Bombing of Shell facilities: Soldiers arrest Ijaw chief, 5 others

WARRI—SOLDIERS, yesterday morning, swooped on oil-rich Ogulagha, an Ijaw kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, arresting six persons, including a chief, in connection with the bombing of Forcados 48 Export Line belonging to Shell Nigeria Petroleum Company, SNPECo, last Thursday, by the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA. Among those seized were a notable leader in Ogulagha Kingdom, Chief Peter Tuasinde; chairman of Ogulagha community, Captain Prebor Solomon and Public Relations Officer of the community, Henry Agedigba, who went to find out from the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, why they raided the community and apprehended his kinsmen. Also arrested were a staff of S. J. Abed Catering Company in Forcados Terminal, Mr. John Borme; a businessman, Mr. Clement Ibada, and Ejor Burutu, who reportedly showed them the houses of persons they mentioned. Vanguard learned that soldiers of the JTF invaded the community at 8.20 a.m on suspicion that some members of the community were involved in blowing up the crude oil pipeline.



Niger Delta Avengers claimed responsibility for the attack on the Forcados 48″ export line, saying it was because the company acted against its warning not to repair the facility, earlier bombed by the militant group.

 FG should not dialogue with Avengers —Ex-DWSC

Similarly, former chairman of Delta Waterways Security Committee, DWSC, and Niger Delta activist, Chief Ayiri Emami, told Vanguard, yesterday, that Niger Delta Avengers were a bunch of criminals, and asked government, contrary to the opinion of some South-South leaders, not to negotiate with criminals. “Why should they negotiate with criminals, if they are talking about neglect in the Niger Delta, all the ethnic groups are neglected and they have issues.  So, if the government wants to dialogue, it should not be with criminals who are bombing pipelines, it should be on the basis of underdevelopment affecting the respective areas “We, the Itsekiri ethnic group, have our own problems, but that has not made us to go and bomb pipelines. For instance, the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, is there and nothing is going on, we are neglected, there is no development. So I am against dialogue with criminals.”
Our people are not Avengers  —Ogulagha youth leader Chairman of the umbrella body of Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, clan structure, Doubra Collins Okotete, who confirmed the arrest of the six persons, condemned what he described as “harassment, intimidation and arrest of innocent people.” He said: “They arrested them over allegation of being involved in the recent attack on SPDC-owned export line. I want to tell you that over 50 years of oil exploration and exploitation in our community, our people have always cooperated, supported and created the enabling environment for peaceful operations, despite the marginalization shown to our people by these multinational oil companies.” Condemning the attacks on oil installations across Niger Delta by Niger Delta Avengers, Okotete called for the JTF to release the people arrested at  Ogulagha and “correct the anomalies done to our people because Ogulagha man is not involved in such act. “We have had issues with our visitors, that is the multinational oil companies, before and we have our own way of expressing our displeasures, not resorting to destroying our own facilities. “No ransacking was done, no arms or incriminating materials were found with them. Some of them were already on their way to church before they were arrested.”
 Oporoza, 24 hours after military exit

 Meanwhile, Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, vacated by soldiers after a six-day siege, last Friday, is still a shadow of itself 24 hours after, and it seemed it would take a longer time for normal life to return. Vanguard on its visit to the community, observed that the regular stop-and-search along the waterways has stopped but commuters, especially those from Ogbe-Ijoh market waterside to Oporoza and its surrounding communities, still travel with their hearts in their mouths. The journey, which lasted 55 minutes, was smooth, calm and devoid of any military checkpoint on the waterways. Returnee residents were apprehensive when they saw a group of journalists and they only started coming out in trickles moments after.

How I was butted with a rifle —80-yr-old Amadiowie Recounting his ordeal.

80-year-old Amadiowie of Oporoza, Chief Francis Mala, said: “On the night the soldiers arrived Oporoza, I was in bed at about 2.00 a.m when I heard a knock on my door. “I came out to check through the window and immediately I opened the window, I saw two soldiers with rifles and before I realized what was happening, one of them hit me twice on the face with the butt of his gun. “Immediately they realized I was an old man, they fled into the night leaving me in a pool of blood from injuries.”

