Nigeria at 56: We will overcome challenges – Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Yakubu Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Yakubu Dogara, has facilitated with Nigerians on the occasion of the country’s 56 independence anniversary.

A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, in Abuja on Friday said that despite the challenges confronting Nigerians,“there is every reason for the country to celebrate its independence anniversary”.

Dogara, however, noted that the current challenges were not insurmountable, adding that “with unity of purpose, commitment, sacrifice, hardwork and patriotism we shall overcome”.

The speaker, who noted that while it might seem like all was bleak and gloomy at the moment, said that “Nigerians will soon begin to smile in appreciation when fruits of the structures being put in place by the present administration begins to manifest”.

He said democracy offers nothing other than liberty and freedom for citizens to realise their God-given talents and potential which could be harnessed into building a greater society. 

“As leaders, we are ever ready to make the much needed and necessary sacrifice to help take the country out of the present recession and build a strong economy.

“The House of Representatives is alive to its responsibilities and committed to passing legislation that will help take the country out of the present economic recession,’’ Dogara said.

SOURCE: VANGUARD

EFCC claims to have recoverd N1.30bn

EFCC claims to have recoverd N1.30bn

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions, EFCC, said that it has recovered over N1 billion within seven months in the South-South states. The commission disclosed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during a protest by the Coalition of Civil Rights Organisations, Concerned Youths and the Ijaw Nation Worldwide on the probe of the former first lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

Addressing the protesters, the South-South Zonal Head of EFCC, Mr. Ishaq Salihu, noted that the amount it recovered falls into two categories, explaining that part of the money was from politicians, whereas the other was from cases reported to the commission.

Salihu said that the commission recovered over N500 million from top politicians in the region within the stipulated months. He said: “Between January 2 and September 2, alone, the EFCC South-South office has recovered N1.30 billion.

What I said can be verified, there are records on that. “The amount falls into two categories. One, recovery from the Federal Government and the state governments, and recoveries from politicians, and individuals that reported their cases to the EFCC and whose money had been returned.

“We have Recovery Account at the Central Bank of Nigeria. The last time I checked, we have recovered from politicians over N500.5m, that make up the N1bn. Nobody should justify the illegality that has been going on.”

SOURCE: VANGUARD

PDP rejects Edo governorship election results.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the results of the Edo governorship election held on Wednesday, ahead of the announcement of the outcome. The party rejected the results in a press conference addressed by its Chairman in the state, Mr Dan Orbih,on Thursday in Benin. 

The press conference was also attended the party’s governorship candidate in the election, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Both the party and it’s candidate said they rejected the results because they were “fabricated and a pre-determined” by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Edo Government. INEC was announcing the results of the poll as at the time of filing this report. Orbih said that the results as they were being announced by the INEC, were at a complete variance with what the party got from it agents and independent observers.

He alleged that the two-week extension of the poll by the electoral body was to allow for more time to perfect the manipulation of the process. “You will recall that our state Publicity Secretary had briefed the press less than 48 hours to the elections on what is playing out now. “If you go by the results that were announced at the polling units and wards across the state, it shows that PDP would have won by over 30,000 votes. “What INEC is announcing is clearly different from what we got from our agents and independent observers in the 192 wards and over 2,000 units across the state. 

“We are rejecting these results as they were being announced by INEC and we are coming out early enough to make this known,”he said. The chairman said the cancellation of some results on the basis of failed card reader was part of a deliberate plan to also manipulate the poll. He alleged that the areas were results were canceled were stronghold of the PDP. “I wonder what the Incident Form is for. Voters should not be made to suffer unduly for the inefficiency of card readers,” he said.

He said the results as were being announced by INEC, were clearly at variance with the widely acclaimed voter- turnout that was also acknowledged by the electoral umpire itself. On his part, the governorship candidate said he aligned himself with the position of the party. “The results are not a true reflection of what happened in the field. The INEC only played a script written by the Government of Edo,” he said.

SOURCE: VANGUARD

Woman kidnaps friend’s daughter for N30,000

Plans by 44-year-old Enioyam Belief, a Nigerian based in Ghana to kidnap her nine-year-old niece has been foiled by police. Arrested alongside the prime suspect, a mother of three, was her accomplice identified as Agatha Aigbomian, 42. 

The suspects, it was gathered, abducted a nine-year-old primary school pupil, who was on her way to school last Tuesday, in Ikotun area of Lagos.

