Press Release Anti-Corruption War: Saraki seeks private-public partnership

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday called for closer collaboration private organizations across the country with the Federal Government for an effective fight against corruption.

Saraki who gave the charge when he played host to the executive members of the Institute of Directors (IOD), led by its President/Chairman of Governing Council, Mr. Samuel Yemi Akeju, said it is part of the 8th Senate's Legislative Agenda to contribute maximally towards the elimination of corrupt tendencies in the country.

He told his guests that the Executive arm of government is on the same page with the National Assembly in resuscitating the economy, ensuring adequate security and alleviating unemployment across board.

According to him, "Our Agenda in the Senate and that of the present administration is geared towards improving the economic situation of our dear country, adequate security and fight against corruption.

"The fight against corruption is key to this administration and we are in full support of this task. I want to call on the Institute of Directors of Nigeria to join the fight in every capacity to bring to normalcy ways of doing things and take our nation out of economic doldrums," he said.

Saraki recalled that the 8th Senate from inception have been an inclusive Senate, "We had meetings with players in Public and private sectors on how to amend our outdated laws and make them acceptable and blend with the modern trend.

"That is the major reason why we seek collaboration and support of private organizations and bodies like Institute of Directors of Nigeria in ensuring that government's actions and approaches are directed towards providing better lives Nigerians," Saraki stressed.

Earlier, the President of IOD, Mr. Samuel Yemi Akeju said the 8th Senate since inception has lived up to the yearnings of the people in terms of professionalism and legislation adding that if sustained, it will give room for best practices in all ramifications of governance.

Akeju who unfolded the purpose of the visit to the Senate President said the Institute has agreed to present a draft Bill to the National Assembly on the workings of the Institute saying the Bill when passed into Law will further boost the day to day activities in the business world.

He said that the IOD, as a foremost organization in the country, will continue to play the leadership role saying over the last two years, the Institute has inducted over 800 Directors just as he suggested a mandatory membership for lawmakers in the National Assembly.

Signed:

Sanni Onogu

Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President

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Saraki seeks private-public partnership

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday called for closer collaboration private organizations across the country with the Federal Government for an effective fight against corruption.

Saraki who gave the charge when he played host to the executive members of the Institute of Directors (IOD), led by its President/Chairman of Governing Council, Mr. Samuel Yemi Akeju, said it is part of the 8th Senate's Legislative Agenda to contribute maximally towards the elimination of corrupt tendencies in the country.

He told his guests that the Executive arm of government is on the same page with the National Assembly in resuscitating the economy, ensuring adequate security and alleviating unemployment across board.

According to him, "Our Agenda in the Senate and that of the present administration is geared towards improving the economic situation of our dear country, adequate security and fight against corruption.

"The fight against corruption is key to this administration and we are in full support of this task. I want to call on the Institute of Directors of Nigeria to join the fight in every capacity to bring to normalcy ways of doing things and take our nation out of economic doldrums," he said.

Saraki recalled that the 8th Senate from inception have been an inclusive Senate, "We had meetings with players in Public and private sectors on how to amend our outdated laws and make them acceptable and blend with the modern trend.

"That is the major reason why we seek collaboration and support of private organizations and bodies like Institute of Directors of Nigeria in ensuring that government's actions and approaches are directed towards providing better lives Nigerians," Saraki stressed.

Earlier, the President of IOD, Mr. Samuel Yemi Akeju said the 8th Senate since inception has lived up to the yearnings of the people in terms of professionalism and legislation adding that if sustained, it will give room for best practices in all ramifications of governance.

Akeju who unfolded the purpose of the visit to the Senate President said the Institute has agreed to present a draft Bill to the National Assembly on the workings of the Institute saying the Bill when passed into Law will further boost the day to day activities in the business world.

He said that the IOD, as a foremost organization in the country, will continue to play the leadership role saying over the last two years, the Institute has inducted over 800 Directors just as he suggested a mandatory membership for lawmakers in the National Assembly.

Signed:

Sanni Onogu

Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President

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PDP Govs brand Fayose a potential future leader

The Peoples Democratic Party governors and others gathered yesterday in Ado Ekiti, showered encomium on Governor Ayodele Fayose and branded him a potential future leader this came as the Taraba State Governor, Arch. Darius Ishaku, said Governor Ayodele Fayose plaid a significant role in his victory at the Supreme Court, after a dramatic loss at the Appeal Court.

Also, his counterparts from Akwa Ibom and Abia States, Hon Emanuel Udom and Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, respectively, disclosed that Fayose has foretold them of their victory even before the election tribunals’ pronouncement, adding his support to their administrations has been monumental.

The governors said this in Ado Ekiti while attending the commissioning of some projects executed by the administration of Governor Fayose.

