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  • It’s misleading to associate us with Saraki’s declaration—NTYTRM

    Not- Too- Young -to- Run Movement (NTYTRM) has described as misleading attempts to portray the movement as behind or supportive of the declaration of Sen. President, Bukola Saraki for the 2019 presidential election.

    The movement’s stance was communicated in a statement jointly signed by Samson Itodo, Convener, NTYTRM and  Hamzat Lawal, Leader, NTYTRM.

    They said that as part of efforts to promote youth candidacy and democratic party primaries, the NTYTRM commenced a series of public town hall meetings with the leadership of political parties and young aspirants to address the challenges faced by young aspirants in securing party tickets.

    They said that the movement scheduled three town hall meetings with the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC); People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties as the first dialogue was held on Aug. 30 in Abuja with the leadership of PDP.

    “The event had in attendance the Chairman of the party Mr Uche Secondus; Sen. Bukola Saraki,  Udeh Okoye, National Youth Leader of the party. The event also was attended by young aspirants registered under the Ready-To- Run platform.

    “The young aspirants advocated for a reduction in the cost of party nomination forms and requested the party to uphold internal democracy in the conduct of party primaries. In his response, Secondus assured the young aspirants of their support for youth candidacy in the forthcoming primaries.

    “Whilst addressing participants at the town hall, Saraki declared his intention to run for the office of the President in the 2019 elections.

    “The movement wishes to express its disappointment with Saraki for usurping a platform designed for young aspirants to dialogue with party leadership to advance his political ambition. We strongly condemn this act by the President of the Senate and dissociate ourselves from this political move.’’

    They said that the movement reaffirmed its identity as a non-partisan citizen-led movement dedicated to the defense democracy, political inclusion and transformative leadership.

    The movement said it was committed to sustaining its engagement with political parties to ensure youth candidacy and free and fair party primaries.

  • Buhari to Merkel: We respect rule of law, international agreements

    President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja said his administration will always uphold the sanctity of the rule of law in governing the country, while assuring German Chancellor Angel Merkel that all agreements will be fully respected.

    President Buhari received the German Chancellor, who was accompanied by top government officials and a business delegation, at the Presidential Villa.

    In his remarks during a bilateral meeting, the President said unity and harmony in every society can only be preserved by observing the rule of law, and ensuring that agreements reached in good faith are followed through to the mutual benefit of countries.

    President Buhari told Chancellor Merkel and members of her delegation that the rule of law embodies all the rightful mechanisms for conflict resolution, both within the country, and in dealing with all foreign partners, assuring that his administration remains focused on delivering a peaceful, economically viable and politically stable polity to all Nigerians.

    The President said Nigeria remains grateful to the German government for the fair treatment of migrants.

    President Buhari said Nigeria looks forward to improving its trade figures with Germany, which had taken strong interest in investing in the country and supporting the government in providing effective services in security, education and creation of jobs.

    The President said his administration instituted reforms in the economy to make it more internationally attractive and business friendly for investors, noting that infrastructure development had been a priority, especially in power supply, road and rail constructions.

    President Buhari said the economy was already responding to the diversification reforms and the stimulus of the government as growth is now largely driven by the non-oil sector.

    The President said Nigeria was politically stable, urging German investors to take advantage of the friendly climate.

    “I enjoin you to invest in Nigeria because this is the best time to do so,’’ he added.

    President Buhari noted that the successful political transitions since 1999 were clear indications  of the country’s stability and preparedness to welcome more investments that will bolster the economy.

    In her remarks at the meeting, Chancellor Merkel said Germany is prepared to further strengthen bilateral and business relations with Nigeria, which, according to her, controls 60 per cent of ECOWAS economy.

    The German Chancellor said the population growth and opportunities in the economy can always be explored to improve employment situation in the country.

    Chancellor Merkel said the three Memoranda of Understanding signed during the visit represent a starting point for a healthier and deeper partnership with Nigeria in areas of security, trade, immigration and education.

    The Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Volkswagen of South Africa for the manufacturing of Volkswagen vehicles in Nigeria, while Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Petkus Technologies GMBH for the supply of seed and grain processing machines.

    The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with German African Business Association on fostering trade and investment.

  • NAPTIP arrests pastor, 2 others for allegedly raping minors

    By Mustapha Sumaila

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it has arrested a 43-year-old pastor and two others for allegedly raping minors in Abuja.

    The NAPTIP Director of Investigation and Monitoring, Mr Josiah Emerole, disclosed this while addressing a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.

