The National Association of Nigerian Traders on Monday stormed the ECOWAS secretariat located in Abuja to protest the alleged closure of shops belonging to Nigerians in Ghana.
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Deputy Governor Okeke visits some flood affected areas, promises increased intervention.
In three months, IBB has ‘blessed’ Tambuwal and three PDP presidential aspirants
During the weekend, the campaign train of Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, stopped at the Minna, Niger state residence of former military President Ibrahim Babaginda (IBB). The governor, who is seeking the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 election, solicited the support of the elder statesman and Babaginda gave Tambuwal his blessings.
“I am very proud that you belong to the generation that want to keep Nigeria as one. You have a good team to keep that; I have no doubt that Nigerians will give you the opportunity to put these good ideas for the good of the country. You know the country, you understand the challenges of the country. I trust you will work base on your conviction for this country. You have my blessings and I will keep monitoring to ensure you don’t deviate,” he had said.
Supporters of the governor had gone to town saying the endorsement had brightened the chances of Tambuwal securing the ticket. But is Tambuwal the only PDP aspirant whom IBB has given his blessing?
Below is a list of some PDP presidential aspirants who visited Babangida has played host to and what he said to them:
The former minister of special duties visited Babangida on July 17. Like Tambuwal, Turaki solicited the support of the former military leader, saying he has all that is needed to improve the country.
During the visit, Babangida endorsed him while saying the agenda of the aspirant are capable of transforming the country.
“I am endorsing you because your road map can lead Nigeria to prosperity,” he had said.
“We were taught in the military that the unity of Nigeria must not be compromised; the programmes in your agenda are capable of transforming Nigeria. From your agenda, I believe you mean well for this country. I think if you are given the chance, Nigeria will witness tremendous development.
“Even though I have adopted you and you emerge as the president, I will follow you up so that if you derail, I will remind you of your promises.”
The former governor of Kaduna state and immediate past caretaker committee chairman of the PDP, also paid a visit to Babangida at his residence in Minna on August 4. During the visit, Makarfi highlighted some of his plans in dealing with the challenges facing the country.
The former president said Makarfi restored his hope of a new Nigeria, adding that the ex-governor has his blessings.
“I was almost losing hope in the country, as a military man I wouldn’t. But having heard from the distinguished senator, I have become more enlightened and emboldened to say we have hope in Nigeria,” he had said.
When Mark came calling
“Without fear or favour, you have made my day. We need a new narrative in this country. We can’t go on like we used to. We need an articulated vision of a new Nigeria. I am not surprised that you give such narrative of the country. You did well in the legislature and you handled well one of the most civilised and sophisticated states in Nigeria.
“You have my blessings and I will look forward to hearing from you on some of these articulations I heard from you today. Honestly I feel so proud.”
Babangida also endorsed Lamido, former governor of Jigawa state, when he paid him a visit on August 14.
The former governor solicited prayer and advice from the former military leader, who in his response, gave the presidential aspirant his blessings.
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“Sule, Nigeria will be great with you as its president because you are a student of late Malam Aminu Kano, who saw and perceived life as struggle for the emancipation of the common man. Nigeria needs a new leadership because the current leadership lost focus, vision, courage to lead Nigeria to the promise land,” IBB was quoted to have said.
There are 12 presidential aspirants on the PDP platform. More than six have visited IBB, though the details of his discussions with some of them were not made public. He could have blessed them in private.
Among those who have visited Babaginda’s hilltop residence in Minna are former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Senate President David Mark and Attahiru Bafarawa, ex-governor of Sokoto state.
The Cable.
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NEWMAP, Anambra Govt move to rescue Federal High Court, others from erosion
The Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project NEWMAP has begun the process of controlling gully erosion threatening the Federal High Court and other property at the Alex Ekwueme erosion site, Awka.
Mr Mike Ivenso, Project Coordinator of NEWMAP in Anambra, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Awka that the project had held a pre-bid meeting with some potential contractors for the control works.
He said Governor Willie Obiano had declared an emergency on the Alex Ekwueme gully erosion site which was threatening a number of structures, including the Federal High Court, a hotel, federal secretariat and access roads.
He said the bidding process was “abridged” in the light of the urgency of the project and the need to rescue the area expeditiously.
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The World Bank-sponsored NEWMAP project coordinator said the prospective contractors were expected to respond on or before October 4, two weeks after the process commenced instead of the normal eight weeks.
Ivenso said the contract would be for a period of 12 months but expressed hope that it would be delivered by March next year.
According to him, funding for the project has been appropriated by the state government which is working in concert with the Federal Government as well as the World Bank.
