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Nigerian actor and flagbearer of Democratic People’s Congress in Anambra State 2017 Gubernatorial election, Yul Edochie, has reacted to being left out of Gubernatorial debate organized by Channels TV for the Governorship aspirants.

Yul Edochie who is still optimistic about winning regardless of the debate, tweeted;

“I wasn’t invited to the debate. But its nothing to worry about. We’ll keep the spirit high and keep campaigning. Its time for the masses to have a say. November 18th, stand with me, the future is in our hands.”

Akwa Ibom state Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry, Professor Eno Blankson Ikpe, is dead.

Professor Ikpe’s death was announced in a statement signed on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh.

“It is with great sadness that the Government of Akwa Ibom State announces the passing away of Professor Eno Blankson Ikpe”, it read.

“The sad event occurred on November 8, 2017, after a protracted illness.

“Our hearts go out to her immediate family and loved ones, and we ask God to grant them the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.

“Funeral arrangements will be announced after consultations with members of her family.

“In a symbolic show of respect for the departed member of the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council, His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel has directed that all flags in the state be flown at half-mast until further notice.

“Let us pray for the departed soul of Professor Eno Ikpe and for her bereaved family. May her soul rest in Eternal Peace!”.

The deceased, who hailed from Etinan LGA, was a recipient of various academic awards, including the prestigious awards of the German Academic Exchange Service.

She gathered her working experience from the University of Magdeburg (Germany), University of Lagos and the University of Uyo.

While at the University of Uyo, she served variously as Director, Centre for Cultural studies; Head, Department of History and International Studies; Vice Dean, Faculty of Arts; Dean faculty of Arts; adjunct professor, Akwa Ibom State University. She also sat in many committees.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara at the National Assembly
» more President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara at the National Assembly

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja presented about N8.612 trillion as the 2018 Appropriation bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, saying the projected expenditure would drive rapid economic recovery.
He said at the session that with a benchmark of $45 per barrel at an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar in 2018, the budget would consolidate on the achievements of previous budgets to aggressively steer the economy to the path of steady growth.

"With the economic recovery made so far, it is clear that we made the right decisions. And I urge you all to support the Federal Government’s policies towards economic recovery," he said.

Buhari said that the government would continue to develop infrastructure and increase investments in agriculture to attain food security and reduce importation.

He added that while the Federal Government was committed to identifying alternative means of funding new projects, there was need to continue to pursue public-private partnership, to provide more infrastructure in the country.

According to him, the Federal Government has been able to construct or rehabilitate about 776-kilometer roads in 2017.

The president said that the construction of Abuja metroline had attained 98% completion, adding that work had commenced on the Ajaokuta-Itakpe rail line which was abandoned for 17 years.

He said that the project would be delivered in September 2018, adding that the country's power sector would witness a turn around.

"The power sector reform is still work in progress as we have increased power generation but we still have some challenges in transmission and distribution network," Buhari said.

He added that the Federal Government was committed to green alternative energy.

A socio-political group, G42 Imo Liberation Forum, has warned the Okorocha government to desist from "waste of tax payers’ money".

The group said it received information that the administration is set to spend N850m on erecting a tree ahead of Christmas celebration.

Okorocha was recently criticised by Nigerians for erecting a statue of South Africa president Jacob Zuma, in Owerri.

In a statement on Saturday by G42 Director of Communications, Dr. Walter Duru, the forum described the alleged plan as misplaced priority and a sign of government's insensitivity.

It read: "The attention of G-42 Imo Liberation Forum has been drawn to an alleged plan by the Imo State Government under the leadership of Chief Rochas Okorocha to spend about Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira on a meaningless tree ahead of the 2017 Christmas celebration."

"This is coming at a time Civil Servants and Pensioners in the state are being owed several months arrears of salary and other entitlements; while poverty is at its highest level in the history of the state.

"The situation is made worst by the fact that the dust raised by the over Five Hundred Million Naira allegedly spent in the building of a Statue for the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma is yet to settle.

