Oil prices surge nearly 10% in New York after OPEC deal

New York (AFP) - Oil prices soared nearly 10 percent in New York on Wednesday after OPEC reached a deal to cut output for the first time since 2008, putting an end to months of suspense.

In New York, West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude for January delivery jumped $4.21, or 9.3 percent, to close at $49.44 a barrel.

Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed to specifics of a deal to cut production by around 4.5 percent, or about 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd).

"It's a solid agreement," said Bob Yawger of Mizuho Securities. "That has the market in a very good mood."

A global supply glut and hopes of an OPEC deal saw oil prices rally and sink over the summer. Prices continued to fluctuate after OPEC members reached a preliminary agreement in September, when the details of the cuts seemed to be in doubt.

Yawger said the deal announced Wednesday had unexpected substance, imposing specific individual quotas. Russia -- a non-OPEC member -- agreed to reduce output by 300,000 bpd, while Iran receiving permission to increase production.

"To my surprise, it's a very good deal," he said.

GOP Elector Refuses To Vote Trump, Quits, Criticizes ‘Corrupted’ Electoral College

US President-elect, Donald Trump

A Texas Republican elector who stated before the Nov. 8 election he might refuse to vote for Donald Trump — should he be elected — has resigned, stating he cannot “in good conscience” vote for the president-elect.

Art Sisneros, one of 38 electors representing the State of Texas, has publicly flirted with the idea of refusing his duty as an elector to cast his ballot for Trump during next month’s electoral college voting.

In a blog post published Saturday on his website, Sisneros announced he is quitting, and also denounced the electoral college as being “corrupted from its original intent,” and said voting for Trump would “bring dishonor to God.”

“Since I can’t in good conscience vote for Donald Trump, and yet have sinfully made a pledge that I would, the best option I see at this time is to resign my position as an elector,” Sisneros wrote.

The Texas GOP elector continued, “This will allow the remaining body of electors to fill my vacancy when they convene on Dec. 19 with someone that can vote for Trump.”

Sisneros further added: “I do not see how Donald Trump is biblically qualified to serve in the office of the presidency. Of the hundreds of angry messages that I have received, not one has made a convincing case from Scripture otherwise. If Trump is not qualified and my role, both morally and historically, as an elected official is to vote my conscience, then I cannot and will not vote for Donald Trump for president.”

“In most homes, kids do not have the right to eat Skittles for dinner. It is not in their best interest,” he wrote.

“The people will get their vote. They will get their Skittles for dinner,” he explained, while stating he will feel relieved knowing he had no part in the decision to allow “children” to eat “skittles for dinner.”

“This will allow the remaining body of Electors to fill my vacancy when they convene on Dec 19 with someone that can vote for Trump. The people will get their vote,” he added. “I will sleep well at night knowing I neither gave in to their demands nor caved to my convictions. I will also mourn the loss of our republic.”

Sisneros told Politico in August he was considering becoming a so-called faithless elector.

In a previous blog post, the elector questioned Trump’s Christian faith.

“The most important aspect that I have noticed is that Christians, who have traditionally voted Republican, have been forced to deal with an identity crisis. Can they vote for a man like Donald Trump who barely pretends to hold to the true faith?” he wrote.

Later in the lengthy post, Sisneros concluded, “It seems clear to me that God both calls me to vote and directs me to only vote for men who fear Him and are just according to God’s law.”

State electors, minus Mr. Sisneros, will meet on Dec. 19 to formally cast their votes for president.

Some, including Huffington Post contributor Ani DiFranco, are urging electors to reject the will of the voters in their respective states and vote for former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Read more at Western Journalism

Senate sitting: Labour Party Assumes Role of Minority Leader

Proceedings in the Senate chambers Wednesday assumes a different dimension as PDP senators led by their leader Senator Godswill Akpabio staged a walkout and the Labour Party Senator from Delta Ovie Omo-Agege assumed the role of minority.

The PDP senators’ action followed the uproar that trailed their rejection of the defection of one of their own, Senator Yele Omogunwa (Ondo South) from the PDP to the majority APC.

