Between Inordinate Ambition And Good Governance

“He that seeks to be great by all means seeks the path of self-destruction”
It is no longer news that inordinate ambition, narrow-mindedness and greed have been the causes of insecurity, mindless corruption, poor or bad governance, all culminating in poverty, mediocrity, underdevelopment and conflicts in many African countries.

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'Barcelona and Neymar need one another

Former Brazil midfielder Juninho has urged Barcelona to step up their efforts to sign Neymar after suggesting that the club and the player "need each other".
The Santos forward has continually been linked with the Catalan giants, and their failure to sufficiently challenge for the Champions League has fueled another wave of speculation ahead of the transfer window.
And the one-time Atletico Madrid ace expects the Blaugrana to win the race to land the attacker this summer, believing that both parties would benefit greatly from any potential move.

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Europa League Team of the Season: Torres & Cardozo star in prolific attack

Chelsea's dramatic victory over Benfica on Wednesday night rounded off another long season of Europa League football which first started way back in August.

With a play-off round, group stages and a final 32 rounded down to our eventual winners after a gruelling knock-out phase, it has certainly been another eventful ride that has given us plenty of top players to choose from in going for our Team of the Season.

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president jonathan state of emergency declaration The rivalry between the North and Niger Delta

The rivalry between the North and Niger Delta campaigners for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election in 2015 became deeper yesterday when Farouk Adamu Aliyu, a former House of Representatives member, boasted that the Northeners will remove the President through their powerful voting strength and not by using guns.

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Manny Pacquiao rises for toughest fight

  Manny Pacquiao is known the world over for his boxing abilities, but in the Philippines he's also a national hero beyond the ring.

-- Manny Pacquiao is not a god, but that doesn't stop millions of Filipinos worshipping him.

Since his first professional fight at 16, Pacquiao has amassed a formidable professional record of 54-5-2.

He is arguably the most famous person in the country's history, a world title holder 10 times over and the first person to earn belts in eight separate weight divisions, and in 2012 was one of the highest paid athletes on earth, earning upwards of $62 million, more than Tiger Woods, Lebron James, Roger Federer and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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I’ll seek re-election for NGF seat —Amaechi

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi
| credits: File copy

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said he will seek a second term in office as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

Amaechi said he would take part in the forthcoming NGF election, not minding if he would lose or win at the end of the day.

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I ’ve forgiven Peter Obi – Umeh

Chief Victor Umeh

National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, says he has forgiven all the “dissidents that had a hand in the crises that nearly tore the party apart in recent time”.

Umeh stated this in Ogidi, Anambra State during the party’s South-East stakeholders’ meeting.

The APGA chief, who recalled the party’s history and fortune, said he harboured no malice towards anyone, including Governor Peter Obi and his uncle, Chief Sylvester Nwobu-Alor that spearheaded the move to remove him from office.

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Anarchy In Rivers State: Speaker Amachree Alleges Plan To Kill Governor Amaechi

Gov. Rotimi Amachi

By SaharaReporters, New York

There are strong indications that the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, legislators and prominent government officials in Rivers State may be assassinated, the Speaker of the House of Assembly said today, pleading for the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu.
Making the allegation in an open letter sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, Otelemaba Dan Amachree said that the situation in Rivers State has reached a fever-pitch, disclosing that the assassination scheme follows a series of reported nocturnal meetings held in a neighboring State and Abuja.

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World Bank expresses shock as Nigeria shuns $450m PPP facility

AS the Federal Government struggles to manage its wide budgetary deficits owing to dwindling revenue, top functionaries in Ministries, Departments and Agencies ( MDAs)  have rejected offers of alternative financing  for infrastructural projects from the World Bank through any form of Public, Private Partnership (PPP).

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Lawmakers allege plot to kill Amaechi, others

• Want President to intervene, stop removal of security aides
• Council secretariat set ablaze, protesters seek CP’s removal
• EFCC may probe gov, dispute over aircraft ownership persists
• Helicopters’ firm accuses Rivers of forging plane’s documents
FROM being only a thorny political issue, the crisis in Rivers State is moving fast to take a tragic character.
This was the alarm raised Tuesday by Rivers State lawmakers who petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the crisis.
They alleged that Governor Chibuike Amaechi, state legislators and other prominent government officials have been marked for assassination.

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Govt orders DISCOs to supply meters to customers

WORRIED by the disharmony in the state of meters supply to electricity consumers in the country, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ordered distribution companies (DISCOs) in the country to commence immediate supply of meters to those who had previously made payments
The Commission has also signed an order mandating the distribution companies to supply meters paid for by customers dating back to January 2011.

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Constitutional provisions for state of emergency declaration

THE 1999 Constitution (with Amendments in 2011) lays out the reason(s) for and the processes of declaring a state of emergency in the entire country or part thereof.
This is contained in Section 305 under the Miscellaneous Provisions.
Section 305(1) states that:
“Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the President may by instrument, published in the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation, issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency in the Federation or any part thereof.\

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Pupils escape drowning in Lagos flood

The timely arrival of emergency workers on Tuesday afternoon saved hundreds of pupil of Ogba Primary School from being drowned.
Some of the primary school pupils, however, sustained varying degrees of minor injuries and were treated by the Lagos State Ambulance Service.
Many people were injured as many  parts of Agege and Ogba were, on Tuesday afternoon, flooded as a result of the mid-day downpour in the Lagos communities.