"We refuse to treat this as mere speculation as history has shown that this is not far from the style of the present administration in the state; a government that is not accountable to anyone and is run in utmost secrecy.

"The government must tell Imo people how much it actually spent on erecting the ridiculous Jacob Zuma Statue and others there-in, as well as the said Christmas tree.

"The G-42 Imo Liberation Forum, a Socio-political group in the state sees this as the highest level of insensitivity, misplaced priority and share waste of the people's resources and hereby condemn it."

"The present APC-led government must realize that it is holding the people's resources on thrust and therefore accountable to the people. This administration has treated Imo people with so much disrespect and disdain that we can no longer fold our arms to allow this anomaly to continue."

"We therefore call on the state government to discontinue the wanton waste of the peoples’ resources and invest in areas that are beneficial to majority of the citizens."

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, has suspended Okoi Obono-Obla, chairman of the special investigation panel on the recovery of public property.
In a statement from Salihu Isah, the AGF's special adviser on media and publicity, Obono-Obla has been barred from further carrying out any official operation nor grant interviews until further notice.

Obono-Obla's suspension was made public via the media statement by Isah on Sunday, November 5, 2017.

The statement, which quoted a November 1, 2017, letter by the AGF addressed to Obono-Obla, who is also the special assistant to the president on prosecution, was as a result of a complaint from office of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

In his capacity as a presidential assistant, Obono-Obla works directly under the AGF.

The AGF’s letter read, “I have received a letter Ref. SH/OVP/DCOS/FMJ/0424 dated October 20, 2017 in respect of the above subject from the office of the vice-president.

“In the said letter, the vice-president expressed his concerns on the activities of the special investigation panel on the recovery of public property which runs contrary to the enabling Act establishing it. He also noted that the activities of the panel run foul or contrary to established administrative procedures and protocols in the Federal Civil Service structure.

“In view of the foregoing coupled with the directives contained in the letter under reference, you are hereby directed to refrain from any further action or taking any step in your capacity as the chairman of the special investigation panel on the recovery of public property with immediate effect until directed otherwise by His Excellency, the vice-president.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, has suspended Okoi Obono-Obla, chairman of the special investigation panel on the recovery of public property.
In a statement from Salihu Isah, the AGF's special adviser on media and publicity, Obono-Obla has been barred from further carrying out any official operation nor grant interviews until further notice.

Obono-Obla's suspension was made public via the media statement by Isah on Sunday, November 5, 2017.

The statement, which quoted a November 1, 2017, letter by the AGF addressed to Obono-Obla, who is also the special assistant to the president on prosecution, was as a result of a complaint from office of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

In his capacity as a presidential assistant, Obono-Obla works directly under the AGF.

The AGF’s letter read, “I have received a letter Ref. SH/OVP/DCOS/FMJ/0424 dated October 20, 2017 in respect of the above subject from the office of the vice-president.

“In the said letter, the vice-president expressed his concerns on the activities of the special investigation panel on the recovery of public property which runs contrary to the enabling Act establishing it. He also noted that the activities of the panel run foul or contrary to established administrative procedures and protocols in the Federal Civil Service structure.

“In view of the foregoing coupled with the directives contained in the letter under reference, you are hereby directed to refrain from any further action or taking any step in your capacity as the chairman of the special investigation panel on the recovery of public property with immediate effect until directed otherwise by His Excellency, the vice-president.

ALSO READ: Obono-Obla blames EFCC, ICPC for court losses

“While you are to await further instructions in respect of the Panel’s mandate, you are hereby directed to promptly provide a detailed up-to-date report on the activities of the Panel to the undersigned for onward transmission to the vice-president.

“Furthermore, you are required to henceforth seek clearance from the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice before granting any media interview or making press releases on official matters.

“While appealing for immediate and strict compliance with the contents of this letter, please, accept the assurances of my warm regards and best wishes.”

Oyo State Government has vowed to eradicate any form of quacks from the health sector both at the private and government’s  hospitals in the state.
Dr Azeez Adeduntan, the State’s Commissioner for Health, made the pledge in a statement issued in Ibadan on Sunday.

