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Buhari is a victim of his own transparency – Lai Mohammed

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Following the controversy surrounding the vacation of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has declared that the President was a victim of his own transparency.

Mohammed made the declaration while addressing State House Correspondents after yesterday’s Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Noting that the President while embarking on his vacation informed the National Assembly and transmitted power to his Vice, Mohammed said it was surprising that Buhari was pronounced dead by some people, less than six hours after he arrived London.

Mohammed lamented that even those who saw the President aboard the aircraft in Abuja en route London, claimed that he was flown to UK in an air ambulance.

According to the Minister, “Mr. President, like I said elsewhere, is probably a victim of his own transparency. He was going on leave, he did what the constitution said he should do, transmitted it to the National Assembly and Acting President was put in place. And he said `while I am on leave, I am going to conduct some medical tests’ which many, or all of us do without announcing it.’’

Buhari, who was expected back in the country on Sunday, following the completion of his vacation, sent a letter to the National Assembly same day extending his 10-day vacation in the UK  to enable him complete and receive test results from his doctors.

Floods, Landslides Leave 20 Dead In Indonesia

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Heavy rains in Indonesia have caused the death of at least 20 people on the island of Java as the monsoon season approaches the island country.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Mitigation Agency, said on Wednesday that the death toll could rise as several people were still missing in West Java’s Garut and Sumedang districts.

About 1,000 villagers have been evacuated from their homes and relocated to make-shift shelters and army barracks, Nugroho said.

Garut is said to be the worst-hit area, where two rivers overflowed on Tuesday night, leaving 16 villagers dead and eight others still missing.

In Sumedang, three villagers died and one person went missing after mudslides buried two houses.

Each year, torrential rains during the monsoon seasons, first from January to March and then from October to December, frequently result in widespread flooding across much of Indonesia.

Heavy raining also triggers landslides, which cause huge losses of human life and livestock as well as property damage.

Read More: presstv

20 Shipping Firms Leave Nigeria Over Low Business

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Groaning under intense hardship imposed by poor government policies and global economic crunch, over 20 shipping firms have exited the nation’s shores.

This is coming as Dockworkers Union of Nigeria (DUN) lamented that over 3,000 workers have already been laid off by various shipping companies, terminal operators and logistic companies, owing to lack of financing and poor import policies of the Federal Government.

The workers also blamed the massive retrenchment on the inability of the Federal Government to meet its joint venture obligation with the international oil companies which are major partners with the marine logistic companies.Some of the companies that have already made an exit include Mitsui O.S.K Line, Nippon Yusen Kasha, Taiwan’s Evergreen Line, Messina Line, Hapag-Lloyd and Gold Star Line (GSL), among others which were forced to withdraw from the West Africa route due to growing losses as a result of declining volumes.

The President, Dockworkers Union of Nigeria (DUN), Anthony Emmanuel Nted, yesterday bemoaned the poor state of the ports, terminal and work environment in the maritime industry.

Nted revealed that about 20 shipping firms have left the shore of the country because of low traffic occasioned by government importation policy.

According to him, Nigeria as an import-dependent country cannot suddenly ban the importation of the principal goods being generally consumed in the country.

“Hence, the current government policy on importation though with the best intention seems to be wreaking more havoc on the economy and ought to be reviewed urgently,” he said.

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http://guardian.ng/news/20-shipping-firms-leave-nigeria-over-low-business/

Leave Oil Fields, Terminals Now, Niger Delta Avengers Warns Oil Workers

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Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has warned oil workers and foreigners to vacate oil fields and terminals as it is ready to fight dirty.

The militant group, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, specifically warned Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) workers as well as foreigners to leave oil fields and terminals because “it will be going to be very dirty very soon.”

In the statement issued in the early hours of Thursday, the group said: “We are warning NUPENG and Pengassan to leave all oil fields and terminals in the Niger Delta because it will be going to be dirty very soon. Foreigners are to leave too”.

NDA, which reacted angrily to the claim by the Nigerian Navy that its logisitics supplier was arrested, described it as the biggest joker of the 21st century boasting that all its members are intact.

It castigated the Nigerian Navy as having lost its sense of professionalism with its attribution of every suspect arrested to the Niger Delta Avengers.

“As it is now, any Tom, Dick and Harry is a suspect of Niger Delta Avengers. Nigeria Navy has lost the sense of professionalism.