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How World Bank seeks to raise human capital ind ex in developing countries

Fiscal policy, equity and long-term growth in developing countries were the major focus of this year’s spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). BUKKY OLAJIDE was there.
THE key standing committee of the World Bank Group have identified with the vision of the president, which seeks to reduce poverty massively among the population of people living on $1.25 per day in the developing nations of the world by at least by three per cent between now and year 2030.
Participants at this year’s Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF, equally outlined an ambitious agenda in this regard, suggesting a two-pronged approach to tackling the menace.
To them, the first step should be promotion of shared prosperity by fostering income growth of the bottom 40 percent of the population in every country. The second goal, implies sharing prosperity across generations, and that calls for bold action on climate change.

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Uganda loses revenue due to exporting raw tea

KAMPALA/LONDON

Efforts by East African countries to grow its tea industry continue to suffer setbacks due to limited capacity for value addition, industry players have said.

Uganda Tea Cooperation general manager Rogers Siima told the Daily Monitor in an interview that although they would have wanted to export finished products to European markets, players are still constrained by huge capital requirements and strict European standards.

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NITP Supports Demolition Of Unapproved Structures

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The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has thrown its weight behind the Development Control Department’s efforts to rid the city of illegal and unapproved structures.
This was made known by the national president of the institute, Chief Steven Onu, during a working visit to the headquarters of the Abuja Metropolitan Manangement Council (AMMC).
Onu commended the council for its efforts to contain the activities of overzealous developers, most of who flout the town planning laws of the country with impunity, saying, “The city of Abuja cannot be developed on sentiments where developers will flagrantly flout laws and turn around to appeal for sympathy.
“I have gone through the attacks on your department by developers. Some of the attacks are misguided and misinformed while some are just appealing to emotions and not to reason. My observation is that most of the developers will do anything to breach the law and when the long arm of the law gets them, they will turn around and blame town planners.”
The NITP boss assured the council that the institute will defend the actions of the department from unnecessary attacks by overzealous developers whose structures were removed on account of unlawful and unauthorised developments.
In his remarks, the AMMC Coordinator, Arch. Reuben Okoya, applauded the institute for its show of solidarity, saying developers are becoming daring.
Okoya said, “We thank you for your show of solidarity at a time like this when illegal developers are becoming daring and confrontational in their nefarious activities.”
The Head of Public Relations of the council, Mr. Ifeanyi Ughammadu, in a statement, quoted Okoya to have assured the institute that the council will not abandon its mandate of ridding the FCT of illegal structures even as he appealed to developers to obey the laws and follow due process before embarking on any development in the territory.

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Househelp Forges Employer’s Signature, Blames Devil

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A 21-year old househelp, Elizabeth Linus, who is standing trial for allegedly forging the signature of her employer, has blamed her action on the devil.

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Jonathan’s Dilemma: Between International Engagements And Security Challenges

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Last week, following the colossal killings of security personnel and other innocent Nigerians by insurgents, President Goodluck Jonathan ran back from South Africa where he was rounding up an official visit to proceed to Namibia for another state visit. In this report, GEORGE AGBA examines what may have prompted the president’s decision and the resultant effect.

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Nigeria: Read Full Text of Jonathan's Declaration of Emergency Rule

Photo: This Day

Nigerian Police.

Dear compatriots,
1.    It has become necessary for me to address you on the recent spate of terrorist activities and protracted security challenges in some parts of the country, particularly in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and most recently Bayelsa, Taraba, Benue and Nasarawa states.  These unfortunate events have led to needless loss of lives and property of many innocent Nigerians including members of our security forces.

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Insecurity: FG should overhaul the nation’s internal security mechanism – COCIN

Following the sectarian violence, suicide bombing and other forms of security challenges bedeviling the nation, especially in the Northern part of the country; the Church of Christ in Nations,COCIN, has call on the Federal Government to urgently overhaul the operations of the nation’s internal security in other to address the aforementioned challenges.

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Nigeria: Emergency Rule - Whoever, Wherever You Are, We'll Get You - Jonathan

 
Abuja — President Goodluck Jonathan, last night, declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states with an order to the military high command to use extra-ordinary measures to quell the insurgency that has bedeviled the states.

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Nigeria: Police Kill Two, Arrest Three Suspected Female Kidnappers in Delta

Asaba — POLICE in Delta State have killed two supposed hostage takers and arrested eight suspected kidnappers, including three females in separate gun battles with two kidnap gangs at Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area and Onicha- Olona in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.