We don’t know  our casualties yet

Vice chairman of the community, Morris Tebela, while denying link of the 10 persons from the community arrested by soldier to the Niger Delta Avengers, said: “They just came into the community and molested our boys, most of whom are students. “We were shocked when we saw the boys taken away by the soldiers being paraded with guns, ammunition and other dangerous weapons on television as members of a militant group. “Oporoza, as a community, does not condone the use of those items the army claimed to have found in the community. We are a fishing community and do not have any oil well, aside the fact that a pipeline passes behind the community and no one dares tamper with that pipeline. “We have an examination starting on Monday to write here but that may not happen as the students have fled the community. “As for causalities, we still have not ascertained if there is any loss of life as we will only know if there are causalities when everyone returns to the community. But we got information that two persons arrested by the soldiers died even though we are yet to confirm that.”  
Tompolo’s room turned upside down

“We are still leaving in fear because we do not know the reason they (soldiers) left as the  manner in which they left hurriedly calls for concern.  We do not know if they have other plans. “As am speaking, residents of the community still run and hide each time they see choppers or jet fighters, which personally I think should be used for international warfare and not for community invasion. “Buildings that suffered the brute of the soldiers are the lavishly built Oporoza community guest house, some residential buildings with holes on the walls from gunshots, and the Oporoza ancestral home, which houses some deities of the community.” At Oporoza community guest house, which houses a private room for former General Officer Commanding, GOC, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, was literally turned upside down. Taking reporters on a tour of the guest house, Tebela said drinks and food items meant for guests of the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, HRM Oboro II, were allegedly taken away by the rampaging soldiers. Desecration of Oporoza  ancestral home.
 Also affected was the Oporoza ancestral home. According to one of the priests at the home, John Ojo, treasured and revered religious items in the home since the origin of the community were missing. He said:  “This place has been in existence right from the time of our forefathers and nobody enters here freely as you must be authorized before you can enter here. “The army entered this place (ancestral home), desecrated the place and made away with some treasured items, including a gold sword which has been here for ages.”
 Army should probe Oporoza looting — Mulade
Meanwhile, enraged chairman of Kokodiagbene community, Mr. Mulade Sheriff, yesterday, called on the JTF “to return all looted items from Oporoza Town, Gbaramatu Kingdom.” “It is unpatriotic, unethical and unprofessional for the Nigerian Army, who invaded Oporoza and other Ijaw communities in search of vandals and militants to abandon their primary responsibility of fishing out the perpetrators to resort to looting of items belonging to Pere’s palace and law-abiding citizens within the community. “It’s worthy to state that the Nigerian Army looted valuables worth over N300,000,000 and cash of about N70,000,000 meant for the completion of the Pere’s palace. We are appealing to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Burutai, to probe his men, recover the looted items from the palace and other residents, and kindly return them to the law-abiding citizens of Oporoza. “We believe the Nigerian Army has the capacity to thoroughly investigate and bring the looters to book in the interest of the image of the Army. As law-abiding citizens, we have no option than to institute a suit against the authority to recover our items, if the authority fails. “The JTF’s continuous visits are posing serious threats to the communities. We are living in fear and bondage. Gbaramatu kingdom is host to oil and gas facilities and not to Avengers,” he said.

Avengers sponsored by PDP – Ex-Agitators
 In the interim, National Coalition of the Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, NCNDE, has called on the Federal Government to flush out the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, which they described as criminal elements allegedly sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to stoke troubles from the region. President of NCNDE, Israel Akpodoro, who stated this while chatting with newsmen, alleged  that the PDP was in want of goading the Federal Government into military confrontation that might provoke public outcry, especially “the foreign communities with the ultimate aim of discrediting the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration at home and abroad.” According to Akpodoro, the second aim of the Avengers is to cripple the Nigerian economy to give reasons for the PDP to gloat and mock the administration. Urging the Federal Government to go all out for those he described as criminal elements masquerading as freedom fighters and their sponsors, he said no amount of subterfuge could make anyone believe that the bad losers in the PDP were not behind the economic saboteurs.

Cultists kill 11 in Rivers’ supremacy battle

PORT HARCOURT—Some gunmen, suspected to be members of a cult group, in the early hours of yesterday, killed 11 persons in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State in a fresh cult clash. The cultists visited their activities on three communities in the area, Rumuji, Ovogo and Rumuewhuo. 

