Gov. Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara has said that some indebted state governments lost their bailout money to servicing outstanding loans they had obtained from banks. 

Naira-DollarIt will be recalled recalls that the money was sourced from the revenue paid to the Federation Account by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).  Yari, who was fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja, expressed concern that many state governments were still facing financial challenges, in spite the disbursement of the NLNG money.  “What I’m saying is that no money is released yet apart from the NLNG money. But I think the NLNG money that was given, some states, their own was taken by the banks because it is due for them to repay some certain loans.  “So, therefore, automatically, that has to go there.’’  “But for sure, some other governors reported that money went to their accounts, it was taken by some banks because of their outstanding loans.’’  He, however, stated that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was negotiating with the banks on how state governments could freely access the next batch of the bailout funds, to enable them to settle outstanding salaries of their respective workers.  On the West African Examination Council (WAEC) debts owed by some states, Yari, who is also the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, said the issue was being addressed by the affected states.  “Some state governments need to verify between the WAEC and their Ministries of Education and other departments of education. So, that’s why some states cannot pay the registration fees,’’ he added. - Source: www.vanguardngr.com

Controversy has trailed the death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II as the Royal Traditional Council,RTC, of the town, Wednesday, said  the paramount ruler is alive and in good state of health.  The RTC, which comprises of all traditional chiefs and title holders in Ile-Ife, said Oba Sijuade is not only in a good state of health but added that the royal father was preparing for his son’s wedding holding Sunday, next week, in Lagos.  Sources close to the foremost traditioner ruler told Vanguard at the palace that the traditional wedding of the new couple took place last weekend in London.

Addressing newsmen in the House of Chiefs located within the premises of Ile-Oodua palace of the Ooni, Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola who spoke in Yoruba, said the report in the media that the monarch died in a London Hospital of an undisclosed ailment,was untrue.  Also speaking, the secretary Royal Traditional Council of Ife, who is also the Ladin of Ife,  High Chief Adetoye Odewole, said the Ooni is hale and hearty and he even spoke to the chiefs on the phone few hours earlier. Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade  Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade  He added “those behind the death story are enemies of Ife and as I speak with you, the chiefs have not heard anything like that. This is not the first time such rumour will be carried about our father.  “They did it in 1984, also in 2004 and now, these people are coming up with another rumour. Oba Sijuade remains in sound state of health”.  Chairman, Ife Development Board, Prof. Muib Opeloye, said Ife as a town with a rich tradition has its way of managing its affairs.  Opeloye maintained that the royal father was preparing for his son’s wedding, urging people not to panic and go about their normal daily activities.  Meanwhile, the entrance of the Ooni’s palace was shut to visitors, as only newsmen, chiefs and relations of Oba Sijuade were allowed into the premises.  Many indigenes and residents of Ife had converged on the palace but were prevented from going in by the guards.  Meanwhile, the Osun state government is yet to make official statement concerning the demise of the monarch.  But the Osun State House of Assembly has expressed its sympathy to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, state council of Traditional rulers and chiefs, the good people of ancient city of Ile Ife and the immediate and extended families of the late Oba Okunade Sijwade Olubuse, the Ooni of Ife as the great King joined his ancestors.  In a statement issued by the Speaker’s spokesman, Mr. Goke Butika, the parliament “in a condolence message by the Speaker, Mr Najeem Salaam “expressed his regret and shock over the transition of the natural ruler to the silent land of his forebear, saying the engine room of royalty and the custody of Yoruba cosmology has just been temporarily grounded by the clog of death”.  “We celebrate the life and time of the great king, Oba Sijuwade, attesting that the monarch exuded unique royalty almost equivalent of imperial culture that could not be rivaled while he called the shot on the revered stool of his fathers”.  “The parliament then sent its condolence to the governor over the loss of the monarch and prayed that the Supreme Eludumare, the Cherisher of Aiye would rest the late natural father”,the statement added. Source: www.vanguardngr.com

