Barrister Solomon Dalung, Minister of youths and sports development, has warned that those who contributed to the death of Samuel Okonta, a serving corps member, who was killed during the Rivers State re-run elections would not go unpunished.
Speaking when he received members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who paid a condolence visit to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Dalung condemned the inhumane acts of violence during elections.
His words: “I want to assure Nigerians that the actors of the wicked acts in Rivers rerun election last weekend must be brought to book. They must be punished for what they have done. I want to assure Nigerians that this government will not condone any impunity again because it is impunity that has destroyed this country,” he noted.
Dalung appealed to politicians to always play the game, by the rules adding that at no point should officials and spectators be made the casualty of that game, because power according to him, is not worth the life of one single Nigerian.
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Corps Member Death: NYSC To Review MoU With INEC, Says DG
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has disclosed that it will review the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure the safety of corps members during elections.
This was made known by the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi in Abuja on Tuesday, when Professor Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman paid him a condolence visit on the death of Okonta Samuel, a corps member who was killed by gunmen during the Rivers State re-run elections.
According to the DG, the scheme had set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the killing and the findings of the panel would determine the need for the review of the MoU between NYSC and INEC. “In past elections, corps members have gone and come back peacefully. It is a shame that a society where there is government, elders and community leaders will allow an innocent corps member be killed.”
The NYSC DG lamented that the incidence was unfortunate because the scheme has been doing all that needs to be done in collaboration with INEC to ensure the safety and security of corps members. His words: “Over the past couple of years, we have taken part in elections in Edo, Anambra, Kogi, Ekiti, Osun States. As turbulent as these elections were in these states, over 6,000 corps members took part and no one was lost.
While commending security agencies for their role in ensuring the protection of corps members, the DG said the NYSC would review security arrangements to forestall future occurrence. Adding that the commission would participate in honouring the deceased and other corps members who might suffer from any form of injury in the cause of participating in election duty. Thanks for reading.
Okupe Is A ‘Hypocrite’, Obasanjo Blasts
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe was a hypocrite.
Okupe had said that Obasanjo remained the “undisputed and authentic” leader of the PDP in the Southwest region of Nigeria.
Obasanjo through an online source (not Greennews.ng), said Okupe “does not know what he was saying”. He stated that he did not apply to join the PDP in 1998, rather, what was given to him was a registration card and his decision to tear the card meant that he was no longer a member of the party.
He also said there was no way he could be referred to as a leader of the party in the South West even if he was still a member.
Read Also: Okupe Blasts Kashamu, Says Obasanjo Remains PDP Leader
“I was a national leader of the party for eight years, so, how would I now reduce myself to becoming its leader in the South West,” he said.
Mr. Obasanjo also said Mr. Okupe should be ignored because he was one of those who campaigned for his his expulsion from the party. Thanks for reading.
DSS: Freed Ekiti Lawmaker Hospitalised
Mr Afolabi Akanni, a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, recently arrested and released by the Department of State Service (DSS) has been hospitalized in a private hospital in Abuja.
Mr Akanni’s who was freed after 18 days in detention became very weak and could barely speak when visited at the hospital even as he kept repeating “I am not well. I am sick. I am sick”.
He said his release may not be unconnected with his deteriorating health situation, adding that he was not told by the DSS operatives why he held. Afolabi was picked up on March 4 when DSS operatives stormed the premises of the State House of Assembly in Ado-Ekiti.
According to the Chairman Committee on Information, Ekiti Assembly, Hon Gboyega Aribisogan, Fayose ordered that Hon Afolabi be taken to the Hospital immediately he was released.
He said: “We are very happy about the development. The entire state is agog with jubilation. His incarceration really bothered us. I can confirm that every other person detained with him has also been released. Immediately he was released, Governor Ayodele Fayose ordered that he be taken into a hospital, which is where he is now” Thanks for reading.
God Is Angry With Buhari, Fayose Claims
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has told President Muhammdu Buhari that God was angry with him following Saturday’s bloody legislative re-run in Rivers State.
He made this assertion while addressing Journalists in Abuja on Tuesday. He recalled other violent elections that have occurred under the Buhari administration, pinning the blood shed on the President.
Fayose said: “I am telling you the truth. Power doesn’t come from anywhere. God rules in the affairs of men. Oppressing, bringing and cutting people down, taking their blood, God is angry. The way this government is taking people down, God is angry. God isn’t happy. Go to Rivers, they kill people”. Thanks for reading.
YABATECH Expels Six Final Year Students
The Academic Board of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), has expelled six final year students for presenting fake or altered National Diploma (ND) and National Certificate of Education (NCE) results for admission.
The expulsion notice is contained in a circular signed by Mrs Taiwo Obadimu, the Deputy Registrar of YABATECH, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to the circular, the authorities of the institution considered the report on verification of the affected students’ results and found them culpable.
It stated: “Their expulsion was approved, having found the students guilty of presenting fake/altered ND/NCE results, as their conduct violated the college’s rules and regulations.
“The students are advised to hand over all college property, including student identity cards in their possession, to the heads of their department, the Polytechnic Librarian and the Dean of Students’ Affairs, with immediate effect,” the circular stated.
The affected students were in the departments of Food Technology, Mathematics and Integrated Science, Physics Education, Estate Management and Valuation, Industrial Technical Education and Industrial Maintenance Engineering. Thanks for reading.
Federal, States, Local Governments Share N345Bn For February As Revenue Drops
The Federal Government, State Governments and Local Government Councils have shared a total of N345.095 billion as Federal allocation for the month of February, 2016.
A communiqué issued by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and signed by the Accountant General of the Federation Ahmed Idris indicated that the Gross Revenue of N270.499 billion received for the month of February is lower than the =N=290.961 billion received the previous month by =N=20.462 billion.
The communique further indicated that Oil Production increased slightly between December, 2015 and January, 2016 despite explosions at Escravos Terminal, Force Majeure declared at Brass Terminal, Shut-in and Shut-down of pipelines at other Terminals for repairs and maintenance.
There was also revenue loss of $45.90million as a result of drop in average price of Crude Oil from $39.04 in December, 2015 to $29.02 in January, 2016. Also, a substantial drop in income was recorded from Oil and Gas Royalty, Companies Income Tax and import Duty.
Consequently, the distributable Statutory Revenue for the month is N=270.499billion. The sum of =N=6.330 billion was refunded by NNPC to FGN. There is exchange gain of =N=3.485 billion which was included in the amount for distribution. The value added tax VAT realized N64.781 billion was also included for distribution.
Based on the foregoing, the total revenue distributable for the current month inclusive of VAT is =N=345. 095 billion.
The details of the Statutory revenue distributed for the month of February is as follows: Federal Government received N127.200 billion (52.68%); States received N64. 518 billion (26.72%); Local Government Councils received N49.740 billion (20.60%); while the Oil Producing States received N22.780 billion as 13% derivation revenue.
Furthermore, for the month of February, 2016, the gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) was =N=64.781 billion as against =N=69.719 billion distributed in the preceding month, resulting in a decrease of =N=4.938 billion.
The breakdown of the Value Added Tax (VAT) distribution for the month is as follows: Federal Government received N9.329 billion (15%); States secured N31.095 billion (50%) while the Local Government Councils got N21.767 billion (35%). Thanks for reading.