Dignitaries at the ceremony were the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Governors Ishaku of Taraba , Dr Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, David Umahi of Ebonyin, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Nyesom Wike of Rivers ,Ibrahim Dankwabo of Gombe

Ishaku, while speaking at a thanksgiving ceremony organised in honour of his judicial victory in Ado Ekiti, said Fayose’s spiritual counseling made him escape the hammer at the apex court.

“After losing at the Appeal Court, I was in Jerusalem with Governor Fayose and at a time I became burdened and I told him(Fayose) that I am prepared to go back to my state. But he advised me to stay back and put all my supplications before God and that I did.

“I then promised that if I should win the supreme court verdict that I am going to do my thanksgiving in Ado Ekiti and that am doing today. He told me that God will make way for me and this advise actually subdued my worries and today I am celebrating .

“That was why I am committed to wiping away tears in the eyes of my people in Taraba . As I speak with you many communities in Taraba had not witnessed development since its creation.

It marvels me when my wife told me that she went to a community, very remote one and a woman of over 100 years proclaimed that she had not seen a car in her lifetime”.

Speaking on Fayose’s virtues, Ishaku showered encomiums on the
governor for his forthrightness, doggedness and bravery, saying these have helped in shaping his political career”, he said.

Ikpeazu , who also escaped the supreme court hammer the same way with governor Ishaku relayed how Fayose stood by him for him to stay afloat and triumph in his judicial triumph.

Udom , who branded Fayose as a dependable pillar of support in the PDP, said the present crops of governors across party lines must rise above partisanship and strive hard to make Nigeria great in all respects.

“The present crops of governors in the country are committed people who are ready to take Nigeria to the next level”, he said.

Fayose, who attributed his contributions to God’s guidance and powers, urged the victors to continue to serve the people and always seek the face of God in all their dealings.

The governor added that virtually all his predictions about some happenings in the country have come to fruition , saying this underscored the grace of God over his life.

“Having triumphed over the forces of darkness, I want you to rededicate yourself to the service of God. You must see God as your pillar and be ready to render selfless service to the people”, Fayose counseled.

Among the projects commissioned were : Funmilayo Olayinka Women Development centre, built in honour of the late deputy governor, 2000 – capacity amphi-theatre built within the precinct of Ewi of Ado Ekiti palace, Awedele dualisation project, De-Head-Police headquarters road, Petim road in Adebayo.

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BREAKING: Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa, passes on

The Oba of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolopkolo Erediauwa, h‎as passed on.
The passing away of the monarch was announced by the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, on Friday afternoon.
A native chalk was broken within the palace to signify his passage to join his ancestors.
Details later‎…

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FG to build housing estates across the country

The federal government said it had designed mass housing estates which would be built in the six geo-political zones in the country, adding that the project would commence as soon as the 2016 budget was passed.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who disclosed this at the 9th Architects Colloquium conference in Abuja, explained that the designs of the estates took cognizance of the different environmental factors of each region.

The minister, who was represented by Mr. Sani Gidado, stated that in the past, mass housing estates were built uniformly without consideration for the peculiarity of the environment and the location of the project.

He said for over 16 years, the government had stopped financing housing projects directly, but the present government has reversed the trend and is bent on financing mass housing across the six geo-political zones.

Fashola said, “Over the last 16 years, the government has deliberately stopped financing housing projects, but that has been found to have created problems, especially for the low and medium income groups. For that reason, the present government intends to provide adequate funding for provision of houses projects directly. That is not to say the private-public partnership would be discouraged, no.”

The President, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, Umaru Aliyu, called on the Federal Government to stop deploying architects on national service in secondary and primary schools, saying this was affecting the years of pupillage the young professionals were supposed to have in order to sit for the professional competency examination.

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Photo: You all really need to visit this latest beauty salon in town

I hear they are experts at what they do. Lol

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Lady Bursts Into Tears And Bows Down For Wizkid During Concert In Sierra Leone (See Photos)

The excitement was just to much...A girl who was called on stage during Wizkid's tour concert in Sierra Leone -couldn't hold her self as she bowed and cried after coming face to face with her icon. The 25-year-old music superstar had to pick up the crying girl as he gave her a big hug -to the delight of the elated fans...See pictures below;




Meanwhile, Wizkid was welcomed by the president of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma. He arrived the country last night by private jet.

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Governor Yahaya Bello in Mecca, prays for Kogi (photos)

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has embarked on a journey to the holy land – Mecca, Saudi Arabia to seek the face of God ahead of the celebration of his 100 days in office.

Governor Bello, 40, who assumed office as Kogi state executive in what many political analysts, describe as a divine mandate, is known for his strict adherence to his religious beliefs.

The governor who embarked on his trip with his some of his aides and associates, called on Kogi state people to join him in praying for their state to progress among the comity of states in Nigeria.

”May Almighty Allah continue to grow us from strength to strength,” Governor Bello declared.