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike  
Some of the victims’ names were given as Nature Oti, Ikechi, Onyebuchi Omuruka, Chima Omuruka, Lucky Okwakpam, Nyovele and others. It was learned that the gunmen had earlier attacked Rumuji Divisional Police Headquarters, allegedly overpowering the officers on night duty and rescuing detainees. They also broke into the armoury and made away with guns and ammunition. A source, who spoke in confidence, said the police station was under heavy gunfire attack by some bandits last night. Another source said seven people were shot dead in Ovogo community, two in Rumuji and two others in Rumuewhuo. He said: “The residents of Ovogo community woke up this morning to the presence of a lot of dead bodies. “The three communities have been deserted.” When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, simply said: “There was something like that, but no casualties on either side.”

President Buhari to proceed on a 10 days vacation to London

A press statement has been released by the Presidency concerning a 10-day vacation President Buhari is about to undertake, to enable him to rest and also see an E.N.T (Ear. Nose. Throat) Specialist in London. The statement reads,

 

President Muhammadu Buhari will take 10 days off and travel to London on Monday June 6th to rest. During the holiday, he will see an E.N.T. specialist for a persistent ear infection. The President was examined by his Personal Physician and an E.N.T Specialist in Abuja and was treated. Both Nigerian doctors recommended further evaluation purely as a precaution.

 

FEMI ADESINA

Special Adviser

(Media and Publicity)

720 intending lawyers fail Bar final exams

 ABUJA—The Council of Legal Education has disclosed that out of a total of 3, 056 candidates that participated in the April 2016 Bar final examination, 720 of them failed. The Council, through a statement that was signed by the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Mr. O. A. Onadeko, said the result reflected 23.6 per cent failure. However, a further breakdown of the result showed that whereas a total of 2, 232 of the candidates passed the Bar final resit examination, representing 73.0 per cent, 104 candidates secured conditional pass representing 3.4 per cent. According to the statement, call to Bar ceremonies for the successful candidates is scheduled to hold on  July 12  in Abuja.

The convoy of Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state was involved in a fatal accident at Mikang, in Mikang local government area of the state on Friday, June 3. According to a report on This Day, the accident claimed the lives of two security aides of the governor. It was gathered that Lalong had gone to the southern senatorial zone of the state to commission some of the projects executed by his government during his first year in office. Speaking to media outfit, an eye witness in the convoy said that the two security aides, identified as policemen, were hanging on a Hilux Van belonging to the state’s private security outfit, ‘Operation Rainbow’, when the driver of the van veered into a corner and flung the unsuspecting victims off the van. 

  Both policemen were said to have landed on their heads, resulting to instant death of one, while the other died on his way to the hospital. Unaware of what had happened, the rest of the convoy continued with the journey and could not immediately be notified of the incident as a result of the speed of the convoy. Sources also claimed the bus immediately behind the ill-fated police van were reported to have meandered their way and then sped off without stopping. Reacting to the accident, Superintendent Abuh Emmanuel, the state police public relations officer, said he was yet to receive details on the incident from the Mikang Divisional Police Officer. He said: “As I speak to you now, I have not got detailed information about the incident. I am waiting now. Anytime I get elaborate information, I will let you know.”

MASSOB, BIM appeal to UN to divide Nigeria

Two pro-Biafra groups have appealed to the United Nations and other world leaders to divide Nigeria into six geo-political zones to solve the current crisis. Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) stated that giving the six geo-political zones in Nigeria self rule would be the only answer to the many problems in the country.
 MASSOB alongside with Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) called on the UN and other super powers to regard the lives of people that are killed on a daily basis in Nigeria arising from the insurgency in the north east and Fulani herdsmen said to be reportedly affiliated to ISIS and Boko Haram. Chris Mocha, the spokesman, said the proposed nations comprise South East, (Biafra), South South (Niger Delta), North East, North West, South West, (Oduduwa) and North- Central. He underlined that no amount of preaching on nationalism can change Nigeria as it is today. Mocha added that when the proposed zones are given independence, assets of the citizens of the different countries will be protected by international laws, just as mutual agreements will guide the future relationship of the new republics. Meanwhile, the group in­sisted that several of their supporters were killed last week during the Biafra anniversary at Nkpor and Onitsha. It said: “While all the mem­bers of BIM/ MASSOB in Anambra central senato­rial district including Nk­por town in Idemili North Local Government Area celebrated at Ifite Dunu, our counterparts in Anambra North including Onitsha converged at the zonal secretariat, project site at Nteje in Oyi council area of Anambra state.”
The Biafra remembrance day celebration in honour of the Biafra fallen heroes who died during the Biafra/ Nigeria civil war of 1967 to 1970 and those who died during a peaceful protest and evangelism in Anambra, Aba Abia, Rivers and Delta states, turned bloody on May 30 in Onitsha, as the military, police, members of Indigenous People of Biafra clashed, killing over 30 people and injuring several others.

