GLANCEAFRIK MULTIMEDIA

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Inaugural Speech   The Full Text of Muhammadu Buhari’s inaugural speech. I am immensely grateful to God Who Has preserved us to witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph for Nigeria and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy. Nigerians have shown their commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the determination of our people and strong support from friends abroad we have today a truly democratically elected government in place. I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. With the support and cooperation he has given to the transition process, he has made it possible for us to show the world that despite the perceived tension in the land we can be a uni...

Jonathan Gets Award Of ‘Peace-loving Global Citizen’ President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria has received the award of ‘Peace-loving Global Citizen’, in recognition of his commitment to the unity of the nation has continued to see its ethnic and religious diversity as its strength. The award was given to the President by the Universal Peace Foundation on Tuesday in Abuja. Conferring the award on the President at the Presidential Villa, the leader of the group and a constitutional lawyer, Mr Mike Ozhekohme, commended Dr Jonathan for his commitment to ensuring that Nigeria remained united, despite predictions of disintegration. He will now represent Nigeria at the global peace council taking over from Mr Ernest Shonekan. In his acceptance speech, President Jonathan reiterated his commitment to the unity of Nigeria, insisting that he will never be part of any action that can lead to Nigeria’s disintegration. “I will never be a party to Nigeria’s disintegration,...

NDLEA Says It Will Maintain Presence At Kashamu’s Residence The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Nigeria says it has not received any court order asking it to leave the Lagos residence of Buruji Kashamu, insisting that it will continue to maintain presence. A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the NDLEA operatives to immediately vacate the residence of the senator-elect for Ogun East Senatorial District. Hours after the decision of the court was reported by the media, the agency described the reports of the judge’s decision as “diversionary and inconsequential”. “Refused To Be distracted” A spokesman for the agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, the NDLEA did not believe that any court would issue an order preventing a government agency from performing its statutory responsibilities in a lawful manner. He said: “The agency has therefore refused to be distracted and will continue to maintain presence at the residence. It is advisable that Kashamu respects the...

Amosun Dissolves State Executive Council The Ogun State Governor has dissolved the State Executive Council.    The dissolution is coming four days to the expiration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s first term in office. According to a press statement by the former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, the dissolution will affect the Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Consultants, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, and Personal Assistants. Addressing members of the extended Executive Council inside the Council Chambers, Oke-Mosan, Amosun thanked the political appointees for their support, co-operation and devotion to the accomplishment of the Mission to Rebuild Ogun State. He commended members of the Council for being part of the team that has laid the foundation for a new Ogun State and added that posterity would be kind to them for their hard work. He prayed that God should bless ...

PDP Gets New BOT Chairman The Board of Trustees of Nigeria’s ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has appointed a former Acting National Chairman of the party, and former Defence Minister, Haliru Mohammed, as its Acting Chairman.   Mr. Mohammed’s nomination was endorsed on Monday night by the PDP’s BOT at a meeting at the BOT meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan. The meeting lasted for about two hours from 9 to about 11 pm Mr. Mohammed emerged against widespread belief that President Goodluck Jonathan would be assuming the position as he leaves office on Friday, May 29. Out-gone Chairman of the BOT, Tony Anenih, had, while resigning last week, said he was vacating the office to allow Mr. Jonathan to assume the post. But the Secretary to the BOT, Walid Jibrin, told State House correspondents after the meeting that President Goodluck Jonathan declined the offer. Also speaking to State House correspondents Dr Haliru said that he is d...

Court Orders NDLEA To Vacate Buruji Kashamu’s Residence   The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) to vacate the resident and other properties of an Ogun State Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu.   The Court made the order on Tuesday while ruling on an application filed by Mr Kashamu through his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede. The application was for the committal proceedings of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke and the Chairman of the NDLEA, Chief Ahmadu Giade. The application was filed on Monday. After the filing of the case, Justice Ibrahim Buba summoned both men to appear before him on Tuesday to explain why they disobeyed a court order to maintain status quo on an alleged plan  to abduct Mr Kashamu and extradite him to the United States to face charges of drug trafficking. Last week Saturday, the NDLEA laid siege on Mr Kashamu’s Lekki residence and placed him under house arr...

What next for ‘Mr. Fix it’? AT 83, the acclaimed ‘Mr. Fix it’ of the Nigerian politics is in a fix. The master strategist and schemer will not forget the month of March in a hurry. Having lost relevance in his native Edo State, almost seven years ago, when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was displaced by the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he literarily relocated to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). For him, hope was the elixir of life. He boasted that his party will retain federal power. But, on March 28, he failed to spring a surprise, thereby failing woefully to live up to his billing.  As Nigerians issued a quit notice to President Goodluck Jonathan, who will definitely bid farewell to Aso Villa next week, it was evident that the gladiator could not swing the votes to the ruling party, despite its formidable structure, financial war chest and bravado. For 16 years, Chief Tony Anenih, frontline politician and the Iyasele of Uromi, E...

