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Showing posts from 2015

SOCIAL MEDIA BILL- A CLEAR CONSCIENCE FEARS NO ACCUSATION - Lauretta Onochie

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It appears the 8th Nigerian Senate, an unpopular set of men and women are still battling for relevance in the Nigerian political space. This has beclouded their judgement so much that they cannot articulately separate the wheat from the chaff. While admitting that there is a tiny bit of substance in their desperation, by and large, it's an outright and deliberate effort to gag ordinary Nigerians and give Pres. Muhammadu Buhari a bad name and image at a time he is enjoying local and international goodwill and accolade.  What we need to do is study the Social Media Bill carefully to understand what the Senators are working at and where they have crossed the line by smuggling in repressive parts.  The Genesis of the Social Media Gag Bill: ▓ The Senate had mud in its face, suffering great humiliation when they admitted Frivolous Petitions against the person of Rt. Hon Chibike Rotimi Amechi and others during the screening of the Ministers.  ▓ The Senators were blind

And The Chief Wailer, Oliseh Metuh Wails Again! - Lauretta Onochie

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Oliseh Metuh Is there any one left among Chief Oliseh Metuh's friends who can explain to him the true situation of things in Nigeria? I ask because I am beginning to think that the Oliseh Metuh's of this nation, get really upset that not only are Nigerians now in power, they are also happy with the leadership they chose for themselves.  It's true that Oliseh Metuh, who is now sounding like a broken record, did not correctly read the handwriting on the wall before and during the last election that swept him and PDP out of power. They had it coming but they had plans which did not include the Card Reader. Who is to blame for their misreading the mood of Nigerians who were clamouring for a change of direction but were ignored by the PDP administration of Pres. Jonathan? Who is hounding dissenting Voices? It's also true that during the reign of PDP, they hounded those who did not agree with their oppressive regime using EFCC, the police, ICPC, NDLEA, etc. Ca

SELFISH AND GREEDY OHANEZE DOES NOT SPEAK FOR NDIGBO - Lauretta Onochie.

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Many Nigerians have watched with tongue in cheek as the group known as Ohaneze Ndigbo has paraded itself as the group with the interest of Ndigbo. For starters, let us look at the meaning of Ohaneze Ndigbo. Oha means the ordinary people. Eze means King or in this case, Elites. The phrase Oha na Eze Ndigbo as an organisation would mean an association that is for all Igbo people, irrespective of whether they are elites or ordinary Ndigbo or their social status. But what we have seen in Ohaneze is an organisation that is far from representing the interests of the ordinary Igbo people. The 'Oha' have been completely relegated to the background. For many years, children of school age would be seen at various markets in Eastern Nigerian learning how to use calculators and shunning formal education. Their main ambition, or should I say the life plan for such children by their parents is a life in one of those dingy market stalls, with 10,000 power generating sets and no ventil

Nigeria labour unions demand capital punishment for corruption

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and civil society on Wednesday advocated capital punishment for corrupt officials as obtained in China and India. Making the call at a joint news conference in Abuja, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, and TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama, said the campaign against corruption must be intensified and sustained. To drum support for the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari, they said the organised labour would hold a mass rally on Thursday in Abuja. Mr. Wabba said the NLC was in support of whatever would address the issue of corruption in the country, including death sentence. “If such capital punishment can happen in China, India and South Africa, it can also happen in Nigeria; whatever measure that will address the issue of this mind-boggling corruption in the country, NLC will support it,” he said. Mr. Wabba noted that corruption had badly damaged the core of the country’s national existen

IGP ORDERS NATIONWIDE ARREST OF PERSONS INCITING VIOLENCE

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Abuja – The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, has ordered an immediate clampdown on persons or group of persons inciting violence and social disorder across the country. This is contained in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, in Abuja on Thursday. The statement explained that the directive became imperative because of recent activities of members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign States of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in some parts of the country. It said that the order empowered the police to arrest anybody fomenting any act of violence or disorder, or any act inimical to the security of the nation. The statement said that the following arrests had been made ; Anambra four, Imo six, Delta11, and Abia one. It further warned that all persons so arrested for inciting violence, irrespective of their class or status in the societ

Sylva, Otiotio Join Bayelsa Guber Race

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A former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, and a former Nigerian Ambassador to Japan, Emmanuel Otiotio, on Monday submitted their expression of interest and nomination forms for the forthcoming All Progressives Congress governorship primaries in the state. They became the last set of aspirants to submit their forms at the party’s National Secretariat. After submitting his forms, Sylva told newsmen that he is in the race to salvage the state and complete the good work he started but was not allowed to complete before he was forced out by a combination of forces from within and outside the state. He accused the incumbent governor of the state, Seriake Dickson, of abandoning most if not all the projects he executed when he was governor. Sylva said, “As of 2012, we were poised to celebrate in 2013 one year of uninterrupted power supply in Yenogoa city, I had installed turbans and there is a turban that was 93 percent complete when I was ousted. The outgoing government r

PRESIDENT BUHARI ORDERS WITHDRAWAL OF DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS.

