Wife of Ebonyi state governor, Mrs Rachel Umahi has paid medical bills of a 14-year-old boy, Eze Sunday, who was treated of diabetes in Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.
Eze was abandoned in the hospital by his parents for more than four months following the financial implication of his ailment.
It was gathered that since the boy was brought to the hospital by the parents and even after he recovered, neither the parents nor anybody else visited to look after him.
The governor’s wife had gone across relevant institutions in the state to help indigent people when she spotted Eze in the hospital.
Eze thanked the governor’s wife for coming to his rescue, saying the area that mostly pained him was that he had been out of school following the sickness.
Meanwhile, Mrs Umahi has donated food items worth hundreds of thousands of naira to indigent citizens in the state.
While flagging off the distribution, Mrs Umahi said she had the passion of helping the needy and urged other wealthy citizens to toe the line.
Some of the items donated by the state’s first lady include provisions, bags of rice, tubers yam, detergents, soap, cooking oil among other things.

Ndutimi Alaibe, the former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission NDCC, has withdrawn from the gubernatorial race of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa State.
His withdrawal came as a surprise as he was a very strong contender who was tipped as a likely flag bearer of the party in the election.
However, Alaibe in a statement issued yesterday, said the decision to withdraw from the contest was in the interest of the
party, especially as it faces the task of unseating the PDP in the state in the December 5 2015 election.
“It is with all nostalgia that I recall the zeal, enthusiasm and hope with which thousands of Bayelsans made a statement in the
direction of change in August, 2015. I can also vividly recall a mental replay of the occasion wherein a qualitative representation of the leadership of our great party, the All Progressives Congress ( APC) ushered in respected leaders
and members from their then party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
“That singular event has been phenomenal just as its true meaning and direction have all exuded confidence, unity of
purpose, cohesion, collectivism and courage. That day undoubtedly marked the beginning of a people’s journey from hopelessness and squandry as enunciated by the accidental PDP-led government in Bayelsa state to that of quality
leadership that an APC government will represent.
He further stated that “As one of such leaders who took that historic decision, I thought of giving a further bite to my burning desire to extricate the state from abysmal leadership failure. Therefore, my aspiration to be governor after series of consultations was to rekindle our collective hope and lift the state beyond its current state of decay under the PDP.
“Regardless, I am not oblivious of the fundamental fact that we all need a virile, united, cohesive and collaborative APC to bring about our desires to fruition. Not only do we need this, APC deserves every sacrifice, including personal
interests, to arrive at the envisaged destination come February, 2016.
“This is more so that both as individual leaders and as a party, the need to avoid the a situation of crisis that the PDP might
inadvertently reap from cannot be over emphasised.
“As a result, having carefully examined the circumstances that have trailed the governorship primaries of our great party in
Bayelsa state, I have come to the conclusion that pushing my governorship ambition beyond this point carries alongside it some collateral consequences.
“Succinctly, two options are available to me. Whereas I am confident that I have the required support of my admirers and supporters as well as the needed backing of Bayelsans to govern them, the hurdles set on the way of this noble project are seemingly temptous and capable of overheating the APC in Bayelsa.
“In another vein, the virtuous path to take is that virtuous one in which personal interest are sacrificed for the common good, whether for the APC or the state in general. This is the path I chose in the light of the prevailing circumstances. I therefore withdraw from the governorship primary contest.
“This decision is taken in the interest of our party especially as we face the task of the common challenge of unseating the PDP in the state come December 5.”

