FG honours top 100 firms

The Federal Government has concluded plans to honour 100 top business endeavours in Nigeria in December.

The initiative, a brainchild of President Goodluck Jonathan, is aimed at identifying and bestowing presidential honour on highly performing business concerns in order to encourage them to further contribute to the economy in more significant ways.

To actualise this, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, has set up a Business Assessment Committee, headed by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Mr. Jim Obazee.

Inaugurating the committee on Friday in Abuja, Aganga said the body had a mandate to critically scrutinise businesses operating within the Nigerian economic space and come up with top 100 among them that meet global best practices.

Such business that would qualify for the presidential award, the minister added, would be among the companies generating high volume of employment opportunities in the economy.

A statement by the Consultant to the initiative, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue, said, “The aim of the presidential honour for the top 100 businesses in Nigeria is to identify, recognise and celebrate businesses that are contributing to the economy and are ethically above board in their business dealings in line with global best practices.

“Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa and one of the emerging economies on the world stage needs to encourage ethical corporate governance and celebrate businesses that are growing the economy.”

Members of the committee include the Director-General, Industrial Training Fund, Mrs. Juliet Onaeko; the Managing Director, Bank of Industries, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa; the Executive Secretary, Sugar Council, Dr. Lateef Busari; the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema; and the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Kabir Mashi.

Others are the Managing Director, Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, Mr. Gbenga Kuye; the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Mrs. Salatu Umar, and the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo.

Tambuwal: APC Reps head for court today

The horse-trading over the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, continues on Monday (today) with the   All Progressives Congress Caucus in the House heading for the court to stop the plot by the Peoples Democratic Party to   force   the speaker out of office.

The APC Caucus Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, dropped the hint just as The PUNCH learnt on Sunday that the PDP national leadership had summoned the party’s members in the House to an emergency meeting on Monday (today). It was gathered that meeting which will hold at the Wadata Plaza headquarters of the party was to further fine tune the strategies   for booting out Tambuwal.

Gbajabiamila   said, “We are ready for the PDP and all those people. They have their plans; we have our own as well.

“Our prayers in court will be similar in a way to those sought by the speaker, but different in other ways. Everything will be in black and white; we are coming out with a statement soon after filing our case.”

APC Reps are also expected to hold a meeting today (Monday) at their party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Chairman, House Committee on Justice, Mr. Ahmad Ali, said, “We are holding our meeting; PDP will hold theirs too as I hear.”

The Speaker, who on October 28 announced his defection ,   had on Friday filed a suit before the Federal High in Abuja asking it to halt any plan by the PDP to remove him from office.

He also challenged the power of the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, to withdraw his   security aides on the grounds of the provisions of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The PUNCH   gathered   that the reported plan by the PDP   caucus   to reconvene the House   on Tuesday (tomorrow) may not materialise.

Tambuwal had adjourned the House to December 3 soon after he announced his defection . But the   PDP, expressing displeasure over the speaker’ defection, had reportedly directed it caucus to   resume legislative proceedings under the leadership of the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha.

However, as of Sunday, there were no indications that lawmakers would return to the chambers on Tuesday (tomorrow).

Although investigations showed that no member of the House had been communicated with the matter, PDP lawmakers were summoned to the Wadata Plaza national headquarters of the party   for   an emergency meeting with PDP leaders on Monday(today).

Findings showed that the meeting would likely take a position on the exact action the party PDP wanted its lawmakers to take.

When contacted on the possibility of the House reconvening on Tuesday, the Deputy House Majority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, replied that the PDP was yet to take a concrete stand on the issue.

He said, “The PDP lawmakers will meet on Monday (today); invitations have been sent out. So, we are going to the meeting. The party will take a position; everything depends on what will be the party’s position.”

Asked if the caucus would go ahead to reconvene the House if directed to do so by the PDP leadership, Ogor advised The PUNCH to wait for the position of the party.

It was gathered that the PDP might have chosen to thread softly on the matter since   Tambuwal had asked for the protection of the judiciary.