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has told newly appointed coach, Sunday Oliseh to have a standby goal tender that will step into the shoes of current number one Vincent Enyeama.  Enyeama, has been between the sticks for the Super Eagles since 2002. He recently indicated that he will not be there forever, when he announced that he might call it quits after the 2017 African Cup of Nations. Vincent Enyeama  Vincent Enyeama  Rufai,  a former Stationery Stores of Lagos keeper and one of Nigeria’s goalkeeping legends advised Oliseh to start shopping for a replacement.  “I think one of the tasks before him will be to find a replacement for Vincent Enyeama,” Rufai said.  “But Enyeama is still around and we don’t have to panic. But the coach must begin to look for replacement because we need to have someone capable when he (Enyeama) is gone.”  Rufai said he will be in support of whichever goalkeeper the Super Eagles coaches feels is the right one.  “I believe the coaches know what they are doing. I’m sure they must be looking at other options so whichever goalkeeper they choose eventually will be good I believe. Source: www.vanguardngr.com

JAMB-CBT  The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said that the national cut off point for screening of candidates for admission remained the minimum expectation that each candidate desirous of university admission should have. This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the board, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos. According to the statement, the attention of the board has been drawn to the challenge experienced by some candidates who could not access the University of Lagos site to register for the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The statement said that the board sincerely sympathised with their frustration. “We want to seize this opportunity to state that our attention has been drawn to the agitation by some parents and students who turned out for the registration for the post JAMB screening exercise for the candidates. “We sympathise with them but wish to state categorically that the national cut off point is just the minimum expectation that each candidate desirous of university admission should have. “However, universities are at liberty to go higher than 180, depending on their peculiarities and the performance of candidates who chose them. “For instance, if over 10,000 candidates who made Unilag their first choice scored 250 and above, it will be difficult for them to go lower than 250 when they are to admit only about 7000. “I wish to state that a time will come when some universities will go up to 300 as their cut off mark, depending on the performance,’’ the statement said.  It explained that because of the development, the board decided that some of the candidates who chose such institutions but fall below their cut off marks should not miss out, hence the need to send them to other schools. The statement added that such a gesture should rather be applauded, instead of condemning the Dibu Ojerinde-led JAMB management.t:
Source: .vanguardngr.com

Bayern Munich have reached an agreement with Juventus over the transfer of Arturo Vidal.  Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed the Chilean international midfielder’s move, pending a medical, at a press conference in Guangzhou, China where Bayern are currently on tour.  He said: “I can fundamentally confirm that we have reached an agreement with both parties, Juventus and the player. All that is lacking now is the medical and the signatures on the contract.”  That should happen in time for Vidal to link up with his new team-mates from next week, Rummenigge added. The former Bayer Leverkusen star is currently on holiday in Miami after his successful participation in the Copa America and he is due in Munich at the weekend to undergo his medical.  The 28-year-old put in a transfer request earlier this summer once he learned of Bayern’s interest. Vidal moved to Juve from Leverkusen in 2011 and made a total of 124 Serie A appearances, scoring 35 goals. He arrives in Munich with the experience of 117 Bundesliga appearances and 15 goals, while he has also played in the UEFA Champions League 27 times, netting nine.  He will become the second midfielder to leave Juve this summer after Andrea Pirlo, although i Bianconeri have signed Sami Khedira on a free transfer. Bayern’s Mario Gotze is another Juve target, although Rummenigge quashed reports he would move to Turin as part of the deal for Vidal.
Source: .vanguardngr.com

ABUJA—THERE appears to be a crack within the ranks of the Femi Gbajabiamila camp in the House of Representatives as some members of group have disassociated themselves from the letter emanating from the camp to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on the sharing of principal offices.  The Speaker, Yakubu Dogara had last Thursday replied the national chairman on why the letter from the national leadership that contained the names of four nominees for the remaining four principal offices was not read on the floor of the House.  Dogara, Oyegun and long standing tradition  Dogara told Chief Oyegun that there had been a long standing tradition on the sharing of principal offices, which was always guided by the principle of federal character and that the 8th Assembly has decided to maintain the tradition for the sake of fairness to all the six geo-political zones.  But the Gbajabiamila group on Monday, faulted the Speaker’s position alleging that he was hypocritical in his assertion as he (the Speaker) had jettisoned zoning during the election of presiding officers of the House on July 9.