Senator Yele Omogunwa representing Ondo South was elected to the senate on the platform of the PDP but announced his defection to the APC on the eve of the November 26, 2016 Ondo State gubernatorial election won by Mr Akeredolu of his new party, the APC.

At Wednesday’s sitting, Senate President Bukola Saraki read Senator Omogunwa’s letter in which he cited the division in the PDP as his ground for defecting to the APC.

However, Omogunwa’s defection did not go down well with his former colleagues in PDP and Senate minority leader Akpabio raised a point of order insisting there is no division in the PDP, a position that led to chaos and consequently Akpabio led his PDP colleagues to stage a walkout. 

The senate President then called on Senator Ovie Omo-Agege representing Delta Central District to assume the role of the minority and the senate business of the day continued  

Arrest more Corrupt Judges, Mbaka Urges Buhari

Rev. Father Mbaka and President Buhari

Fiery Catholic priest and Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Emene, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has called for the arrest of more judges, saying that God was revolutionalising Nigeria with the arrest of judges who were hitherto, the untouchables.

Mbaka, who commended the Federal Government for the arrest of the alleged corrupt judges, said that it would be nice to even arrest more judges  as well, as those who influence them to pervert justice.

The fiery priest, who stated this at the thanksgiving mass to mark the Enugu State Judiciary 2016/2017 legal year at the Adoration ground, Emene, said that though some of the arrested judges may not be corrupt as alleged, it is good that they be investigated and if found culpable, imprisoned to serve as a deterrent to others.

Mbaka described the arrest of the judges as supernatural, adding “the arrest of the judges is a supernatural  brand new revolution that is going on in all dimensions, in all the three arms of government.

“When a revolution starts, you cannot imagine where it would reach.

“I urge judges to remain incorruptible or be arrested and whoever arrests them should be praised.”

He also lauded the performance of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, describing it as an exemplary display of visionary leadership.

Rev. Fr. Mbaka also noted that it’s instructive that Ugwuanyi’s administration has enthroned peace across the state and united diverse political interests, urging the people to “continue to support his administration because it has been anointed by God”.

He noted that the governor’s leadership style has fostered development especially in this period of recession, praying God to grant him the grace to expand infrastructural growth to suburban communities to link up such areas with the urban centres.

The cleric spoke during the Holy Mass organized to inaugurate the 2016/2017 Legal Year of the Enugu State Judiciary held at his ministry in Emene Enugu.

Describing the new legal year as “a year of favour”, Mbaka advised legal practitioners to have the fear of God and eschew corruption in the discharge of their responsibilities. He also enjoined the younger practitioners to imbibe the ethic of hard work and discipline that would enable them to rise to the apex of their career.

Source

Bridegroom's Extravagance: Zahra's wedding put on hold

Zahra Buhari

The wedding ceremony between Zahra, daughter of Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari and the son of Maiduguri billionaire businessman, Mohammed Indimi, which is scheduled for December 4, 2016, has been put on hold indefinitely, sources close to the first family said.

Speaking on the postponed wedding, the sources said the wedding was put on hold following insistence of President Muhammadu Buhari that he was not comfortable with the attention his daughter’s wedding was receiving in the media, particularly with news of customised wedding boxes as gifts to Zahra, costing a whopping N44m.

Sources said introduction ceremony between both families had earlier held at the Aso Villa, Abuja on Friday, November 18, but the wedding programme itself scheduled between Wednesday 30th November and Sunday 4th December, 2016, is supposed to be a low-key celebration as the President desires it to be a simple and an intimate ceremony to be attended by only close family and friends.

“But the whole media attention has changed everything now and the President is not happy,” our source said.

It was also gathered that the President who has ordered that a security check be conducted on Ahmed and his source of stupendous wealth, is also not comfortable with the groom’s father, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi’s perceived closeness to ex-President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, who is believed to be against the emergence of Buhari in 2015.

Zahra Buhari

Sources said President Buhari who had such information at his disposal before consenting to the marriage may have been prevailed upon by his closest political allies to have a rethink on giving out his daughter to the Indimis.

Zahra, 21-years old has been in the news recently following circulation on the social media of images of her expensive wedding gifts.