“The Nigeria military arrested school students in Oporoza and called them the Niger Delta Avengers; any criminal caught is NDA, even their business partners (illegal oil bunkerers) with which things went sour are NDA. Sea pirates are now NDA”, it said.

Also, the group lambasted the military for always denying any of its successful attacks on oil pipelines only to go after criminals and parade them as its members that breached such facilities.

“When Niger Delta Avengers carries out any major attack, they (Nigerian military) will deny it. First was the NNPC pipeline that was blown; second the 48-inches Exxonmobil pipeline that was blown by NDA. Mobil and the government denied it. Only for Exxonmobil to declare force majeure a few days after the attack”, it stated.

The militant group said emphatically that the Qua Iboe export pipeline operated by ExxonMobil which was blasted two weeks ago is down right now.

“Let me give a little brief about the Qua Iboe Export terminal. This is a subsidiary of Mobil and it is the biggest export stream in Nigeria. They export one million barrels every two days.

“I Brig. Gen Agbinibo personally led this operation, unlike the Nigeria Chief of Naval Staff that sit in the comfort of his office to pass orders”, the statement added.

The Niger Delta Avengers advised the military to stop deceiving the public and its Commander in Chief and come out with the truth on the Akwa Ibom blast instead of claiming that its operatives didn’t blow up the line but system anomaly.

“Shame on the Nigeria military.
Reports from our intelligence agent, the only way funds can be allocated to various departments of the military is only when they arrest the Niger Delta Avengers operatives.

“But soonest the Nigerian public and their Commander in Chief will know that the military is not capable to handle the Niger Delta Avengers.

“How do you explain a military officer having a house in choice areas in Nigeria and outside the country?

“Nigeria serving and retired top officers are the richest people in Nigeria. How do they get such wealth? Right now, they are using Niger Delta Avengers to fraud the Nigeria government and tax payers of their money.”

Credit: Thisday

Tell EFCC To Leave Tompolo Alone, Ex-militants Beg Buhari

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Former Niger Delta militants, weekend, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to leave ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, alone and follow the rule of law in its dealings with him. The erstwhile agitators, who met under the auspices of the Transformed Niger Delta Ex-militants Forum, asserted that some persons, who were envious of Tompolo, wrote a petition against him to the EFCC, but advised that the commission in the discharge of its duties should respect the rule of law.

In a communiqué signed by its national president, Meshach Bebenimibo and others, they said, “We appeal to the President as a matter of urgency to instruct the EFCC to follow due process within 1999 Constitution as amended.” At the meeting held in Warri were Prince Bebenimibo, Bayelsa , Edo, Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Ondo coordinators of the group, Peter Ayeebide, Austin Peremobowei, Korebor Minama, Anthony Youbai, Oluwah Michael and Oloye Tamarayende.

They said: “We want EFCC to leave Tompolo alone because the petitioners are acting out of jealousy to indict and incarcerate him, that is why they are lying to the whole world that Tompolo sold the land for the building of Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko.”

According to the communiqué, “The petitioners know the truth and the truth is that Tompolo only sold the International Diving Institute buildings at Kurutie community and the place was sand filled before he built the school. Among the structures are lecture halls, multipurpose pavilion, administrative block, vice- chancellor’s lodge and hostels for male and female students.”

“The previous government brought valuers and did all necessary legal things and collected VAT money before paying him about 90 per cent as agreed.

“We also urge EFCC to have a rethink and defreeze Mieka and GlobalWest accounts.” The group, however, commended President Buhari for his interest in the region, particularly the inclusion of fund for the Amnesty programme in the 2016 Budget presented to the National Assembly, saying, “We really appreciate your kind gesture.”

Credit: Vanguard

IDPs Prepare To Leave Camps For Home

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More than 100,000 people uprooted by violence and living in camps in northeast Nigeria are set to return home soon, but many fear for their safety and ability to rebuild their lives, aid agency staff said on Thursday.

The Nigerian government plans to close in the coming months camps housing 150,000 displaced people in Borno and Adamawa states as security improves in the north, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The army has this year recaptured much of the territory seized by Boko Haram in its six-year campaign to carve out an Islamic state in the northeast, but the militants have since struck back with a surge of deadly raids and suicide bombings.

Most people living in camps want to return home but are worried about the threat of attacks and lack confidence in the military’s ability to protect them, Reuters quoted Stéphanie Daviot of the International Organisation for Migration as saying.