As Nigerians mark her 55th independence anniversary celebration, Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has enjoined Nigerians to take seriously the wordings and message of both National Anthem and the National Pledge.
In his anniversary message delivered yesterday, the governor who is also the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors Forum, expressed delight to join millions of patriotic Nigerians all over the world to wish the country and her citizenry happy 55th Independence Day celebration.
He stated that the continued corporate existence of Nigeria despite serial challenges as a multi-ethnic entity called for celebration and thanksgiving to God Almighty.
“For Nigeria to have remained one indivisible nation for 55 years, in spite of all the challenges that have been confronting her as a multi-ethnic nation not only deserves to be celebrated, but also calls for thanksgiving to God Almighty.
“At 55, Nigeria as a nation and Nigerians as a people should begin to see the unity of the country as a development that has become indelible, which should also encourage the citizenry to think less about tribal and religious differences, and think more about the harmony and progress of the nation.
“Nigerians should equally begin to take the wordings of the National Anthem and the National Pledge more serious than they had never done before.
“The truth is that the wordings of the National Anthem and the National Pledge should stand as the creed of all Nigerians of goodwill. The National Anthem should not be seen and treated as an ordinary music and the National Pledge shouldn’t be seen and said as an ordinary poem. Their wordings call for sober reflections on the part of Nigerians.
“As a matter of fact, at 55 years of age, Nigerians should also grow beyond ethnic war songs. Hence, ethnic associations and groups beating ethnic war drums should put a halt to that. Even the quest for sovereignty by some zonal or ethnic bodies should also be dropped since such tendencies have no meaningful contribution to make to the unity, development and prosperity of the nation.
“Nigeria has come to stay as a nation and there is nothing anybody can do about that. What is expected is that all hands should be on deck to build a Nigeria of our collective dream where freedom, peace and unity abound, and where the labour of our Heroes past, shall never be in vain.”
He therefore charged Nigerians to leverage on the 55th Independence Day event to pray for the leadership of the nation at the moment and the leadership at the state levels, and also pray that the lofty desire of President Mohammadu Buhari to rid Nigeria of corruption should produce the needed result.

Justice Okon Abang of A Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday, ordered Zamfara State government to pay a judgment sum of N3.159,017,940.71, to Ecobank Nigeria Limited, being the outstanding indebtedness to the bank.
Justice Abang gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Ecobank against the Zamfara State government.
Other defendants in the suit are; Zamfara state’s Attorney-General, Zamfara State Ministry of Finance; Accountant-General of the Federation; Attorney-General of the Federation and Central Bank of Nigeria.
Ecobank Plc in a suit listed ‘undefended’, and marked FHC/L/CS/872/2015, had dragged the Zamfara State government before the Court over a loan of N1.5 billion obtained from Oceanic International Bank in the month of May, 2009.
The bank, in an affidavit in support of the suit deposed to by Oluwafunmilola Salami, a lawyer in the government law firm of Kunle Ogunba and Associates, averred that the state government, through the Ministry of Finance, had in the month of May, 2009, received an extended facility of N1.5 billion from the Oceanic International Bank Limited, now consolidated with Ecobank Nigeria Limited.
The deponent averred that the major security for the disbursement of the said loan facility was a conditional Irrevocable Standing Payment Order, ISPO, from the state government Valued Added Tax, VAT, domiciled with the First Bank Plc. She added that facility however, suffered a setback when First Bank Plc stopped warehousing the State’s Federation Account Allocation Committee, FACC, and consequently declined further remittance of the payment of the indebtedness that arose from the subject facility.
The deponent also averred that due to the above, an agreement was reached to restructure the debt in November 2010, after which the Zamfara government honoured rentals for few months. She added that the state government till date had not paid the rentals.
The deponent further averred that upon the restructure, all relevant council and House resolutions were obtained by the Bank alongside another ISPO on the main FACC account domiciled with the then Intercontinental Bank Plc, now Access Bank Plc. And that despite the restructure and the documentations as security between the Bank and Zamfara state government in respect of the loan, the said Zamfara State government has failed and neglected to liquidate the indebtedness, leaving a huge sum of outstanding and yet to be liquidated debt.
Consequently, Ecobank Limited through its lawyer, Mr. Kunle Ogunba, approached the court for the following claims; judgment against the Zamfara State government, the state’s Attorney-General and Ministry of Finance, jointly and severally in the sum of N3, 159,017,940.71, being the outstanding indebtedness and yet to be liquidated sum on the facility extended to the Zamfara State government by the legacy Oceanic International Bank Plc.
An interest on the said sum at the rate of 30 percent per annum from March 1, 2013, till the day judgment, and 10 percent rate per annum until final liquidation of the Judgment.
The plaintiff also claimed the sum of N50 million as the cost for the prosecution of the suit. And an order directing the fourth to seventh defendants to deduct the judgment sum and interest thereon from the Finance accruable to Zamfara State government from the Federation accounts.
Also, an order directing the second to seventh defendants to ensure the full and effectual compliance with the judgment of the Court.
But Justice Abang, while granting all the plaintiff’s claims, only award the sum of N50,000,00 as the cost for prosecuting the suit against the first to third.

