DHQ Considers Recall Of South African Mercenaries Over Boko Haram’s Resurgence

Rattled by the recent killings of the Commanding Officer of the 272 Special Task Force Task Battalion, Lt. Col. Muhammad Abu-Ali and six soldiers by members of Boko Haram, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) is mulling over whether to reach out to President Muhammadu Buhari on the urgent need to recall the South African mercenaries recruited by former President Goodluck Jonathan to help finish off the terror group.

Sources, who spoke from both the presidency and DHQ yesterday in Abuja, said some army chiefs have decided to impress it on the president that the sophisticated weapons the South African mercenaries possess could help in “finishing off members of Boko Haram” that has witnessed a resurgence in the war between the terrorists and Nigerian troops.

It was gathered that members of Boko Haram might have experienced a boost, especially after they received a huge payout from the presidency for the release of 21 Chibok girls recently.

In the last few weeks, there has been an upsurge of suicide bombings linked to Boko Haram. The terror group has also killed several Nigerian troops fighting in the North-east, including Abu-Ali and his men, who were given a national burial at the military cemetery, Abuja on Monday.

Read More: thisdaylive

Samsung Struggles With Critical Note 7 Recall

Samsung said Wednesday it was doing its best to push through a challenging recall of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, as it offered a software fix to jolt users into returning defective devices.

The success of the recall is seen as crucial to Samsung retaining brand trust and loyalty and preventing customers defecting to arch-rival Apple’s new iPhone 7 or cheaper Chinese-made models.

The South Korean electronics giant moved quickly earlier this month to suspend sales of its latest large-screen smartphone and announced a recall of 2.5 million units already sold, after faulty batteries caused some handsets to explode during charging.

Samsung had advised consumers in 10 countries to trade their handsets for temporary replacement phones provided by the firm until it releases new Note 7s.

But many users have snubbed the offer, choosing to wait until the new phones were available, citing the inconvenience of switching devices for an interim period.

And different regulatory practices in different countries — as well as varying reactions from carriers — have caused a degree of customer uncertainty and confusion that is hampering Samsung’s efforts to get the recall behind it as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Read More:

http://guardian.ng/technology/samsung-struggles-with-critical-note-7-recall/

Sokoto Indigenes Threaten To Recall Its Senators Over Aisha

Sokoto Citizens Forum, has said that it may consider sensitizing the people of Sokoto State across the three senatorial districts on the likelihood of commencing the recall of Senators Aliyu Wammako, Ibrahim Gobir and Ibrahim Danbaba over their perceived indisposition to the choice of Mrs. Aisha Abubakar as minister. Briefing newsmen in Sokoto, Secretary General of the group, Malam Isah Suleiman noted that Aisha has the prerequisite public experience that would be useful to Nigeria at this period of financial crisis.

His words: ”We condemn in the strongest of terms the position of Senator Aliyu Wamakko, Senator Ibrahim Gobir and Senator Ibrahim Danbaba on our ministerial nominee. In few days to come, we shall initiate the process of recall from the National Assembly the trite of Senator Wamakko, Senator Gobir and Senator Danbaba whose action has been in our interest.

”Today, our government parade impeccable men and women of integrity and character whose moral standing in the society remain a model for the younger generation. A fitting example of such rare gems of leaders is Aisha Abubakar a princess from the caliphate, whose nomination attracted applause from the length and breadth of this great country.

”Aisha Abubakar is indeed a model of what our leaders should look like. She is a thorough breed of excellence having distinguished herself as public servant per excellence in her over 20 years in the financial and investment sector of the economy. In this era of dwindling oil revenue, Aisha will bring to bear her expertise as a financial guru in diversifying our economy. Aisha Abubakar’s conduct as an anti-corruption crusader will help President Buhari to clean up the Augean Stable of the last administration.”

Credit: Vanguard

#Pausibility: Ambode, Lagos Is A State Of Excellence!

Akinwumi-Ambode-350x253

My Dear Governor,

I checked my archive and found out that I have not congratulated my amiable governor on any platform yet, therefore I must correct my insensitivity to my immediate environment by extending my congratulations to you. Please sir, don’t tag it belated.

I am a Lagos boy who believes it will beneficial and great if we are in sync with the government at the centre; and I must commend the level of work done so far: quite an achievement in this short period. The photo-Ops tell it all.

But sir, I want to bring something to your notice. There is a road behind my house; it was built by your immediate predecessor, well-lit at night that the devil himself will have no darkness to veil himself with to perpetrate his typical devilry. Every night, even if there is no power in the neighbourhood, that light will come on. I have on many occasions, at night, taken a walk with my wife in the brightness of that light but today that road has become a menace as robbery activities are daily recorded thereon because our precious ‘ Fashola light’, as my neighbours will refer to it, is out. Not that Fashola took it with him but someone is forgetting to turn on the switch of those lamps, regularly.