“They also say that the economic situation is not stable enough to go back, as shops and services have not been reopened, there is little work and their land has not been preserved… many people do not have the money to restart their lives.”

Many of those who have already gone home have found their houses and land destroyed or occupied by others, Daviot added.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Normalcy Returns To Anambra As Pro-Biafra Protesters Leave Scene

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The pro-Biafra protesters who blocked the Onitsha end of the Niger Bridge in Anambra State have left the scene.

According to our reporter, some level of normalcy is returning as the road is now open.

The protesters numbering over 100 took over the entire road for over ten hours forcing travellers and motorists to remain on one spot.

According to an eyewitness, the protesters who were agitating for the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, have shown no sign of ending the siege.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Why Women Leave Men They Love, What Every Man Needs To Know

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As a marriage counsellor working with men and women in relationship crisis, I help clients navigate numerous issues. While many situations are complex, there’s one profoundly simple truth that men need to know: Women leave men they love.

They feel terrible about it. It tears their heart out of them. But they do it. They rally their courage and their resources and they leave. Women leave men with whom they have children, homes and lives.

Women leave for many reasons, but there’s one reason in particular that haunts me, one that I want men to understand: Women leave because their man is not present. He’s working, golfing, gaming, watching TV, fishing…the list is long. These aren’t bad men. They’re good men. They’re good fathers. They support their family. They’re nice, likeable. But they take their wife for granted. They’re not present.

Women in my office tell me: “Someone could come and sweep me off my feet, right out from under my husband.” Sometimes the realization scares them. Sometimes it makes them cry.

Men, I’m not saying this is right or wrong. I’m telling you what I see. You can get as angry, hurt or indignant as you want. Your wife is not your property. She does not owe you her soul. You earn it. Day by day, moment after moment. You win her over first and foremost with your presence, your aliveness. She needs to feel it. She wants to talk to you about what matters to her and to feel that you’re listening to her. Not nodding politely. Not placating. Definitely not playing devil’s advocate.

She wants you to feel her. She doesn’t want absent-minded groping or quick sex. She wants to feel your passion. Can you feel your passion? Can you show her? Not just your passion for her or for sex; your passion for being alive. Do you have it? It’s the most attractive thing you possess. If you’ve lost it, what’s the reason? Where did it go? Find out. Find it. If you never discovered it, you are living on borrowed time.

If you think you’re present with your wife, try listening to her. Does your mind wander? Notice. When you look at her, how deeply do you see her? Look again, look deeper. Meet her gaze and keep it for longer than usual, longer than what’s comfortable. If she asks what you’re doing, tell her: “I’m looking into you. I want to see you deeply. I’m curious about who you are. After all these years I still want to know who you are, every day.” But only say it if you mean it, if you know it’s true.

Touch her with your full attention. Before you put your hand on her, notice the sensation in your hand. Notice what happens the moment you make contact. What happens in your body? What do you feel? Notice the most subtle sensations and emotions. (This is sometimes described as mindfulness.) Tell her everything you’re noticing, moment after moment.

But you’re busy. You don’t have time for all this. How about five minutes? Five minutes a day. Will you commit to that? I’m not talking about extravagant dinners or date nights (although these are fine too). I’m talking about five minutes a day to be completely present with the woman you share your life with. To be completely open– listening and seeing without judgement. Will you do that? I bet once you start, once you get a taste, you won’t want to stop.

Credit: Huffington

Terrorism: Court Grants Sen. Ndume Leave To Travel Abroad

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An Abuja Federal High Court yesterday granted an application by Sen. Ali Ndume, who is charged with terrorism to enable him travel to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj.

Ndume was arraigned after he was implicated by a suspected member of the Boko Haram sect, Ali Konduga, who has since been convicted and sentenced for the offence.?

Delivering a short ruling on the Senator’s application, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, ordered the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR) Litigation, to release Ndume’s passport and other travel documents to him.

Justice Kolawole also ordered Ndume to return the travel documents to the DCR within 72 hours of his return to the country. Ndume’s application, which was dated June 23, 2015, and moved by his counsel, Miss Rose Okotie-Eboh, was not opposed to by the prosecution counsel, Mr Muslim Hassan.