The suspects were paraded alongside 23 other suspects that have been terrorising the state, yesterday, by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Fatai Owoseni.

When approached, the prime suspect, Belief, blamed her action on the devil, adding that it was also borne out of her need to raise N30,000. 

She said: “I don’t know what got into me. I am learning how to make beads at Ikotun and I live with the child’s mum. I refer to the child’s mother as my sister because we are from the same community in Ghana and also live together in Ikotun. But we are not blood sisters. 

“The mother did not offend me. I kidnapped her daughter because I wanted N30,000 for some personal needs. But I could not do it on my own so I invited my friend, Agatha, who sells fried potatoes at Ikotun.”

SOURCE: VANGUARD

Kiriji war re-echoes after 130 years

Map of Western Nigeria

Echoes of the Kiriji war between Ibadan and Ekiti Parapos, which ended on September 23, 1886 resonated again, last week, as prominent sons and daughters of Yorubaland including traditional rulers gathered at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, to review what led to the war and the lessons the South West geopolitical zone should learn from it.

The centenary anniversary with the theme: “Celebrating Yoruba in the past, present and future”, was jointly organised by the Yoruba Academy and the Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG.

The treaty entitled: ‘The Proclamation of Peace at Kiriji-Mesan’ was signed by Henry Higgins, Oliver Smith. Among those who signed the treaty were the Alaafin of Oyo, his chiefs, Owa of Ilesa and his chiefs, Awujale of Ijebuland and his chiefs.

In attendance at the epoch-making event were representatives of Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.

Others included the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Chief Yetunde Onanuga; Secretary to the Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Olalekan Alli; chairman, Afenifere Renewal Group, Mr. Wale Oshun; Dr. Charles Akinola; Special Adviser to Osun State Governor, Architect Muyiwa Ige; son of the late sage, Chief Bola Ige; former member of International Court of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola, and a host of others.

Traditional rulers at the occasion were Orangun of Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolade; Oba Ajibola Titus from Ilorin and many others. Students from various schools also attended the programme.

Edo election: Buhari calls Oshiomhole, congratulates Obaseki

Buhari calls Oshimole over Edo States Election

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki and the people of Edo on successful conclusion of the gubernatorial election in the state. 

In a telephone call to Gov. Adams Oshiohmole of Edo on Thursday, the President noted with delight the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Godwin Obaseki. 

He commended the well articulated campaign programme of the APC in the state, the doggedness of the governor, governor-elect and party members in going round the state to reach the people with records of good governance. 

According to the president, the outcome of the election clearly reflects the mood of the people to sustain the pedigree of responsiveness, forthrightness and diligence that Oshiohmole brought into the service of his people. He said “the victory is good for democracy, for Nigeria and for the people of Edo.” The President further maintained that the victory was well deserved as the campaign train, which he joined, worked hard to sell its people-centered manifesto. 

He applauded the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, corps members and the electorate in ensuring peaceful election in the state.

INEC had announced that Obaseki of the APC won majority of the votes cast in the Sept. 28 Edo poll with a total of 319,483 votes.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP came second with 253,173 votes.

SOURCE: VANGUARD

18 African countries to automate online intellectual property registration

Africa Map

Following the successful trial in Kenya, the software giant, Microsoft handed over the source code for an online intellectual property (IP) registration system to IP authorities across Africa, including the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO).

The online registration system replaces the traditional manual process of submitting paper-based forms, making the registration of IP fast, accessible and more efficient. Microsoft 4Afrika is handing over the source code to an online automated IP registration system, to help IP authorities across Africa drive a culture of IP protection.

The countries within COMESA whose IP authorities will receive the source code from Microsoft include: Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

IP protection, including patents, trademarks and copyrights, are essential for small businesses to get ahead of their competitors, generate investment and ultimately bring their ideas to market. However, many innovations in Africa do not come to fruition due to of lack of knowledge about, and red tape around, registering IP.

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), resident applications for patents in various African countries are still low. In 2014, there were 752 patent applications in Egypt, 132 in Kenya, 14 in Zambia and only 5 in Rwanda, compared to over 280,000 in the U.S. and 19,000 in the United Kingdom. At the same time the registration of copyright in many African states has not taken off and this data is not taken into account in economic surveys.

SOURCE: VANGUARD