HEDA urges ICPC to probe lawmaker Gbajabiamila over N75m gift to wife

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been urged to probe the spending of Femi Gbajabiamila, House of Representatives member for Surulere 1 Federal Constituency.

The call was made by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), a non-governmental and non-partisan human rights resource centre on Monday, June 18.in a press statement sent to media houses.

A letter signed by HEDA's chairman Olanrewaju Suraju has been forwarded to the anti-corruption agency.

In the letter, HEDA expressed worries over Gbajabiamila’s gift to his wife and wondered if the House of Reps member, who is the Majority Leader of the lower house of legislature, was spending within his legitimate salaries as a lawmaker.

The letter read in part: "According to Vanguard of May 28th and 29th 2018, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila has been reported to have surprised his wife, with a gift of Mercedes G-Wagon, selling for between N75M and 100M in Nigeria.

"The gift on the 27th May, 2018 was to commemorate the wife’s 50th birthday. He was also reported to have rocked a N1.2M Gucci suit when giving this gift to his wife. The stylish Gucci Heritage web tape crepe wool jacket that costs $3,450, approximately N1.2M.

"His intention could have been right but in a country where the minimum wage is N18, 000, with hunger and unemployed youths roaming the streets, his actions were seen as insensitive to Nigerians especially from his Surulere Constituency.

"HEDA Resource Centre believes that no room must be opened for any person to abuse public trust while in public office. Corrupt practices and misapplication of public funds must be abolished in all fronts by relevant government agencies charge with the responsibilities of investigating allegation or suspicions of corrupt practices.

"On this account, HEDA is calling on your good office to open a wide investigation into the utilization of funds for capital projects allocated to Surulere 1 Federal Constituency under Honourable Gbajabiamila to ensure and convince discerning Nigerians that public funds were not used for private family services and benefits by people elected into offices for service."

Earlier it was also reported in some dailies  that Gbajabiamila dusted Nigerian singer Davido’s assurance to girlfriend Chioma when the Majority Leader of the 8th House of Representatives blessed his wife, Yemisi, with a glittering brand new Benz G-Wagon of yellow colour.

The state-of-the-art luxury car is valued at over N100 million. The gift was to commemorate her 50th birthday.

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'Terrifying': Horse 'spooked' by close-riding Windsor Triathlon cyclists

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Video:Horse 'spooked' by passing triathlon cyclists

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 A woman whose horse was "spooked" by cyclists riding too close during a triathlon says she knew "these individuals weren't willing to stop".

One of the cyclists hit her, Jennifer Katherine wrote on Facebook, and "seemed to show no remorse".

It "smashes along the side of my horse, taking my stirrup in the handlebars and bruising up my ankle", she added.

The man also appeared to lift his "middle finger at me whilst riding off as I screamed", she said.

Organisers of the race the cyclists were taking part in said those responsible would be identified and disqualified from future events.

The rider said that as the horse reared up, it lost one of its back shoes.

Jennifer Katherine, who stayed on the animal but was left "in shock", said no one stopped to see if she was alright.

She said she was "very sore" along one side of her ankle.

Image:The horse is narrowly missed by cyclists

In a video posted on the social media site, the horse can be seen walking down a road as bikes taking part in the Windsor Triathlon start to go past.

Initially it is only a few, but then a group passes, including two bikes that undertake the horse as others pass close by on the outside.

Jennifer Katherine exclaims in terror and her mount becomes agitated and turns into the side of the road.It happened at around 9am on Sunday, she said, and was unexpected because she has lived in the area all her life and her horse is "bombproof on the road".

There was no warning about the event on the road, she said.

Both she and the horse were wearing hi-vis gear.

"It was terrifying being on a spooked horse and knowing that these individuals weren't willing to stop," she said.

From then on, her horse was "on the defence with every cyclist he met", she added.
Jennifer Katherine said race officials were investigating, and she had had "amazing support from the cyclist and triathlete community".

The organiser of Windsor Triathlon, Human Race Events, tweeted that it was taking the incident "very seriously".

"Riders will be identified and disqualified from all Human Race Events," the company added.

"All riders are briefed to follow the Highway Code.

"We do not condone dangerous cycling of any kind. We sincerely apologise to the individual affected.

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Kaduna 2019: I will contest against El-Rufai - Shehu Sani

Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna central senatorial district has declared his intention to contest against the incumbent governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, in the forthcoming 2019 governorship election in the state.

Sani also allegedly hinted of his intention to quit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The outspoken senator allegedly said he and many others, who were reportedly maltreated by the APC, are presently at the departure lounge of the party, The Sun reports.

Sani allegedly said the ruling APC, as it is, today, stands on a foundation of injustice against its members, adding that the party has failed to live up to its promises and pledges of a transparent internal democracy.

“We condemned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the past for not being fair and just to its members, but the APC has found itself in similar, if not worst situation, as at today.”

The senator reportedly said he and other party members will not tolerate or condone injustices, adding that if solutions to the identified challenges in the APC are not taken care of in the coming weeks, there will be no going back on their decision to leave the party for good.

