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  • Benue Police uncovers 9 corpses in secret graves

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Police in Benue said they have uncovered hidden graves in Gbatse village with nine corpses of people suspected to have been killed by criminals in Ushongo Local Government Area of the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Catherine Anene, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Thursday in Makurdi.

    Anene said one suspect has been arrested, adding that ” as soon as we have concluded interrogating him, we will give out the full information”.

    She said, for now

    NAN gathered that the suspect, a gang leader of a kidnapped and armed robbery syndicate, was arrested following tip-off by members of the community.

    The suspect and his gang were alleged to be killing their victims and burrying them after collecting their motorcycles in order to conceal their crime and avoid arrest.

    A resident of Ushongo town, who pleaded anonymity, said they had already uncovered over 10 bodies from different graves at different times.(NAN)

  • Cleric calls for prayer for Buhari to succeed, warns against agitations

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS Dr Daniel Onyemachi, the President of Charis Global Vision Ministries, Singapore, has called on Nigerians to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed rather than engaging in unnecessary agitations.

    Onyemachi, who spoke in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Thursday, said that unnecessary agitation would not solve problems of Nigeria but tear the country apart.

    The cleric, who is also the Founder and Senior Pastor of Deeper Life Christian Centre, Singapore, urged the people to always seek the face of God for their leaders and the country in general.

    He said: “Agitation does not solve problems; it will only destroy us as a people. Put your knees down. A man who puts his knees down can stand against all powers of hell.

    “The Bible says we should pray for those in authority. Buahri and others in power need our prayers.

    “We must join hands, spiritually and socially, in order to restore the glory of this great nation.”

     

    The religious leader, who was in  Nigeria to host the just concluded 16th edition of African Ministers’ Conference in Umuahia, cautioned political office holders and people at the helm against abuse of power.

     

    He admonished them to be God-fearing while in office, adding that they would give account of their stewardship to their maker, one day. (NAN)

  • Investigative journalism: Panelists identify impediments

    Panelists at the 2019 Global investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC19) in Hamburg, Germany, have identified four major challenges as impediments to robust media practice in the world.

    They listed poor funding, weak skills, insecurity and inadequate work tools as the factors affecting journalism practice and pragmatic contribution of journalists to societal development.

    The panelists spoke on the “Challenges Ahead” at the 11th edition of the GIJC.

    They said the challenges of the media and journalists on investigative journalism in Africa and other parts of the world were a major impediment to contents development and trust by the society.

    A media activist and award wining Kenyan journalist, Ms Catherine Gicheru, advocated for proactive measures to safeguard media practitioners involved in investigative journalism.

    Another panelist, Mr Zaffar Abbas, called for synergy and building of network to enhance factual information to audiences.

    According to them, only a global network collaboration among journalists and clear understanding of issues could resolve the challenges.

    The conference is designed to train journalists on the science and art of investigative journalism.

    It attracted an unprecedented 1,800 delegates from across the world, including Africa, with Nigeria leading a large contingent.

  • Khashoggi murder ‘happened under my watch,’ Saudi crown prince tells PBS

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) Saudi Arabia’s crown prince said he bears responsibility for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 by Saudi operatives “because it happened under my watch,” according to a PBS documentary to be broadcast next week.

    Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, has not spoken publicly about the killing inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

    The CIA and some Western governments have said he ordered it, but Saudi officials say he had no role.

    The death sparked a global uproar, tarnishing the crown prince’s image and imperiling ambitious plans to diversify the economy of the world’s top oil exporter and open up cloistered Saudi society.

    He has not since visited the U.S. or Europe.

    “It happened under my watch. I get all the responsibility, because it happened under my watch,” he told PBS’ Martin Smith, according to a preview of a documentary.

    “The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia,” set to air on Oct. 1, ahead of the one-year anniversary of Khashoggi’s death.

    After initial denials, the official Saudi narrative blamed the murder on rogue operatives.

    The public prosecutor said the then-deputy intelligence chief ordered the repatriation of Khashoggi, a royal insider who became an outspoken critic, but the lead negotiator ordered him killed after discussions for his return failed.

    Saud al-Qahtani, a former top royal adviser whom Reuters reported gave orders over Skype to the killers, briefed the hit team on Khashoggi’s activities before the operation, the prosecutor said.

    Asked how the killing could happen without him knowing about it, Smith quotes Prince Mohammed as saying: “We have 20 million people. We have 3 million government employees.”

    Smith asked whether the killers could have taken private government jets, to which the crown prince responded: “I have officials, ministers to follow things, and they’re responsible.”

    “They have the authority to do that,” Smith describes the December exchange, which apparently took place off camera, in the preview of the documentary.

    A senior U.S. administration official said in June the Trump administration was pressing Riyadh for “tangible progress” toward holding to account those behind the killing ahead.

