Almakura to replace striking workers with fresh graduates

The Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Tanko Almakura on Saturday warned striking workers in the state that they risked being replaced with fresh graduates if they failed to return to work.

Almakura gave the warning at
Nassarawa Eggon during the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the coronation of Aren Eggon, Dr Bala Angbazo.

He however, appealed for  understanding from the striking workers, noting that Nasarawa was among the first states to implement the new minimum wage in 2011.

“I want to appeal to the striking workers to go back to work as the decision by the state government to review their salary downward was a result of dwindling economy.

"It is also caused by the fall in the price of crude oil and declining allocation from the Federation Account.

“The state government will take stock of attendance of striking workers that return to work and invite applications from graduates in order to replace those still on strike,” he said.

He noted that government had to review the workers' wages downward in order to accommodate other pressing needs like infrastructural development.

Speaking at the occasion, the Sole Administrator of Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area, Mr Akolo Success, said that the event was organized to thank God for protecting and guiding the monarch in his 35 years on the throne.

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Yahaya Bello denies purchasing N1b vehicles for political appointees

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has denied a report by Sahara Reporters that his administration has purchased new vehicles worth N1b for political appointees.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Abdulkarim Abdulmalik said in a statement that the publication was full of lies and malicious content.

“Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the online news site- Sahara Reporters- where it was alleged that Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has spent 1 billion naira to purchase vehicles for the political appointees in the state.

"We had wanted to ignore the said publication, but on second thought, we felt it is proper to put the record straight by telling the public that the allegations stated in the write-up are false and full of malicious content.

"For avoidance of doubt, Governor Bello, has not bought any vehicle for political appointees as erroneously stated by the Audu/Feleke political organization.

"The vehicle that the Chief of Staff to the Governor is using is his personal car and was not bought by the government for him.

"It is therefore pertinent to say that all the appointees of the Governor are yet to be given official vehicles and those who have were just using the old vehicles acquired and used by the immediate past government in the state.

"The vehicles purchased by the Local Government councils were bought on loans, which is to be paid back in twelve months.

"It is interesting to let the Faleke group know that the Ford vehicles purchased for Local Government Administrators are cheaper than the one used by the immediate past council Chairmen in the state.

"The vehicles in the Governors’ convoy, with the exception of two, belong to the Governor himself and that means he has been very mindful of extravagant spending as exhibited by some past leaders in the state, which has brought the state to the present pitiable situation.

"The People of the state are wondering why some group of persons, who are members of All Progressive Congress, APC, have decided to constitute themselves to an opposition to the government in the state.
One will be tempted to say that the attitude as well as the body language of the Feleke group is evidence that they are blinded by their desperate moves to govern the state. If not so, they claimed to be part of the disciples of the late leader of APC in the state, Prince Abubakar Audu; why then have they not commented about the positive step taken by the Governor to name the State University after him?

"The People of the state are watching with utter disbelief the funny pretense of Faleke group against the positive steps taken so far by Governor Yahaya Bello in his bid to return the state to its past glory through his New Direction Agenda.

"The Faleke group should be reminded that some were not poor before they came into Government as they were financially comfortable.

"It is very painful that the group to have misinformed the famous Sahara Reporters into publishing the falsehood.
We, therefore, call on the right thinking persons who might have read the unfortunate write up to ignore the said publication for it is not worth any attention because it was a fabricated story."

Signed:
Abdulkarim Abdulmalik,
Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the Governor

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Photo of the female Christian preacher killed in Abuja on Saturday

Mrs Eunice Elijah was murdered by unknown assailants early on Saturday morning while she was out on "morning cry", her usual daily routine of evangelism.

The husband of the deceased, Mr Olawale Elijah told newsmen at their home in Kubwa, Abuja that she once told him that people from a nearby mosque had commented on something she said while preaching.

The deceased's body was found with a cut at the throat and stabs in the stomach.

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Troops repel attack, kill 16 Boko Haram terrorists

The Nigerian Army said yesterday that its troops position at Rann in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State was attacked by a large number of Boko Haram terrorists.

It said that after hours of heavy exchange of fire, the insurgents were subdued with 16 of them killed.