Italy elections: When in Rome shake up the politics

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionAnti-establishment candidate Virginia Raggi is a frontrunner to become Rome mayor

Dozens of Italian cities go to the polls in local elections on Sunday, but Rome is more than ever where all eyes will be focused.

Rome is where a much bigger game with national repercussions is being played out, in the wake of a major corruption scandal.

The personal office of the Mayor of Rome, which has been vacant for more than six months, overlooks the ruins of the Imperial Fora - a reminder of the city's grandiose past, as the heart of a civilisation that extended over continents.

Whoever occupies it after elections will have more mundane, local problems to deal with.

Rome's next mayor will find a city mired in debt of more than €13bn (£10bn; $15bn) - twice its annual budget. Romans are frustrated by potholes, piles of rubbish and serious deficiencies in public transport and housing.

The first round is pitching five main candidates against each other to replace Ignazio Marino, the former mayor forced to quit last year after losing his party's support.

Leading the opinion polls is Virginia Raggi, a 37-year-old lawyer who is running on the populist Five Star Movement's anti-politics platform.

Image copyrightAP

Image captionScandal-hit former mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino was ousted after more than half the city's councillors stepped down

Her prominence in the campaign - and the widespread perception that she could indeed nail the job in a likely second round - is seen as a sign that this election could reward those who intend to make a clean break with the city's turbulent political history.

"Political parties have eaten Rome," Ms Raggi said in her closing statement during a televised debate.

"We either change everything, or everything remains as it has always been," she added in a dramatic tone, urging Romans to vote for transparency.

Ms Raggi has been criticised since her own political movement has been accused of a lack of transparency in some of the cities they govern around Italy.

'Mafia Capitale'

But her message strikes a particular chord with many Romans - especially if you look at what is happening at a maximum security, fortified courtroom on the capital's northern outskirts.

There, since November, dozens of former city officials and business leaders have been on trial, accused of corruption and malfeasance that siphoned off millions of euros from the administration - a case known as "Mafia Capitale".

Prosecutors believe that most activities related to running the city - from the management of migrant centres to the handling of rubbish collection - were tainted by a system of influence-peddling, entrenched across all levels of the city's administration.

The revelations sent shockwaves across the political spectrum, indirectly triggered Mr Marino's resignation, and left the mayor's chair empty for the last half year.

Image copyrightEPA

Image captionRoberto Giachetti (left) - backed by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi - is the leading establishment candidate

Centre-left Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has gambled on Roberto Giachetti, a respected career politician who embodies his hopes to fend off the challenge from the Five Star Movement.

"He [Giachetti] knows the city hall machine, knows politics and the value of good administration," Mr Renzi said during a final campaign rally.

A win in Rome for Five Star, a protest movement founded by comedian Beppe Grillo, would deliver a huge blow to Mr Renzi.

The campaign has also had its share of controversial moments.

The right-wing candidate Giorgia Meloni - who in the past belonged to groups accused of defending Italy's Fascist era - was harshly criticised by her former boss, Silvio Berlusconi, for running despite being in the late stages of her first pregnancy.

"A mother cannot dedicate herself to such a terrible job," the ageing former prime minister was quoted as saying.

Then Berlusconi threw his political weight behind Alfio Marchini - a local property mogul who had until then branded himself as independent, free of party influences.

Fighting from the left-wing corner is Stefano Fassina, an economist who has put the city's housing crisis at the heart of his campaign.