    Eleven Saudi suspects have been put on trial in secretive proceedings but only a few hearings have been held.

    A UN report has called for Prince Mohammed and other senior Saudi officials to be investigated.

    Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was last seen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, where he was to receive papers ahead of his wedding.

    His body was reportedly dismembered and removed from the building, and his remains have not been found. (Reuters/NAN)

  • Peter Obi’s Media Aide Weigh In, Condemn Attacks On Chimamanda Adichie

    Media Aide to former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Val Obienyem, who is also an author and barrister, has condemned recent attacks on author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

    Obienyem wrote in an opinion piece published in a national daily, in response to attacks on Adichie for writing an article about the dispute in the Guardian newspaper entitled, ‘My Hometown Under Siege’. The primary focus of her article was ongoing sponsored harassment and intimidation of Abba community residents.

    Prior to publishing Adichie’s piece, the Guardian had carried out an investigation of the dispute and the facts that Adichie laid out in her article, even despite Adichie’s local and international stature and credibility- to ensure that there was sufficient basis to publish her piece, in line with journalistic best practices.

    The paper published the resulting 3- Page investigative report alongside Adichie’s article, with the combined 4-Page write up being entitled “Special Report”.

    In Obienyem’s piece he stated: “I read what our pen export and one of the best in the world, Chimamanda Adichie, wrote about the land dispute between her town, Abba and Ukpo – both in Anambra State, Nigeria. It was the lamentation of a deeply-troubled soul over the impunity of men.

    Her timely piece is a necessary buffer against environing principalities eager to control or appropriate Abba.”

    “Going by her stature and comfort zone, Chimamanda could have decided to remain aloof to the unjust plight of her people. But, with what she did, especially more from the urge to fight injustice than anything else, my respect for her has many times been magnified.”

    He continued by writing: “I have met Chimamanda severally and on each occasion, was thrilled by her charming modesty and sense of propriety.

    Typical of her, she made her point clearly, and without denigrating anybody: Is justice up for sale to the highest bidder? Do we no longer have rule of law in this country? What are the actual duties of the Police — serving the nation or individuals? What wrong did she commit? All I saw was the disillusioned tenderness of a writer mourning the disorder in her country.”

    Indeed, the main point of Adichie’s piece -which Obienyem highlighted- the aforementioned harassment, intimidation and disruption of family and business affairs of Abba residents, has not been denied by any of the parties concerned. To the contrary, there have been credible reports of same occurring, including video recordings and well documented statements to the authorities.

    Some objective and informed observers of unfolding events have noted that personal attacks on Adichie, sometimes combined with recitation of the legal history of the land dispute, appear to be the means by which those behind the attacks on Adichie have sought to distract attention from the main issue which she raised about the harassment campaign, and to throw dust in the air to hide the facts.

    Obienyem carried on: “From her piece, it was obvious she did her home-work and was availed of all the facts. At a stage in one’s life there are risks one would not venture into. For a person of her standing to go through books, talk to people and come up with the synthesis of views on the matter, one is convinced that she has done the right thing.”

    “On the contrary, it was with great embarrassment and indeed, shame that I read the reactions of those that called themselves “Igbo Youths” to what Chimamanda wrote.
     I was even more upset that the reactions were brazenly published as advertisements in newspapers. Do they expect Chimamanda to condescend so low as to engage in “tru bum tru bum” with them? No way!”

    “The so-called youths being used are ordinarily those that should be enjoying the calming hypnosis of a well-written piece — Chimamanda’s Lamentations and Other Works. Alas, there they were, abusing and pouring obloquies on her.”

    Obienyem stated: “Clearly, the practice of exchanging people’s conscience with money has not ceased as those so-called youths have proved.”

    Adichie is renowned for being extremely familiar with and knowledgeable about Igbo culture and history despite her relative youth: including of her hometown, local government area and Anambra State.

     Indeed, the late literary icon Chinua Achebe said of Adichie early in her career, ‘We do not usually associate wisdom with beginners, but here is a new writer endowed with the gift of ancient storytellers…Adichie came almost fully made’.

    She has received various awards and commendations from successive Anambra State governments over the years, including most recently in 2016, being honoured with the Anambra State Award for Excellence by the current incumbent, His Excellency Governor Willie Obiano. She had previously been the keynote speaker at Governor Obiano’s 100-Days in Office event.

    Former Anambra State Governor, and current Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige had previously honoured her by gracing an event celebrating Adichie in her hometown, Abba, at the beginning of the decade.

    Indeed, at the national level, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had previously distinguished her with the Global Ambassador Achievement Award in 2011.

    Adichie has received numerous international awards, including 14 Honorary Doctorate Degrees from leading universities, including one of her alma maters, Yale University.

