Governor Akpabio Defends His N100 million Pension Bill

Governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio has revealed why he is seeking N100million for pension and N50million for former deputy governors pension.
Akpabio said the bill will reduce medical expenses and was an amendment to the former governor and deputy governor pension law of 2006.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, He revealed that it was not a new law as said recently by the mass media.
He said: “The bill is simply an amendment to the law enacted in 2006. It exists in several states. What the bill seeks to achieve is limit endless medical expenditure.'
“The old law didn’t put any cap on medical expenditure. There was no limit. But the governor in his own wisdom decided it was important we put a ceiling so that we don’t make it open ended any more.
“The governor is not seeking an amendment in his own interest, rather it is in the interest of the state because if you leave expenditure open ended it means you can spend close to N500million in one year without anybody stopping you since there is no law. “People must also understand that medical expenses provision is not a payment provolone.
It is not as if you have access to it. There are procedures before you can get it.”
The new bill passed into law on Monday will guarantee Ex governors and deputy governors pension for life and N5 million  funds to employ basic staffs ranging from cook, chauffeurs to security guards.

Security Confirms Boko Haram Kills 20 In Waga village

Despite the state of emergency declared in Adamawa State, a government official on Monday confirmed that about 20 people were on Sunday slaughtered in Waga village by members of the radical Islamist sect, Boko Haram. 

*Boko Haram Victim
A resident, who gave his name as Ahmed Soji, said the assailants believed to be sect members were heavily armed when they attacked the christian dominated village.  
"The gunmen believed to be Boko Haram insurgents in trucks and on motorcycles attacked the village where they killed 20 people and burnt several houses" he said. "The whereabouts of several other people are still unknown but it is assumed they fled into the bush to escape the attack and are yet to return".
Soji disclosed that the sect members also launched an attack on Gublak, a neighbouring village but were repelled by soldiers who were on ground in the area.
It would be recalled that the federal government recently imposed emergency rule on three troubled northeastern states - Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
Meanwhile, among these three states, Adamawa state has witnessed series of dealy attacks from the sect members. In February, it was reported that about 34 people were slain, several houses were razed during the coordinated bombing and shooting assault on Shuwa, Kirchiga and Michika, a border town with Borno State.
The sect members are also responsible for the kidnap of over 234 female students from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok Borno State. They repeatedly attack vulnerable villages, burning houses, killing residents and looting food from their helpless victims. 

Boko Haram Invaded Lagos, Now Planning Attacks – Pastor Sharp-Sharp

Lagos Pastor popularly referred to as Jehovah Sharp-Sharp raised alarm over the allegedly upcoming attacks on Lagos State.
Speaking with journalists at weekend the General Overseer of Resurrection Praise Ministries International, Archbishop Samson Benjamin Mustapha said Boko Haram insurgents had invaded Lagos and now undergoing training to attack several targets, including Corporate Headquarters of Thisday Newspaper in Apapa over the alleged anti-Prophet Mohammed publication.
The pastor was quoted saying by The Paradigm:
"There is a Mosque, where they are presently planning the attacks. This information is confirmed and I have already alerted security operatives about it."
According to the cleric, some top officials are behind the Boko Haram activities, he vowed to expose them when the right time comes.
"I will not like to mention the names of those behind Boko Haram now. They are even at the seat of power, but I will expose them later... They have been sending threat messages to me, but I know that they cannot do me anything... I am ready to mention names. I am ready to prove my case any time I am called upon. I am ready to show what they are doing. If I die in the process, I die a fulfilled man."

Funeral Of Nigerian Army Captain Kenneth Onubah Killed By Boko Haram

Captain of Nigerian Army Kenneth Onubah was laid to rest with all honors.
The captain who hails from ifite Oraifite in Anambra state Nigeria was killed by Boko Haram militants in an ambush last week in Borno. Reportedly, he was trying to locate and rescue the abducted Chibok girls when he faced his death.

Travellers Attacked In Jos, 1 Killed, 4 Missing

Some travellers were attacked by irate youths on Saturday night, May 24 at the Rayfield area of Jos, Plateau State, shortly after the blast which killed three.

A suicide bomber was transporting bomb but it went off before he could reach his destination, a viewing center where hundreds gathered to watch a football game, European Champions League final (Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid).