    Emerole explained that the pastor, (name withheld), hailed from Ondo state and resided in Dutse Bupma settlement area off Bwari road in Abuja.

    He said that the suspect sexually harassed his 17 year-old house help (name withheld) in victim’s room and used his hands to fondle her breasts and other sexual genitals.

    The director said on one occasion, the suspect allegedly took his sexual harassment to the kitchen where the victims was busy doing dishes.

    He in the kitchen, the suspect used his hands to forcefully bring out the victim’s breast, fondled them among others illicit interaction with her.

    “He subsequently warned her not to utter any word about it to anyone as there would be consequences, “ he said.

    Emerole said not comfortable with the situation; the victim reported the matter to people.

    “Those people reported to NAPTIP and then the agency sent in rapid response squad to apprehend the suspect and he confessed to the crime.”

    The director said that the second suspect was a 31-year old man (name withheld was arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl.

    He stated that the suspect allegedly raped the victim severally, impregnated.

    According to him, the suspect usually covers the girl’s mouth whenever she wanted to shout to seek for help.

    He said the suspect would ask her to keep quiet and threatened to stop giving job to her mother as his cook.

    Emerole said that third case involved a 27- year-old airport taxi driver, (name withheld ) was also nabbed for allegedly raping 17 year-old girl.

    According to him, the suspect camped and drugged the victim and sexually violated her for some days.

    He stated that all the suspects confessed to the crime and would soon be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

    When questioned by journalists, two of the suspects denied the allegation while one confessed, saying that he seduced his victim. (NAN)

  • Nigerian, African athletes win gold for Bahrain in Asian Games

    The tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain finished joint-top of the Asian Games athletics table with 12 golds — but not everyone is rushing to congratulate them.

    That is because not a single track win at Asia’s regional Olympics would have been achieved without “naturalised” athletes who were born in Africa.

    Bahrain’s policy of scouting and offering nationality to talented foreign athletes — which is entirely legal — has stoked controversy for years, but the results have been particularly stark at this Games in Indonesia.

    All 10 individual athletics gold won by Bahrain were earned by runners born on the African continent — Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Morocco.

    Of the two gold-winning relays teams, all but two athletes were also of African origin.

    For the athletes themselves, the appeal of switching allegiance is obvious — financial security is key, but tales of poor treatment or lack of opportunities in their countries of birth are commonplace.

    “Bahrain was good pay, a good treatment,” explained 1,500m and 5,000m gold winner Kalkidan Befkadu, 27, who says she moved to the Gulf nation six years ago.

    “There’s so many strong athletes in Ethiopia so it’s a challenge to compete, so that’s also why I changed.”

    “Yes I’m pleased with my decision,” she told AFP with a beaming smile, minutes after winning her second gold of the meet.

    But for athletes from other nations who ended up with silver, bronze or empty-handed after falling behind African-born competitors, there is a sense the competition has been distorted.

    India’s Dutee Chand — who had to fight a legal battle to even compete in Jakarta due to her high testosterone levels — twice missed out on gold, in the 100m and 200m, to Nigerian-born Edidiong Odiong.

    Chand and her fellow athletes have not spoken out on the issue, but Indian newspapers were quick to jump on the controversy.

    The Indian Express this week listed the athletes who “had to suffer at the hands of the ‘Out of Africa’ contingent”. The Hindu referred to two competitors from Qatar — which employs similar practices — as “two Africans in West Asian garb”.

    – ‘Bahrain is very, very powerful’ –

    Rules on naturalising athletes vary between countries. But Bahrain officials have defended their recruiting methods, citing the vast resources they pour into athletes’ training.

    “It is not nationality that brings us medals, but the training and technical and administrative effort,” Bader Nasser, manager of the Bahrain Athletics Federation, told AFP. “Naturalisation is a legitimate right and we are committed to the laws.”

    Nasser also said Bahrain does not import athletes who are already established, claiming his coaches are “bringing them young and training them to reach world championships”.

    But some of those who won gold in Jakarta had already represented their countries of birth, and switched allegiance as late as their mid-twenties.

    Nasser also drew parallels with similar practices elsewhere, and his country’s small population.

    “What is the largest (athletics) country in the world? The US right? A continent is naturalising for sports, and Bahrain is only a very small percentage compared to it.”

    But now that Bahrain has broken the monopoly of its own continental superpower — China last failed to win the athletics table at the Asian Games outright in 1982 — it may need to prepare for greater scrutiny.

    While not everyone is happy, most athletes speaking to AFP in Jakarta were quick to praise the high performances of the athletes representing Bahrain.