    Obienyem in his article, discussed other issues which he considered salient, including his view of the distorting effects of misuse of wealth on the Igbo culture today, and indeed on many other cultures in the country, and how it has led directly and indirectly to this situation of serious and accomplished individuals being attacked by sponsored groups. He rounded out by saying “There must be limit to madness in this clime”.

  • Tiv/Jukun leaders in Taraba agree to ceasefire

    (flowerbudnews) The leaderships of the Tiv and Junkun waring factions in the Southern part of Taraba on Thursday, agreed to a ceasefire to allow the return of normalcy to the area.

    This was contained in a communique issued at the end of a two-day peace meeting held in Jalingo, Taraba, with representatives of both tribes, government officials and state security chiefs.

    Government officials and security agencies in the state also attended the meeting.

    According to the communique, speakers at the meeting condemned the crisis and stressed the need for cessation of all forms of hostilities between the two communities to have way for the peace building effort being spearheaded by the state government.

    “The meeting noted that the crisis had been hijacked by criminal elements from both the Jukun and Tiv communities and therefore, the two communities should expose the criminal elements amongst them.

    “We also resolved to stop reprisal attacks or revenge from both parties but report all from of security breaches to the security agencies for appropriate action.

    “There is every need for government to take deliberate steps to encourage the Internally Displaced Persons to return to their homes since adequate security operatives have been deployed to the affected communities to protect lives and property,’’ the leaders said.

    The leaders urged journalists to be more positive in their reportage while the parties also charged the communities to be wary of rumours that are capable of inciting the people and destabilising the entire peace process.

    The communique was signed by the state Deputy Governor, Haruna Manu as representative of the state government , Mr Danjuma Adamu and John Mamman signed for the Jukun community while Mr Jime Yongo and Mr Isaac Waakaa signed on behalf of the Tiv community.

    NAN reports that the communual crisis between Tiv and Jukun of Taraba has claimed many lives and property worth billions of Naira in Takum, Wukari and Donga local government areas of the state. (NAN)

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Rangers thump Pelicans 3-1 to seal pre-group stage playoffs spot

    Rangers International Football Club of Enugu have sealed a place in the the pre-group stage playoffs of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup competition.

    This was after they thrashed AS Pelicans of Gabon 3-1 in the return leg match of the second preliminary round on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

    The Flying Antelopes went through 4-3 on aggregate, having lost 1-2 in the first leg match about two weeks earlier.

    The hosts came out fighting immediately after the kick-off and fired a warning shot to the Gabonese side after two minutes.

    This was when defender Semiu Liadi directed his headed effort into the side netting from a Chidera Eze free-kick at the edge of the Pelicans penalty box.

    But three minutes later, Liadi went into the referee’s book when he tripped goalbound Cruz Ndong Enteghe on the edge of Rangers penalty box.

    Dertin Amores wasted no effort and planted a left foot kick into the top corner to give Pelicans a shock lead in the fifth minute.

    Having gone behind so early in the game, the Flying Antelopes poured out in numbers, piling series of attacks into their opponents’ vital area in search of goals.

    The chances came in trickles but poor decisions in the final third cost them time and again.

    Their efforts were, however, rewarded in the 19th minute when Ifeanyi George took advantage of a moment of indecision between Pelicans’ defenders and the goalkeeper to head in the equaliser.

    Rangers grew in confidence, dominant in their play and had an appeal for a penalty kick waved away by the referee when Tope Olusesi went to the ground inside the box under a slight challenge.

    But the ball came back gloriously to George who fired inches over the crossbar when he should have scored.

    Both sides went into the half-time break on equal terms with the visitors holding a 3-2 aggregate advantage.

    Rangers came back in the second period more dominant as highlighted by two quick goals.

    Nnamdi Egbujuo headed in from a corner kick five minutes after the restart to give the hosts a 2-1 lead and 3-3 on aggregate.

    Five minutes later, Oluwatoyin Olawoyin made it 3-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate for Rangers when he scrambled in the ball during a goalmouth tussle.

    Coach Benedict Ugwu refreshed his team’s attack early in the second half, leading to the rush of goals, with the introduction of Chinonso Ezekwe for Chidera Eze.

    He later substituted veteran Bartholomew Ibenegbu for Kenechukwu Agu as the home side pressed for more goals.

    With 12 minutes left on the clock, Pelicans forward Odile Ombio forced a fantastic save from Rangers goalkeeper Japhet Opubo, following a cross from the right flank.

    With the 3-1 advantage on the night, Rangers resorted to game management and defended in numbers to contain the now adventurous Pelicans strikers to run away victors at the end of a pulsating encounter.

  • Dangote extends promo, says 20 cars remaining must be won

    Management of Dangote Cement over the weekend officially extend the ongoing sales promo by additional four weeks, stating that customers still have more than 20 cars and other fabulous prizes to be won and they must win all the gifts before the promo will be concluded.