The same story of darkness has enveloped Ikorodu Road and other roads. No wonder it is a huge risk to drive in Lagos at night these days that if you get home safe without your car shields broken by armed bandits that specialize in traffic robbery, one should count himself/herself lucky, not the kind that comes from Otuoke though. And if you get to work intact in the morning without your bag being snatched by some ‘phony Okada riders’ it is a blessing. Please follow @Gidi_Traffic to get daily reports on highway (traffic) robberies in Lagos. Also, homes and businesses are no more secure. The crazy Lagos driving is back as it seems LASTMA is on hibernation mode. Refuse collectors under the PPP arrangement, refuse to regularly pick refuse leaving the streets odoriferous for weeks on end yet they generate spurious monthly bills threatening to seal one’s property if payment isn’t made promptly: talk of regular payment for irregular services! The deathtrap on Lagos roads are getting deeper and increasing as it is obvious that the Public Works Corporation hasn’t been engaged as it used to be.

Let me hint you on some of the things I hear people say.

“We are not asking this Ambode to outdo Fashola because BRF’s shoes seem too big for anyone to fit into so quickly, but we will appreciate that he maintains, if he cannot improve on, the good legacy bequeathed to him; it is a Lagos legacy, not BRF’s”.

Hardly had that one finished his line that another one started, ” in case anyone is advising him to undo this Fashola man (who many Lagosians and non- Lagosians alike will continue to appreciate), for whatever political will and weal, he should be told that such adviser is pitching him against the people that voted him to service.”

People are already nostalgic of the Lagos of four months ago. Israelites!

I once told them that you appear to be a performer as your academic and career records reveal but one responded thus: “he only knows how to fold his shirt sleeves but does nothing.” They were making reference to one of your campaign posters. Awon eniyan buru sir!

Another one remarked: “the way of a Chartered Accountant is not the same as that of a SAN(d) Administrator”. I don’t know what that means. But I know accountants are not as good orators as some Senior Advocates but I know they are good at calculus that some of us will never venture. They can conjure digits here and there. I respect them.

From my observation sir, these people are getting wiser by the minute, especially the bloggers and social media activists. There is an ongoing awareness on the power to recall. Am sure you will opine that it doesn’t affect a governor but permit me to paint how it does the executive.

If I ask Hon. Desmond Elliot to commence an impeachment proceedings against you for below snail’s pace performance and he refuses, I will gather the required statutory signatures to have him recalled, and in his place vote an opposition candidate who will be glad to do the people’s bidding in order to continue in their good books. Imagine recalling all your boss’s puppets and replacing them with the people’s stooges: I am sure the Peoples’ Army will always win.

Some other person I interacted with said, Just Kidding (JK) would not have been kidding with the affairs of the state like we are experiencing presently while an ardent ‘Lagos politiker’ said:  Lagos is drowning and you don’t need to visit the Bourdillon extension of LASG to save her soul.

I thought the arrows were flying in from too many directions so I challenged one in particular “you have not even allowed him to settle into office before castigating him” but she rebuffed my defense saying they will not wait till this mess gets to the knees before they raise their voices: “It is better we shout out loudly now as it is already covering the ankles”. They said there is a working and workable template before you and all you need to do is key into it.

Lagos is a Centre of Excellence and should be kept at that.

Sir, take this exposé to Bourdillon and am sure the Lion in there will order you to employ me as your Chief Gbefila and I will go to town for you.

Unbridled Vuvuzuela.

I read an interview granted by Mr Adams Aliu Oshiomole, the Governor of Edo State, Nigeria in the Vanguard of Sunday, 23rd August, 2015 where it was stated that the visibly angry Governor said he may not be able to reveal much as he would have liked but maintained that if Nigerians knew what actually went down during the Jonathan’s reign, they would stone him and his cabinet members on the street…

Mr Comrade- Governor don’t you think that statement like this is enough to put you in the same dock as Patience Jonathan in the ICC? In case you have forgotten, we all mauled her when she called for stoning of anyone who approaches her supporters chanting Change. Mosaic Law? But we expect you to know better as you are not a shepopo. Tame your emotions gather all evidence and approach the courts. I am sure this time the course of justice will not be thwarted. This is so important so that someday you won’t come and tell us how the privacy of your bedroom looks, a talkative will end up spilling so much.

 

Borno Market Bombing: Residents Recall Ordeal

Nigerian villagers on Wednesday described the carnage unleashed by a huge market bomb explosion in jihadist group Boko Haram’s northeastern heartland as the death toll rose to 50.