She is reported to have received about 30 customized LV (Louis Vuitton) boxes from the family of her husband-to-be, Ahmed Indimi.

“The LV boxes have Zahra’s name customized as ZBI (Zara Buhari Indimi).

“The LV bags which total about 30 and allegedly cost about £120, 000 (approximately N47,144,502, using the official rate of N392.87 to a pound) are said to have been delivered to Zahra in 30 exotic cars,” our source said.

Ahmed Indimi

Source: Daily Post

Benue state Commissioner for Culture charged, remanded in prison for murder

Hon. Comm. Sekav Dzua-Iortyom

Benue State's Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Sekav Dzua-Iortyom, who has been arrested for allege murder of a university lecturer Mr Wilfred Aondosoo Tondo was Tuesday remanded in prison custody by a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court (CMC) presided over by  Mrs. ikyeer.

The Commissioner who was wanted by the police for the murder which occurred on August 11, 2016 at Mkar Benue state was picked up by the police on Monday and charged for the murder of Aondosoo Tondo who was  a lecturer at the University of Mkar and was also an aspirant in the race for the chairmanship of Buruku Local Government Council.

Mr Tondo was waken up by the four assassins who after a few words with him short him severally and he later died at the Benue State University Teaching hospital Makurdi. 

Following the killing the commissioner was fingered as a prime suspect alongside several others, including the Sole Administrator of Buruku Local Government Council, David Yimam. 

Late Wilfred Aondosoo Tondo

The commissioner and the other suspects were interrogated by the Police over the matter, but when they were to be arraigned in court, the Commissioner absconded and was subsequently declared wanted by the Police. 
 
The Chief Magistrate court said the suspect be remanded in custody at the Medium Security Prisons, Makurdi and adjourned the case to February 9, 2017.

Colombia Plane carrying 72 passengers - including a top Brazilian football team forced to change flights at the last minute - crashes in Colombian mountains 'with just six survivors'

Wreckage: A plane carrying 72 passengers including the top flight Brazilian football team Chapecoense has crashed in Colombia

A plane carrying 72 passengers - including a top Brazilian football team forced to change flights at the last minute - has crashed in remote Colombian mountains amid reports just six have survived. 

Brazilian side Chapecoense were on their way from Bolivia to Medellin International Airport in Colombia to play in the Copa Sudamerica final when the plane came down. 

The footballers had to change their flight and board the plane that crashed after Brazilian aviation authorities prevented them from taking a charter flight, it has been claimed.

Defender Alan Ruschel, 27, and goalkeepers Jakson Follmann and Danilo, are reported to be among just six survivors from the crash after being pulled alive from the wreckage. 

The plane, which was carrying nine crew, crashed at about 10.15pm after suffering power failures while flying through the mountainous Antioquia Department. Local officials said it crashed against a hill and broke in two.

As officials revealed 25 bodies had already been recovered, rescue teams were forced to suspend their operations amid heavy rain in the mountainous region.

Medical staff from the San Juan de Dios hospital transfer 27-year-old Brazilian footballer Alan Ruschel after he as pulled alive from the wreckage of the crash

Ambulances ferrying survivors to hospital can only get to within 30 minutes walk of the spot where the plane has crashed near the town of La Unión, it has emerged

Emergency: Alan Ruschel is said to have suffered head injuries in the crash in the remote Colombian mountains

The players looked happy and relaxed on board,

Read More

VC Of FUTA Arrested For Deliberately Crushing NASU Staff With His Vehicle

Prof Adebiyi Daramola

Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, the embattled Vice Chancellor of the crisis-ridden Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), in Ondo State, was this morning arrested after he hit a member of staff of the institution with his car.

Abiodun Ademola Atunbi of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) member of FUTA was allegedly crushed to the point of death, and was rushed to the hospital.

SaharaReporters learned that the incident happened on the main campus at Oba’nla in Akure at about 8:30a.m. as some members of staff of the institution were gathering at a meeting point for prayers.

Our correspondent gathered that the victim is the younger brother of a renowned journalist, Dele Atunbi of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).

Police Officers from the Okuta Elerinla Police Station arrested Prof. Daramola shortly after the incident.

Several aggrieved members of staff of the school converged at the Senate building following the incident.