Investigations also showed that the PDP caucus would be in a “tight corner” reconvening the House without involving the leaders of other caucuses in the House.

The Standing Orders of the House provide that the speaker can only reconvene the House in consultation with the caucus leaders.

Order V(18), sections 1 and 2 of the Standing Orders states, “Whenever the House shall stand adjourned to a date not fixed and it is represented to the Speaker by the leaders of the political parties in the House that the House shall meet on a certain day at a certain time, the Speaker shall give notice accordingly and the House shall meet on the date and at the time stated in the notice.

“Whenever the House stands adjourned either to a date fixed by Resolution or Rule of the House, and it is represented by the leaders of the political parties in the House to the Speaker that the public interest requires that the House should meet on an earlier or a later date or time than that on which it stands adjourned, the speaker may give notice accordingly, and the House shall meet on the date and at the time stated in the notice.”

The APC caucus has already   stated   that it has no intention of calling for such a meeting or attending any.

A member of the caucus said, “Of course, you don’t expect Tambuwal, in these circumstances, to oblige any call to reconvene the House or agree to sit with caucus leaders for the purpose of reconvening the House.

“He is the speaker, he adjourned the House till December 3. You expect him to overrule himself mid-way to please the PDP?”

When contacted, Gbajabiamila said , “Our rules are very clear on this. If the House is to be reconvened, I should know. I am a party leader; going by the provisions of our rules.

“So, I know that we adjourned to resume on December 3.”

Meanwhile, more reactions have continued to follow the withdrawal of the security aides of Tambuwal and the threat by the PDP to ensure his removal if he fails to resign as speaker.

Those who spoke on the developments on are a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana; the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Magnus Abe.

While Falana asked the acting IG, Suleiman Abba, to resign for his   partisan roles, the BCO said the reactions of the PDP-led Federal Government and the Police to Tambuwal’s defection signposted the danger   ahead of the general elections.

The SAN reminded Abba in a letter   that the treatment meted out to the speaker   was never given to a number of political office holders who defected from other parties to the PDP.

He said the IG’s actions and utterances had “exposed the police to unwarranted ridicule as Nigerians are not unaware of the fact that when the Ondo State legislators elected on the platform of the Labour Party defected to the PDP last month.”

He recalled that the security details of the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele, were not withdrawn when she led her colleagues to dump the LP for the PDP.

Falana said, “In the same vein, Ahmadu Fintiri, the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly and his colleagues   defected from the PDP to the APC and have since returned to the PDP.

“You did not have cause to declare their seats vacant. Neither have you withdrawn the security details of the   Fintiri.”

Also, the BCO Coordinator in Ondo State, Bola Ilori, said the role of the police in Tambuwal’s defection posed a threat to   democracy and the unity of Nigeria.

Ilori told journalists   in Akure on Saturday that the Nigerian Police as a creation of the constitution, belonged to the Nigerian people irrespective of their political affiliation.

Like Falana, he said, “It is a known fact that the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly   defected from the LP to the PDP this same month without the police striping her of her security details.

“This act of withdrawing the security details of the speaker, House of Representatives without a court order is a proof that the Nigerian police under the current IG portrays the force as the armed wing of the PDP.

“One wonders why the police had to adopt a different approach when a high official like the fourth citizen of Nigeria who defected from the PDP to the APC.”

In Ilorin, Kwara State Governor Ahmed said   the action of the police amounted to a usurpation of the duties of the judiciary.

Ahmed spoke during the swearing-in of members of the reconstituted Kwara State Judicial Service Commission.

The governor said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, that,   “It is the business of the judiciary and not that of any other arm or organ of government to interpret laws of the land and the legal implication of political action such as cross carpeting.”

Also, Abe said even though the PDP was working through the back door to have Tambuwal impeached, he was sure that “nobody can remove him.”