The Senator, who had been granted such applications in the past, will embark on the trip to Mecca on July 3. He had deposited his passport and other travel documents with the court registry in fulfilment of the bail conditions given him by the court since his arraigned on Dec. 3, 2013.

Credit: NAN

Mark, Ekweremadu Leave NASS Premises Without Convoy, Aides

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Follwing the valedictory session marking end of the 7th Senate, outgoing Senate President, David Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday evening left the premises of the National Assembly without the usual convoy of vehicles.

Also, the two principal officers of the Red Chamber were seen leaving the premises without their usual retinue of aides. Instead, among the several vehicles in their convoys, only a handful of three cars, believed to be their personal cars, followed them outside.

The siren blaring vehicles and motorbikes, usually in their convoys, which were missing as they drove out separately, caught the attention of not just some legislative staff but some of the National Assembly workers who watched as they were moving out, after the formal closing of the legislature.

Read More: vanguardngr

I Leave Office As Nigeria’s Poorest Gov.- Jang

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The Plateau State Governor and factional Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Jonah David Jang, has said he will be leaving office as the poorest governor in Nigeria.

Jang said this while speaking on Sunday at an interdenominational service to mark this year’s Democracy Day, which happens to be his last after eight years of stewardship in the state.

He challenged his critics to go check the records and prove otherwise, insisting his government is submitting a detailed handing over note, which copies he said he wished every Plateau State citizen has.

Jang, who made his last appearance in such a capacity, said he will be meeting for the first time face to face with his successor, Barrister Simon Baki Lalong, during the May 29 hand over.

He told the worshipers not to blame President Goodluck Jonathan for the woes of the country but rather the fall in oil price.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Titus Ayuba Alams, apologized to workers of the state for the lack of payment of their salaries.

Alams said it was not intentionally done but was largely as a result of the dwindling income of the state government.The Plateau State Governor and factional Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Jonah David Jang, has said he will be leaving office as the poorest governor in Nigeria.

Jang said this while speaking on Sunday at an interdenominational service to mark this year’s Democracy Day, which happens to be his last after eight years of stewardship in the state.

He challenged his critics to go check the records and prove otherwise, insisting his government is submitting a detailed handing over note, which copies he said he wished every Plateau State citizen has.

Jang, who made his last appearance in such a capacity, said he will be meeting for the first time face to face with his successor, Barrister Simon Baki Lalong, during the May 29 hand over.

He told the worshipers not to blame President Goodluck Jonathan for the woes of the country but rather the fall in oil price.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Titus Ayuba Alams, apologized to workers of the state for the lack of payment of their salaries. Alams said it was not intentionally done but was largely as a result of the dwindling income of the state government.

Credit: theeagleonline

Rivers Election Petition Tribunal Grants Wike Leave

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The Rivers Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday granted substituted service of court processes on the Rivers Governor-elect, Nyesom Wike.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Muazu Pindiga, granted the application after listening to a motion ex-parte brought by the petitioner’s counsel, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

Wike, the defendant, was the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the governorship election held on April 11, while Dakuku Peterside, the petitioner, was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The motion ex-parte. also prayed the court to grant a leave to the petitioner to bring his application outside or before the hearing session.

Other prayers sought by the petitioner was an order for him to argue some issues outside or before the hearing session.

He also sought for an order for the petitioner to deliver to the third respondent, the PDP, the court processes through the state chapter of the party.

Akeredolu told the court that the bailiff of the Court of Appeal in Rivers has tried twice to affect the service of court processes on the governor-elect but was not successful. According to Akeredolu, the motion ex-parte is supported with a 19 paragraph-affidavit of non-service and a written address to support the argument.

He said that the motion was brought in accordance with the Electoral Act and the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rule.

Pindiga, who granted the prayers, ordered that the court processes should be pasted on the wall of the house of the governor-elect. “I have gone through the motion ex-parte and it is hereby granted; all the court processes are deem valid,” the chairman said.

At the inaugural sitting before the court session, Pindiga told the court that the tribunal only has 180 days to sit on the governorship election issue in Rivers.

According to the chairman, the tribunal will be fair and will be guided by the Electoral Act in the discharge of its duties.

Pindiga called for the cooperation of all litigants and journalists, adding that the “tribunal will sit by 9 a.m. in all the days of the week or on any day agreed upon by all the counsel.”

Credit: NAN

Tribunal Grants Agbaje Leave To Inspect Governorship Election Materials

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The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday granted Mr Jimi Agbaje leave to inspect all polling materials and documents used in the April 11 governorship election in the state.