Image copyrightAFP/GETTY IMAGES

Image captionRubbish collection in Rome worsened under Mr Marino

It is not only Rome that is going to the polls - so are affluent Milan, traditionally left-wing Bologna, Turin and Naples, along with hundreds of smaller municipalities.

Many of those races are expected to go to a second round on 19 June.

The "rebirth" of Rome that several candidates have promised will possibly have to wait another two weeks - a minuscule delay in a city that in April turned 2,769.

But for Romans who have seen their city descend into decay, that new beginning can't come soon enough.

Candidates for mayor of Rome:

• Mario Adinolfi: The People of Family
• Stefano Fassina: Italian Left
• Roberto Giachetti: Democratic Party
• Alfio Marchini: Alfio Marchini Mayor
• Giorgia Meloni: Meloni for Mayor
• Virginia Raggi: Five Star Movement

Kerosene mixed with petrol in circulation, NSCDC alerts, Nigeria

  Maiduguri – The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Sunday in Maiduguri alerted Borno residents that kerosene mixed with petrol is currently in circulation in the state. Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, Borno NSCDC Commandant stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The commandant said that some patriotic citizens alerted the command on the circulation of the adulterated commodity. “We have been receiving distress calls from the public. “A man from Maduganari reported that his house was almost gutted by fire because he used adulterated kerosene. “We are surprised how they mixed kerosene and petrol, We don’t know whether it is another ploy by Boko Haram to cause havoc,’’ he said. He said the command would leave no stone unturned to apprehend whoever was responsible for the act, and urged the public to report any form of nefarious activities to the law enforcement agencies.

Major attacks Vote Leave 'deceit' as Johnson defends campaign

Former PM Sir John Major has hit out at the "squalid" and "deceitful" campaign to get Britain out of the EU.

He told Andrew Marr he was "angry about the way the British people are being misled" by fellow Conservative Boris Johnson and Vote Leave.

He urged Mr Johnson to stop putting out information on immigration and the NHS which he knew to be false.

Mr Johnson stood by Vote Leave's figures and called for an end to "blue-on-blue" conflict

Sir John - a leading member of the Remain campaign - described Mr Johnson as a "court jester," who he suggested might not have the loyalty of Conservative MPs if he went on to become leader of a party he had "divided".

He insisted he was not making a personal attack on the former London mayor but on the Vote Leave campaign as a whole, saying: "They are misleading people to an extraordinary extent".

'Hungry python'

"They are feeding out to the British people a whole galaxy of inaccurate and frankly untrue information.

"And what they have not done is tell us what would be the position if we were to vote to leave," he told Andrew Marr.

He said Vote Leave had lost the economic argument and were now "veering" towards immigration, where "their campaign is verging on the squalid"He predicted "chaos" if Britain voted to leave in 23 June's referendum and claimed Britain would lose a "huge amount national income" through trade with Europe, adding: "These promises of expenditure on the National Health Service and elsewhere are frankly fatuous, they are a deceit."

He claimed the NHS would be "about as safe" in the hands of Mr Johnson, Justice Secretary Mr Gove and former Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith as a "pet hamster would be with a hungry python".

And he suggested Mr Johnson knew Britain's contribution to the EU, after a rebate and money back for farmers, was "about one third" of the £350m claimed on the side of his Vote Leave battle bus.

He said he feared the British people could vote to leave on the basis of "inaccurate information known to be inaccurate", which he regarded as "deceitful".

'Take back control'

But Mr Johnson told Marr the £350m figure was a "reasonable" one, arguing that, although some of it was returned by the EU, "this is money we cannot control," adding it could be spent on the NHS or other "one nation" priorities in the event of a Brexit.

He said Vote Leave was setting out "an agenda for the government to take back control" after leaving the EU - and the Remain campaign had no "long-term vision for the economy" if immigration continued at its current rate.

He predicted the UK's population could rise "inexorably", potentially as high as 80 million.

Sir John also attacked Vote Leave's "depressing and awful" arguments on immigration, including the suggestion that 88 million Turkish people could "flood" into the UK if Turkey was given the right to join the EU.

"Turkey will not be in the European Union for a very, very long time, if ever, and the Leave campaign know that. That's the point - they know that," he said.