The commissioner explained that the expectations of the general public and indigenes of the state were high on Gov. Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.

He noted that the state’s task force set up to sanitize private health facilities in the health sector was yielding positive results.

According to him, some private health practitioners in the state have complied with the rules and regulations guiding their operations.

He re-assured residents of the state of quality health care delivery.

Adeduntan stated that funds realised from the N50billion Oyo State Health Endowment Fund would be spent on the upgrade of all medical facilities in all zones of the state.

Meanwhile, Adeduntan also received the Oyo State House Committee on Health, on budget performance by the ministry.

Mr Silas Okunlola, the Chairman, Oyo State House Committee on Health said the visit by the committee was to execute their function as enshrined by the constitution.

The function was to monitor the expenditure of the state, consolidated revenue funds and the level of implementation of government policies.

He said that the house scored the budget performance of the ministry very high.

Two persons have been reportedly killed in a fresh clash between members of the Ibrahim Zakzaky led Shi’ia sect and mobile police men in Kano.
According to a report by TheCable, the two persons have been identified as a leader of the Shi’ia sect and an unidentified female member of the sect.

It was reported that trouble started after the police intercepted the annual Arbaeen annual trek of the group in the town.

It was also reported that sect members were intercepted at the popular Lado overhead bridge along Zaria road in Kano metropolis.

The alleged disruption by mobile policemen reportedly led to many people sustaining injuries as the security operatives allegedly fired teargas and live bullets.

Spokesman of the Kano state police command, Musa Majia, is yet to react to the allegation nor confirm the alleged clash.

Shi'ites Outlawed
Activities of the group and its members have been outlawed in Kano among other states.

The leader of the sect, Ibrahim Zakzaky, has been in detention since December 2015 when his followers clashed with some soldiers.

Bintu Imam is only 12 but her formal education might be officially over. The young girl has become breadwinner for her family.
The 12-year-old Bintu from a household of five children, hawks groundnuts along major roads in the Maiduguri city centre, capital of Borno State in northeastern Nigeria and also the epicentre for the conflict being masterminded by the Islamist sect Boko Haram.

Her trade takes her around motorparks, bus stations and busy shops to market her wares. Has there been any incidence of physical and sexual harassment?

Exactly four years ago, Bintu, was schooling in Gamborou Ngala local government but the “conflict, and abduction of school girls scared me - I don’t want to be killed”. She says, as she grips firmly to her tray. Bintu’s parents like other families lost their livelihood and fled, her school shut as a result of the frequent attacks on schools by the insurgents.

“Boko Haram doesn't like western education, if you go they bomb you or slaughter you”, she says. Bintu is still very frightened. “The idea of schooling reminds me of them”, and she says referring to Boko Haram sect without calling

Bintu Imam is only 12 but her formal education might be officially over. The young girl has become breadwinner for her family.
The 12-year-old Bintu from a household of five children, hawks groundnuts along major roads in the Maiduguri city centre, capital of Borno State in northeastern Nigeria and also the epicentre for the conflict being masterminded by the Islamist sect Boko Haram.

Her trade takes her around motorparks, bus stations and busy shops to market her wares. Has there been any incidence of physical and sexual harassment?

Exactly four years ago, Bintu, was schooling in Gamborou Ngala local government but the “conflict, and abduction of school girls scared me - I don’t want to be killed”. She says, as she grips firmly to her tray. Bintu’s parents like other families lost their livelihood and fled, her school shut as a result of the frequent attacks on schools by the insurgents.

“Boko Haram doesn't like western education, if you go they bomb you or slaughter you”, she says. Bintu is still very frightened. “The idea of schooling reminds me of them”, and she says referring to Boko Haram sect without calling out their names.

The cost of terror  (BudgIT )
Long before the infamous kidnapping of 276 Chibok schoolgirls that led to the launch of a social media campaign around the globe, including high-profile figures and celebrities, calling for the girls' rescue by via the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy campaign, schoolgirls were being kidnapped and forced into marriages.