NASARAWA State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia, the state capital, yesterday dismissed the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mr. Labaran Maku, challenging the declaration of Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of All Progressives Congress, APC, as winner of the April 11 governorship elections for lack of merit.
Delivering its over 3-hour judgment, chairman of the tribunal, Justice Halima Shammaki, held that the petitioners have woefully failed to prove allegation of election malpractices beyond reasonable irregularities raised in his petition.
“The petitioners have failed to provide credible evidence to prove their allegation that the election was marred with violence in some places, unlawful declaration of votes, inflation of figures, mutilation and over voting.”
The tribunal further held that the petitioner could not prove beyond reasonable doubt where he alleged that card readers were not used in some polling units and also failed to tender in evidence, some the election materials brought by the third respondent (INEC) to prove his case, thereby amounting to dumping same at the tribunal and rendering them useless.
She said the unlawful cancellation of the results in some areas as claimed by the petitioner and therefore dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.
Reacting to the judgment, counsels to the first, second and third respondents, Yusuf Usman, Yusuf Ali and Hassan Liman, respectively both described the judgment as victory to democracy and the rule of law.
On his part, counsel to the petitioner, Barr Titus Chahul said they would consult their client for the next line of action.
In his reaction, Alhaji Ibrahim Abu, the running mate to Mr. Maku said that they were not satisfied with the judgment, asserting that they were robbed of the mandate given to them by the people of the state.
Addressing his supporters shortly after the judgment, Governor Tanko Al-Makura who was visibly overwhelmed by the verdict of the tribunal noted that the victory was for all the people of the state, promising to concentrate on the provision of dividends of democracy to the people.

Bauchi State Governor, Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar, has congratulated all Nigerians for witnessing the 55th independence anniversary and expressed gratitude to Allah for his guidance and protection.
This was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Alhaji Yakubu Ibn Muhammad. Abubakar said 55 years in the life of a nation is certainly far from a lifetime, but for Nigerians it is significant in our political evolution which dates back to 1914, saying residents of Bauchi State have cause to celebrate alongside others from all over the country.
“I implore you all to use the day as a period for sober reflection, circumspection and renewed commitment to the growth and development of Bauchi State in particular and the nation in general,” he said.
Governor Abdullahi pointed out that growth and development do not come on a platter of gold, instead they are products of selflessness, commitment and dedication to the positive qualities that have always defined us as citizens of the state.
“We are required by our circumstances to exhibit these qualities as we seek to restore Bauchi State to its rightful position of eminence not only in the North-East sub-region, but in the nation at large,” he added.
He called on citizens to pray for the repose of our numerous brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Saudi Arabia during the recent stampede.

Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has expressed the need for continuous unity as the nation marks its 55th independence anniversary.
Okowa in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu and made available to Nigerian Pilot in Asaba yesterday, expressed the hope that the country would overcome the present security and economic challenges and eventually wax stronger.
Governor Okowa said despite the scourge of indigenous terrorism, political power struggle and other forms of corrupt practices, Nigeria would still be united.
“As a people, we must stand united and steadfast to confront the challenges that face our democracy and our developing economy. Such collective effort, I believe, we must bring to bear on the unpleasant situations that confront our nation, so that the labour of our heroes past shall never be vain,” he noted.
Okowa further advised: “We must move forward and march purposefully toward the bright future that is ahead of us; starting with the 55th independence anniversary. All hands must be on deck to continue to work for the sustenance and progress of democracy in the country.”
He called on Deltans and Nigerians at large to use the occasion of the 55th independence anniversary to celebrate the country’s togetherness.
“Irrespective of our political, religious, tribal and cultural differences, we are still one entity,” Okowa said.
He urged all Deltans to continue to support his administration and the federal government to succeed, adding that the success of leaders would translate to the wellbeing of the people.