Mr Johnson hit back, saying: "Frankly, I don't mind whether Turkey joins the EU, provided the UK leaves the EU".

'Frustrating'

Pressed on his previous support for Turkey joining the EU, he said "that was back in the days when some of us thought that widening the EU would not mean this federalising, centralising, deepening process that we have seen".

"The EU has changed out of all recognition since people like me first started advocating Turkish membership," he added.

Quizzed by Andrew Marr about a new Vote Leave poster saying David Cameron could not be trusted on immigration, Mr Johnson said it was "frustrating" the government was not meeting its manifesto commitment to reduce annual net migration to the "tens of thousands".

Image captionDavid Davis said the public did not like personal attacks

He said he had hoped Mr Cameron could address this in his EU renegotiation, but that the PM "didn't get a sausage" from Brussels.

He also said it was "absolute nonsense" that he was backing Brexit out of personal leadership ambitions.

"Obviously there is going to be a temptation by one side or the other to try to turn it into a personality-driven conversation.

"My view about the EU has changed but that is because the EU has changed out of all recognition."

'Harsh' attacks

The Vote Leave campaign accused Sir John of resorting to "name calling" rather than "a serious debate about the issues".

Conservative MP David Davis said Sir John had been sent out by Number 10 to "reduce the credibility of the Leave campaign's claims" but the figures he was "bandying about" on the Marr show were not accurate in themselves.

He said Sir John's personal attacks on Mr Johnson and other Vote Leave figures were "harsh" and "I don't think very wise".

"I don't think the public like it. After 23 June we've got to pull the party together, make it work and with that sort of attack it's a very bad idea," he told the BBC's Sunday Politics.

5 reasons why the Sharia Expansion Bill is being passed Read more: https://www.naij.com/846167-must-read-5-reasons-sharia-expansion-bill-passed

A bill to alter Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution to increase the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court is in the offing in the House of Representatives. Tagged ‘Sharia Expansion Bill’, the bill has already passed its second hearing. The bill is being sponsored by Abdullahi Balarabe Salame, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member from Sokoto state.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Honourable Abdulahi Salame, sponsor of the bill   Salame, 55, is a one-time speaker of the Sokoto state House of Assembly. He represents Gwadabawa/Illela constituency since and has been a member of the House since 2011. NAIJ.com got across to Salame and he outlined 5 reasons why the bill is being promoted.
 Read below: 1. Section 275 of the 1999 Constitution has already provided for the establishment of Sharia Court of appeal for every state that requires it. The bill is only expanding the jurisdiction of Sharia courts to handle criminal cases and not expanding Sharia to the whole of Nigeria. 2. The bill, if approved, will go a long way in eliminating various criminal activities experienced in the country like Islamic religious extremism. Sharia courts can try criminal matters immediately it happens. 3. Increasing the jurisdiction of the Sharia court to cover criminal matters will greatly help in protecting women and child rights by preventing sexual harassment, rape and child abuses. 4. It will improve peace and unity among Muslims and Non-Muslims in the country especially in the states that are implementing Sharia. 5. The current war against corruption will be more strengthened with the passage of the bill.