 Dogara and Gbajabiamila
The group in the letter to Oyegun signed by Hon. Nasiru Sani Zangon-Daura, alleged that Dogara’s reply to Oyegun’s directives was fraught with fundamental flaws and that going by the House Standing Rule, the South-East that has only two APC members, who as first time members were not qualified to occupy any principal office.  However, two members of the group yesterday claimed that they were not part of the letter from the camp to the national chairman and that there was no time the group met to take such decision.  In a statement with the title, “Let’s sheathe the swords and embrace peace” signed by Muktari Dandutse representing Funtua/Dandume Federal Constituency of Katsina State and Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe representing Tofa/Rimin Gado Federal Constituency of Kano State, the members said there was no time they agreed to write the letter to the chairman.  The letter read in parts: “Our attention has been drawn to a letter dated July 18, 2015 purportedly signed by Hon Sani Zangon Daura and addressed to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Oyegun on behalf of the Loyalists Group.  Party supremacy  “In the said letter to the National Chairman, Hon. Nasiru Zangon Daura insisted that party supremacy must reign in the selection of four principal officers in the house. While we categorically reaffirm our membership of the Loyalists Group and our unflinching allegiance to the supremacy of the party, we wish to make public that the said letter did not emanate from any formal or collective meeting of the group.  “We make bold to state that the views expressed by Hon. Nasiru Zangon Daura was his personal opinion and never has the Loyalists Group met or agreed to write formally to the leadership of the party in reaction to last week’s  Speaker Dogara’s entreaties to the national chairman of our great party on the way forward.  “For the avoidance of doubt, the last time the group met was immediately after the maiden meeting of the APC National Executive Committee, NEC,  held in Abuja on July 3, 2015; where we accepted to engage the Hon. Aminu Tambuwal’s -led Reconciliation Committee.  “Let us stress, that it was at this NEC meeting that the party recognized Senator Bukola Saraki as the Senate President and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  “Similarly, it was after this NEC meeting that we accepted to cooperate with the Tambuwal’s Reconciliation Committee under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors Forum.  Tambuwal’s reconciliation committee  “In fact, up to this moment, we are confident in the Tambuwal’s Reconciliation Committee as we await its report.  “While we want to use this medium to dissociate ourselves from the letter by Hon. Nasiru Zangon Daura to the leadership of the party, which to us is his personal views, we remain resolute in the conflict resolution mechanism embarked by the leadership of the party through the APC Governors Forum.  “We still maintain our spirit of give and take through negotiations with the Consolidation Group, in the same vain, we salute and commend the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara’s posture on his magnanimity and compromise disposition, by conceding two major principal positions to the Loyalist Group all in a bid to promote peace and stability in the green chamber.  “We therefore urge the APC, Leadership to throw sentiments aside and accept the olive branch extended by the Speaker, so as to achieve amicable resolution of this lingering impasse in the House of Representatives as this will ensure peace, stability and progress for the onerous national assignment and expectations bestowed on all of us.  “We want to also use this medium to call on all members of the Loyalists Group nationwide to bury their hatchet, embrace peace and take Nigeria first, above personal interests.” - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/crisis-in-gbajabiamilas-camp-over-letter-to-oyegun/#sthash.pB3msY6l.dpufThe group in the letter to Oyegun signed by Hon. Nasiru Sani Zangon-Daura, alleged that Dogara’s reply to Oyegun’s directives was fraught with fundamental flaws and that going by the House Standing Rule, the South-East that has only two APC members, who as first time members were not qualified to occupy any principal office.  However, two members of the group yesterday claimed that they were not part of the letter from the camp to the national chairman and that there was no time the group met to take such decision.  In a statement with the title, “Let’s sheathe the swords and embrace peace” signed by Muktari Dandutse representing Funtua/Dandume Federal Constituency of Katsina State and Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe representing Tofa/Rimin Gado Federal Constituency of Kano State, the members said there was no time they agreed to write the letter to the chairman.  The letter read in parts: “Our attention has been drawn to a letter dated July 18, 2015 purportedly signed by Hon Sani Zangon Daura and addressed to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Oyegun on behalf of the Loyalists Group.  Party supremacy  “In the said letter to the National Chairman, Hon. Nasiru Zangon Daura insisted that party supremacy must reign in the selection of four principal officers in the house. While we categorically reaffirm our membership of the Loyalists Group and our unflinching allegiance to the supremacy of the party, we wish to make public that the said letter did not emanate from any formal or collective meeting of the group.  “We make bold to state that the views expressed by Hon. Nasiru Zangon Daura was his personal opinion and never has the Loyalists Group met or agreed to write formally to the leadership of the party in reaction to last week’s  Speaker Dogara’s entreaties to the national chairman of our great party on the way forward.  “For the avoidance of doubt, the last time the group met was immediately after the maiden meeting of the APC National Executive Committee, NEC,  held in Abuja on July 3, 2015; where we accepted to engage the Hon. Aminu Tambuwal’s -led Reconciliation Committee.  “Let us stress, that it was at this NEC meeting that the party recognized Senator Bukola Saraki as the Senate President and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  “Similarly, it was after this NEC meeting that we accepted to cooperate with the Tambuwal’s Reconciliation Committee under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors Forum.  Tambuwal’s reconciliation committee  “In fact, up to this moment, we are confident in the Tambuwal’s Reconciliation Committee as we await its report.  “While we want to use this medium to dissociate ourselves from the letter by Hon. Nasiru Zangon Daura to the leadership of the party, which to us is his personal views, we remain resolute in the conflict resolution mechanism embarked by the leadership of the party through the APC Governors Forum.  “We still maintain our spirit of give and take through negotiations with the Consolidation Group, in the same vain, we salute and commend the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara’s posture on his magnanimity and compromise disposition, by conceding two major principal positions to the Loyalist Group all in a bid to promote peace and stability in the green chamber.  “We therefore urge the APC, Leadership to throw sentiments aside and accept the olive branch extended by the Speaker, so as to achieve amicable resolution of this lingering impasse in the House of Representatives as this will ensure peace, stability and progress for the onerous national assignment and expectations bestowed on all of us.  “We want to also use this medium to call on all members of the Loyalists Group nationwide to bury their hatchet, embrace peace and take Nigeria first, above personal interests.”
Source: vanguardngr.com

