Olubadan to be buried on February 12

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State says the late Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I will be given a state burial on Feb. 12.

Ajimobi made the announcement on Friday when he visited the late Olubadan palace at Monatan in Ibadan.

He said that the funeral rites for the late monarch would begin on Feb. 6, adding that a planning committee to handle the burial arrangements had been set up.

The governor described the late monarch as “an accomplished human being by all standards’’ and wished his virtues would be replicated in every other appointed Olubadan.

He solicited the support of the people of the state in giving the late monarch a befitting burial.

Chief Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, commended the governor for his commitment to give the late monarch a befitting burial.

"2016 Budget" Senator faults proposal, wants it withdrawn

Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South) on Wednesday inAbuja, berated the 2016 budget and called on PresidentMuhammaduu Buhari to withdraw it and go back to the drawing board.

Abaribe while making contributions during the consideration of the budget, said the proposal was faulty on many grounds and could not be implemented at it was.

He said that predication of oil benchmark at 38 dollars per barrel when the crude oil price had fallen below 30 dollars per barrel made the budget unrealistic.

Abaribe faulted the government for increasing spending by 30 per cent based on borrowing.

"Mr President, my colleagues, this budget is indeed unique. After the budget presentation, the finance minister has never come to explain the details of the budget as it is normally done.

"It is a budget of change I agree, but it is a change in the wrong direction. I say it is a change in the wrong direction because it says that it is based on zero budgeting requiring all expenses to be fully justified.

"Mr President, a budget that increases spending up to 30 per cent based solely on borrowing, in what way are we justified? That is the question we want to ask the people who brought this budget.

"We know what is going on in the global economy: this budget is predicated on an oil benchmark of 38 dollars per barrel and I can now say that with oil being 28 dollars today, this budget is dead on arrival.

"The job of the opposition is to help the government to get its priorities right, so I want to please urge this government to withdraw this budget and go back to the drawing board,” he said.

The senator also faulted the adjustments made in the budget as well as allocation for spending in the Aso Rock Villa, saying that it was too exorbitant.

He said that the adjustments rather than reduce spending in areas where they were not necessary only spread it into different offices.

"Mr President, a budget that moves domestic spending within Aso Villa from N580 million to N1.7 billion cannot be a budget of change.

"We were told that in the revised budget there was an adjustment due to error, we agree but what has happened is that up to N7 billion were moved from buying vehicles and spread to offices.

"It also increased the spending that is due to renovations within the Villa.

"They are going to renovate the Villa with N3.9 billion: what else do you want to renovate there that Nigerians will see in the Year 2016?” he asked.

However, in his contribution, Sen. Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe North) blamed the previous administration for the lack of funds due to the embezzlement witnessed in previous governments.

He said that this was the 17th budget he would be debating as a legislator and noted that not more than 40 per cent implementation was achieved in the last 16 years.

"The proposal before us is the first budget where the executive has deemed it necessary to give ordinary Nigerians genuine hope.

"N500 billion allocated for school feeding and social SAFTEY NET is commendable.

"It is time to say oil should not continue to play dominant role as we have suffered economically and politically: it is time to diversify this economy.

"The direction of the executive is the way to go. `That is, we should make every effort to have the real sector-agric mining and manufacturing.

"The budget deserves the support of everyone, including my colleagues on the other side. When we were in the opposition we supported the PDP, they should support us,” he said.

Nigeria 2015 Presidential Campaign: Experts Task Politicians on Communication Skill

Acting Director General of NISER once again call for more partnership for the sustainability of the monthly NISER Research Seminar Series(NRSS).
Prof.Abimbola Adeyeye representing Prof.Olakunle Frank Odumosu made the comment at the 2016 first NRSS while speaking on the vision,mission and mandate of the organisation.

He further declared that NISER is fully ready to cooperate with other institutions in the area of mobilization of the country's research potentials for the task of national development and dissemination of research findings for the use of policy makers at all levels.Welcoming participants to the NRSS,the Don call for constructive criticism during the deliberation.
Overview the seminar topic,chairperson.chairperson Ogunsanwo from Dept.of Politics and International Relation.Lead City University Ibadan,observed that Nigeria is gradually getting democracy right with
its 2015 general elections. He noted that until we get things right struggles for power at center will continue in diabolic ways in favor of politicians and not the nation as a whole.He later described the author/presenter as erudite and distinguished Professor and enjoined the participants to be focused on the presentations.
In his paper presentation titled "Jonathan's 2015 Presidential Campaign:A Critical Analysis"; the author.Prof.J A Ayoade from Dept.of Political and Diplomatic Studies. Bowen University.Iwo Osun State, advised politicians to strive on continuous education in order to have better understanding in communications;"our politicians need real
skill in communicating with the electorates" he opined.