The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman said in a statement that two soldiers lost their lives in the encounter.

“The terrorists came with motorcycles borne improvised explosive devices (MCBIED), anti-aircraft guns and other weapons at about 5.00pm and the exchange of fire lasted for some hours before they were overwhelmed by the troops firepower.

“Unfortunately, one of the suicide bombers detonated himself at a gun truck, killing the driver and the gunner.

“The truck and the mounted weapon were also damaged beyond repairs. In addition, two soldiers were wounded in action while three others sustained minor injuries.

“The troops killed seven of the attackers instantly while quite a number escaped with gunshot wounds.

“During clearance operations this morning, the troops discovered nine more Boko Haram terrorists dead bodies in the surrounding areas. Therefore the total number of terrorists killed was 16.

“The troops also recovered a General Purpose Machine Gun, Rocket Propelled Grenade, ammunitions and captured two of the terrorists alive.

“The bodies of the two fallen heroes and the wounded in action soldiers have been evacuated to Maiduguri, while reinforcement was sent from Gomboru-Ngala."

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Mother of 7 killed during early morning preaching in Abuja

A female Christian preacher was slaughtered on Saturday morning in Gbazango area of Kubwa, in Abuja while she was on her usual morning evangelism.

The 42 years old mother of seven was reported to have been slaughtered and stabbed in the stomach by her assailants who left her in the pool of her own blood with her Holy Bible, megaphone and mobile phone.

The woman identified as Eunice Elisha was a Deaconess at the Divine Touch Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Old NEPA Road, Phase 4, Kubwa where her husband is a pastor.

Pastor Olawale Elisha was still in shock when he spoke to newsmen on the murder of his wife.

“My wife always goes out early in the morning for ‘Morning Cry’ (evangelism). There was a particular day she went out and she told me that there is a mosque at the back where they commented about what she said. So I just cautioned her.

“This morning (Saturday), she went around 5am and I was still in bed because we did vigil which she participated in for a while because of the ‘Morning Cry’ she planned to undertake. Two of my boys are footballers, so they went to the field to play. And when they came back, they told me that they heard some footballers saying that some hoodlums had butchered a woman who was preaching early this morning.

“So, when I heard this, we trekked down in the shorts I was putting on and we didn’t see anybody but we saw blood on the ground. I asked a policeman around and he said it is true but that they had taken her to Phase 4 Police Station.

“I went to the station with my children and when we got there, I saw the lifeless body of my wife at the back of the police van and from there, she was taken to the mortuary. The incident happened between 5am and 5:30am because she usually goes out 5am and comes back 6am.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command has confirmed the arrest of some suspects in connection with the murder.

According to the command’s spokesman, ASP Anjuguri Manzah, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Alkali Usman has directed the homicide section to take over the investigation.

“We have made some arrests and they are helping in our investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police has ordered the homicide section of the command to take over the investigation of the case,” he said.

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Senate forgery: APC UK taunts Ekweremadu's petition with hilarious cartoon

This is how the United Kingdom branch of the All Progressives Congress, APC reacted to Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu's SOS letter to some western countries concerning the Senate leadership's tussle with the Executive over alleged forgery of the Senate rules used in electing them into office.

Didn't know that APC has a cartoon department, lol.

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Retired AIG Mbu pulled out with honour in Jos

Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Joseph Mbu was on Saturday pulled out from the Force as Commandant, Police Staff College, Jos.

Mbu who enrolled into the police force in 1985 described his career as fulfilling and urged men and officers still in service to always avoid ‘eye service’ in the discharge of their duties.

"I am privileged as a police officer to head various formations and commands, including the political capital, Abuja, and the economic capital, Lagos.

"Other formations and commands I headed as commissioner of police include the Directorate of Police Education, Mobile Force, Oyo, Rivers and the FCT.

"I was also the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 7, Abuja, Zone 2, Lagos and also the Elite College, the highest Police institution in Nigeria,’’ he said.

Mbu appealed to the media not to dwell too much on the alleged “sins" of some policemen in the course of duty, but rather to seek and understand their peculiar circumstances and work as partners with them for the peace and security of the Nigeria.

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