Her friend, Grace, aged 14 who left school and has since never been seen by her parents. She just simply disappeared. Her and Bintu left for school together one day but never made it back home; it is assumed she had been abducted by Boko Haram, a case similar to most households with missing person’s accounts in the region.

Missing persons' reports in Borno state are now a common phenomenon since the beginning of the insurgency.

Over 2,295 teachers have been killed and 19,000 displaced, and almost 1,400 schools destroyed since the beginning of the Boko Haram crisis in 2009. Three million children in the northeast are in need of support to keep learning, according to a 2017 UNICEF report.

Beyond the Boko Haram crisis in the northeast, Nigeria already has the largest number of children out of school in the world – over 10.5 million .

“Among primary school-aged children not in school, only five per cent are dropouts: three-quarters of them will never step foot in a classroom, and the majority are girls”, reads the same report.

Kole Shettima, director of the MacArthur Foundation laments about the situation. “In Borno State, for instance, more than half of the children of school age are roaming the streets while about 60% of the schools have been closed.”

Millions of Nigerian children suffer some form of physical, emotional or sexual violence – and in most cases the girls are kidnapped, sold out or forced into marriages and the boys are killed or recruited to join the sect.

“If you send your children to school, Boko Haram will kill them”, 35 – year- old, Hajia Fatima, Bintu’s mum, says. “I’d rather my kids survive than watch them being killed because of education.”

Fatima, a mother of four, has no education. She had hoped her kids will go to school but the fear of losing them to Boko Haram discouraged her. Her children are also scared and currently hate school.

“Going to school is still not safe,” she says in her native Kanuri language. The attacks are minimal now as compared to what it was four years back but the after-effects still linger on.

It is a similar story in Yobe state. Long before the Federal Government shutdown some unity schools in Yobe and other Northeastern states, parents had been withdrawing their children from those schools for safety reasons. This was because many pupils have become targets of the deadly Islamic sect.

33-year old Usman Bawa, an alumnus of Federal Government College (FGC), Buni Yadi lost his brother on February 25, 2014. It was the day the sect killed no fewer than 59 pupils when it attacked the school. It's been three years since the attack but parents are still traumatised to send their kids back to school.

Bawa explains that apart from the unaccounted number of missing students, the carnage carried out by Boko Haram for 4–5 hours through the night, saw the terrorists slitting the throats of schoolboys in their sleep.

“The insurgents moved around identifying those with pubic hair and knifing them to death. They burnt every existing structure - there were 28 buildings in all – that was my school, my alma-mater”, he sobbed. Now a civil servant, Bawa reiterates that the prevailing attitude in the area is that low-income earning parents aw the need to educate their wards, having come from an educationally disadvantaged region in Nigeria, before that night's attack.

“Sending children to Potiskum boys for most families was like insuring the future of those kids – that school for parents was likened to pension and gratuity for them, as the hope is that their lives will be better when the kids are schooled”.

The Yobe state government and the Joint Task Force (JTF) had assured parents of their children’s safety before the Buni Yadi attack. The attacks on neighboring schools by the insurgents had led to repeatedly warnings by parents’ who feared for their wards and wanted them out of the schools. But some parents took solace in the government’s assurance and left their children in school. Some withdrew theirs but when the terrorists invaded, they moved the girls to the mosque and slaughtered the boys one after the other.

As a result, parents are wary of sending their children to school in the community. The insurgency has increased the number of out of school children in Northern Nigeria, regardless of gender and could eventually culminate in sustaining the existing poverty levels of the people”.

“Nigeria is the richest country in Africa, but has more girls out of school than any country in the world,” said Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai during her recent visit to Maiduguri.

“Studies are clear — educating girls grows economies, reduces conflict and improves public health. For these girls and for their country’s future, Nigeria’s leaders must immediately prioritise education.”