“We have met with potential bidders, six of them, and they have visited the site to take an assessment of what to do to enable them come up with responsive bids which we can evaluate.
“His Excellency, Governor Willie Obiano has declared an Emergency on the Alex Ekwueme erosion site and has mandated NEWMAP and all relevant agencies to fast-track the intervention works here.
“A lot of landslides has occurred here and the erosion is fast encroaching into the Federal High Court and the governor has directed that we expedite control intervention works here.
“This vicinity houses a significant amount of federal, state and private property, the area is called Central Business District, the Federal High Court is not the only threatened structure.”
(NAN)
NEMA donates relief materials to Anambra flood victims
THE aftermath visit of the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo, to Anambra state to assess the damage caused by this year flood, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated relief materials worth several millions of naira to victims of flood disaster in Anambra State.
Mr Walson Ibarakuno-Barandon, Co-ordinator NEMA, South East Zone handed over the materials to Mr Paul Odenigbo, the Executive Secretary of Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Saturday in Awka, the Anambra State Capital.
The 17 materials donated were food and non-food items like; 600 bags of rice, 300 bags of garri, 600 bags of cement, 200 cartons of Milo, 300 bags of beans, 1,000 cartons of omo and 300 cartons of tin tomato.
Other items were; 2,000 pieces of treated mosquito nets, 1,000 pieces of toilet soap, 1,500 pieces of printed wax, 150 kegs of vegetable oil, 150 bags of salts, 150 bags of sugar and 150 kegs of red oil among others.
Ibarakuno-Barandon said the materials were meant to alleviate the sufferings of victims of the flood disaster in parts of Anambra State.
Nine out of 21 local government areas in Anambra located close to the River Niger were named among places that would possibly witness flood disaster this year by weather experts.
The NEMA official explained that the agency brought the items to cushion the effects of the disaster, adding that NEMA emergency assessment team would commence on-the-spot assessment of the areas hit by flood Sept.22.
“The assessment by our team would enable the agency have adequate account of the impact of the disaster to enable us make proper recommendations to the federal government for further actions’’, he said.
He urged the state to see the relief materials as symbolic showing that the federal government under President Mohammadu Buhari shares the pains of the flood victims in Anambra.
“No amount of relief materials given to victims of disaster would be enough to take care of their losses, the federal government is trying to give succour to the victims through this donation’’, he said.
Chief Paul Odenigbo, Executive Secretary SEMA, who responded on behalf of Anambra State Government, expressed gratitude to the federal government for their prompt intervention.
“What they have brought, it would go a long way in assisting the flood victims in the various camps.
“We have made a case to the federal government and what NEMA brought today if we add it to donations from other organisations people in the various IDP camps would not go hungry ’’, he said
Odenigbo said apart from the provision of food and non-food materials, the state ministries of Environment, Health and Public Utilities were working tirelessly to ensure proper hygienic environment in the camps to avoid outbreak of diseases.
He, however, advised those staying in the camps to cooperate with relevant camp officials noting that as soon as the water recedes they would return to their communities.
Anambra State government established 28 Internally Displaced Persons camps across the state in readiness for the 2018 flooding predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
Chimamanda Adichie: What I find disgusting about bride price
Chimamanda Adichie, an award-winning Nigerian author, says she finds the idea of bride price “disgusting” because it has been commercialised in most cultures.
Adichie made the remark during an interactive session in Lagos on Saturday.
During the event, the author spoke on a wide range of topics including feminism and leadership, tips for aspiring writers, the fight for social justice, and the relevance of bride price to modern marriages.
When asked about her views on bride price as it relates to feminism, the author said the practice has evolved from its natural form to something that should be gotten rid of.
“If you go back in history, the idea of marriage is different from what it is today. Yes, there was bride price where fundamentally you sort of give things to the bride’s family, but there was also an exchange of gifts… and it was a bit more fluid,” she said.
“Now there is commercialism to the whole idea that I really find disgusting.
“At the same time I’m a person who has a lot of respect for my culture. There’s a lot about African culture that I find very beautiful.
“So it then becomes a struggle to find what things in that culture I find worth keeping, and what things do I think we should get rid of.
“I think these are ways to start to change it. In my opinion I think we should just get rid of the whole idea of money. I think it just ruins things.
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“I think that we really need to rethink the way that marriages are done. It’s dangerous on so many levels. People always use culture to justify everything, but I keep thinking so many things have changed in our culture. There are things we can still change. I’m not a fan of bride price. I feel very conflicted about bride price.”
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