Flowerbud News

Blog

  • Gov Wike pledges peaceful LG poll in Rivers

    Gov Wike pledges peaceful LG poll in Rivers

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers says he has  received assurances from heads of security agencies in the state that adequate measures are in place to ensure a peaceful local council poll.

    A media aide to the governor,  Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, in a statement on Thursday quoted Wike as saying that government  would “hold the security agencies professionally accountable should insecurity be experienced in the state in the course of the election.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there are 23 local government areas, 319 electoral wards and 4,442 polling units in Rivers.

    The governor also urged community leaders and members of the public to be alert  and report suspicious characters and movements in their neighbourhoods  to law enforcement agencies.

    “Also, the security agencies have definite instructions to strictly enforce the restrictions on human and vehicular movement on election day and arrest any person or group of persons that violate this order.

    “All those who have no official business with conducting the election should therefore stay away from the polling units after casting their votes or risk arrest and prosecution,’’ he said.

    According to the governor,  there is no legal instrument stopping the conduct of  Saturday’s election in the state.

    “As things stand now, we have no other choice but to conduct the local government election and allow democracy to settle and thrive once again at the grassroots and drive the development of our communities.

    “I can confirm to you that the election will take place as scheduled in all the 4,442 units, 319 wards and 23 local government areas of the state as there is no legal obstacle significant enough to warrant otherwise.

    “Let me therefore appeal to all registered voters to turn out in their numbers to vote for the candidates of their choice.

    “This is a civic responsibility you must exercise in order to rekindle the touch of democracy, good governance and accountability in the local government system.

    “I am very pleased with the information that 67 out of the 68 registered political parties have fielded candidates for the election  and are therefore participating,’’ Wike said.

    He expressed happiness with the assurances by  the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RVSIEC) that it would conduct free, fair and credible election on Saturday.

    “For us, this is an irreducible minimum and we demand nothing less as government will hold the commission strictly accountable for any act  or omission  that compromise the integrity of both the process and the election,’’ Wike said.

    In a broadcast to the people of  the state,  the governor  had given  reasons for the delay in the conduct of the election.

    “After three years of legal vacillation,  it is now clear that the subject matter or fundamental interest of the claimants in that case has practically been wasted by effluxion of  time.

    “ And whatever remedies derivable by the parties, if any, can only be nominal.

    “While the legal challenge continues, the people of Rivers State are denied their rights to freely elect officers to run the councils democratically.

    “However, as things stand now, we have no other choice but to conduct the local government election and allow democracy to settle and thrive once again at the grassroots and drive the development of our communities,’’ he said. (NAN)

     

  • Nigeria’s Basharu re-elected into UN disabilities rights committee

    Nigeria’s Basharu re-elected into UN disabilities rights committee

    Nigeria’s candidate, Mr Danlami Basharu, has been re-elected into the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the 2019 to 2021 term, in a keenly contested election.

    The Nigerian candidate, whose first term expires in December, was elected overwhelmingly at the first round with 108 votes alongside Lithunia – 111 votes, Australia – 107, Switzerland-104, South Korea-99, and Ghana – 92.

    However, 16 other countries went into the second round of election during which three representing  Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico respectively were elected, while 30 countries initially sponsored candidates but eight withdrew at the last minute.

    The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol is one of the most widely-ratified international human rights treaties, which reaffirms that people with disabilities are entitled to the same treatment as everybody else.

    Prof. Tijjani Bande, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, applauded the election, saying Nigeria aggressively sold its candidate because he was extremely qualified as his record was well-known to UN Member States.

    “We wrote a letter to all the Missions telling them that the Nigerian Government was interested in the candidature of Basharu and this was followed by personal visits by the Mission to explain why this was important to us.

    “We arranged bilateral meetings with many missions in support of our candidates. We had agreements with several other Missions of mutual support, which we adhere to.

    “We also had a big event at the mission, to let the candidate interact with the all delegations; it was very well attended and we thank all those who gave a lot of support to our candidate.

    “Especially, the feel was really a very heavy one, and to be number two out of number 22, even though we started like just five months to the election when some have started three years earlier than we did.

    “But we also would like to say that when we have agreements, we stick to our agreements. We are not also unmindful of the fact that we do not go for many positions.

    “We select positions because we believe that other countries also have contributions to make in other committees and we try not to be all over the place.

    “So we are selective in the committees we go for. We are very grateful to all those who worked very hard,” he said.

    Bande said the position was strategic to Nigeria as it would project the country’s voice on the global stage in advancing the rights of persons living with disabilities.

    “It is an important position because it is dealing with a class of rights, not general rights but rights of those who are usually ignored and this is the measure of your humanity.

    “It’s how you connect and ensure the rights of those who, if left on their own,  might be easily ignored; for example, you don’t know except through this effort, what challenges the disabled go through.

    “And to now insist on our understanding their rights and what is also our obligation to make sure they are given their full rights as human beings, this is important.

    “And that platform (CRPD) is very important and that is why all countries try to send their very best to advance that cause and we are very grateful Nigeria has an excellent candidate and he went through.