A group, Concerned Youth of Katsina have dragged the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Dutsinma, Professor James Ayatse before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for misappropriation over N106 million.
In a three-page petition letter to EFCC a copy of which was made available to newsmen, the body accused Prof Ayatse of not following due process in spending funds of the university.
The letter titled ‘Petition of Financial Misappropriation, Bribery and Administrative Irregularities’, called for proper investigation by the commission on the shady, outrageous and unreasonable financial scandal at the university.
The letter gave example of over N30 million illegally diverted into unknown account from the university’s salary account.
The petition letter alleged that the vice chancellor approved the procurement of a personal chair at cost of over N2 million to be used by himself at his personal house.
It also alleged the use of the university fund by the vice chancellor to build his own private school at Isiyaku Bagudu road in Markurdi, Benue State worth N150 million.
According to the petition letter, the vice chancellor auctioned his official vehicle to himself and approved for himself the procurement of another vehicle at the cost of N20 million.
The letter accused the vice chancellor for deducting 7.5 percent pension contribution from the salary of each worker and refusing to remit the deducted funds to the National Pension Commission.
The petition letter advised EFCC to dispatch its officials to the university for full investigation of all the allegations.
Reacting, the vice chancellor described the allegation as untrue, adding that it was part of the plan to tarnish his image.
Ayatse said he was ready for any proper investigation by EFCC on allegations of financial misappropriation.
He said since he was appointed as vice chancellor of the university in 2011, various petitions were written against him despite all effort put in place for successful take off of the university.
“Everything I do here, it will be distorted to give it a different meaning against me.”

Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, have criticised the federal government over its inability to revive the shrinking economy, despite the introduction of some economic innovations.
The unions noted that despite the introduction of the Treasury Single Account, TSA, identification of items not to be funded with forex sourced from the Central Bank, limits on fund transfers or withdrawals in foreign currencies, suspension of payment of dollar deposits into domiciliary accounts and implementation of the new auto-policy, the economy is not yet out of the woods.
The umbrella body of labour unions in Nigeria observed that the economic policies of President Muhammadu Buhari has not yielded positive results, as the naira is still considerably weak against major currencies of the world, thus making the cost of living to rise sharply, while oil prices keep falling.
However, the Congresses in their independence day message in Abuja, yesterday, charged the government to ‘sit up’ and rescue Nigeria’s economy which is currently nose-diving.
They also renewed calls for the upward review of the minimum wage from the current N18, 000, as well as the revival of textile industries for the purpose of creating jobs for Nigerian youths.

Following the death of over 747 pilgrims and 804 others who sustained injuries at this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia, the Senate yesterday called for low key celebration of Nigeria’s 55th independence anniversary.
The upper chamber urged Nigerians to consider the independence anniversary as a period for sober reflection and a time to identify with the families of Nigerian Muslims in particular and others who lost their lives in the stampede.
This followed the approved additional prayer by Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP, Taraba North) and Aliyu Sabi (APC, Niger East) during debate on the country’s independence anniversary on the floor of the Red Chamber.
The senators congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, the government and people of Nigeria on the 55th independence anniversary of the country.
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, while concluding debate on the motion, commended the senators for their concern for the nation’s development and called on Nigerians to intensify prayers for the country and remain united.
This, he noted remains one of the best ways for the country to achieve greatness, “because Nigeria will make a lot of progress if we are united and would be able to build on the past achievements made since independence.”
Sponsor of the motion entitled “Congratulations to Nigeria and Nigerians on her 55th Independence Anniversary”, Senator Ali Ndume, who is the Senate Leader, noted that from May 29, 1999 till date, the country has had the longest reign of democratic government in her political history.
He, however, stated that “while we may have had our challenges as a nation, we are moving forward as one nation indivisible in character and aspiration.”
Ndume also acknowledged that the country has a task to ensure that the labour of those who made independence possible and those who worked tirelessly to keep her united would not be in vain.
“While we have come this far, our vision of the future must be kept bright with hard work and dedication and called for the remembrance of “heroes of independence and democracy, those whose blood and sweat got us this far and celebrate them even today.”
The Senate leader charged lawmakers to continue to demonstrate commitment to the unity and oneness as a nation of free citizens.

Kwara State Government on Thursday announced the cancellation of the proposed 55th Independence Anniversary parade scheduled to hold in llorin, the state capital.
Nigerian Pilot check revealed that the government’s decision was not unconnected with the attack on some dignitaries by suspected hoodlums at the prayer ground during the Eid el- Kabir celebration last week.
The cancellation was announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji lsiaka Gold. He noted that the cancellation followed security reports that certain individuals arrived the state overnight with the intention of causing trouble at the venue of the event.
The statement disclosed that the cancellation was meant to prevent endangering lives and property of the residents in the state.
It however regretted any inconveniences caused by the cancellation, adding that government considered public safety more as priority.
Reacting to the cancellation, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Alhaji AbdulSalam Suleiman said the cancellation of the parade was in order.