One person was killed during the attack while four others are missing.

According to report, the victims were residents of Gude village in Akwanga LGA of Nassarawa State and were on their way back from a Maulud event in Gombe State.

Recounting what happened, one of the survivors, named Bashir Abdulkadir said they had arrived Jos at about 9.30pm but were stopped by security personnel at the Bauchi Ring Road who said there had been a bomb explosion within the city and so they could not go in through Bauchi Road.

They also met other stranded passengers in vehicles and then one security man suggested they take the Bauchi ring road route which leads to British America Junction.

Their driver, Uba Tanko, mistakenly, followed Lamingo road and that was how they fell into the hands of some Berom youths who blocked the road, hit their vehicle and asked them to come out of the car.

"They started beating us all over and we dispersed into the bush and some of us jumped into a stream close by and they killed our driver as he could not run because he had a problem with his leg.

"I jumped into a stream but I was unable to escape. They caught me and continued to beat me. One of them used a catapult at close range and broke my tooth. They even decided to lynch me with a tyre but some men who arrived in a military vehicle rescued me," Bashir said.

They were arrested by the soldiers and evacuated to a police station close to the Air Force headquarters.

Confirming the incident, the spokesman for the Special Task Force (STF), Captain Ikedichi Iweha said, "There were skirmishes around Rayfield Resort which the timely intervention of our personnel rescued. One person was killed and we made some arrests and handed them over to the police for prosecution."

Meanwhile, Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe, said he was not aware of the incident except skirmishes around Lamingo road and the matter was still under investigation.

My Father Died A Hero – Jos Bomb Blast Victim’s Son

The son of one of the victims of Saturday night’s explosion in Jos yesterday said his father sacrificed his life to protect his family and community.

Yusuf Ahmed Bello who spoke with our correspondent outside the rubble that was once the family’s home said: “My father was suspicious of the bomber from the initial minute and insisted he left the area.

He went into the house and asked us to follow the backdoor out of the house while he returned to face the suspect.”

He said: “My father was brave, he was a hero. He stood his ground and insisted the bomber left even though he didn’t know the man was carrying explosives. That singular act saved our lives and this community.”

Community and religious leaders, however consoled members of the family, asking them to take heart as Alh. Bello had performed an act of jihad.

Oyedepo Blames Power Struggle For Insurgency

Dr David Oyedepo, chancellor of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, on Monday said for Nigeria to wipe out Boko Haram, the country's leadership needs to have character, courage and capacity, not just to identify the main causes of the problems but also to be able to deal with them.
 
*Dr David Oyedepo
The clergy man made this known at the opening of a workshop on ‘Conflict Management and Resolution: A Leadership Competence Development’.
He stated that the struggle for political power between the country's ruling class was also a reason for insurgency and other socio-economic and political conflicts befalling the nation.  
Oyedepo, while delivering the keynote address at the event, hampered on character, courage and capacity, noting that the absence of the three had thrown Nigeria and the Africa continent into a deep hole.    
He asserted that Africa's problem is obvious because it is a continent representing about 11 per cent of the world population but benefiting more than 75 per cent of the United Nations’ aids to conflict ridden countries.

Abati Condemns APC Political Strategy

Presidential Spokesperson, Dr Reuben Abati has accused APC of playing politics with the recent insurgency and terrorism in the nation.
The APC had recently said that President Goodluck Jonathan was at fault for the increase in terrorist activities in the land, Abati said:“It is very clear that the APC is being dishonest. Its intention is to play politics with insurgency and terrorism.
“I think the question needs to be pointedly asked: `What country does the APC belongs to? “What country is the APC seeking to preside over? “As it appears, the APC seems blinded by its own narrow ambition and that is why in recent times, you can find some persons purportedly speaking for the APC making completely illogical and unreasonable statements.
“If you look at the statement by Lai Muhammed, he is accusing the government of abdicating its responsibilities. “President Jonathan has never at any time abdicated responsibilities.
“He has consistently made it clear that the safety of every Nigerian is important to him, that the security of lives and property is central to all the goals and objectives of this administratio,” he said.
Abati revealed that from day one the opposition had made it clear that its duty was to pull down the Jonathan government even though they had said in an earlier meeting that terrorism was an issue that was above partisanship, They have not made any effort to join hands.