He added during the launch of the sensitisation campaign for the collection of permanent voter cards   in Bera, Gokana Local Government Area on Saturday, that the PDP did not have 240 lawmakers in the House to be able to effect the removal of the speaker

The lawmaker said,   “The only way they can remove him is if they can garner 240 votes on the floor of the House. The PDP cannot get that number of lawmakers in the House to remove him. As you are aware, the speaker   has left the PDP to join our party for the same reasons that made us to leave the PDP for the APC.

“People are leaving because there is no justice, integrity and honesty in what they are doing in the PDP. People are leaving the PDP because they do not abide by the rules that we all have agreed to govern our actions.”

Full transcript of Shekau’s latest video on ceasefire deal, Chibok girls

“Without wasting time, we hereby send a message to the tyrants of Nigeria and other infidels as well as their world tyrants as a whole in Hausa language.

“You people should understand that we only obey Allah, we tread the path of the Prophet. We hope to die on this path and get eternal rest in our graves, rise up in bliss before our Lord and enter Paradise (quotes from the Koran). Our goal is the Garden of Eternal Bliss. May Allah protect us.

“Oh you followers of constitution, have you forgotten your laws? Since the time we were preaching in Maiduguri, in your constitution in Section 8, verse (paragraph) 2 to 3, in your accursed book called Constitution, which became law for those who are not fair to themselves on earth.

“You shamelessly declared in your radio and newspapers that you were fighting those determined to establish an Islamic state.

“Because of that constitution that barred us from preaching in Maiduguri, we moved out and migrated as Allah ordained (quoting from the Koran).

“Have you forgotten that? And it is you today claiming we made truce with you? In what way did we make truce? Which kind of negotiation, with whom? That your Danladi, the infidel like you, who we will not spare and will decapitate if he falls into our hands today?

“Where do we know him, not to talk of him representing us? Who is Danladi on this earth?

“Allah knows everything. Allah is witness (quoting from the Koran).

“Therefore I tell you (that) we have not made ceasefire with anyone. Only battle, hitting, striking and killing with gun which we long for like tasty meal. This what we believe in and fight for.

“Our goal is to see only Koran being followed on earth. This is our focus.

“It is said Chadian President, Nigerian ambassador, the people of Cameroon and us met and agreed on a truce. How? Don’t you know we are still holding your German hostage, always crying. If we wish we hack him or slaughter him or shoot him. We fear no one but Allah. This is our job.

“When did we release Chibok schoolgirls that we seized, those that Shekau who is now talking, seized, brought them and kept them in the place he chose for more than six months now.

“Allah has proved too difficult for the infidel, Allah has proved too difficult for the tyrant, Allah has proved too difficult for the United States, Allah has proved too difficult for a plane called drone, bastard. Allah has proved too difficult for everyone. Allah is mightier than everyone.

“Surprisingly, if the women of Chibok, I mean the mothers of the Chibok schoolgirls and their fathers, if you know the condition your daughters are in today it could lead some to convert to Islam and some to die from grief.

“Don’t you know the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls have converted to Islam? They have now memorised two chapters of the Koran. They have seen themselves in the Books of Luke and John that Christians have corrupted the Bible. Girls from Chibok confessing Islam is the true religion! A six-grader, liars.

“We married them off. They are in their marital homes. (Laughter)

“Fury upon fury. Shekau can infuriate. It is said Shekau is leadership position. Which leadership? Do you think we are practising traditional monarchy? (Laughter). It is the same Shekau whose father is Muhammadu, his son is Muhammadu, his name is Abubakar. It is the same Shekau, he is still the one. Shekau, eat the heart of infidels since infidels want to disobey Allah.

“We did not negotiate with anyone. We did not negotiate with anyone. We did not negotiate with Chad. We did not negotiate with Cameroon. We did not negotiate with Nigeria. We did not negotiate with the Chadian ambassador. We did not negotiate with Africa. We did not negotiate with Asia. We did not negotiate with Europe. We did not negotiate with America. We did not negotiate with the United Nations.

“What is negotiation? We did not negotiate with anyone. It is a lie. It is a lie. We will not negotiate. What is our business with negotiation? Allah said we should not (quoting from the Koran).