    “He would add the voice of Nigeria to the global efforts to protect and advance the rights of the disabled in whatever facet or area of disability we are talking about,” Bande said.

    Deputy Permanent Representative, Amb. Samson Itegboje, said the Nigerian Mission had built very solid bridges of friendship with other countries’ Missions to solidify its base since Bande assumed office.

    “So it is easier to coordinate whenever we need votes for our candidates. If you don’t build those bridges, there’s no way you can achieve this kind of feat that just came,” Itegboje said.

    Basharu, former President, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability, said having a member on the committee would help Nigeria to begin to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability, which it ratified in 2010.

    “Currently, we are working on a programme with National Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in order to promote the awareness of the Convention in Nigeria.

    “And there have been quite a number of changes in the sense that various corporate organisations are realising the need to make their buildings accessible for persons with disabilities such as wheelchairs users and so on.

    “In that way, such persons can have access to employment and to education, to healthcare facilities and to social services; the National Disability Bill has been passed by the parliament and waiting for President’s assent.

    “The bill actually has designated the position for a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria, which will actually help to alleviate a lot of the challenges that persons with disabilities encounter in Nigeria,” Basharu said. (NAN)

     

  • Mourinho confident England will impress in Russia

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has backed England to shine at the World Cup due to the depth of experience in the squad.

    “They have a good group of young but experienced players,’’ Mourinho told British media.

    “All of them play in the most competitive competition in the world, the English Premier League.

    “All of them also playing for the best teams with experience of playing in the Champions League, which is a high level of football, obviously.’’

    Mourinho said favourites Brazil and Germany had the most balanced squads and he did not expect the World Cup to see a shock winner in Russia.

    “They have good squads but good squads don’t always make good teams… (but) I don’t think the underdogs will make a big surprise,’’ he added.

    “In the end, the top teams in South America and Europe are the ones that will be fighting for the title.’’ (Reuters/NAN)

  • INEC suspends CVR in Bassa and Dekina communities in Kogi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has  suspended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in some communities in Bassa and Dekina Local Government Areas of Kogi.

    The state’s  Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. James Apam,  who announced this during a press conference in Lokoja on Wednesday,  blamed the development on persistent violent clashes within  the affected communities.

    Apam also disclosed that the commission has had cause to suspend the exercise in Omala Local Government sometimes  this year for similar reason

    He said that the communities where the exercise was  being put on hold were unsafe for  INEC staff to work there.

    “ We believe that the security agencies and traditional rulers are aware of these security breaches and are taking steps to bring them to an end,” Apam said.

    According to him, a quick return of normalcy to the communities will enable INEC officials to go and capture the particulars of eligible voters and replace lost voter cards.

    The commissioner,  however, said that 245,195 new voters have been registered in the state since the commencement of  CVR in April last year.

    Apam said that the new registrants were made up of 123,877 males and 121,318 female while the commission had also treated 9,774 applications for transfer and  12,123 cases of damaged or defaced permanent voter cards.

    The REC further explained that 59, 078 voter cards had been issued to those who registered before the 2015 general elections, adding  that 200,429 cards were still lying uncollected.

    He said that the office had also  taken delivery of newly printed 112 , 333 permanent voter cards as well as cards  for those who had newly registered  and those who applied for inter-state transfer of their cards from April to December 2017.

    Apam regretted that only 7,943 of the newly printed 112,333 voter cards had been collected as at Tuesday,  appealing to traditional  rulers, press and registered political parties to assist in mobilising Nigerians to collect their cards.

    He also said that the INEC was making arrangements to take  issuance of  PVCs  closer to the people.

  • Commission approves 3,665 police officers promotion

    Commission approves 3,665 police officers promotion

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 3,665 senior police officers.

    The commission’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that approval for the promotion was one of the high points of the commission’s 28th Plenary Meeting which was held in Abuja on June 8.

    He said that two commissioners of police, Igbodo David, who is in charge of Legal department at the Force Headquarters and Olalekan Abdulfatai, were promoted to substantive Assistant Inspectors-General of Police.

    Ani said 16 Deputy Commissioners of Police were also promoted to commissioners of police.

    He said that the commission also approved the promotion of 13 Assistant Commissioners of Police to Deputy Commissioners, 60 Chief Superintendents of Police to Assistant Commissioners and 631 Superintendents of Police to Chief Superintendents.

    The spokesman said that 820 Deputy Superintendents of Police were promoted to substantive Superintendents, while 1,922 Assistant Superintendents of Police, ASPs, promoted to Deputy Superintendents.

    Others promoted include 201 Inspectors who were promoted to Assistant Superintendents of police.

    “The commission also approved confirmation of appointments of 42 officers of different ranks, approved acting appointment for another 73 and converted 1,060 Specialists to General Duty,” he said.

    He said that the approvals have been forwarded by the commission to the I-G for implementation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was the last official function of the chairman of the commission, Mr Mike Okiro whose tenure came to an end on Monday, June 11.

  • President Buhari to sign 2018 budget next week

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari will sign the 2018 budget next week.

