with honour and not a peace of “our time”.

The statement signed by Brigadier Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, the group’s spokesperson, reads in part: “The high command of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is using this medium to restate that there are no new items to put on the table for dialogue, we only want a genuine attitude and conducive atmosphere that will make us commit to any proposed dialogue and last peace talk.

Niger Delta Avengers ready for dialogue with the Nigerian government.
“We want the federal government to commit members states of the multi national Oil Corporations to commit independent mediators to this proposed dialogue; we believed that it is only such environment that will engender genuine dialogue that will be aimed at setting up a framework for achieving the short, medium and long term demands of the Niger delta to de-escalating this conflict and bring about a lasting peace.

“The NDA high command is restating our commitment to attack the interest of oil corporation and international refineries operators that bring in vessels to the Niger delta territory to buy our oil that every successive government have refused to used and reapply the proceeds towards any development in the region since 1958.

“If they refuse be heed to our advice will result to sinking of two their mother vessel as an examples to others They should not undertake any repair of pipeline, oil and gas facilities that is damaged or attacked by our forces during this period of “Operation Red Economy” until and/or after the dialogue.”

The group also issued warnings to social media agitators who have been used by politicians as a way of promoting the government officials’ criminal ways in the affairs of their region.

“We are using medium to warn and condemn the activities of all brands of social media agitators being peddled around by some politicians to promote their criminal ways in affairs of the Niger Delta.

“This genuine spirit behind our struggle for the Niger Delta cannot be derailed on the basis of connivance by politician, traditional rulers, settled ex- agitators and criminals moving around to fill their pockets.

“The issues of the Niger delta are as old and as new as the days of Pa. Dappa Biriye, Major Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro, to Ken Saro Wiwa and the government of President Musa Yar’ Adua.

“We are warning this government of President Muhammadu Buhari, not to turn the essence of genuine peace talk and dialogue to political jamboree that is prevailing now where all manner of social media agitators and criminals have being sponsored by the job seeking corrupt political class to safe faces before the government of the day.

“Finally, if need be we may review our earlier stance of not taking lives. We are going to redirect and reactivate all our activities if the government, oil companies and their services firms don’t heed to these modest warnings of not carrying out any repairs works and suspend the buying of crude oil from our region as we await the right atmosphere that will engender genuine dialogue,” the statement read, with the group adding: “We Want a peace with Honour not a Peace of our time.”

Earlier today, it was reported that the militant grou

Babangida advises President Buhari

– Former governor of Niger State, Alhaji Babangida Ali­yu says President Muhammadu Buhari diversifying the econ­omy

– Babangida said there is a need to have key economy is­sues discussed, agreed and im­plemented fast

President Muhammadu Buhari has once again been urged to diversifying the econ­omy in order to alleviate the suf­fering of Nigerians.

Former governor of Niger State, Alhaji Babangida Ali­yu made this call on Sun­day in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

 “For many years we have been talking about the diversi­fication of our economy but we kept on relying on oil.

“Now that oil prices have col­lapsed and hardship have come, we need to diversify now; we need to have key economy is­sues discussed, agreed and im­plemented fast.

“Let us not leave people in the darkness of thinking that this government caused this, that government caused that, No.

“I think we should look at it that we made a mistake for many years by relying on a mono-econ­omy and mono-culture of oil and this is the time to really diversi­fy,” Aliyu said.

He called on Muslims to use the Ramadan period to pray for the nation, help the needy and change positively towards na­tion building.

Meanwhile, Nigerians are in for hard time as the country’s apex bank, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been told to limit across-the-counter withdrawals to N10,000, following a major drop in customers’ deposit.