He observed that 2015 Presidential Election was a critical one that polarized Nigeria along North/South and East/West lines, stressing that the election was fought on muted issue such as resource control,equal rights of majority and minority with religious divide.
The paper which critically study the incumbency advantage,party administration,campaign messages, the incumbent's performance record and campaign surrogates/volunteers concluded that elections have now become complex and technical.

He urge politicians to be more realistic and level with people as electorates are now wiser than before,also he enjoin them to always give priority to there campaign target rather than abusive campaign that gives there opponents edge over them from the electorates.
The Don emphasized that, "money spent on common goods is more electorally rewarding than money given to the mover shakers of society'.

Senate receives letter for the corrected version of 2016 budget from the presidency

The Senate has received a letter from President Buhari, stating that some adjustments were made to the 2016 budget presented to it on December 22nd. The letter which was read before the house by Senate President Bukola Saraki this morning reads in part ‪

“It will be recalled that on Tuesday, 22 December, 2015, I presented my 2016 budget proposals to the joint sitting of the national assembly. I submitted a draft bill accompanied by a schedule of details.
At the time of submission, we indicated that because the details had just been produced, we would have had to check to ensure that there were no errors in the detailed breakdown contained in the schedule. That has since been completed and I understand that the corrections have been submitted. The national assembly would therefore have the details as submitted on the 22nd and a copy containing the corrections submitted last week. It appears that this has led to some confusion. In this regard, please find attached the corrected version. This is the version the national assembly should work with as my 2016 budget estimates. The draft bill remains the same and there are no changes in any of the figures.”

Saraki says copies of the corrected version will be sent to the Senators today so that deliberations on it will commence from tomorrow Wednesday January 20th.

Call for Buhari’s impeachment joke of the year - Senate

The Leadership of the Senate has described the call by PDP for the impeachment of President Buhari over the missing budget as the biggest joke of the year. Senate leader, Ali Ndume said this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja yesterday January 18th; 

‘It is the biggest joke of the year. We should be talking of how to kill the PDP for exposing this country to this mess. They killed the country in their 16 years’ reign and now somebody is correcting their mess.
I believe in the president and I’m one of the ardent believers of President Buhari. We have been together since 2003. He is the kind of leader we need to move forward. His emergence was divine intervention and the good thing is that we have a president that is in charge, unlike before that we didn’t,’’ he said.

Olisa Metuh granted N400m bail

The National Publicity Secretary of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has been granted bail in the sum of N400 million, with two sureties in the sum of N200 million each.

In his ruling on today, Dec. 19, the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, said the two sureties must have landed properties in Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory.

Justice Abang said the sureties must also deposit the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to the Registrar of the court, who must verify the authenticity of the title document of the property from the land registry of the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the judge, the sureties must also swear to an affidavit of means, must deposit two of their passports with the registrar of the court, the residence of the sureties must be confirmed and Metuh must should deposit his international passport with the court.

SECURITY:Omofoye make case for Police as PCRC Pledges Supports.

The Nigeria Police has been described as one among the best in the world in terms of its community policing strategies.
Prince Omofoye Peter, Secretary PCRC Nigeria Police Zone 11 and Chairperson PCRC Agodi Area Command of the Nigeria Police Oyo State Command made the comments at Moniya Police Divisional Headquarters during his familiarization tour of his command.

While speaking on the relationship between the police and the Police Community Relation Committee(PCRC). The Agodi PCRC Area Commander added that "they are partners in progress'. Omofoye Peter observed that though they may have some challenges before which the present administration is taking care of under the new police reform.He therefore urge Nigerians to give police adequate support all the time.
He however advise PCRC executives to be more transparent and as well urge members to have mutual understanding between themselves.

He finally commends the activities of Moniya Div PCRC which he descried as the best in Agodi Area Command and Oyo Police  Command as a whole.

Earlier the chairperson PCRC Moniya Police Divisional Headquarters Chief Olaiya Babalola aka-Koyewon reteriates his members commitment towards their partnership with the police to make the Division crime-free.
Koyewon however stated that organization within its limited resouirces do there utmost best support  for the police He remind members of the Community Stakeholders Security Meeting which as been rescheduleD for every three month 2nd thursday, that will now come up2nd thursday of march 2016.

He later presented the visitor with souvenir.

Nigeria signs agreement with UAE on recovery of stolen funds

Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today Tuesday January 19th in Abu Dhabi signed six agreements to enhance bilateral relations between them.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Femi Adesina, the signing of the agreements on trade, finance and judicial matters was witnessed by Pres. Buhari and the Crown Prince of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Nigeria's Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Obaid Attayar signed the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, while the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah signed the Agreement on Trade Promotion and Protection with the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs.

The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates, Sultan Bin Saeed Albadi signed the Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, and Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters, which includes the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth.

At a reception after the signing of the agreements, President Buhari reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption and restoring Nigeria's dignity in the comity of nations.