Saraki reacts as N12m goes missing from his house

Senate president Bukola Saraki has described the publication on Sahara Reporters about a burglary in his Ilorin home as one with series of falsehood. Sahara Reporters last night reported that Saraki’s domestic aides had made away with N300 million from the senator’s bedroom in Ilorin, capital of Kwara state. But in a statement signed by the Senate president’s media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the lawmaker described the report that his domestic aides were responsible for the theft as untrue; adding that the perpetrators were yet to be identified. READ ALSO: Senate urges FG to approve funds for Shikira, others According to him, burglars stormed his country home in Ilorin and carted away N12 million as against the N300million reported by Sahara Reporters. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Senate president Bukola Saraki has described the publication on SaharaReporters about a burglary in his Ilorin home as one with falsehood. He said the incident happened two weeks ago as the N12million was stolen by some unknown persons inside the Administrative Office located next door to the house, Premium Times reports. However, Olaniyonu did not disclose why the Senate president, who is being prosecuted for false asset declaration, needed that much cash in his house, but said the money was not public funds. READ ALSO: CCT: Saraki’s trial stalled over absence of witness Olaniyonu’s statement read: “The report yesterday by SaharaReporters about a burglary in the Ilorin home of Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki contained series of falsehood and at best an exaggeration of an incident which happened two weeks ago in which N12 million was stolen by some unknown persons inside the Administrative Office located next door to the house. “The unknown persons broke into the safe in the Administrative Office and stole the N12 million. The incident had since been reported to the police and the Kwara state police command are investigating the matter with a view to nail the culprits. “There is therefore no truth in the claim by SaharaReporters that the money ran into hundreds of millions, that it was in foreign currency or that the incident happened in Dr. Saraki’s room. The amount was simply in Naira. Also, the money has nothing to do with Kwara state government. “For the umpteenth time, we need to reiterate the fact that SaharaReporters’ fixation that any money spent by Saraki or that is in his possession is from Kwara state government is unfounded, unwarranted, lacks any basis and irresponsible. “We wonder whether Saraki was such a poor man before 2003 when he was elected Governor that he could no longer own any money without SaharaReporters attributing the source to the State Government. “In its usual unethical and disgraceful haste to assassinate the Character of the Senate President, SaharaReporters ignored the simple professional practice for it to contact the Police to find out the facts of the incident. It merely created its own usually fictional story and published it. This is an online publication that cares not about its credibility or the journalism credo that facts are sacred and opinion is free. “We call on all members of the public to ignore all the claims in the story. Dr. Saraki will allow the police to do their work and unravel the person or persons behind this theft in the Administrative Office.” Meanwhile, Saraki finally had an opportunity to fire at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, May 31, as he accused the agency of focusing attention on harassment of government officials instead of investigating alleged corrupt practices at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Saraki said Nigeria was only paying lip-service to the fight against corruption.

APC will apologise to Nigerians, PDP in 2019 — Onuesoke

 

 Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain, Chief Sunny Onuesoke has foreseen that come  2019 when PDP must have taking over leadership of the Presidency of the country and  All Progressive Congress (APC) would have  realize the harm they did to Nigerians, the party would come crawling on  it kneels  apologizing  to  Nigerians and PDP as a party  for their deceptive promises and the hardship they have created for Nigerians. While reacting to the statement of  an APC Chieftain who said “Nigeria will beg Buhari to come back in 2019”, 
Onuesoke who spoke to group of journalists in Abuja, on Friday argued  that instead of Nigerians to beg Buhari to stay,  APC would rather apologise to Nigerians and PDP  for putting Nigerians in the present hardship. He said what is happening in the country presently is testimony that APC do not have anything to provide for betterment of  the life of the people . Onuesoke maintained that he is very confident that PDP will win the Presidency in 2019  and return Nigeria back to past glory which they have benefitted from the party  in term of adherence to rule of law, low inflation rate, provision of power, low exchange rate, cheap fuel, provision of cheap food and other comfort of life which  are presently lacking. The truth is that people are suffering a lot of hardship now but this was not the promise. The campaign promise was to bring down the cost of fuel, create jobs,  naira to be at par with dollar, provide electricity and other social which have presently  become illusive,” Onuesoke lamented..

Switzerland 'rejects basic income', poll projections suggest

Projections from a referendum in Switzerland suggest voters have rejected a plan to introduce a guaranteed basic income for all.

Some 78% of voters opposed the plan, a GFS projection for Swiss TV suggested.

The proposal had called for adults to be paid an unconditional monthly income, whether they worked or not.

Supporters said since work was increasingly automated, fewer jobs were available for workers. Switzerland is the first country to hold such a vote.

No figure for the basic income had been set, but those behind the proposal suggested a monthly income of 2,500 Swiss francs (£1,755; $2,555) for adults and SFr625 for each child, reflecting the high cost of living in Switzerland. It is not clear how it would affect people on higher salaries.

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionSupporters of a basic income last month launched a giant poster campaign

There was little support among Swiss politicians for the idea and not a single parliamentary party has come out in favour, but the proposal gathered more than 100,000 signatures and was therefore put to the vote under the Swiss popular initiative system.

Critics of the measure say that disconnecting the link between work done and money earned would be bad for society.