“We follow the Koran. We will not be teased by any infidel. Now you don’t know what to do, you want to convince your leaders that are tired of you, that have realised your lies, including your Solomon Dalung, your Abdullahi Wase, your Senator Ndume.

“They are tired of you, they have realised you are deceiving them, you are playing with their intelligence, you just want to protect your own interests. It is bad for you.

“I’m only making this speech for those people who want to convert to Islam. I don’t care whatever you say. What is my business with you? Allah is my focus. I left my parents’ home. I left my mother and my father, I left my relations and joined those who want to practise Islam (quoting from the Koran). And you are trying to deceive people with negotiation.

“I thank Allah. I started with knife and today I have seized more than 20 of our armoured vehicles, they are in my possession.

“It is said Shekau is a position. Bravo to you Orator. Well done to you who studied in Israel. Well done to you the expert in Psychology, well done you expert in Biology, well done you believer in ‘I pledge to Nigeria my country’. This is what you said.

“You pledge to Nigeria your country. Right? Me, me Shekau I pledge to Allah my God. If you don’t know, today you will know.

“I pledge to Allah my God, to be faithful. This is Shekau. Idiot like you!

“This is just my speech in brief.

“You should repent and turn to Allah and follow the Koran. You should follow the Koran. You should follow the Koran. You are so unfortunate as to be preventing those who follow the Koran obeying Allah. “It is a lie. It is a lie. Whoever refuses to listen will be dealt with by Allah.”(PREMIUM  TIMES)

Military steps up air bombardment to tackle Boko Haram- DHQ

Three days after the extremist Boko Haram sect overran the commercial town of Mubi in Adamawa state, the Nigerian military says it has intensified deployment of troops and equipment around the area.

It also said it has revved up aerial bombardment with a view to restoring normalcy to communities sacked by the insurgents.

“Necessary deployment of troops and equipment is ongoing to reverse all recent violation and breach of security by terrorists and criminals operating in parts of the country,” the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, said in a statement Saturday.

“The highly coordinated air bombardment is already yielding required results in the mission to repel the unwarranted attacks on citizens especially in Adamawa and Borno States as land forces are also conducting mopping up operations to apprehend retreating terrorists and facilitate restoration of normalcy in some of the affected communities.”

Mr. Olukolade, who promised to release more details as the operation progresses, said the military and security agencies “remain committed and optimistic for positive outcome of ongoing operations”.

The Nigerian government had on October 17 announced that it was suspending military operations against the extremist group after both sides agreed a ceasefire.

Part of the deal was to see the return of the more than 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents from Chibok, Borno State, on April 14.

But Boko Haram soon launched fresh attacks on towns in Borno and Adamawa States, and the girls failed to return on expected dates.

On Wednesday the insurgents descended on Mubi, Adamawa’s second largest city, sacking residents, killing scores and planting its flag there.

There were also reports that Boko Haram insurgents overwhelmed security forces and overran Madagali down to Bazza, both in Adamawa State.

The situation in Mubi is so dire that the Benue State Government has sent vehicles to evacuate its students studying at the Adamawa State University in the town.

The university campus is said to have fallen to the insurgents after lecturers, students and security agencies fled.

In a state-wide broadcast in Yola on Saturday, the Adamawa state governor, Bala Ngilari, said a high-powered committee has been inaugurated to address the problems faced by people displaced from the town by the insurgents.

He said he had so far sent 77 vehicles in the past two days to evacuate affected persons to designated camps.

Mr. Ngilari’s announcement  came a few hours after a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, issued a statement describing Boko Haram’s takeover of the town and hoisting of its flag there as “a tragic act and a worrisome affront to the corporate integrity of Nigeria.

Mr. Abubakar, who was abroad when the attack took place in his home State, told a group of journalists on arrival on Friday that: “with what I have gathered so far from online news reports and other sources from Mubi town, the situation is very unfortunate and undermining for our country”.

