Nigeria’s federalism lopsided, says Ijaw National Congress

The people of Ijaw ethnic stock in Nigeria, under the auspices of Ijaw National Congress, have said the current structure of the Nigerian state is skewed in favour of the majority ethnic nationalities.

They, therefore, argued that since the secession treaties between the Ijaw and the British colonial authorities had lapsed and that the instrument of amalgamation of 1914 that produced Nigeria expired in 2014, the Ijaw would initiate the process of renegotiating the basis of coexistence with other ethnic nationalities.

They contended that the current structure of the nation did not create adequate socio-political and economic space for the minority ethnic nationalities, particularly the Ijaw.

Their position was contained in a communique released after the pan-Ijaw stakeholders’ summit entitled, ‘Ijaw Agenda Beyond May 29, 2015’, and made available to our correspondent on Tuesday.

The communique was signed by 31 prominent Ijaw citizens including a former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a former Military Governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff and Emeritus Professor of History, Ebiegberi Alagoa.

The event co-hosted by the INC and the Bayelsa State Government was chaired by Diete-Spiff, who is also the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass

AU, ASUU urge Morocco to free Western Sahara 

ASUU President, Nasir Fagge

The President, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Nasir Fagge, and other African Union leaders have intensified calls for the liberation of Western Sahara which has remained under the occupation of the Moroccan government for over 30 years.

Western Sahara is documented as Africa’s last colony still under colonisation by Morocco since 1975.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja during a two-day international conference on the decolonisation of Western Sahara, the ASUU President said stakeholders should not relent in mounting pressure on the government of Morocco to ensure that the colonisation of Western Saharawi did not extend beyond 2015.

Why we didn’t stop Nigerian who joined ISIS –Turkish envoy

The outgoing Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, Mustafa Pulat, has said that Turkey does not stop the son of a former Chief Justice of Nigeria who crossed the Turkish border to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorists in Syria in February 2015, because there was no information on the suspect.

Pulat explained that the suspected jihadist was issued a visa because he had strong credentials and references.

The envoy said this while responding to questions from journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

He explained that the Turkish mission in Nigeria cooperated with security agencies when approached over suspicions that the former CJN’s son had gone to join terrorists in Syria.

Pulat, however, added that “there is an ongoing international cooperation to stop other foreigners who may want to join the ISIS jihadists,” noting that electronic optical control system had been installed at the borders to track smugglers and prospective militants.

Fayose writes Buhari, offers to nominate minister

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to give him the privilege of nominating an Ekiti indigene for appointment into his cabinet.

Fayose, who was one of Buhari’s biggest opponents during the course of the presidential campaign, said this in a statement on Tuesday.

The governor said he had written to Buhari and was hopeful that the President’s response would be favourable.

Fayose said, “I shall be happy to nominate a worthy and competent professional who can always oblige your Excellency and your cabinet the benefit of a second opinion in the serious business of governance.”

He noted that he wrote the letter based on the declaration made by the President that he would put the overall interest of the country above every other, particularly political partisanship and biases.

He said even former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, appointed the late Chief Bola Ige as the Minister for Justice despite Ige being a member of the Alliance for Democracy.

Mourinho praises Mikel, slams Ruben

Jose Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has named Mikel Obi as one of the outstanding players in the Blues 1-0 victory over hosts Sydney FC in their post-season friendly in Australia on Tuesday.

Mikel, who did not enjoy enough first-team appearance with the London club in their last season’s campaign, played in the entire duration of the game, but teenage defender Temitayo Aina was on the bench throughout.

Loic Remy gave the visitors the only goal of the game via a left-footed strike at the ANZ Stadium, but Mourinho never underplayed the role of Mikel in the encounter.

NEPAD workers protest Jonathan assistant’s reappointment

Mrs. Fidelia Njeze

There was commotion at the Nigerian headquarters of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development on Tuesday as workers of the agency engaged in fisticuffs, while protesting against the alleged reappointment of the Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, as NEPAD’s Coordinator/Chief Executive.

The peaceful protest at the agency degenerated into fisticuffs as some of the workers loyal to Njeze tried to stop the larger number of the employees from going outside the premises of the organisation.

Our correspondent gathered that the special adviser, whose job was meant to end at the expiration of the tenure of the former President, called some directors of the agency last Thursday to announce her new portfolio as the coordinator

N8bn currency scam: Court remands six CBN officials, others

Some of the accused

JUSTICE Ayo Emmanuel of a Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Tuesday remanded six officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria arraigned for stealing and circulating mutilated Naira notes meant for destruction by the apex bank.

The six — Patience Okoro, Afolabi Johnson, Ilori Sunday, Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Adeola and Fatai Yusuf — were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, charged for conspiracy, diversion and stealing of mutilated naira notes worth N8bn.