But Che Wagner from the campaign group Basic Income Switzerland, says it wouldn't be money for nothing.

"In Switzerland over 50% of total work that is done is unpaid. It's care work, it's at home, it's in different communities, so that work would be more valued with a basic income."

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The popular initiative system

• Allows citizens to suggest changes to the federal constitution
• All initiatives that gather 100,000 signatures in 18 months go to a public vote
• A constitutional amendment by initiative not only requires a majority public vote but a majority of cantons must also approve it
• Differs from the mandatory referendum, which is called by parliament and does not need public signatures

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But Luzi Stamm, who's a member of parliament for the right-wing Swiss People's Party, opposes the idea.

"Theoretically, if Switzerland were an island, the answer is yes. But with open borders, it's a total impossibility, especially for Switzerland, with a high living standard," he says.

"If you would offer every individual a Swiss amount of money, you would have billions of people who would try to move into Switzerland."

The wording on the initiative was vague, asking for a constitutional change to "guarantee the introduction of an unconditional basic income" but with no mention of amounts.

The idea is also under consideration elsewhere. In Finland, the government is considering a trial to give basic income to about 8,000 people from low-income groups.

And in the Dutch city of Utrecht is also developing a pilot project which will begin in January 2017.

Another four issues were on the Swiss ballot on Sunday.

• A proposal to speed up the country's asylum process. The projections suggested 66% in favour.
• The Pro Service Public initiative proposing that bosses of big public sector companies should not earn more than government ministers - a reflection of dissatisfaction with railways and telecoms provider Swisscom - is also being rejected by 67%.
• A proposal to allow genetic testing of embryos before they are inserted in the uterus in cases of in-vitro fertilisation, where either parent carries a serious hereditary disease, was projected to pass with 61%.
• Transport financing: An initiative from the car lobby which wants more investment in roads. The government had urged a "No" vote, and it appears to have been rejected by 70%

When you see struggling mothers like this, don't bargain with them, instead pay more

Musician Jazzman Olofin shared this photo of a woman and her child who fell asleep by the roadside while selling fruits. He wrote: "Struggling mothers like this... Don't bargain with them, instead pay more. Show a little love, share a little hope. Survival is a tearful battle for most, especially with children. In God we trust... Happy Sunday!". Well said...

Nigerian IG user shares a funny incident from her prewedding photo shoot...her wig fell off!

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Couple arrested for trying to sell a 3-month-old baby

Photo: Couple arrested for trying to sell a 3-month-old baby

Ashley Harmon and Jonathan Flint have been charged with child neglect after trying to sell Harmon's 3-month-old baby for $500 to $1000 in West Virginia.

Deputies said the couple showed up at a neighbor's door and tried to get Carolyn Redden to buy the child. She refused, but took the child in to care for her. Redden did not want to show her face on camera, but she spoke to Eyewitness News about her efforts.

"Why have a child if you're not going to care for it?" Redden said. "Just because it is hard doesn't mean you give up on a child."

The mother ran away leaving the sick baby at Redden's home. The couple left one soiled diaper and a bottle of spoiled milk.

"I ran out and got diapers and more bottles for her," Redden said. "She was shaking, clinching her fists, crying and screaming."

The baby had diaper rash so badly and was so sick, Redden called 9-1-1. Her call to law enforcement may have saved the child's life. She gave names and descriptions to Fayette County detectives, and they were able to track down the couple and arrest them.

Captain Jim Sizemore said any case involving a child is difficult, but this case is especially rare.

"These are all of our children," Sizemore said. "I don't care what race, ethnicity or gender a child is. They are a kid. They are innocent. We will do everything we can to protect these children."

Redden's granddaughter Tonya Kessler could not wrap her head around someone putting a price on a child. However she said this baby was in the right hands.

"My grandma would do anything for anyone," Kessler said. "She is incredible. My question is, why are people like this having children? There are so many people who would love to have a baby and can't. I knew that baby was in the right hands when my grandma had her. She was well taken care of."

Fayette County deputies said Ashley Harmon has two other children she has left in another part of the state. They also said the baby's biological father had nothing to do with this. He did not know where the mother had taken the child. The baby is currently with Child Protective Services. They will decide if the biological father will get custody.

Source: WJLA Washington, D.C