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President Buhari Nigerian Immigration Service has ordered former Nigerian public office holders to immediately hand over official and diplomatic passports issued to them while they were in office. Vanguardngr reports that the officials says the action is based on the directive of president Muhammadu Buhari.  The categories of officials affected by the directive are former governors, former ministers, former senators, former members of the House of Representatives, and former members of state Houses of Assembly. Others involved are former commissioners, former special advisers/special assistants, former chairmen/deputy chairmen of local government areas, all retired heads of parastatals and retired public servants. “These categories of persons are hereby informed that these passports which were previously held by them have been revoked and should return them to the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters Sauka Abuja with immediate effect,” the Comptroller-General of the Imm

Breaking: Senator declares assets after Buhari example

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A member of the Senate, Shehu Sani, who represents the central Kaduna constituency in northern Nigeria in the Senate, said he was worth 22 million naira and has several houses and cars. Sani on Monday became the first sitting member of the legislature to declare his assets publicly, following President Muhammadu Buhari’s example for greater transparency and accountability in the graft-riddled nation. Sani, a human rights activist who heads the Civil Rights Congress lobby group, said his decision was prompted by Buhari’s “moral standard” for more openness in public life. Buhari last week declared he had no foreign bank accounts or oil concessions, owned five houses but only $151,000 (135,000 euros) at a local bank.  Aides said it was an indication of the 72-year-old’s “spartan lifestyle”. His deputy, former lawyer Yemi Osinbajo, said he had about 94 million naira ($466,000, 418,000 euros) in his local bank accounts, $900,000 and 19,000 pounds in other bank accounts, four

BUHARI'S PRESIDENCY, THE SIGNS OF GOOD THINGS TO COME - Lauretta Onochie

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There was no doubt that the much touted breath of fresh air under the immediate past government of former Pres. Jonathan was a farce. Very few people around the globe were therefore, not surprised at the passion and commitment with which Nigerians mobilized to get rid of a government that was mostly useless in its dealing with those they were elected to serve. Impunity and corruption sat side by side as co-heirs of the kingdom of Nigeria, battling for the souls and minds of Nigeria and Nigerians.  Still, some expressed pessimism, concern and even doubt that Nigeria would ever see the sun rise ever again. The thought of "change" from what has set Nigeria decades back, propelled many Nigerians to join the party, "Anything But Jonathan" ABJ. These joined forces with the then opposition party, All Progressives Congress, APC to wrestle political power and for many, freedom, from a government and a political cult that has punished Nigerians for sixteen years and

HOW CAN WE EVER FORGET.....

How could we forget how millions of jobless Nigerians were lured with promises of jobs with the immigration authorities in Nigeria? How stadia across the nation were used as death traps for some unsuspecting young job seekers who had paid to be killed in their quest for an opportunity to earn a living. Till date, no one has been brought to books. But they were Nigerians and those of us who survived that ordeal must not forget it. We must remember it on the 14 of February 2015. We must get our pound of flesh by voting for those who can bring justice and closure to Nigerians. How could we forget how we woke up one morning to find, floating on Ezu River, decomposing bodies of nearly 60 Igbo youths! And what was their crime? They, as members of MASSOB, had staged a peaceful protest, rights enshrined in our constitution. The massive cover up and deliberately bungled investigations must always come to mind. The inability of the Nigerian police under the irresponsible leadership of
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The Buhari Support Organizations (BSO) were at New Karo to support the campaign for Change. Although just a Coaster bus and a Van left the campaign headquarters in Abuja, the convoy soon grew out of sight with many cars and motorcycles leading the way and many more trailing. A courtesy call was paid on the Palace of Etsu Karo where prayers were offered for Nigeria and General Buhari. The campaign train then continued its journey to New Karo where a massive crowd that showcased Nigeria's diversity was on hand to receive BSO. Prayers were again offered by both Muslim and Christian leaders. The HIGHLIGHT of the occasion was the tearing of a PDP membership card by a popular youth leader in the area, Yunusa Halidu. He said he was happy to be turning a new leaf by joining the change movement. Members of the the Market Women's Association, Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers, etc, took part in the campaign.

ITS CRUNCH TIME, WE MUST REMEMBER! - Lauretta Onochie

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How can we forget how millions of jobless Nigerians were lured with promises of jobs with the immigration authorities in Nigeria? How stadia across the nation were used as death traps for some unsuspecting young job seekers who had paid to be killed in their quest for an opportunity to earn a living. Till date, no one has been brought to books. But they were Nigerians and those of us who survived that ordeal must not forget it. We must remember it on the 14 of February 2015. We must get our pound of flesh by voting for those who can bring justice and closure to Nigerians. How could we forget how we woke up one morning to find, floating on Ezu River, decomposing bodies of nearly 60 Igbo youths! And what was their crime? They, as members of MASSOB, had staged a peaceful protest, rights enshrined in our constitution. The massive cover up and deliberately bungled investigations must always come to mind. The inability of the Nigerian police under the irresponsible leadership of Pr