 South Africa’s central bank raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 6.0 percent on Thursday ahead of an expected rate rise by the US Federal Reserve later this year.  “Further reaction to US monetary tightening could cause inflation to diverge even further from target and set in motion an exchange rate-inflation spiral,” said Lesetja Kganyago, governor of the South African Reserve Bank - See more at: Source:vanguardngr.com

 LAGOS—A yet to be ascertained number of pipeline vandals were roasted in the wee hours of yesterday, following a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipeline explosion at Arepo, Ogun State.  Although an unconfirmed report put the death toll at 100, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, could not state whether any casualty was recorded, as it claimed it could not access the terrain due to the magnitude of the fire.  There were different accounts of how the explosion occurred.  A version said some of the vandals intentionally fired some shots on the broken pipeline during a heated argument, thereby resulting in an explosion that sparked off a wild fire.
 
File: The suspected pipeline vandals and exhibits  Trouble, as gathered, started after different group of vandals stormed the creeks in boats loaded with empty jerry cans and engaged in a verbal confrontation over ownership of a section of the pipeline.  One of the group leaders, whose identity was given simply as Killer, was said to have ordered the other groups to vacate the creeks, stating that he was the owner of the section they invaded.  Apparently taking the order as an affront, leaders of other groups reportedly told their boys to break another section of the pipeline, from where they began to siphon the product.  In the process, a member of Killer‘s group allegedly fired a shot at the broken pipeline, resulting in an inferno.  Another version had it that the vandals had finished siphoning the petroleum product and were leaving the creeks when one of the boats developed a fault.  In the process of trying to start its engine, a spark of fire emerged, causing the explosion.  Several of them were reportedly burnt beyond recognition, while some, who managed to swim to safety, sustained severe burns.  … ground zero inaccessible  As at 6.30p.m. yesterday, the fire was still raging. No agency had reported at the scene to contain the spread of the fire at press time.  NEMA’s South-West spokesman, Ibrahim Farinloye, when contacted, could not confirm the number of casualty. He simply stated that the agency could not give details since it was yet to access the terrain.  He said: “An unconfirmed report on a clash between different groups of vandals at Arepo around midnight has led to pipeline explosion.  “NNPC has been alerted about the explosion and has immediately shut down supplies to suffocate the fire, while efforts are on to put it out by the NNPC safety unit.  “No one can confirm if there are casualties or anyone injured because no agency is yet to access the scene which is swampy. No one can confirm until we get to the scene.”  However, residents of the area have called on the relevant authorities to come to their aid, following the incessant fires caused by vandals.  A resident, Mr. Majekodunmi Fatai, said: “For a long time now, there had been no agency securing the pipelines. We noticed the absence of security agents since a pregnant woman was shot dead around this area some months ago.  “No one can access the scene today, not even officials of NNPC fire safety unit, as they are afraid that vandals could be lurking around to shoot at any intruder, just as they killed one NNPC official last year.” - Source: vanguardngr.com