Agbaje was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the election in which the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) declared Mr Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress as the winner.

The three-man tribunal, led by Justice Muhammad Sirajo, gave the order while ruling on a motion ex-parte filed by Agbaje’s counsel, Mr Clement Onwuenmunor.

The tribunal also ordered INEC to provide certified true copies of all polling documents, including printed data from the card reader machine, in each polling unit.

However, the tribunal rejected Agbaje’s request to inspect the polling documents and devices used in the conduct of the March 28 Presidential Election in Lagos State.

Sirajo noted that the tribunal was set up solely to hear and determine the petitions relating to the governorship election.

“The tribunal does not have the power to make an order for the inspection of the documents and devices used for the presidential election. It is hereby refused,” he added.

The tribunal also rejected Agbaje’s application, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, seeking an order to compel INEC to produce all polling documents, and card reader machines used for the governorship election.

According to the panel, the petitioner can request for materials and documents it deemed necessary to his case by way of subpoena when the tribunal has fully commenced proceedings.

The judge noted that the respondents should be given the statutory time to file their replies to the petitioner’s originating summons, adding that notices would be sent to parties for the pre-hearing conference.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agbaje had petitioned the tribunal over the election which he lost to Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Agbaje had alleged some irregularities during the election which he said contravened the provisions of INEC approved guidelines for the election.

The respondents in the suit are : INEC, Ambode, APC and the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State.

 Credit: vanguardngr

Finally! Zimbabweans Leave South Africa After Xenophobic Attacks

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Hundreds of Zimbabwean nationals who fled attacks in South Africa are now being processed in a border town in Zimbabwe.

At least 400 people affected by xenophobic attacks in the city of Durban crossed into Zimbabwe late on Monday, spending the night at a camp set up in the border town of Beitbridge. They are expected to leave to different destinations across Zimbabwe later on Tuesday.

South Africa saw a wave of xenophobic attacks at the end of March, starting in Durban, and later spreading to the townships in and around Johannesburg. At least eight people were killed and thousands of others displaced.

Brenda Mavenge said she left Durban after her husband was attacked. “My husband was attacked [and] he is in hospital right now. The men who attacked us took all our possessions, even cell phones. Now how will I communicate with my husband who is still in South Africa?” Mavenge asked.

Read More: aljazeera

Messi Admits he Could Leave Barcelona

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Lionel Messi saw arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo beat him to the Ballon d’Or in Zurich on Monday and then reignited speculation over his own future by saying: “I don’t know where I’ll be next year.”

Barcelona and Argentina superstar Messi appeared to row back on his own comments made 24 hours earlier that rumours that he could leave the Camp Nou for Chelsea or Manchester City were “all lies”.

“I always said that I would finish my career at Barcelona and then at (his home town club in Argentina) Newell’s,” Messi told reporters after Real Madrid’s Portuguese icon Ronaldo lifted the world footballer of the year title for the second year in succession at a glittering FIFA awards ceremony.

“But I don’t know where I’ll be next year.

“As Cristiano (Ronaldo) said recently, football has many twists and anything can happen,” added the Barca talisman, who himself won the Ballon d’Or four years in a row from 2009.

After a superb performance in Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Spanish champions Atletico Madrid on Sunday, Messi had angrily dismissed talk that he wanted to leave after clashing with Barca’s manager Luis Enrique and the club’s board.

“I have never demanded anything to ensure that I stay because I never had any intention of leaving,” he told Barca TV after the match.

Messi’s relationship with Enrique had come under scrutiny after the forward was benched for the 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad a week earlier. The rumours grew after Messi missed the first training session after that match, citing a stomach bug.

“I have heard it said that my dad has spoken to Chelsea or Manchester City. It is all lies. I have taken this chance to deny it so that everyone knows the truth,” Messi said Sunday.

But his latest comments are sure to regenerate interest from a number of cash-rich English Premier League clubs.

Manchester United are reportedly one of the few that could afford the buyout fee from his contract, reportedly set at 250 million euros (195 million pounds, $296 million), without falling foul of UEFA’s financial fair play rules.

With Messi commanding a reported salary in the region of 20 million euros a year the total cost of acquiring his services on a five-year deal could be a world record-shattering 350 million euros.

Credit: Yahoo Sports