When people are forced from their homes, schools and communities by conflict, AYAHAY Foundation, an Abuja based non-governmental organization, keeps them closer to learning facilities by providing make-shift structures to accommodate as many as 50 children in one class. The foundation builds learning facilities in the various IDP camps, from Borno to Adamawa and Abuja – teaching women and children basics so they are not out of touch of the academic calendar during their time in the camps.

Executive Director, Maryam Augie-Jibrin explains why her organization targets children between age 3 – 6 years.

“Our curriculum has a strong focus on ensuring that the children are learning the basics while taking into account the difficulties that exist as survivors in displaced camps, we’ve provided counselors and school feeding program to serve incentives for the kids to attend classes”.

"Some of the parents cannot afford to pay fees and their children have never been in school before", Mrs Augie-Jibrin further adds, “But with the classes put in place by the foundation, the children of the poor in these camps are being taught the basics”.

But the numbers are staggering. UNICEF estimates that nearly one million school-aged children like Bintu, have been forced to leave their homes and communities as a result of the ongoing violence. Will help from AYAHAY and other nonprofits reach them or all, or will Boko Haram's goal to keep these children away from access to Western education be actualized? The jury is still out on that.

--

This article was written as part of the 2017 BudgIT Media Fellowship by Mercy Abang.

Abang is a Freelance Journalist, focusing on development Journalism – She doubles as a media fixer with Sunday Times of London, BBC, Aljazeera and a former Stringer with the Associated Press – She tweets at @abangmercy. She is the 2017 United Nations Journalism Fellow and budgIT Media fellow for 2017 .

The Deputy Gov. of  Borno, Usman Durkwa  says strategies are being put in place to  ensure that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state return to their communities before the first quarter of 2018.
Durkwa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Sunday, that there were still a handful of camps within the state hosting the IDPs, but that expectation was that IDPs would be returned to their communities early next year.

According to him, with the coming of the North East Development Commission, things will hasten the realisation of government expectation of returning the IDPs, adding that the commission would seriously complement the efforts of the state government.

He also said the commission would, among other things, coordinate projects and programmes within the Master Plan for the rehabilitation, resettlement, reconciliation, reconstruction and sustainable development of the North-East Zone.

According to him the functions of the commission also include infrastructure, human and social services.

Durkwa commended the Federal Government in ensuring improvement in the living standard of the IDPs.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday handed over 33,114 (50kg) bags of rice and other relief materials to assist IDPs in Borno.

The gesture is part way of the efforts by the Federal Government to ease life for those affected by the activities of the insurgents in the North- East.

A Nigerian soldier on the battlefront against the deadly Boko Haram terrorists has written President Buhari to decry the bad treatment meted to troops.
In a report by TheCable, the soldier, who has refused to disclosed his identity on the basis of alleged dire consequences, claimed there is corruption in the Nigerian army and it's affecting the troops at the warfront.

"Your Excellency, corruption in the Army is REAL, and it is killing us. Every man and woman who decided to join the Army knows the risks. While we expect to die in the hands of the enemy, we don’t expect to die in the hands of the Nigerian Army, due to corruption and criminal negligence," the soldier had written.

Read the letter to President Buhari here
Having read the online correspondence between Dr. Idris Ahmed of CUPS and our Army spokesman, Brigadier General S.K. Usman, I have decided to take a major risk and write to your Excellency directly over this

A Nigerian soldier on the battlefront against the deadly Boko Haram terrorists has written President Buhari to decry the bad treatment meted to troops.
In a report by TheCable, the soldier, who has refused to disclosed his identity on the basis of alleged dire consequences, claimed there is corruption in the Nigerian army and it's affecting the troops at the warfront.

"Your Excellency, corruption in the Army is REAL, and it is killing us. Every man and woman who decided to join the Army knows the risks. While we expect to die in the hands of the enemy, we don’t expect to die in the hands of the Nigerian Army, due to corruption and criminal negligence," the soldier had written.

Read the letter to President Buhari here
Having read the online correspondence between Dr. Idris Ahmed of CUPS and our Army spokesman, Brigadier General S.K. Usman, I have decided to take a major risk and write to your Excellency directly over this issue.