    “Oh my God, they’re spectacular!” said Indonesian sprinter Ulfa Silpiana.

    “Bahrain is very, very powerful in the Asian Games now. I’m inspired by their team and I want to get better like them.”

  • Ayefele, Oyo state for reconciliation

    By Akeem Abas

    The Oyo state government has held a reconciliation meeting where it constituted a committee to resolve crisis generated by the demolition of the Music House belonging to popular musician, Yinka Ayefele.

    The committee, comprising of government official and some workers of Fresh FM station, including Ayefele, has commenced the process.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi set up the committee at the meeting with the popular musician in his office on Thursday in Ibadan.

    Ayefele in company with some of his workers arrived at the Governor’s Office at about 11.30 am for the meeting.

    The governor said the demolition exercise was neither a witch-hunt nor politically motivated, insisting it was due to contravention of the state ’s property laws.

    Ajimobi described Ayefele as a good man and a responsible citizen, stressing that the next step was to find a compassionate means of resolving the issue.

    He also urged Ayefele to ensure that his radio station embraced ethical reportage of the issue.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who was at the Governor’s Office in company with some monarchs, also pleaded with the governor to resolve the impasse.

    Earlier, Ayefele had stated that his office responded to all letters forwarded to it by the state government.

    He expressed regrets at not being able to see the governor, adding that the emissaries he sent failed to deliver his messages.

    Ayefele stated that he remains a law-abiding citizen who is ready to comply with the regulations of the state government.

    The meeting, which lasted hours, was later adjourned for another day. (NAN)

  • Thierry Henry favourite to coach Bordeaux

    France’s leading international goalscorer Thierry Henry was Wednesday being touted as the next coach of Bordeaux who suspended Gustavo Poyet after just one league game of the season.

    Henry, a member of the 1998 World Cup winning team and who was part of Roberto Martinez’s coaching staff with Belgium at the World Cup, was emerging as the overwhelming favourite after a fevered round of speculation which had linked Laurent Blanc, Jurgen Klinsmann and Claudio Ranieri with the job.

    According to RMC Sport, Henry would say ‘yes’ if approached while the 20 Minutes outlet claimed the former Arsenal striker will Thursday travel to the United States to meet the GACP group, the American investors who will officially take over the Ligue 1 club on September 28.

    However, the club refused to comment on reports linking 41-year-old Henry with the coaching hotseat especially with Poyet officially still the man in charge.

    Poyet was suspended last Friday for a week after an angry outburst at club bosses over their transfer policy.

    “Technically everything is possible,” said club president Stephane Martin in reference to Poyet’s future, with a sacking looking a distinct possibility.

    The decision to suspend the Uruguayan comes after he launched a furious tirade at the Bordeaux board over their decision to sell the striker Gaetan Laborde to Ligue 1 rivals Montpellier.

  • Shehu Sani thanks President Buhari

    By Ismaila Chafe/Daura

    Sen. Shehu Sani, on Thursday, paid Sallah homage to President Muhammadu Buhari at Daura, Katsina State, and thanked him for intervening in the crisis he faced with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State.

    Sani, representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, who spoke to newsmen after a closed door meeting with the President, said they deliberated on issues bordering on strengthening the APC through resolution of all internal strife in the party.

    According to him, he used the opportunity to assure the President on the support of his constituency to his re-election bid in 2019.

    He said: “I am also here to fully assure him of the support of my constituency, Kaduna Central, to his aspiration for the second term.

    “I’m also here to assure him of my own wholehearted support to the success of his administration and his return to office for the second term.

    “Those were the basic issues that we discussed with him and other issues that border on the need to strengthen our party; the need to end all internal strife and also the need to put heads, hearts and hands together for the success of his administration and also for the success of the party.’’

    The Senator stated that his decision to remain in the APC was not because his grievances against the party leadership in Kaduna state had been addressed, but due to the intervention of President Buhari and the National leadership of the party.

    He, therefore, called on all aggrieved members of the APC in the national assembly to put aside parochial interests and join hands with the party in promoting national interest for the general good of all citizens.

    “Well, there is no human being without any grievances but when national interest is put at the front side you have to put aside other parochial interests.

    “What we need to do as politicians and as people representing those who elected us is to always put the country first and know very well that we have both constitutional and moral duty to work to the progress of Nigeria and of this government.

    “So, I think these are the basic issues which we discussed, grievances are natural but we have to know that we have a country that we need to keep and also we have a country that we need to support, so that it can progress,’’ he added.