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki has said that his office and indeed the Senate have no hands in media reports on list of ministerial nominees reported by some media houses yesterday (Nigerian Pilot not included) and urged the public to disregard such reported list as the sealed envelope containing the list sent from the president would, and can only be opened during the plenary of the Senate.
The ministerial list was delivered on Wednesday by the President’s Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari and Senator Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Matters (Senate) about 4.30 pm.
When it reconvened Wednesday, expectations were high that in fulfilment of his promise to Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari would have transmitted his intended cabinet list to the Senate for screening and confirmation so as to beat the September 30 deadline he had set for himself.
However, the list did not get to the Senate President until hours after the close of plenary, Wednesday. Saraki later confirmed the submission of the list in a twitter message he sent out Wednesday evening.
His media and publicity adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in a statement yesterday buttressed the position, adding that: “the list was submitted in a sealed envelope by Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari and Senator Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Matters (Senate).
“Dr. Saraki has, following the tradition of the Senate, decided that the envelope will remain sealed till Tuesday October 6, when during the plenary sitting of the Upper legislative chamber, it will be opened and the list read to Senators.”

Ahead of the scheduled resumption of unity schools across the country early next week, parents have been urged to complement ongoing efforts of government at making quality education accessible to all Nigerian children.
This was the key message of the members of the Parents – Teachers’ Association, PTA, of the Federal Science and Technical College, Orozo, Abuja led by its Chairman, Peter Oriaran on a courtesy visit to the management of the school yesterday.
The Association expressed its willingness to further make valuable contribution towards meeting the infrastructural needs of the institution, adding that only collaborative efforts between government and parents could yield positive results in improving standards of education in the country.
They also observed that with the current paucity of funds affecting government institutions worldwide, efforts to formally prepare the future generations of Nigerians to become global citizens should not be left in the hands of either state or federal governments alone.
“Wealthy individuals, corporate bodies and other private citizens especially those who are parents should device voluntary approaches to assisting governments at various levels in alleviating financial challenges of running these institutions.
“We as parents of the students attending this college strongly believe in assisting the federal government which owns it in carrying a fraction of the financial responsibilities of running the institution,” Oriaran said.
The association is currently renovating of students’ hostels, carrying out construction of a school clinic, and reticulation of water from the African Development Bank, AfDB – funded boreholes to the girls’ hostel which the Chairman said had no water for years.

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has said the cut in Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR, to 25 percent from 31 percent had injected N300 billion into the financial system, Moses Tule, monetary policy director at the apex said according to a Reuters report.
In the same vein, Tule affirmed that the CBN believes there is adequate liquidity in the Nigerian banking system despite its slowing economic growth the report said.
It noted that prior to the move, liquidity on the interbank market had depleted after commercial banks were ordered to move government revenue to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) at the central bank which ended September 15, as part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s move to check deepening corruption in the nation.
The report says JP Morgan’s decision to remove Nigeria from its influential emerging markets bond index (GBI-EM), which means investment funds tracking the index will sell Nigerian bonds, added to upward pressure on national borrowing costs.
“There’s sufficient liquidity in the Nigerian banking system to take up whatever foreign investors may dump, so we are not disturbed,” the report quoted Tule as saying.
“By cutting the cash reserve ratio, we introduced back more than 300 billion naira,” he said adding, however, that the bank was “concerned that the economy is slowing”.
The report further affirmed that growth halved in the second quarter compared with the same period last year, prompting Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank Governor, to say at last week’s monetary policy committee meeting that the economy was at risk of slipping into recession in 2016.
However, Banks are of divergent views on the single account and its impact on their operations, some say it’s necessary for the economy to boom, others say no matter what happens, they will find a way around it and improve on their operations.