The President also urged all Islamic countries to support the fight against terrorism in Nigeria and denounce the atrocities of Boko Haram as un-Islamic and against the teachings of the Holy Prophet.

In his remarks, Crown Prince Zayed Al Nahyan said that the relationship between Nigeria and the UAE will be strengthened by President Buhari's visit and the signing of the agreements.

Income crisis hardens as oil hits $28

Concerns about the return of Iran to an already oversupplied oil market drove down global benchmark, Brent crude on Monday to as low as $27.67 per barrel.

This has been its lowest since 2003, before recovering to trade at $28.50.

Based on information provided by the CBN, the price of the Nigerian crude oil, Bonny Light, fell to $28.93 per barrel as of Monday, compared to $29.47 from previous week.

According to the Executive Director, South African Petroleum Industry Association, Avhapfani Tshifularo “Iranian imports are likely to displace the Nigerian and Saudi Arabian crudes, since they seem to have filled the gap when South Africa stopped importing Iranian crude oil.”

“Iran remains a major threat to Nigeria in India, and that could affect trade this year. Before now, traders have had issues selling our cargoes.”

Over the weekend, the United States had cut Iran’s oil exports by about two million barrels per day since their pre-sanctions 2011 peak to a little more than one million bpd.

#Lassa Fever# AEPB to reintroduce special environmental sanitation day

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) says it will reintroduce special environmental sanitation exercise to prevent outbreak of any deadly disease in the FCT.

Mr Joe Ukairo, Head of Information and Communication of the board, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that the exercise would ensure thorough environmental cleanliness in the FCT.

Ukairo said that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, had mandated the board, relevant departments and agencies of the FCT to work collaborate and ensure that the spread of viral diseases was prevented.

"As a regulatory agency, we are looking at reintroducing special sanitation days, because some of the diseases occur as a result of dirty environment.

"We know that our system is whereby we learn to do the right things at the old age whereby in the developed countries they grow up taking care of their environments.

"We need to push people to do the right thing at the right time, which we are looking at the failures of the past environmental sanitation day.

"We have decided to go back to the drawing board to bring up special sanitation day as a long time measure to ensure that the city is clean and people in the city are healthy,’’ he said.

He said the board was putting out all advocacy, public awareness tools and platforms to educate and sensitise the populace on the virus.

According to him, the aim of the awareness is to enlighten residents about the virus, let them know the spread pattern and what they need to do.

Ukairo added that the official team was using outside broadcast van provided by the board to area counsels and satellite towns with the message of keep your environment clean.

"Maintain personal hygiene, always wash your hands with soap, use rat poison to prevent rats in the home, and don’t expose raw food during processing.

"I remember during Ebola cases, we were all washing our hands using hand sanitisers, but as soon as Ebola was over in the country, we stop the practice.

"Even in the schools, the hand washing system, the hand sanitisers and other facilities got broken down, nobody cared to maintain them. But nature is bringing us back to that needful personal hygiene habit.

"We should form and stay with them not just to combat an incident of epidemic but just as a sustainable personal hygiene habit.

"Manage your waste properly, cover your waste bins so that rats will not have access to food, both human beings and animals strive for conducive environment.

"If we starve rat of food, water and shelter they will not come close to such environment but if we have such waste around our environment they must definitely come,’’ he said.

Ukairo, however, advised FCT residents to always visit health facility for proper medical check-up.

MASSOB Group says OBJ offered them bribes

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), in response to comments made byformer President Olusegun Obasanjo, revealed that they were offered bribes by the ex-President.

Punch Newspapers reports that the MASSOB Director of Information, Samuel Edeson, said “In 2006, while Uwazuruike was in Keffi prison, Obasanjo invited us to Aso Rock where he promised us millions of naira. He also promised to send us out of the country for us to forget Uwazuruike to die in prison. But we rejected the offer.”

MASSOB also said contrary to OBJ’s claim that the Biafra agenda is dead, they are active and still pushing forward.

Obasanjo while presenting a paper at an event said Biafra was a dead issue, adding that “No right-thinking person who has experienced the horror of war will ever agitate for more war. Nigeria cannot afford to go from Boko Haram insurgency to any other insurgency under any guise.

“And on no account should we wittingly or unwittingly allow this to happen again.”

The group in its response also said “MASSOB wishes to tell Obasanjo that Biafra is not dead and will never die. Obasanjo should have known that despite the killing of over 1,000 MASSOB members at Umulolo, Okigwe, in Imo State, on March 29, 2003.

“The killing of MASSOB members in Onitsha, Anambra State in 2006/2007, and the detention of MASSOB members in various prisons in Nigeria never stopped our agitation.”

Series of protests have been going on in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria, calling for the creation of a Biafra, and the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and fore-runner in the agitations for a sovereign Igbo nation.

Nnamdi Kanu was charged for treason by the Federal Government of Nigeria, and is currently facing trial.