 Biafra
Its name is synonomous with the declaration of independence and updates on the brutal conflict that followed, but nearly 50 years after Nigeria’s civil war, Radio Biafra is again making headlines. The modern-day version — broadcasting online apparently from London and, many suspect, retransmitted inside Nigeria – was taken off air last week after regulators called it illegal.  President Muhammadu Buhari was also forced to issue a statement, denying the station’s claims he had criticised Igbos, one of the country’s three largest ethnic groups, in a recent BBC interview. “The illegal broadcasts from the seditious pirate radio station… shattered the peace… with unsavoury hate messages,” the National Broadcasting Commission said last Friday.  The messages were “designed to create disunity among Nigerians and mislead young people in a deliberate act of subversion. Nigerians do not need another round of heartache and bloodshed”, it added. The existence of the station, which was easily picked up in Nigeria’s southeast, is a reminder of the country’s bubbling ethnic tensions and the still-raw wounds of history.  Listeners said its anti-government propaganda showed the dream of a separate Biafran republic is still alive, 45 years after the end of the bloody civil war. “Although the radio did not have good programmes lined up, its listenership was growing by the day and the government felt threatened by its popularity, especially among the youths,” said Chijioke Amadi, 32, in the southeastern city of Enugu. ‘A state of our own’  With Nigeria’s young demographic, most listeners to Radio Biafra will not even have been born when Igbo General Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu declared an independent Republic of Biafra in 1967. But memories linger of the anti-Igbo pogrom in the mainly Muslim north that preceded secession and the war that followed.  When the fighting ended in 1970 with more than one million Igbos dead of disease and hunger, Nigeria’s military ruler General Yakubu Gowon declared there was “no victor or vanquished”. But the Igbos claim they have been unfairly treated – even punished – ever since. “Our grandfathers and fathers adopted the ideology of Biafra,” said Uchenna Madu, spokesman for the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).  “We believe in their vision and we have continued to build on the foundation laid by our parents. We are being denied our fundamental rights of being Biafrans,” he told newsmen.  “We love Nigeria, we want to contribute to its development but the Nigerian state is paying us back with hatred. We want a state of our own.”  One Igbo former military officer, who participated in the so-called “Igbo coup” in January 1966 and later fought for Biafra, said the sense of injustice had been passed down generations. “The children who were born after the war ask their parents why the five states in the region are underdeveloped,” the 72-year-old said, declining to give his name.  “Their parents tell them of the pogrom and devastation that took place during the war and these children, now adults, feel bitter and demand to go their separate ways.” ‘We shall prevail’  Most “Biafra” agitators assert their region is overlooked in the provision of infrastructure such as roads, water, electricity, medical care, education, as well as senior political posts. There was criticism recently from the southeast of Buhari’s appointments to senior military roles.  Emeka Umeagbalasi, head of the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of the Law, said Igbos had been “totally excluded with impunity”. The appointments were “undemocratic and unconstitutional,” he added, referring to a contentious constitutional provision for posts to be shared among Nigeria’s regions.  For Eze Onyekpere, director of the Centre for Social Justice pressure group, the situation demonstrated how Nigeria has failed to come to terms with its past and diversity.  “They have been swept under the carpet. These are national questions which Radio Biafra has sought to highlight,” he added. In such a powder keg of competing ethnic and religious identities, dissent — whether on radio or via Biafra Television — can thrive. Eleven men from a MASSOB splinter group are currently on trial charged with conspiracy to declare a breakaway republic when they stormed a state-run radio station in Enugu in June last year.  For Uchenna, the incidents show “the spirit of Biafra is alive and it cannot die”.  “We shall prevail,” he said. “We are no longer interested in Nigeria. No tribe in Nigeria has the interest of the Igbos at heart, hence our sustained campaign for our own separate republic.” - Source: vanguardngr.com