Canadian Overseas Petroleum Limited, COPL, has revealed that its joint venture with Shoreline Energy is set to acquire near-term production assets in Nigeria.
The junior oil company, which also has an exploration venture with Exxon offshore Liberia, has been working with Shoreline to diversify its portfolio and together they are focusing on opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa.
It said yesterday that significant progress had been made in recent months; notably representatives of both COPL and Shoreline visited Nigeria last week to meet with government agencies seeking approval for the deal to close.
The company said it “expects that the transaction will be completed within the shortest possible time” and the details will be disclosed once it has been approved.
It did reveal, however, that the joint venture company ShoreCan is expected to own 80% of the project, which is described as being “an oil appraisal/development project offering near term oil production, as well as significant future exploration upside.”
COPL chief executive, Arthur Millholland, said: “This is a very high quality asset that is attractive at the current oil price environment which will add significant value to our shareholders.”
Millholland added that the pending acquisition was a step towards COPL becoming a balanced and growing exploration and production company.
“We’d like to reassure shareholders that despite the delays in Liberia and continued oil price weakness, the quality of sub-Saharan African light crude oil coupled with dramatic operational cost reductions, clearly make our strategy a sound one and beneficial for COPL and Shoreline shareholders,” he said.
COPL last week told investors that Exxon’s proposed exploration well, offshore Liberia, had been confirmed in the American major’s budget for 2016. The well, Mesurado-1, which had previously been delayed amid last year’s Ebola crisis in West Africa, is scheduled for late 2016 to early 2017.
Mesurado’s primary goal is to prove commercial volumes of hydrocarbons. It will be in a deep-water location and will target Cretaceous Santonian-age reservoirs. Exxon budgets the exploration at a cost of US$120m, though COPL’s 17% interest in the project is ‘carried’ by the American group.

Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, has frowned at the accidental emergence of past Nigerian leaders at virtually all levels of government who are apparently lacking in vision and clear plans on how to transform and move Nigeria from the comity of developing countries to the comity of developed countries.
To this end, the Bishop encouraged Nigerians to aspire and work assiduously to have visionary leaders who can transform the country, rather than having mere office holders who are zero in knowledge and capacity to exercise the functions of the exalted office they occupy.
Presenting a paper at the 10th edition of The Platform, a programme organised by Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos yesterday, the clergy said, “There is no way you can lead when you don’t have what you represent which people can follow and appreciate.
“The accidental nature of Nigerian leadership does not suggest that we can go beyond merely saying we can have office holders and not leaders.
“There is a classical distinction between holding office and being a leader. Not all leaders are in office, and not all those in office are leaders. There are people who have no offices but they will have a lot of influence. After all, most Nigerians are more educated and experienced than the current political leaders.
“It is obvious that Nigeria has not placed premium on human capacity and experience as well as quality of our supposed leaders, and we are paying dearly for it. The primary responsibility of the government is to provide necessary atmosphere for ordinary Nigerians to compete with their contemporaries locally or internationally,” he said.
He identified the importance of leaders who have the capacity to take drastic decisions that would change the lives of the people.
The religious leader, however, told the President to be equal to the task of piloting the affairs of Nigeria, so as not to lose the trust and goodwill of Nigerians who rode their motorcycle to death celebrating his emergence as the President.
“President Buhari must know that we would not fold our arms and hope that a nation that is intellectually lazy simply wishes to have a messiah. Nigeria has two major religions, Islam and Christianity but there is need to have experience from previous prophesies about the expected Messiah.”
He said that the previous governments, including President Buhari during his military regime tried to fight corruption but have consistently left Nigeria worst than they met it in terms of corruption and infrastructural decadence.
“Every government requires opposition and it is not only political parties as are widely believed by some people. We have to set minimum standard of human behaviour that is widely acceptable to all Nigerians.
“The fight against corruption, whether trial or imprisonment, Buhari has an opportunity to make the required changes he had hitherto promised during the campaign,” he said.
Several other key speakers, including Pat Utomi, Pastor Poju of the Covenant Christian Centre asked for improvement in the value system of Nigeria.

Chairman, Pankshin Local Aovernment Area of Plateau State, Stephen Jings has expressed confidence that the State Governor, Simon Lalong is judiciously making proper use of the bailout funds accrued to the state and would not temper with it.
Besides, he called on citizens of the state to pray fervently for peace, unity and stability of the country and her leaders as the nation celebrates the 55th anniversary.
He also said the low key celebration of the 55th Independence was in order, considering the high level of poverty in the country.
Jings made the appealed in a chat with our correspondent yesterday in Jos, the state capital .
Speaking on the recent bailout sent to the state by the Federal Government, Jings further said the state governor , Simon Lalong is judiciously making use of the funds as civil servants in the state have already started receiving their salaries.
Jings expressed satisfaction with the progress so far made in the disbursement of the funds and the concern shown by the state governor, Simon Lalong.
“We are satisfied with the arrangements so far. Governor Lalong had earlier set up a committee comprising of some officers of the state government, Local Government Service Commission and organised labour to ensure that the funds are utilised for the purpose for which it was released.
He explained that the governor is on a rescue mission and would ensure that people of the grassroots are not left out in terms of development, adding that so far, Lalong has done well since assumption of office.
“I would also commend President Muhammadu Buhari for the success recorded so far on the war against insurgency in the North East and our governor for carrying all the 54 tribes in the state along in governance,” he added.