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APC Convention: IGP Petitioned Over Gidado, Others Attempted Murder

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A petition has been brought before the Inspector General of Police (IGP) by one Abdullahi Musa, a member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), for conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder on him by one Nuhu Gidado, the ring leader, and his accomplices, Ladan Dila, Ibrahim Agu, Hamisu Kukuliya and Alhaji Biyali.
A letter signed by the Wilson Iorshe on behalf of the solicitors of the petitioner and made available to LEADERSHIP alleged that Musa was violently attacked by Gidado and his associates on May 11, 2013, at the Eagle Square Abuja, venue of the CPC National Convention.
“Our clients further informed us that the said suspects attacked him, armed with dangerous weapons such as guns, machetes, axes, and what appeared to be charms. They brutalised him and gave him a deep cut on the right cheek, almost causing him to lose his right ear,” the petition reads in part.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, Musa revealed that he was in the company of other members of his group at the convention ground to give their solidarity when at the entrance of the venue, when Gidado’s boys attacked them.
Reacting to the allegation, Gidado said, “I wish to categorically deny any knowledge or involvement in the alleged incident.
“I do not and have never been identified with violence in anything I do. In any case, throughout the convention, I was seated at the VIP stand and do not know of such happenings.
“By the way, when we talk of supporters, mine are not only peaceful but certainly coordinated.
“I don’t have a hand in this incident, and may I use this opportunity to call on my colleagues and all party supporters to do away with bitterness and any form of blackmail”

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N100bn Lost Revenue: Reps Move To Probe Copyright Commission

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Worried by the ongoing crisis in the music industry, the House of Representatives yesterday mandated its committees on Justice and Judiciary to investigate the activities of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to ascertain the alleged manipulation of the musical industry by the commission.

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CAN Secretary Killed In Borno

Barely an hour after Jonathan emergency rule in Borno, Yobe Adamawa states, the Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Maiduguri, Rev Faye Pama Musa was yesterday shot dead inside his Maiduguri residence by unknown gunmen.
LEADERRSHIP gathered that the late Rev Pama was the Head Pastor of a Pentecostal church in Maiduguri, the headquarters of Boko Haram. He was said to have been trailed to his residence by two gunmen who shot him at close range at about 8pm last night.
CAN has confirmed the death of Rev Pama, describing it as sad.
The CAN, which spoke through Kenny Asaka, the media aide of CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, also said that the CAN boss received the news with heavy heart.

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Delta IGR hits N5.7bn

Delta State’s internally generated revenue has hit N5.7 billion mark in January this year, a feat which the state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, said would be sustained as the administration was committed to realising its dream of “Delta beyond oil.”

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Court summons Edo govt over unpaid N300m debt

A business organisation, A.I.C Limited, has summoned the Edo State governor and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice over an unpaid N300 million from the supply of materials for the Benin City Water Supply Project.

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Confusion Trails Ownership Of Amaechi’s Jet

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The controversy surrounding the grounding of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s jet by the ministry of aviation  heightened yesterday when the minister of aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, disclosed that the jet is not owned by the Rivers State government as stated but owned by an American company.

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Suspicious Substance Disrupts U.S. Consulate in China

BEIJING — Staff members at the United States Consulate in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou discovered a suspicious substance in an envelope on Monday, prompting the closing of some operations. The substance, which was found in a part of the consulate not open to the public, has yet to be identified. No consulate workers have suffered any ill effects and no visitors are believed to have been exposed, said Nolan Barkhouse, a spokesman for the United States Embassy in Beijing. “The consulate has notified Chinese authorities and is maintaining close contact with them in case any assistance becomes necessary,” Mr. Barkhouse said. The consulate was closed for visa interviews on Tuesday and will remain closed Wednesday pending an investigation. The consulate handles 121,000 visa applications annually and processes all immigrant visas for Chinese children adopted by American citizens.

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Moscow holds talks with US ambassador over spy scandal

he US ambassador to Russia met foreign ministry officials in Moscow to discuss the case of a US diplomat accused of trying to recruit a Russian agent.
Michael McFaul was summoned after Russia said on Tuesday it had detained Ryan Fogle for "provocative actions".
Mr Fogle was declared "persona non grata" and told to leave the country.
The incident did not contribute to "strengthening mutual trust between Russia and the US", a spokesman for President Vladimir Putin said.

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Eating Insects Could Help Fight Obesity Says UN

The thought of eating beetles, caterpillars and ants may give you the creeps, but the authors of a U.N. report published on Monday said the health benefits of consuming nutritious insects could help fight obesity.
More than 1,900 species of insects are eaten around the world, mainly in Africa and Asia, but people in the West generally turn their noses up at the likes of grasshoppers, termites and other crunchy fare.

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Angelina Jolie Cuts Off Breasts Due To Cancer Fears

Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie said on Tuesday that she had undergone a preventive double mastectomy after finding out she had a gene mutation that leads to a sharply higher risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.

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Fashola Charges Lawyers To Rise Against Culture Of Impunity

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Monday charged lawyers in the country to stand up against the rising culture of impunity in the country saying the Nigerian Bar Association would have the biggest blame if members with their requisite training and presence in diverse sectors do not fix the national problem.

Addressing a gathering of eminent jurists including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, at the flag-off of a two-day Workshop with the theme, “The Rule of Law: The Bedrock for Sustainable Democracy and Development”, organized by the NBA Rule of Law Action Group, Governor Fashola said there was need for members of the legal profession to rise against the malaise because the rest of the citizenry were looking up to them

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