Addressing journalists who paid him Sallah homage in Kaduna, the senator also reportedly said he will be contesting the governorship of the state, unless the Kaduna political stakeholders, which he is a member, decide otherwise.

“There is a Kaduna political stakeholders, made up of former governors, lawmakers and various party chieftains, and, as a team player, I am a member. I am going to contest the governor of Kaduna state, but, if the stakeholders insist on me going back to the Senate, I will have no objection, whatsoever.

“Nigerians are now more resolved and conscious to vote for people of integrity who will work for them, hence, I have the confidence of winning my election in whatever party I contest, because people will vote individuals based on merit, and not the party, in the 2019 general elections.

“As it is today, over 25 registered political parties have come to us to express solidarity and support, and I can confirm to you that opposition from Kaduna state will come under an alliance of forces in the coming elections.

“I want to make it clear that should I contest and become the governor of Kaduna state, I will open the government house to the masses," he said.

Already a chieftain of the ruling APC, Isa Ashiru, who contested against Nasir El-Rufai for the governorship ticket in 2014 in Kaduna state, announced he had withdrawn his membership from the party.

In a letter to his Kudan ward chairman of the party, Ashiru complained that the APC does not have cohesion and internal democracy.

He complained that despite losing the governorship ticket to El-Rufai, he and his supporters worked relentlessly to ensure victory for the APC with a belief that the welfare of the people of Kaduna state would occupy the front burner of the government.

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Protests in Greece as Macedonia is renamed after 27-year row

Image:A man faces riot police in Pisoderi near the border with MacedoniaGreek protesters have clashed with riot police while a historic deal to end a 27-year name dispute was signed.

The demonstration came as the foreign ministers of Greece and Macedonia signed a preliminary accord to rename the country the Republic of North Macedonia.

A woman was hit on the head by a rock and a man was treated for breathing problems during the clashes.

The trouble broke out when about 500 demonstrators waving Greek flags tried to approach the signature ceremony on the banks of Lake Prespa.

But they were surrounded by police near the small village of Pisoderi, about 16 miles from the ceremony.

Riot police blocked the rural road leading to the lake, while others on mountain slopes threw stun grenades and tear gas at the crowd.

Image:Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, right, and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev

The authorities said about 5,000 people took part in the protest against the agreement.

One protester said: "We are fighting for the land of our fathers. We are not backing down."

:: Can you name these eight countries that changed names 

Since 1991, Athens has objected to its neighbour being called Macedonia because it has its own northern province of the same name, which in ancient times was the cradle of Alexander the Great's empire

At the fishing village of Psarades, where the deal was signed, priests tolled the local church bell in a sign of mourning.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said the agreement would heal wounds between the two countries.

He said: "This is a brave, historic and necessary step for our peoples.

Image:The dispute over Macedonia goes back to 1991

"We are here to heal the wounds of time, to open a path for peace, fraternisation and growth for our countries, the Balkans and Europe."

Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said: "Our two countries should step out of the past and look to the future.

"Our peoples want peace... we will be partners and allies."

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• GREECE
 
• MACEDONIA

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Rice smuggling: Nigeria to shut land border

The federal government says it will shut down the land border between Nigeria and a neigbouring country in a few days time to avoid smuggling of foreign rice into the country.

Audu Ogbeh, the minister of agriculture and rural development, made the disclosure in Abuja on Monday while speaking with youth in a leadership clinic under the auspices of Guardians of the Nation International (GOTNI).

Ogbeh who did not mention the particular country and border, said shutting the borders had become necessary to encourage local production and sustain the economy of the country.

Nigeria shares borders with Niger, Chad, Benin and Cameroon.

The minister said that a neighbouring country was bent on destroying the economy of the country and discouraging local production of rice, hence the need to shut down the border.

“Our other problem is smuggling. As we speak, a neighbour of ours is importing more rice than China is importing.

“They do not eat parboiled rice, they eat white rice, they use their ports to try and damage our economy.

“I am telling you now because in a few days, you will hear the border has been shut, we are going to shut it to protect you, us and protect our economy.

“You will start seeing all sorts of negative things on the internet.

“Let me tell you why we need to shut the border, I grow rice, I was the first Nigerian to mill rice free of stones, if you plant rice in certain parcels of land, some poisonous materials gets into the rice.

“There are three kinds of water in their natural state; there is fresh water from the river, salt water from the sea, blackish water.

“If you go to the Delta in many countries, in South East Asia where they grow the rice, if you plant rice in the same place like four to six years continuously, the quantum of arsenic begins to increase and arsenic causes cancer and that is what they are dumping for us.

“Some people say they prefer Thai rice because they are very sophisticated, welcome to poison,’’ Ogbeh said.

He said that the Federal Government in two years reduced rice importation by 95 per cent and increased the number of rice farmers from five million to 30 million.

The minister said that states like Anambra, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa were doing well in rice production.