Many of them trooped out to the street and made a bonfire as a sign of protest against the Vice-Chancellor’s wickedness, described by one of them as a deliberate action taken out of anger to kill Mr. Atunbi, who was one of the activists agitating for his removal from office.

One source told SaharaReporters that Mr. Atunbi was on his way to the prayer ground but was attacked by Professor Daramola with his vehicle immediately the Vice Chancellor saw him.

“The Vice Chancellor deliberately did it with the aim of killing Mr. Atunbi who he sees as a threat and whistleblower to his corrupt administration in the school,” he said.

“This is a man that has been threatening to kill all of us who are agitating for his removal from the office following the discovery of his corrupt practices with the school treasury.”

Comrade Durojaiye, the FUTA Chairman of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) also confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters in a telephone interview.

“The incident happened around the bank road of the main campus, and I think it was deliberate because the Vice Chancellor has always threatened to deal with some of us who are against the continuity of his administration in the school.

“The victim, Mr. Atunbi, is a member of NASU and is our time-keeper during this period of protest and he rings the bells early in the morning to create awareness for members of staff to converge at our meeting point for prayers.

“Considering the incident that happened this morning, the aim of the VC is to kill us one after the other and keep us quiet but we have uncovered his plan, and he shall fail,” Mr. Durojaiye said.

Saharareporters

NY Preacher Pregnant Out Of Wedluck Refuses To Step Down from Pulpit

Photo credit: Facebook

A female preacher in New York who has become pregnant outside of wedlock is refusing to step down from the pulpit, stating that she is not “sorry or ashamed.” Desiree Allen serves as the pastor of arts and spiritual formation at First Corinthian Baptist Church in New York City, which also runs the non-profit Dream Center in Harlem, reports Christian News. 

Recently, Allen, who is engaged to be married, wrote a blog post outlining that she had discovered in May that she had become pregnant with twins. “My immediate reaction was shock. This was not planned. Yes, I know it’s a potential consequence of having sex, but not one readily expected,” Allen wrote. “With the exception of living a pretty much celibate lifestyle in my twenties I had been having sex on and off since I was 15 and had never been pregnant. In fact, I assumed when I was ready it would be very hard for me to conceive. Boy, did I miscalculate that.”

“What had my stomach turning, other than nausea, was me being pregnant and a pastor,” Allen outlined. “Let’s face it. The Church has not had a good track record of accepting unmarried women who got pregnant. If you’ve been in church for any period of time, you’ve heard or witnessed the aftermath. Shunning, slut shaming, being sat down from your position, having to go up in front of the church and confess your sin, etc. etc.”

Allen has chosen to hold her head up high during this time. "I decided I was going to walk with my head held high, because I was proud and excited to be pregnant,” Allen wrote. “Often, when people think you’ve done something wrong or have sinned they want you to walk around with your head low in guilt. Otherwise, how would THEY know you were sorry? Well, I wasn’t sorry or ashamed. Shame and happiness cannot reside in the same place.”

$4b release to States, Benue gets N91b

Senator Dino Melaye

Chairman Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Dino Melaye, has called on State governors owing civil servants’ salaries to pay now, having received huge amounts from the Federal Government.
The controversial Senator representing Kogi West mentioned Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola’s name, while charging him to pay civil servants their salaries in full both at the state and LG levels to ameliorate the suffering of the people as directed by the federal government.
Giving details on how the federal government allocated the funds to states, Melaye in a Facebook post charged governors to use the money judiciously.
He wrote, “The thirty-six states of the Federation collectively received over $4bn being the over-deductions on Paris and London Club Loans on the accounts of State and Local Governments from February 1990 to March 2002. Nasarawa State received over N68bn, CBN confirmed.
“Details from both the CBN and Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters showed neighbouring States, Kogi received about N80bn, Plateau and Benue got N75bn and N91bn respectively. Meanwhile, the states of Osun and Edo got N84bn and N82bn respectively.
“The monies were credited into the respective accounts of all the 36 states of Federation on Monday 21st November, 2016.
“While that of Plateau State was paid into a UBA account (1019894291), that of Nasarawa State as confirmed from Govt. House was paid into Fidelity and Skye Banks for State Govt. (N46bn) and Local Govts. (N22bn) respectively.
“Regrettably, all the 36 states governors don’t want the general public especially civil society organizations (CSOs) to know about these monies, hence the secrecy of the payment.
“However, approving the disbursement of this sum of over $4b to all the 36 states in naira, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the States Governors to use the monies to settle the civil servants salaries and welfares.
“We hope with this money, Gov. Aregbesola will pay civil servants their salaries in full both at the state and LGAs levels to ameliorate the suffering of our people as directed by the federal government.
“We are calling on EFCC and ICPC to monitor the spending of these huge $4b disbursed to the 36 states governors especially that of Osun State.”
Meanwhile States like Enugu and Nasarawa have annoced plans to clear arrears of salaries owed workers before Christmas next month.
Read detail in Daily Post