The bomb — concealed in a crop-spraying backpack — ripped through the weekly market in the village of Sabon Gari, around 135 kilometres (85 miles) south of Borno state capital Maiduguri, during peak trading on Tuesday.

“When the blast happened people in the market fled in fear. They abandoned their wares. Some managed to return for their wares but some never came back,” Samaila Biu, a local trader, told AFP.

“The market was littered with all sorts of articles. The mobile phone section was a mess with many dead and pieces of flesh and blood splattered all over.”

The explosion went off at about 1:15 pm, (1215 GMT) Biu said, just after the market had entered its most busy trading hours and the immediate vicinity of the bomb was packed with merchants and shoppers, witnesses said.

Authorities said in the immediate aftermath 47 people had been killed but upped the toll by three overnight.

“One more person died from his wounds and two more bodies were later brought to the morgue from near the scene of the blast. Now there are 50 dead and 51 injured,” a nurse at Biu General Hospital, around 50 kilometres away, told AFP.

Credit: AFP

Unions Seek Recall Of 58 Sacked Lecturers, N62bn Arrears

The Federal Government has been urged to recall the 58 sacked lecturers of Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto.

The Joint Action Committee of the non-teaching staff in tertiary institutions in Nigeria made the appeal on Thursday.

The JAC comprises National Association of Academic Technologists, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities.

Spokesperson for the committee and President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Mr Samson Ugwoke, made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja.

President of NASU, Comrade Ladi Iliya, and her NAAT counterpart, Sani Sulaiman, also signed the statement presented at the press conference.

He said the 58 lecturers were sacked with their retirement benefits forcefully paid into their accounts while the case was still in court.

Ugwoke said the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the university had only four months to leave office when he sacked the lecturers.

According to him, all efforts by the unions, through letters and visits to the VC, were to no avail.

Ugwoke also named Abia State University, where “our members have gone to court over the staff school issue.”

He added, “We are worried that the NUC (national Universities Commission) in concert with vice-chancellors, in some cases, have either sacked or threatened to sack the teachers/non-teaching staff, who are our members and bona fide universities’ staff, without recourse to our union or renegotiation.

“We have written several letters on this, copies are attached, and also met several times with government functionaries on this, to no avail. Only promises.

“Our prayer is that non-teaching agreement on staff school should be respected.”

Ugwoke said in the agreement, signed by the three unions, it was stipulated that government, through the universities councils, should fully fund university primary schools.

He said the universities should, without recourse to government for funding, provide infrastructure for the secondary schools.

Read More: punchng

Nigeria Denies Recalling High Commissioner To South Africa

The federal government has denied “recalling” its envoys in South Africa. The government  clarified the decision to “invite” its Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Martin Cobham, and Deputy, Uche Ajulu-okeke.

Speaking on the current diplomatic row between the two countries, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said the envoy was not recalled but summoned for consultation. “Please disregard rumours and reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recalled its High Commissioner to South Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa for consultation. He was not recalled,” Obanikoro said.

The Senate last week called on the Federal Government to recall the Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa for proper consultation on the recent incidence of xenophobic attacks. The South Africa government had expressed “regret” at the decision.

At least seven people have been killed during the attack on foreign nationals. None were Nigerian but a number of these were said to have been rendered homeless.

Credit: CAJ News

South Africa Condemns Nigeria’s Recall Of High Commissioner, Jabs Jonathan On Chibok Girls

The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, has described the recall of Nigeria’s High Commissioner as an “unfortunate and regrettable” diplomatic step.

In a statement, Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for DIRCO, said the South African government was shocked that the Nigerian government would resort “to such an extraordinary diplomatic step to express outrage at actions or behaviour of another government”.

“We are not sure which actions or behaviour of the South African Government the Nigerian Government is protesting,” Mr. Monyela said.

“It is only Nigeria that has taken this unfortunate and regrettable step. If this action is based on the incidents of attacks on foreign nationals in some parts of our country, it would be curious for a sisterly country to want to exploit such a painful episode for whatever agenda.”

The. South African authority said despite the recall, the country remained committed to a strong bond of friendship and bilateral relations with Nigeria despite the death of 84 South Africans at a collapsed guest house of Synagogue Church of All Nations on September 12, 2014.

The country also took a jab at the outgoing administration of President Godluck Jonathan saying it would raise its concerns through diplomatic channels with the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration and referencing the failure of the current administration to rescue the kidnapped chibok girls and also end Boko Haram insurgency.

“We shall also continue to support and not blame the Nigerian Government as it battles to deal with Boko Haram that continues to kill many innocent civilians,” the statement said. “We hope that the more than 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram will someday be reunited with their families.”

South Africa and Nigeria have had a tense relationship since the former seized millions of dollars in cash illegally brought into its territory by Nigerian authorities.

Creditpremiumtimesng