“We just have to handwork you to prosperity otherwise, this country will not grow. My wish for you is to have a better time that we had,’’ Ogbeh said.

The president of GOTNI, Linus Okorie, commended the minister for sharing prosperity experiences with the youth.

Mr Okorie noted that the leadership clinic was organised by GOTNI to expose young people to practical leadership principle for life success.

According to him, GOTNI is committed to changing the narratives of poor leadership in Nigeria by consciously developing the capacities of generational leaders.

“A lot of young people are asking questions, seeking answers to their questions, wish that they have an experienced person who will hold them by the hands and show them the way to achieve success.

“There are a few people that are readily available to do this; a lot of them are making decisions everyday on the basis of their limited exposure.

“If Nigeria must make progress, if we must consciously build the next generation of leaders then, we must expose these young people to experienced leaders that have gone ahead for a conscious transfer of knowledge and experiences,’’ he said.

Some of the youth who spoke at the meeting called for continuous mentorship from leaders, access to finance and low interest rates to assist them in businesses.

GOTNI is a non-profit youth leadership capital development organisation with a passion to nurture various categories of young people under 40 years of age, into transformational leaders.

Meanwhile,the federal government said it was working towards reducingthe price of fertilizer to cut down the price of locally produced rice.

The minister of budget and national planning Udoma Udo Udoma said the federal government was collaborating with the Morocco Government in this regard.

According to Udoma, the imported rice will be brought into the country at a subsidized rate.

Source: NAN

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Papua New Guinea declares state of emergency over riots

CGTN

Papua New Guinea has declared a state of emergency, suspended a provincial government and is sending armed forces to its rugged highlands to restore order after rioters went on a rampage of looting and burning, the government said.

Violence has often ravaged the remote interior of the resource-rich Pacific nation, where tribal and land disputes overlay regional politics.

Armed crowds angered over the failure of a court challenge to a regional governor's election burned an airplane, looted a warehouse and torched buildings in Mendi, the capital of the Southern Highlands province, this week.

Papua New Guinea has declared a nine-month state of emergency in the province, and suspended its government for the duration, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said on Friday.

"The actions of reckless individuals damaging property in Mendi has disgusted the nation," O'Neill said on his website.

"Police will investigate every agitator, and every person who was involved in the unrest."

Papua New Guinea police prevent students from marching from University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, June 8, 2016. /Reuters Photo

Thomas Eluh, a former policeman and acting administrator in the province, has been given constitutional emergency powers.

Police, including a mobile squad, were immediately deployed, along with criminal investigators, O'Neill added.

More than 200 PNG Defence Force troops are to be flown to the city of Mount Hagen on Saturday before making their way to Mendi, media outlet Loop PNG said.

Looters ransacked a warehouse of earthquake relief supplies during the Mendi rioting, said Barclay Tenza, a spokesman for the provincial disaster.

Many communities are still receiving aid after February's 7.5-magnitude earthquake killed 100 people, testing the finances and capacity of one of the world’s poorest countries. 

Source(s): Reuters

Sakurajima volcano in southwestern Japan erupts

CGTN

The Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima prefecture, southwestern Japan, saw an explosive eruption Saturday morning. No injuries have been reported.

The eruption was observed at around 7:20 a.m. local time at one of the peaks of the volcano, spewing volcanic ash 4,700 meters into the sky, according to the local weather agency.  

Sakurajima is an active composite volcano and a former island in Kagoshima prefecture. The most recent eruption was on May 2, 2017.    

The weather agency maintained the alert level for the volcano at level three on a scale of five, has restricted entry into the mount and issued a warning for falling rocks.

(Top image: file pic)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

June 12: Shafaudeen Lauds P.M.B. Tasks Islamic Clerics

With Hi-Tech.innovations today Muslims leaders worldwide have being challenge to intensify the pursuit of global educational technology and look inwards for a powerful telescopic device that can solve the Moon siteing in the earth surface whenever the need arises.
Founder / Spiritual head of Shafaudeen ln lslam worldwide Prof. Sabit Ariyo Olagoke JP. made the comments in his Eid el Fitr chat with Transview magazine Chief news bureau at the organization international headquarters lbadan.
According to the erudite lslamic scholar noted that presently among the problems facing lslam worldwide caused by political apologists and the elites who have no other intentions than to pocket the clerics.
He observed that engaging in a robust ICT. programs will resolve the mis understanding that always occour in Islamic event Moon siteing.
On the recognition of June 12 by Mr President . Prof. Olagoke stated that the national recognition is overdue and frown on the government critics over the issue.
Adding "ln politics every game is symbolic, you don't do things that will not favour your camp', and therefore commended Mr President for doing what his predecessor failed to do.
Prof. Olagoke however urged missionaries to be role models and avoid contradiction of theory and practice, he challenge them to have more impact on the people and change for good our society.
He enjoin all faithful to shun social corruption in order to gain fairness, equity, rulership by conscience and piety in religious worship and also admonished them to be consistent in good deeds and live by the words of God even after the Ramadan.