Convicted Benue Teaching Service Board Exec Sec Sacked

Agency Report

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue had ordered the immediate termination of the appointment of the Executive Secretary (ES) of the Teachers Service Board (TSB), Mr James Pine, for embarrassing the state government.

The Acting Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Bem Meladu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Makurdi that the state government was embarrassed by the actions of Pine who assaulted a staff-member under him.

He said that Pine also used criminal force on the staffer and while the case was in court, he turned down all overtures toward peaceful resolution of the matter.

The SSG regretted that the matter dragged on in court till he was convicted by a court on charges of assault and criminal force.

He said that very senior officials in government tried to arbitrate in the matter to no avail and lamented that the conviction was “very embarrassing to the government”.

“Gov Ortom has, therefore, directed the termination of his appointment because Pine’s conviction by the court was an embarrassment to the governor, the government and the people of the state.”

NAN reports that Pine, who was appointed by Ortom in 2015, was dragged to court by one of his subordinates, James Asema, on account of assault and criminal force.

The magistrate court had on Thursday last week found him culpable and sentenced him to five months imprisonment or an option of N10,000 fine. NAN

Convicted Benue Teaching Service Board Exec Sec Sacked

Justice

Agency Report

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue had ordered the immediate termination of the appointment of the Executive Secretary (ES) of the Teachers Service Board (TSB), Mr James Pine, for embarrassing the state government.

The Acting Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Bem Meladu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Makurdi that the state government was embarrassed by the actions of Pine who assaulted a staff-member under him.

He said that Pine also used criminal force on the staffer and while the case was in court, he turned down all overtures toward peaceful resolution of the matter.

The SSG regretted that the matter dragged on in court till he was convicted by a court on charges of assault and criminal force.

He said that very senior officials in government tried to arbitrate in the matter to no avail and lamented that the conviction was “very embarrassing to the government”.

“Gov Ortom has, therefore, directed the termination of his appointment because Pine’s conviction by the court was an embarrassment to the governor, the government and the people of the state.”

NAN reports that Pine, who was appointed by Ortom in 2015, was dragged to court by one of his subordinates, James Asema, on account of assault and criminal force.

The magistrate court had on Thursday last week found him culpable and sentenced him to five months imprisonment or an option of N10,000 fine. NAN

Gov. Mimiko congratulate Akeredolu while PDP heads to Court

Gov. Mimiko

In a contradictory reaction to the APC's victory in November 26 state gubernatorial election  Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on Monday sent a congratulatory message to the state’s Governor-elect, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu while the factional spokesman of the Makarfi lead faction has announced the party's decision to challenge the election in court.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Eni Akinsola, made available in Akure, Mimiko said it behoves on him as Governor of Ondo State to congratulate the Governor-elect, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu  and wish him success in the challenging task ahead of governing Ondo state.”

In the statement the governor pledged to facilitate a smooth transition to the incoming administration of Mr Akeredolu.

While promising to continue to provide leadership to the state until the takeover date, Mimiko expressed appreciation to the people of the state for the peaceful conduct of the election.

He added that “I use this medium to express my sincere appreciation to all our citizens for the very peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves throughout the election period.

“I will not waiver in providing needed leadership to our dear state till the last day of my term.”