    Dangote Cement’s Group Managing Director, Eng. Joseph Makoju, who revealed this during another car presentation ïn Lokoja, Kogi State said: “We are excited to inform you that we have decided to extend the ongoing National Consumer Promotion tagged “Dangote Bag of Goodies” He said while Promotion will now end on October 15th, customers still have till October 31st, 2019 to redeem their respective prizes.

    “Based on the above dates, packaging of cement in the special promo bags with scratch card insertion will continue till 15thOctober while lucky consumers will be able to continue redeeming their prizes up until 31st October 2019”

    Meanwhile hundreds of pedestrians, motorists, and motorbike operators took turn to catch a glimpse of the presentation of prizes in Lokoja, Kogi state.

    The car winner Mr. Abubakar Musa, 33, a block molder, said he was still in shock despite being presented keys to his new car.

    Narrating how he won the car, he said “…when I removed the winning card from the bag of cement, I ran to my wife who told me that the promo has since ended. But when I brought it to the Dangote office here they confirmed that it was ongoing and that I had won a car.”

    He added: “I still cannot come to terms that I have won a car. I believe it is God doing. Dangote is God’s sent to my family.”

    Makoju who made the presentations said the company was making a point by rewarding its loyal customers. The GMD described the promo as a success, urging Nigerians to key into it, adding that the winning cards were in over 72million promotional bags of Dangote cement.

    He said Dangote was not only leading in the cement sector but it is leading in quality as it is the only cement company in Nigeria that uses automatic robotic engineering to deliver quality to end users.

    Describing Kogi State as the heart of Dangote Cement, he said Obajana Cement Plant, cited in Kogi, is one of the largest cement plant in the world.

    National Sales Director Dangote Cement, Adeyemi Fajobi said over 21 million winners of various items are expected to emerge at the end of the promotion. According to him, millions of naira were also to be won.

    Dangote cement Marketing Director, Mrs. Funmi Sanni urged the people to continue to buy Dangote cement because there are various prizes for a whopping 21 million Dangote cement buyers, a figure she described as about 10 percent of Nigeria’s population.

    The decision to reward end users, she stated was because Dangote Cement views its customers as being at the centre of its operations and the well-being of the customers is also the well-being of the company, therefore, the need to empower them through the promotion.
    Sanni explained that lucky Dangote cement consumers across the country would go home with 43 cars, 24 tricycles, 24 motorcycles, 550 refrigerators, 400 television sets, 300,000 Dangote foods goodies packs and recharge cards for all networks worth N200,000,000.00.

  • FMBN disburses N226.3bn through National Housing Fund

    The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has disbursed N226. 6 billion as loan through the National Housing Fund (NHF) in an effort to address the housing deficit in the country, the Managing Director, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, says.

    Dangiwa spoke in Abuja  at the ongoing  National HouseFair 3.0 with theme, “New Economy: Amplifying the Impacts and Possibilities of Real Estate Utilising Technology’’.

    He said that the bank had registered 4,927,407 contributors and 23,387 organisations on NHF.

    “Construction of 27,584 housing units financed to date, 20,591 NHF mortgage loans granted to NHF contributors while 27,247 housing micro-loans of N28.9 billion disbursed.

    “More than N31.1 billion was refunded to 273,485 retirees,’’ Dangiwa said.

    He said that the bank was targeting affordable homeownership for Low and Medium Income (LMI) market segment.

    According to him, LMI segment accounts for about 90 per cent of the Nigerian population.

    Dangiwa said that mortgage finance accessibility and affordability formed a major focus of the bank.

    He said that “government-assist fund’’ was critical for improving affordability for the middle income market.

    “The future growth and development of the Nigerian housing sector, especially the mortgage sub-sector, is predicated on expanding housing access and affability for the middle class,’’ Dangiwa said.

    He said that as demonstrated in economies like the U.S., Singapore and others, empowering the middle class through homeownership was the surest avenue for economic development drive by production and construction consumption.

    According to him, empowering the middle class creates a wealthy society.

    Dangiwa said that the adoption of a multi-dimensional approach to housing finance in Nigeria must be encouraged and strengthening government institutions delivering assist- funding and collaboration among relevant stakeholders.

    Mrs Becky Damilola-Oke,` Managing Director, Bstan Mortgage and Cooperation and the convener of the fair, said that inadequate housing could affect the security, physical health and privacy of man.

    Damilola-Oke said that housing policy was a tool that was used in town planning for solving housing problems and consequently for the achievement of sustainable housing.

    She said that town planning focuses on spatial arrangement of urban and rural land use for the purpose of creating orderly, economical and functional efficient.

    Damilola-Oke said that policy instrument was one of the ways of tracking housing problems.

    She said that the new economy could be used to embrace housing-technology innovation