    On whether he has been assured of automatic ticket to seek re-election in 2019, Sani said even he was not so keen about automatic ticket but the party had pledged to reward loyalty.

    He, however, stressed that while rewarding members for their loyalty to the party due process must be followed.

    “I think the party had made it very clear and known to each and every person that there will be reward for loyalty but in every sense of the word due process of the party needs to be followed

    “And as far as we are concerned, what matters most to us is not simply about automatic ticket but about the peaceful and transparent conduct of the 2019 election and also the very need for us as a people and as a nation to know that the fate of the country is on our hands.

    “There is the need for us to keep aside all sectional, ethnic and religious differences for the progress of this country and going by the very fact that the President has intervened and chairman of the party has intervened – all family squabbles would certainly come to an end,’’ he said.

  • Emir Sanusi urges collection of PVC, National ID card

    Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, has urged registered voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in preparation for 2019 general elections.

    Sanusi made the call on Thursday during the traditional Hawan Nasarawa at the Government House in Kano.

    The Emir also urged Nigerians to get their National Identification Cards.

    He described the PVC as an important means of voting and identification, which all Nigerians of voting age must possess to avoid being disenfranchised.

    The monarch praised the State Government for its efforts in providing level playing field for all politicians.

    Sanusi urged politicians to avoid conducts capable of causing violence, and sued for peace, tranquility and unity in the country,

    He also commended the State government’s strides in the health sector, while also wishing safe return of Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.

    The Emir advised residents to clear the drains in order to avoid flooding in the state, appealing to them to dispose waste responsibly and be hygienic.

    Also at the event, the state governor,  Abdullahi Ganduje said that the government had completed two well-equipped hospitals with a total of 500- bed capacity.

    He said his administration would continue to invest in quality education at all levels, as it remained paramount to the development of the state.

    Gov. Ganduje also disclosed that the government had constructed Yan- Tebura Mall, in Kwari Market, at the cost of over N4 billion.

    “This project is part of our market reforms. It is sad to see traders in the sun, enduring heat and rain in the open, as their wares get ruined,” he said.

    Ganduje urged the people to continue to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as for peace, stability and progress of the country.

    Similarly, he called on the electorate to obtain their PVCs and vote in the coming general election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that also at the occasion were Senators Kabiru Gaya and Barau Jibrin, commissioners, members of House of Reps, members of the Emirate Council and the diplomatic corps.(NAN)

  • NEMA expresses worries over erosion menace in S/East

    NEMA expresses worries over erosion menace in S/East

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has expressed worries over the level of erosion menace in the South east.

    Mr Walson Ibarakumo, the Enugu Regional Coordinator of the agency, expressed his worries in an interview with the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Thursday.

    Ibarakumo said among other emergency issues such as flooding and fire, erosion ranked topmost in the threat facing the people of the South-East and their livelihood.

    He said Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo, were seriously affected by erosion menace, adding that only Ebonyi had been enjoying relative stability in the area.

    The coordinator said that NEMA was redirecting its attention to healthy environmental management and increasing awareness on erosion.

    “Erosion is very serious, the impact is much here in the South east. They are majorly hit.

    “We have been to places where electric installations were destroyed and major infrastructure damaged.

    “In our next stakeholders meeting, we are going to focus on erosion; if I may classify South east, erosion is number one ahead of flooding and fire because of the impact.

    “Though, I have not seen much of it in Ebonyi , all other states in the region are  under serious threat of erosion or the other.

    “That is why we are moving attention to erosion and better management of the environment,” he said.

    Ibarakumo said though flooding had not been massive this year, the chances were not entirely over.

    He said that 20 communities in five council areas in Anambra were badly affected by rain-induced flooding between June and August.

    He listed them as: Anambra East, Anambra West, Anyamelum, Awka North and Onitsha South.

    He said that on-the-spot- assessment in theses council areas showed that many people were temporarily displaced and large expanse of farmlands and machinery destroyed.

    He said the displaced families had gone back to their homes, but added that the camps for IDPs were still being kept ready because the peak of flooding was being anticipated in September.

    “The flooding that came was as a result of the heavy rains, but after about three days the affected people returned to their houses.

    “Because of the forecast we are looking forward to taking them to IDP camps which we have created. The outlook is still cloudy going by the forecast.

    “We expect flooding in September, so the danger is not entirely averted because September is when river flooding is expected to be at its peak.’’

    He said that many livelihoods were  also affected, especially, farms and farming equipment.

    “We are working on their resettlement, I am hopeful that very soon assistance will come their way based on the impact of damage,” he said.(NAN)