Members of Boko Haram have killed at least 11 people and burnt down several houses in Madagali Local Government Area, LGA, Adamawa State.
Nigerian Pilot gathered from residents that the militants attacked Bitiku, Kubu and Kirchinga villages on Wednesday evening.
Immediate past chairman of the council, Maina Ularamu confirmed the attacks, calling for deployment of troops to the viLlages.
“The insurgents attacked a group of traders returning from Gulak market and killed four of them before proceeding to Kirchinga where they slaughtered seven persons including three women,” he said.
He stressed the need for the military to station troops in villages that saw frequent attacks in recent time with a view to flushing out remnants of the insurgents
He also appealed to government for restoration of government structures and social services in the recaptured territory, saying residents are suffering from lack of hospitals, bridges as well as basic needs of life.

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has on the occasion of Nigeria’s 55th anniversary, thanked various groups of Nigerians for their role in keeping Nigeria going since independence.
He also thanked “The Almighty Creator, the God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob and the awesome God of David, for making this special occasion of the 55th anniversary of our dear country as an independent and undivided nation, possible”.
He congratulated the Nigerian leader, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari and indeed, all Nigerians on this great accomplishment.
He saluted in a special way, the founding fathers of the nation whose sacrifices and contributions, he said, paved the way for her independence.
He thanked the Nigerian Armed Forces, various security agencies and paramilitary outfits for the efforts and the sacrifices they are making to preserve the unity and the integrity of the country.
In special respects and gratitude, he thanked “the good people of Enugu State, civil servants, the artisans, members of the various professions, the market men and women and Ndi Enugu in the Diaspora for the faith you invested in us at the elections and for the support and solidarity that you have continued to accord my administration since its inception.”
He said they were indeed, the true heroes of democracy.
Governor Ugwuanyi also thanked the churches for their “unrelenting prayers for the peace and progress of our dear state in particular and the country in general.”
He was also grateful to all the foreigners doing business in Enugu and employing and offering important services to the people.
“I use this occasion to reassure you all of our commitments to deliver the promises we have made to advance the frontiers of development in all sectors of the state’s economy, for the benefit of all citizens.”
He urged the people to “remain steadfast in your prayers and in the collective efforts to make Enugu State peaceful, prosperous and progressive.”

Less than 30 days to the emergence of the new Ooni of Ile-Ife in Osun State, after the transition of Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse 11, one of the contestants to the throne, Prince Adewole Akinpelu Ologbenla, has called on the kingmakers of the town to adopt traditional way of selecting the next Ooni.
Prince Ologbenla, who made this clarion call while fielding questions from newsmen in Ile-Ife, emphasised that, adopting traditional way in selecting the new monarch by consulting Ifa oracle will avert any unrest that may generate after the selection, saying “Ifa cannot lie or deceive”.
The Prince noted that, after serious scrutiny to determine the rightful Princes from the Giesi Ruling House, entitled to contest the vacant stool of the Ooni of Ife, the kingmakers should now consult Ifa oracle who has the final say by picking one out of those that shortlisted from the screening exercise and warned not to allow politicians to penetrate into the process.
“Ife kingmakers should not betray the confidence we Ifes repose in them, they should not sell our birthright, they should follow due process by consulting Ifa oracle to guide them in the process of selection of new Ooni of Ife.
“They must follow rules and regulations and they must know that Ile-Ife is a traditional ancient town, a town that gives honour and respect to tradition and culture. So, the kingmakers must also honour the tradition in choosing the next Oba for the town”, Prince Ologbenla added.
Prince Ologbenla who is a media icon, said “I will accept the final decision of the king makers. I am fully ready and prepared to reign in peace, if given the opportunity to become the next Ooni of Ife.
“God had already supported me for the assignment as God made me to sit on Ooni’s stool unknowingly sometimes in the year 2011, which happened in the palace at the instance of the elders of Giesi Ruling House.
“Everybody knows that, the late Ooni Sijuwade was a global Monarch, and Ile-Ife needs someone that would step into that position without fear, and that is why the ancient town need somebody like me, and I am capable of ruling the town in all ramification as I have all what it takes to be the next Ooni of Ife.”