Seven more bodies have been found after a Boko Haram raid on a military camp in northeast Nigeria, a security source said
» more Seven more bodies have been found after a Boko Haram raid on a military camp in northeast Nigeria, a security source said  (AFP/File)
Sir, I am a course-mate of Pvt. Abdulrauf Aliyu, who Oga S.K. claimed that he has gone AWOL. We trained at the same company, Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, Kaduna State. We are presently posted to Operation LAFIYA DOLE. On behalf of all the colleagues of Pvt. Abdulrauf Aliyu, I categorically refute the allegation that Pvt. Abdulrauf Aliyu deserted the Army. The Sections 59 – 63 of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as quoted by Oga S.K., has always been mentioned by our superiors, to protect themselves and antagonise us, whenever they have done mischief.

Your Excellency, the case of Pvt. Abdulrauf Aliyu is actually not an isolated one. There are many such cases of soldiers who got wounded on the battlefront. It is true, some are well looked after, as mentioned by Oga S.K. Usman in his press release. Unfortunately, due to corruption in the system, some unfortunate soldiers, mostly from less privileged backgrounds, are left to fend for themselves. Like myself, Pvt. Abdulrauf Aliyu comes from a humble family. He sustained life-threatening injuries in the abdomen during a routine operation. The initial first aid treatment and medical care that he received was very inadequate. With full Army permission, Pvt Abdulrauf Aliyu and his family paid for his transfer to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Unfortunately, the care he received in Maiduguri Teaching Hospital too was inadequate. Eventually, his family had to pay for his transfer to a specialist hospital

A Nigerian soldier on the battlefront against the deadly Boko Haram terrorists has written President Buhari to decry the bad treatment meted to troops.
In a report by TheCable, the soldier, who has refused to disclosed his identity on the basis of alleged dire consequences, claimed there is corruption in the Nigerian army and it's affecting the troops at the warfront.

"Your Excellency, corruption in the Army is REAL, and it is killing us. Every man and woman who decided to join the Army knows the risks. While we expect to die in the hands of the enemy, we don’t expect to die in the hands of the Nigerian Army, due to corruption and criminal negligence," the soldier had written.

Read the letter to President Buhari here
Having read the online correspondence between Dr. Idris Ahmed of CUPS and our Army spokesman, Brigadier General S.K. Usman, I have decided to take a major risk and write to your Excellency directly over this issue.

Seven more bodies have been found after a Boko Haram raid on a military camp in northeast Nigeria, a security source said
» more Seven more bodies have been found after a Boko Haram raid on a military camp in northeast Nigeria, a security source said  (AFP/File)
Sir, I am a course-mate of Pvt. Abdulrauf Aliyu, who Oga S.K. claimed that he has gone AWOL. We trained at the same company, Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, Kaduna State. We are presently posted to Operation LAFIYA DOLE. On behalf of all the colleagues of Pvt. Abdulrauf Aliyu, I categorically refute the allegation that Pvt. Abdulrauf Aliyu deserted the Army. The Sections 59 – 63 of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as quoted by Oga S.K., has always been mentioned by our superiors, to protect themselves and antagonise us, whenever they have done mischief.

Your Excellency, the case of Pvt. Abdulrauf Aliyu is actually not an isolated one. There are many such cases of soldiers who got wounded on the battlefront. It is true, some are well looked after, as mentioned by Oga S.K. Usman in his press release. Unfortunately, due to corruption in the system, some unfortunate soldiers, mostly from less privileged backgrounds, are left to fend for themselves. Like myself, Pvt. Abdulrauf Aliyu comes from a humble family. He sustained life-threatening injuries in the abdomen during a routine operation. The initial first aid treatment and medical care that he received was very inadequate. With full Army permission, Pvt Abdulrauf Aliyu and his family paid for his transfer to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Unfortunately, the care he received in Maiduguri Teaching Hospital too was inadequate. Eventually, his family had to pay for his transfer to a specialist facility in Sokoto.