Extradition: Kashamu to appear in court Monday-NDLEA       After hours long siege on his Lekki – Lagos home, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Saturday said it has placed Senator – elect, Prince Buruji Kashamu, under house arrest. He will be arraigned in court on Monday. The anti – drugs law agency added that it has also commenced the proceedures required for the extradition of the embattled billionaire hotelier and Southwest leader of the Peoples Demicratic Party(PDP). In a statement by the Head, NDLEA’s Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, the agency stated that a special team of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has confined Ogun East Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu to his Lagos residence. “A special team of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has confined Ogun East Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu to his Lagos residence pending his appearance in court on Monday May 25, 2015 to perfect his extradition to the United State...

Is deregulation the answer?    Nigeria, the world’s seventh largest oil exporter, is unable to meet its domestic fuel needs. In the past three weeks, Nigerians have been groaning under a biting fuel scarcity. Where they get petrol to buy, they pay through the nose. This has paved the way for adulteration, among other sharp practices. For how long will this continue? Is deregulation, as some suggest, the way out?   AN acute scarcity of petrol has led to long queues of vehicles, motorcycles and people clutching jery cans at filling stations. It appears there is no solution to the problem. The marketers and the Ministry of Finance are waiting to see who blinks first. The citizens are bearing the brunt as marketers who have the product, sell at over the regulated price of N87 per litre. The marketers claim the government owes them over N200 billion in subsidy arrears and are insisting on “no pay no fuel import”; the government, which has two...

PDP: Jonathan battles for relevance The resignation of Alhaji Adamu Muazu and Chief Anthony Anenih as the National Chairman and Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) respectively of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) signposts the battle for political relevance by President Goodluck Jonathan as he steps down this week. For Alhaji Adamu Muazu, his stewardship as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which kicked off on a high note ended rather unceremoniously last week. After weeks of staving off pressure from concerned stakeholders in the party, asking him to quit in the aftermath of the party’s loss in the last general elections, Muazu finally called time on his 17-months tenure at the Wadata Plaza. And in what appears as a well scripted agenda by the Presidency, Chief Anthony Anenih, the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) also stepped down from his position. The two high profile resignations were the culmination of the...

Long way to a dream   Eight years after it was founded, the Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) in Okitipupa is still struggling to make its mark. There are no academic facilities, good hostels and other requirements for conducive learning. The institution has hiked its fee – an action, which drew the ire of students. •How varsity is coping with lack of facilities It was meant to boost the learning of science and technology  in the Sunshine State of Ondo. But, eight years after its opening, the Ondo State University of Science and Technolgy (OSUTECH) has failed to live up to its core mandate. For its serenity and Spartan nature, Igodan-Lisa, a rural settlement in Okitipupa in Ondo South Senatorial District, was chosen as the best location for the institution. Apart from the structures that welcome visitors to the campus, the institution appears to be at its foundation years. The stretch of the road that extends to the academic ar...

Police Special Forces Rescue 10 From Kidnappers In Ekiti   The special operation ordered by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has successfully rescued 10 persons from the hands of kidnappers in Ekiti State. The victims include three medical doctors and a nurse. “Some kidnappers have been arrested and the operation is ongoing. The victims are being debriefed and receiving medical attention”, a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, said. It will be recalled that the IGP this week dispatched a crack team of operatives to the state to stem the rising tide of kidnapping there. The statement further noted that “the Police remain responsive and shall continue to apply proactive and prompt response measures to issues of crime nationwide”. Medical workers in Ekiti State had embarked on protests to demand the release of their colleagues and an end to the activities of kidnappers in the state.   SOUR...

APC Divided Over Senate Leadership   The All Progressives Congress (APC) appears divided over the choice of the leadership of the National Assembly as the tussle on who becomes the next senate president has intensified. In the build-up to the contest for the principal offices of both chambers of the federal parliament, two power blocks have emerged in the APC. The camps are canvassing for different geo-political zones and candidates to clinch the coveted seats, particularly that of the Senate President. While one faction under the aegis of Senate Unity Forum has endorsed Senator Ahmed Lawan and Senator George Akume to be at the helm of affairs, another group, under the aegis of “Like Minds Senators” has endorsed Senator Bukola Saraki to head the Senate. Both groups insist that their choice is based on competence and ‎track records. With the 8th National Assembly about to commence sitting in the next few weeks, the question of who assumes t...

Hoodlums set Ekiti’s biggest market ablaze   •Property worth millions of naira destroyed •Schools, banks, filling stations shut down operations •APC blames violence on Fayose In spite of the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, by Governor Ayodele Fayose on Thursday to check the violent clash between commercial drivers and Hausa traders, a section of the biggest market in the city was burnt down yesterday. Violent clash had erupted between the two groups on Wednesday after a driver’s wife was allegedly robbed by a man suspected to be a member of the Hausa community. Tongues are wagging on how hoodlums found their way to Erekesan Market otherwise known as Oja Oba (King’s Market), despite the deployment of regular and riot policemen in the wake of the curfew. The latest incident has caused further panic among Ado Ekiti residents while a humanitarian crisis looms with the evacuation of members of the Hausa community in the town to th...