President Buhari pledges to invest more in science and technology

 

President Buhari has restated his commitment to invest in Science, Technology and Innovation to enable Nigeria become more competitive at the continental and global levels.

The President, who stated this yesterday at an inaugural meeting with the National Research and Innovation Council, NRIC, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the objectives of securing Nigeria, growing the economy, creating jobs and fighting crime can best be achieved through science and technology.

He stressed that Nigeria must accord high priority to science and technology if it must take its rightful place among the leading economies in the modern world.

According to him, “Nigeria’s vision of becoming one of the 20 largest economies in the world by the year 2020 is only attainable when science, technology and innovation are fully integrated into our national socio-economic development process. That process will now be fast tracked with the coming on board of this Council.

“I wish to assure this Council of my determination and commitment to ensure that as a nation, we will invest appropriately in science, technology and innovation in order to guarantee our competitiveness both continentally and globally. Our goal to secure our nation, grow our economy, create jobs and fight crime can best be achieved if we embrace science and technology.

“The NRIC is geared towards coordinating and streamlining the nation’s research and development activities as well as fostering innovation. It is designed to accelerate the growth of innovation-based entrepreneurship in the country and to create conditions for the commercialisation of current and further research findings in our universities and research institutes.

“Your Council is also expected to reposition STI as a national priority to guarantee sustainability, high standard of living and quality of life for Nigerians as well as fast-track industrial and economic development. In this regard, the Council will meet quarterly to consider and take vital decisions on STI related issues.”

Court of Appeal judgement on Abia State election ‘fundamentally wrong’ – Mike Ozekhome

 

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Mike Ozekhome has described the Court of Appeal Judgment on the Abia State Election Petition Appeal as ‘fundamentally wrong’ and full of errors in Law.

Mr. Ozekhome, who was speaking on Channels TV Breakfast Programme ‘Sunrise Daily’ aired on Friday, pointed out that the Court of Appeal was wrong in nullifying the election of Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and declaring the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mr. Alex Otti as the winner of the election.

The constitutional lawyer noted that the Court of Appeal erred in law by granting the Appeal of Mr. Otti who could not adopt his own written statement on oath at the tribunal and also by admitting in evidence, the Card Reader Report from a witness who was not the maker of the document.

Ozekhome also wondered how the Court of Appeal could give credence to the evidence of the APGA Star Witness, Mr. Ahamdi Nweke, who was only a Collation Centre Agent and could not have been at the Polling Units where elections were alleged not to have held.

He reasoned that on the facts of the case before the Court of Appeal, it was fundamentally wrong for them to have declared Mr. Alex Otti as the winner of the elections and ordered his swearing-in.

The lawyer noted that considering the fact that even going by the calculations of the Appeal Court justices, the difference between the votes allocated to Mr. Otti and Dr. Ikpeazu was 48,000 while the total number of registered voters in the 3 Local Government Areas of Obingwa, Osisioma and Isialangwa North where they cancelled elections are over 250,000 and as such, going by the Electoral Act, the very worst the Court of Appeal should have ordered should have been a rerun election in those 3 Local Government Areas where they cancelled elections to decide the eventual winner.

He equally faulted the Court of Appeal for relying only on the Card Reader to determine the issue of over-voting and wondered why they discountenanced the Manual Accreditation done in those Local Government Areas considering the fact that the INEC guidelines allowed for Manual Accreditation where Card Readers fail.

Mr. Ozekhome expressed the confidence that the Supreme Court will not allow the Appeal Court Judgment on Abia State Governorship Elections to stand in the interest of Equity, Justice and Fairness.

EFCC arrests Buhari’s associate, Jafaru Isa

 EFCC arrests Buhari’s associate, Jafaru Isa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday night arrested a former military governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Lawal Jafaru Isa.

Mr. Isa is the first chieftain of the APC arrested by the EFCC since the beginning of a sweeping probe into the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase by officials of the immediate-past administration.

Mr. Isa, Military Administrator of Kaduna State from December 1993 to August 1996 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha and one-time governorship candidate of the defunct CPC in Kano State, is a close friend of the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Mr. Isa, also a close political associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, was arrested at his Abuja residence located at Ajayi Crowther Street, Asokoro.
According to a source, operatives of the anti-graft commission invaded his residence around 9pm, and then whisked him away a few minutes later.

It was gathered that Mr. Isa, a retired brigadier general, was invited last week to appear before the commission on Wednesday (yesterday) to clear the air on “some questionable receipts” from the former NSA.

Investigators believe the retired soldier received over N100million from Mr. Dasuki.

Rather than honouring the invitation, sources said, Mr. Isa wrote a letter to the EFCC through his lawyer, seeking a postponement of his appearance date on the grounds of death of a relative.