He then urged residents to strive to sustain the peace enjoyed in the state for the past seven years and promised to speak with the people as occasion demands “as my eight-year tenure inches to an end.”

However, the PDP Spokesman Mr. Dayo Adeyeye in rejecting the result of the election on Monday accused the election empire (INEC) of rigging the vote in favour of the victorious party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

He said the party is heading to court to challenge the outcome of the election.

Meanwhile, the PDP Candidate in the election Eyitayo Jegede told journalist on Sunday that he will make his position on the outcome of the election known in due course. 

PDP Rejects the result of the Ondo guber election of Nov. 26

Eyitayo Jegede

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rejected the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

The party described the outcome of the election as declared by the Chief Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Abdul-Ganiyu Ambali, as a “charade and not the true reflection of the will of the people of Ondo State”.

Mr. Ambali had Sunday declared the All Progressives Congress candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, winner of the election.

Mr. Akeredolu polled 244, 842, to defeat the PDP candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, who rallied 150, 380 votes to place second in the race.

The spokesperson of the PDP, Dayo Adeyeye, on Monday said the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, aided the APC to rig the election.

He said INEC has now “graduated from inconclusive Elections as seen in Kogi, Bayelsa, Osun, FCT, Imo, Nassarawa and some other previous By-Elections in the Country to ‘Advanced Election Rigging’, as in the case of Edo and Ondo States Gubernatorial Elections”.

Mr. Adeyeye, in a statement, said “it is common knowledge that the APC Agents openly bought votes of the electorates in the full glare of security operatives who did nothing to prevent such dastardly violation of the Electoral Law.

“It is not surprising that the electorates in Ondo state became so vulnerable to the corruptive influence of the APC because of the hash economic situation in the Country inflicted on Nigerians by the APC Administration which have indeed made all Nigerians virtually beggars in their own Country”.

Mr. Adeyeye said PDP had persistently called for the postponement of the Election before Saturday, for at least two weeks to enable the Party Campaign and prepare properly for the Election.

He said the party’s request followed the setback orchestrated by “Justice Okon Abang and the charlatans in PDP who allowed themselves to be used by the APC to destroy our chances in the Ondo State Election.

“The actions of INEC in collaboration with the APC led Administration left us no time to campaign and sell our Candidate and Party Manifesto to the electorates in Ondo State.

“Our persistent call for the postponement of the Election which was backed and supported by more than 20 other political parties were all rejected by INEC which were acting the script of the APC.

“It was a carefully planned and well-orchestrated strategy to rig the Election well in advance by preventing the PDP from planning and campaigning for the Election. The APC has hereby introduced a new formula of rigging Election in Nigeria.

“In view of the fact that the Election was blatantly manipulated from the beginning to the end to favour the APC, we vehemently reject the results of the November 26, 2016 Gubernatorial Election in Ondo State,” he said.

He also said Saturday’s election and all actions leading to it fell short of laid down principles guiding conduct of elections in Nigeria.

“We have instructed our Candidate and the Ondo State Chapter of our Party to proceed to the Tribunal to challenge the Outcome of the Election.

“We call on the Judiciary to redeem Nigeria’s image on this matter as we request for the total Cancellation of the Election in Ondo State,” the party said.

Read more on Premium Times

Anenih a fixer for nothing - Timi Frank says

Timi Frank, suspended spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says Tony Anenih, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) board of trustees, is one of those who plunged the country into its current fix.

Anenih, also known as ‘Mr Fix It’, yesterday announced his decision to retire from politics at the launch of his book entitled, ‘My Life and Nigerian Politics’.

But in a statement on Sunday, Frank said the former PDP BoT chairman did not to contribute anything to the development of the country.

Frank, while blaming Anenih for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s failure at the 2015 election, said he should apologise to Nigerians for the damage he had done to the country and “even to his own political party, PDP, as it is obvious today”.

“It is high time Chief Anenih told the world the kind of legacy he is leaving behind in all his years in politics. Baba Anenih’s desperation to remain in the corridors of power made him force former Goodluck Jonathan to run again in 2015 when he knew he [Jonathan] couldn’t win,” Frank said.