The governor has since been receiving solidarity messages from key stakeholders in the Kogi state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the chairman of the APC in the state, Alhaji Hadi Ametuo and few of his allies disowned the governor for what they say is his constant sidelining of party stakeholders.

NAIJ findings reveals that from Adavi to Ajaokuta and several local governments in the state, party leaders has since denounced the state chairman for his pronouncement.

Meanwhile, the senior special assistant on print media to Governor Bello, Ademu Idakwo has chided one Leo Sobechi for his write up in the Guardian newspaper where he allegedly disrespected the person and office of Governor Bello.

In reaction to the article, Idakwo while addressing the writer said: ”You cleverly made several attempt to say that the governor was the brain behind the crisis in the State House of Assembly when you ignorantly said the APC has 10 while the opposition PDP has 15 members and the governor not feeling comfortably with their strength, cunningly orchestrated a plot that led to the removal of Honourable Momoh Jimoh Lawal by five lawmakers.

”Your facts were totally wrong, because if you had bordered to find out, you would have known that Kogi State House of Assembly as it were before the impeachment was with 20 members. Five out of twenty-five were sacked by a law court from the fall out of the election petitions.
”His Excellency, has said in every public and private functions that it is his desire to see the assembly reunited as one body and has made several efforts to bring them together as one through series of re conciliatory efforts.”

Naij

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Governor Fayose welcomes Taraba governor (photos)

The Taraba governor said his coming to Ado Ekiti for the thanksgiving was in fulfilment of the promise he made to God in Jerusalem when he prayed with Fayose and the latter told him God will give him victory at the Appeal and Supreme courts.

Also, some projects executed by Governor Fayose will be inaugurated.

The projects for inauguration are the Women Development Centre named after the late deputy governor Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka; 6.2km De-Head-Adetiloye Road executed at N782,021,436; the 800m dualised Awedele-Secretariat road, which gulped N488,199,974 and the Ewi’s palace gallery on which the government said it spent N212.1million to complete.

Eleven governors belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party are expected to attend the inauguration. They are Governors Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Ibrahim Dakwambo (Gombe); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and Ben Ayade (Cross River).

When the election of Ishaku was nullified by the election tribunal, Fayose had told him that the Supreme Courts will reaffirm his election.

The Taraba governor promised that if the tribunal judgment was upturned by the Appeal and Supreme Courts, he would do his thanksgiving in Ado Ekiti.

After the tribunal annulled his election, Ishaku filed an appeal, asking the court to set aside the judgement. The Court of Appeal had on December 31, 2015, reversed the judgment of the tribunal which nullified Ishaku’s election.

The Supreme Court also declared Governor Ishaku winner of the April 11 governorship election in Taraba state.

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Enugu massacre: South east Senate caucus warn of threat to Nigeria's Unity

The South east Senate caucus on Friday, April 29, warned of imminent danger and possible attack on the unity of Nigeria if the federal government fails to urgently address the Enugu massacres by the marauding Fulani herdsmen.

Rising from an emergency meeting in Abuja, the senators not only condemned the attack, which left over 50 persons dead and scores driven out of their homes.

He also called for a summit of South east and South south state governors, members of national and state Houses of assembly, socio-cultural associations, traditional rulers and major stakeholders immediately.

According to the lawmakers, the emergency summit is to review and evaluate the very scary situation and profer a coordinated response that would ensure the security of lives and properties of their people.

The summit the caucus said has become urgently necessary against the background of the ominous silence and apparent indifference of the presidency over the killings in Enugu, some areas in Delta state and so many other zones in recent time even when there was obvious intelligence reports.

“We can no longer sit and watch while our people are daily slaughtered like fowls without even attracting the cursory routine condemnation by the Presidency.

“We are even more appalled that despite the alarm raised by the Uzo Uwani communities of an imminent attack by the fulani herdsmen and the associated vague assurances by the Chairman of Fulani community in Enugu that such attack will not happen, yet the security agencies failed to prevent the attack that happened two days after the alarm.

“It is disheartening what is happening and somebody has to take responsibility. That somebody has to be the institution of the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, said the caucus.

Fulani herdsmen invaded Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu state in the early of hours of today, killing scores of local people.

As a result of the attack, Christ Holy Catholic Church, Odozi-Obodo, at Onu-Eke was burnt, eleven houses were confirmed razed.

About 56 injured residents are said to be receiving treatment at hospitals in Nsukka. Sources reveal that the attack came two days after a security report hinted of an impending attack by Fulani herdsmen in the area.

The herdsmen also launched a fresh attack in Umuchigbo community in Enugu east council area of the state on Wednesday, April 27.

Sources say the inspector general of police, Solomon Arase was in neighbouring Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani council area of the state, where there was a similar attack about two days ago.

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