Apparently dissatisfied with his excuse, the EFCC however arrested him to clarify the “questionable receipts”.
The spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Ujuwaren, could not be reached Thursday morning for‎ comments on the arrest.

But a top official of the commission confirmed the development.
”He has been wasting our time, and we just have to pick him up for our investigation to continue,” the official said.

Not All Former Governors Were Corrupt – Isa Yuguda

Former Governor of Bauchi State, Malam Isa Yuguda has dispelled the assertion that all former governors were corrupt while in office.

In a statement issued from Abuja, the former governor assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari has the best intentions for the country.

Yuguda who governed Bauchi State between 2007 and 2015 said “We can discern clearly that President Buhari is trying to make things work. His clarity of purpose is as unmistakable as his sincerity. Nigerians should try to be patient. Take for example the situation in the oil sector where it has not been possible to dismantle the cartel in that sector in the past.

“Everybody has a critical role to play in the ongoing nation-building process including those who served in whatever capacity in the past. Our present political office holders need to accommodate the opinions of former public office holders for the collective benefit of the country. It is not everybody who once served that is corrupt. This mindset should change.

“On a very personal note, I did my best while in office but some misguided elements went on social media platforms to discredit me unjustly and ignorantly, accusing me of what I did not do. I leave them to Almighty Allah’s judgment. I served my people and my country to the best of my ability and conscience. I love my country. We have no other country we can call our own.”

Gov Fayose celebrates his wife on her birthday (See His Message to His Wife)

 

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has described his wife, Feyisetan, as a great source of support and God’s grace he enjoys as a politician and the leader of the current administration in the state. In a congratulatory message by the governor yesterday Thursday January 7, to mark his wife’s 52nd birthday, Fayose described his wife as the positive force behind his political successes.

 

According to a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said of his wife,

“She has distinguished herself as a role model. A person who believes in modesty and totally reserved. “Her‎ prayer life has made a difference and has impacted positively on me. Any woman that marries a man like me, who is generally seen to be fearless and courageous and who is vulnerable to attacks by political opponents, cannot afford not to have a woman with her sterling qualities as wife. Only a virtuous, Godly and resolute woman like her have what it takes to stand firm in the face of attacks. “I appreciate her as she adds another year and also appreciate her care for our children. God has brought her to this kingdom at this auspicious time when many supposed men of honour have disappeared into the thin air. “I want to assure her that her labour of love will not be in vain. She is a woman to emulate for her modesty and inspiring and fervent prayer life and only her can be an ideal wife for a man like me,” he said.

The governor wished her many more glorious and fulfilling years on earth and prayed for more bliss in their marriage.

 

 

The second left really resembles the father.

Checkout photos from the 2015 Glo-CAF awards & full list of winners

The 2015 Glo-CAF Awards took place last night at the International Conference Center, Abuja, Nigeria, and below are the award winners:

Club of the Year – TP Mazembe
Fair Play Award – Allez Casa (Senegal Supporters group)
Women’s National Team Of The Year – Cameroon
Men’s National Team Of The Year -Cote D’Ivoire

Youth Player Of The Year- Victor Osimhen

Most Promising Talent -Oghenekaro Etebo

Coach of The Year – Havre Renard

Women’s National Team Of The Year – Cameroon
Woman player of the year – Gabrielle Enganamouit
Referee Of The Year – Ameshinda Bakari Wa Gambia Papa Gassama
African Player Of The Year based in Africa-Mbwana Samatta
Football Leader Of The Year – Abdiqani Said Arab Of Somalia

African Player Of The Year -Pierre Emerick Aubameyang

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Davido and babymama sign peace accord

 

Following the media battle that took place recently, the families of Afro hip-hop singer, David Adeleke (aka Davido) and his Baby mama, Sophia Momodu, have fi­nally signed a peace agreement.

They decided to resolve amicably, the child trafficking allegation levelled against the music star. According to the SUN, this came at a meeting held at the instance of the Na­tional Agency For the Prohibition of Trafficking In Per­son (NAPTIP) which was attended by Sophia, the musi­cian’s father, Deji Adeleke, Mr. and Mrs. Dele Momodu, Adeleke’s lawyer, counsel to Dele Momodu, Gbolaga Ajayi, Mr. Ajayi Famakinwa, and NAPTIP’s representa­tives.

At the meeting, it was decided that the issue be resolved amicably and that both families should stop the ongoing media war.

NAPTIP’s representatives, who took Sophia and Dele Momodu and his wife’s statements, advised the Adelekes to allow the child’s mother have access to her child, currently in custody of Davido’s half-sister, Ashley Adeleke.

Momodu’s lawyer, Gbolaga Ajayi, who con­firmed that the meeting held, told Daily Sun that the issue of blackmail being alleged by Davido does not arise.

“What will Dele Momodu blackmail Davido for; mon­ey, position or what?” he queried.