“Chief Tony Anenih has lost the moral right to talk about former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any other Nigerian for that matter seeing that he is one of the reasons Nigeria and especially the Niger Delta region  is where we are today.

“What has Anenih done for the Niger Delta where he comes from? Instead of using his position to help the Niger delta and Nigeria at large to find lasting solutions to its numerous challenges, he chose to support third term agenda.

“Under his watch as Minister of Works, N300bn disappeared into thin air. As NPA chairman, what positive contribution did he make for the benefit of Nigeria? Even in the South-South where Anenih comes from, Atiku a Northerner has touched people’s lives positively in terms of job employment more than Anenih will ever do in his life time.

“Anenih is not called Mr fixer for no reason, he helped put Nigeria and Nigerians in the fix we find ourselves today.”

Source

Amina Yahaya becomes first female SUG president in northern Nigeria in 30 years

Amina Yahaya

Amina Yahaya has achieved the feat of becoming the first female student union leader in northern Nigeria — for the first time in more than three decades.

Aside breaking the norm of male leadership, Yahaya, a 400 level student of English, is also the first woman to lead the students of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto state.

Najatu Mohammed, prominent activist and politician, became the first SUG president of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, more than 30 years ago.

She is believed to have contested the post and won in the early 80s, which earned her the record of the first female to lead a student union in Africa.

Speaking to the BBC Hausa service, Yahaya said she didn’t always get the support of her female colleagues.

“When it comes to leadership issues we [women] are own enemies”, the new student union leader said.

“We don’t support one another mostly because some of us assume that ‘women are arrogant’ so I won’t support her. When I came to this university, there was only one female professor in my department. She’s been my role model.”

Yahaya, who was elected vice president of the school’s union in September 2015, took over the office on Wednesday after the impeachment of the elected SUG president.

On Wednesday, Umar Faruk Sai’d, the former student union leader, was impeached after getting a ‘no confidence’ vote from the legislative arm of the student assembly.

Sai’d was accused of abusing the provision of the union’s constitution by withdrawing N200, 000 from the coffers without approval, among other alleged misdemeanours.

In the interview with BBC, Yahaya further disclosed her aspiration to go into national politics in the future and possibly break more glass ceilings.

In May, Lauretta Obakpolo, another female 400-level Pharmacy student, was elected president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

Obakpolo beat five other candidates to win the election with 2,283 votes.

UPDATE

Beatrice Hamza Bassey led the student union of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in 1994.

TheCable reached out to Hamza, a New York-based lawyer, who disclosed that during her time, “the chairperson of SUG was synonymous with the president of SUG”.

The fact that both titles were interchangeably used over two decades ago, makes her the second female SUG leader in the north, after Najatu Mohammed.

“I am very pleased to see more women assuming that role. I hope we continue to see more progress in that direction”, Hamza told TheCable.

Source

Late Spanish Billionaire Antonino Fernandez willed $2m every resident of the Spanish village he grew in

Antonino Fernández, who died aged 98 in August 2016, left £169m in his will to the 80 residents of his birthplace – the small village of Cerezales del Condado in north west Spain. He left £2m in his will to each resident and basically made them millionaires overnight.

Fernández born into a family made up of 13 children, emigrated to Mexico in 1949, when he was 32. He went on to become the CEO of Grupo Modelo, the brewery company who make Corona beer – a bottled beer in the United States, with annual sales of $693million (£556million).

Fernández was a well-known philanthropist who never forgot his motherland and was honoured by the former King of Spain, Juan Carlos, for his charitable deeds, including his work with disabled young people.

Tinubu Congratulates Akeredolu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, and  former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, yesterday congratulated Rotimi Akeredolu, the winner of the governorship election in Ondo State.

Mr. Tinubu had been opposed to Mr. Akeredolu’s emergence as candidate of their party, APC, alleging irregularities in the party’s primaries.

The former governor and his key supporters were conspicuously absent during Mr. Akeredolu’s campaign rallies attended by President Buhari and other party leaders.

However, few hours after Mr. Akeredolu was declared winner of the Ondo State November 26 gubernatorial election by the electoral commission, INEC, Mr. Tinubu asked party members to close ranks “for the good of our party and its progressive ideals.”