    Adesina said this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The President’s Media Aide briefed the correspondents alongside the Ministers of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole and that of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah.

    “The position on the 2018 budget is that it will be signed next week.

    “You will be told the specific date, but one thing we are sure of is that the budget will be signed next week,’’ Adesina said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Presidency had on May 25 confirmed the receipt of the 2018 Appropriation Bill from the National Assembly.

    This came more than six months after it was presented before the joint session of the legislative house.

    The senate had increased the 2018 budget from N8.612 trillion as proposed by President Buhari to N9.12 trillion.

    The senate also increased the crude oil benchmark price pegged for the budget from 45 dollars per barrel to 50.5 dollars per barrel.

    Read also: NASS transmits budget to President

  • World Cup: Salah trains with Egypt

    Mohamed Salah gave Egypt’s World Cup hopes a huge boost Wednesday when he joined a squad training session at their Grozny base.

    The Pharaohs’ superstar was sidelined after suffering a shoulder injury in Liverpool’s Champions League final loss to Real Madrid on May 26, casting doubt on his World Cup participation.

    He took part in his first training session since the injury, going through a range of warm-up exercises with his teammates.

    Team doctor Mohamed Abou al-Ela said Salah “participated in part of the training with the team and completed the other part alone”.

    Team director Ihab Lahita was cagey about his progress, saying there was no guarantee Salah will play in Egypt’s Group A opener against Uruguay on Friday.

    “There’s a good degree of progress but no definitive decision on whether he takes part, as we are following his case day by day,” he told reporters.

    Salah’s World Cup dream was left on the brink when he exited the Champions League final in tears after Sergio Ramos wrestled him to the ground.

    But such has been his form for Liverpool, with 44 goals in all competitions this season, that he was included in the Egypt squad simply on the off-chance he could play.

    On May 30, Egypt officials said Salah would be out for “not more” than three weeks, which would rule him out of the Uruguay match but put him in the frame for Russia on June 19 and Saudi Arabia on June 25.

    Egypt’s doctor said over the weekend that Salah would not play “unless he has totally recovered”.

    The player sat out Egypt’s first training session after arriving in Russia but was optimistic about his prospects.

    “I’m excited. God willing I’m well-prepared and things are going well and my morale is high,” he told AFP on Sunday.

    Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera has expressed hope that Salah will play against the South Americans, saying he wants to play against the best at football’s showpiece tournament.

  • Man arrested for planning attack on Salman Khan

    The Special Task Force (STF) of Haryana police was alerted that the actor’s life was in danger. Mumbai police then amped up security for Salman. According to Times of India, Rajasthan’s deadly gangster Lawrence Bishnoi is to be blamed for posing risk to the superstar’s life.

    Lawrence allegedly has an involvement in the black buck poaching case as revealed by Sampat Nehra – a sharp shooter. Sampat confessed that he had been tracking Salman’s movements and planning to attack Salman since a few months. The shooter was arrested earlier today when he admitted to scheming the attack.

    While Sampat is now behind bars, his accomplices are still at large and might reach Mumbai soon to shoot Salman. In order to avoid a risk to the actor’s life, police officials have beefed up security for the Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor. Salman now has armed policemen around his house and sets along with personal bodyguards.

    The 52-year-old star is currently packed with promotions for his upcoming film Race 3 which also includes Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Jacqueline Fernandez and many others in titular roles.

    Have something to add to the story? Share in the comments below.

    Read more: attack , Bollywood , crime

  • Police to arraign 11 persons for meter tampering, energy theft, says AEDC

    Police to arraign 11 persons for meter tampering energy theft, says AEDC

    Arraignment

    Mr. Oyebode Fadipe,Head,Corporate Communication, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company(AEDC) says Katampe Division of FCT Police Command will arraign 11 persons suspected of meter bypassing and energy theft.

    Fadipe made this known on Tuesday in a statement signed in Abuja on Tuesday.
    According to him, the suspects will be arraigned before a Grade 1 Area Court in Mpape, FCT.
    “ The incidence of meter  bypassing  and energy theft is becoming worrisome, AEDC is prepared to work with relevant security agencies in order to curb the practice,” he said.

    Fadile added that the company would ensure that  suppression of consumption and other forms of sharp practices that compromised its investment and commitment to its customers would be rejected.

    “They bypassed their meters in Gisiri community where AEDC recently spent over N55million on the rehabilitation of the network and installed over a thousand pre-paid meters.

    That was in order to improve service delivery to its customers in the community,” he said.
    The 11 suspected persons were made up of two women and nine men.
    They are: Chidinma Aniweke, Mary Anchor, Paul Nwodo, Chinese Otalor, Emeka Obeta and Julius Agba.
    Others are: Chukwuemelie Ifeanyi, Odiase Sunday, Tari Marcus, Monday Daniel and Francis Ajulor.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls  that in May 2017, a special investigation and prosecution taskforce on electricity offences was inaugurated by the Director of Public Prosecution – Umar Etsu.

    The taskforce was made up of officials of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Police, other relevant security agencies and AEDC.

    ASAB/