“If the reports are true that the Armed Forces had abandoned their assigned duty posts a few days before the overrun, it was an indication that the attack was not sudden after all. If the Soldiers also left behind their ammunition and armoured carriers at the mercy of predatory insurgents, it raises a question of complicity in the sordid episode,” he said.

He described as most unfortunate a situation were unsuspecting civilians, who relied on security agencies for their protection and were expecting an improvement in their security status as a result of the announced ceasefire, were suddenly left defenceless and at the mercy of the marauders.

Mr. Abubakar frowned at the suspected connivance that might have fuelled the sudden retreat of the military in the face of imminent invasion of a vital commercial town, less than three hours away from Yola the Adamawa State capital.

“No Commander-in-Chief or General that is worth his salt will surrender his territory with folded arms and running heels,” Mr. Abubakar said.

“On every occasion that leaders from the North-East raised an alarm about the dangerous trend, we have either been ignored or called names,” he said.

“If there’s any iota of truth in the suspicion of the people that they were deliberately abandoned, then it becomes a dangerous trend and a bad omen for Nigeria and all Nigerians,” he said.

The former vice president said he was heading to Yola to meet with those managing the displaced people and see what assistance he can render to reduce the sufferings of the people.

But in its statement Saturday, the Nigerian military said it remained “committed and optimistic for positive outcome of ongoing operations” aimed at “terminating the insecurity in parts of the country”.

Setif of Algeria wins CAF Champions League

Algerians Entente Setif won the CAF Champions League Saturday despite being held 1-1 at home by Congolese V Club in the second leg of the final.

Setif lifted the premier African club football trophy on the away-goal rule after a 3-3 aggregate tie having drawn the first leg 2-2 in Kinshasa last weekend.

Sofiane Younes scored for Setif after 49 minutes and Lema Mabidi equalised five minutes later before a sell-out 35,000 crowd in Blida.

It was a remarkable victory for the Black Eagles as Algerian football officials wanted the club to withdraw from the Champions League, believing they would not be competitive.

Setif also won the title in 1988 and join JS Kabylie as Algerian clubs who have conquered Africa twice.
V Club conceded a foul and a corner and cleared a header off the line within two minutes of the kick-off as Setif sought an early goal.

The Congolese survived the early storm to create the best chance of a cagey opening half on 40 minutes, but Guy Lusadisu Basisila fired over.

Younes poked the ball into the net at the far post after two better placed team-mates failed to connect with an El-Hedi Belameiri cross.

But the joy of the Algerian supporters was short-lived as Mabidi, who scored twice in the first leg, pounced on a partly cleared cross to hammer the ball into the net.

Babangida returns from medical treatment in Germany

Nigeria’s former military leader, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has returned from medical treatment at a German Hospital.

Babangida, who was away for two months, was received by the Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau and close family members at the Minna Airport.

On arrival, he thanked all well wishers that stood by him during his stay at the hospital, adding that “I miss everyone around me’’.

“When I rest, then we shall talk more with my friends about current issues as we usually do. But for now, let me rest,” he told reporters.

The retired military general was welcomed home at his hilltop residence by his grandchildren.

Other personalities that welcomed Babangida home included AVM Hamza Abdullahi, Gen. Halilu Akilu, Col. Habibu Shuaibu and former Chairman of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), Umaru Ndanusa

Brendan Rodgers wants Steven Gerrard to stay at Liverpool

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed he wants to keep skipper Steven Gerrard at Anfield.

Gerrard, whose existing deal expires in June next year, had raised the possibility of leaving his home-town club with no new deal on the table.

However, speaking after his side's 1-0 Premier League defeat at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon, Rodgers said: "It's quite straightforward.

Steven Gerrard's current contract expires in 2015.

"I had a meeting with Steven's representative explaining the situation. I very much want him to be a part of what we are doing here. He's been a brilliant captain for me. I relayed that to the ownership.

"I'm sure he will go away with that and hopefully his representative will organise a deal. Steven is very much part of what I'm doing here. He's a unique player, a unique talent."

Gerrard, 34, has spent his entire career at Anfield and has previously turned down moves to Chelsea and Real Madrid.