Read Mr. Tinubu’s full statement below:

Following the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with regard to the governorship elections in Ondo State, I extend congratulations to Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN. on the outcome of the election and for his perseverance and persistence in seeking that office.

I must also congratulate the people of Ondo State for their generally exemplary conduct on election day and for demonstrating their will to shun the regressive politics of yesterday by returning to the progressive brand of politics that has been the trademark of the people of that state.

I congratulate all party members in the state, particularly the party leadership in the Southwest.

Finally, I must express profound congratulations to President Muhammadu Buhari, the national leader of the party, whose stature and dignity helped guide the APC to another victory that should advance the progressive aims of the party and the people.

To all the people and parties in Ondo, your election has been had and held. Now is the time that all must work for the continued development, prosperity and peace of your state and our beloved country.

I appeal to all party members including those who have been disaffected from the primary until today to come together for the good of our party and its progressive ideals.

President Buhari, Saraki, Oyegun congratulate Akeredolu

Akeredolu receives cheers from supporter at his home town, Owo

President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have congratulated Chief Rotimi Akeredolu over his election as Ondo state governor in the November 26 Ondo State governorship election.

Akeredolu who scored 244, 842 votes defeated two other major contestants,Eyitayo Jegede of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) who scored 150, 380 and 126, 889 respectively.  was announced on Sunday as the winner of the November 26, 

President Buhari also congratulates the Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun, the Chairman of the Campaign Committee, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, and all party members who put in their best and braved the odds to ensure a successful outing.

A statement by Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) to the President, said Buhari rejoices with the good people of Ondo State, who aligned with Akeredolu.

“From the beginning, this election set out to be a different kind of election. The unity and resilience of the party was tested. I am happy we came out of this victorious.

“This is a huge win. The mood today is against corruption, insecurity and for the restoration of the economy and the creation of jobs.

“This is where the party stands and I am happy that the electorate has read the situation correctly,” said the President.

He called on other contestants to see the triumph of Akeredolu as the wish of God and enjoined them to work together with him to make the state a truly progressive and economically prosperous one for all.

The President commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Security Agencies and the voters for the peaceful and successful conduct of the elections.

As the Governor-elect prepares to assemble his team, and bring the much desired CHANGE to the people, President Buhari urges him to put behind whatever acrimonies may have arisen from the electioneering process.

He urged him to reach out to all well-meaning people in the state and beyond, to implement his vision.

President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki also congratulated the Governor-elect of Ondo State, Chief Rotimi Akerodolu over his victory at the poll.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja on Sunday, said the people of Ondo state “could not have had a better choice.’’

Saraki said Akeredolu’s victory did not come to him as a surprise, going by his excellent credentials and years of preparedness for the business of governance.

He, however, urged the governor-elect to be magnanimous in victory by working with all relevant stakeholders in the arduous task of moving the Sunshine State to the next level.

He urged Akeredolu to fully deploy his wealth of experience garnered over many years in private legal practice in running the affairs of the state.

Saraki lauded the security agencies and INEC for the peaceful conduct of the election and thanked the people of the state for voting for APC during the election.

Saraki said: “The people of Ondo have made a clear choice by voting for the APC. I can only assure the good people of Ondo state that APC and its flag bearer have all it takes to wipe away your tears.

‘’Akeredolu will provide you the dividends of democracy that have hitherto eluded you.

“With Akeredolu on the saddle of governance, I have no doubt that the state will soon witness unparalleled development socially, economically and politically.’’

The National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, also congratulated Akeredolu for the landslide election victory.

In a message issued on Sunday on behalf of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), Odigie-Oyegun while thanking the Ondo electorate for voting for the Party also expressed gratitude to the good people of Ondo State for their impressive turnout and peaceful conduct during the election exercise.

He thanked President Buhari and other party leaders for their invaluable support towards winning the Ondo state governorship election.

He called for calm and appealed to the opposition parties and their candidates to accept defeat in good faith.

The outcome of the Ondo state governorship election, he said, powerfully demonstrated the confidence and trust people have in the leadership of President Buhari.

“With the 2016 Ondo State governorship gone, the task before the Party leadership is uniting the Party and healing wounds.”