ALSO READ: Army confirms retirement of senior officers being investigated by EFCC

Your Excellency, corruption in the Army is REAL, and it is killing us. Every man and woman who decided to join the Army knows the risks. While we expect to die in the hands of the enemy, we don’t expect to die in the hands of the Nigerian Army, due to corruption and criminal negligence.

Just the other week, about 14 (I am not sure of the exact numbers) of our colleagues died in the hands of Boko Haram, who attacked the Army camp. The circumstances surrounding their unnecessary death warrants a full investigation by his Excellency. Sir, you will be shocked of the outcome. The bodies of the slain heroes are still lying here in Damaturu, Yobe State. The story of this incidence has hardly been officially published by the Army or Nigerian media. Attached is the picture of the commander of the camp. He too died in the attack.

Your Excellency, this is the third month in a row that we have been denied of our operations allowance. We have to rely ONLY on our meagre salary for everything. From battalion commanders, to Company and Sectors leaders, we are all in debt, because our salaries are not enough to sustain us at the battlefront while feeding our families back at home. It is a big shame that we have joined the Army to defend the civilians, yet we have to go to the civilians in town to borrow money to fend for ourselves at the battlefront.

Take for instance the food that we are fed. Most of the times it is not fit for human consumption. I attach for your perusal, your Excellency, the lunch that was fed to us this afternoon (3/11/2017). As you can clearly see, there is not a single piece of meat or fish in it. The taste of the food is so bad that we have to add surplus salt to be able to eat it. This is also dangerous for our health. A plate of our food per soldier is probably about two hundred Naira (N200).

It is said that the Federal Government spends about fourteen thousand Naira (N14,000) on each prisoner in Nigeria. Here, at the battlefront in Operation LAFIYA DOLE, the Army spends about six hundred Naira (N600) per day per soldier on feeding us, while in reality billions of Naira is appropriated per year for this purpose. Your Excellency, we are treated like animals. Most of us are afraid to talk because of the dire consequence.

As the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, your Excellency, kindly investigate. There is corruption in the Army. Brave soldiers are needlessly dying.

Kano State Government says it has released N294 million, as its counterpart fund, to UNICEF for the purchase of Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic-Food (RUTF) for the management and treatment of severely malnourished children in the state.
The Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, disclosed this in Kano on Sunday during the launching of anti-malarial commodities and other health interventions at the Government House, Kano.

“Our government is committed to the plight of malnourished children, it will continue to provide its support toward addressing malnutrition in the state,” he said.

He said that the state government was working together with local and international partners to ensure that drugs, medical supplies and consumables were available in every health facility and community, malnutrition.

“Our administration is also responsive to the worrisome challenge of malnutrition in Northern Nigeria including Kano, especially among children under five years,’’ he said.

Ganduje also launched the distribution of free anti-malarial drugs and diagnostic commodities, worth over N100 million for primary and secondary health care facilities across the state.

He said that the commodities would be given to most vulnerable groups of deserving women and children in the state.

The governor said that the state government had purchased kits, anti-malarial drugs and other consumables, worth over N530 million and for distribution to 748 health facilities across the 44 local governments.

Ganduje commended Volunteer Community Mobilisers (VCMs) mainly women for working tirelessly for the survival of children in the state.

He said that the state government was happy that the state was free of polio virus for 39 months.

“I believe that we are all part of the successes and all hands must be on deck to ensure that no case is reported in 2019.”

Ganduje also thanked UNICEF for partnering with Ministry of Health in engaging over 3,000 women to serve as volunteers to resolve non compliance to Oral Polio Vaccine.

He also thanked other donor agencies and the Kano Emirate Council for their efforts and continuous support to the state government in its effort aimed at improving the health care delivery system in the state.

The Chief Field Officer, UNICEF in charge of Kano and Katsina states, Mrs Padmavathi Yadla, said that malnutrition needed collective efforts from all sectors and attitudinal change in dealing with the challenge.

She congratulated Kano State Government and the people for recording 39 months of Polio free status.

She also commended the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, for working hand in hand with donor agencies toward improving health care delivery in the state.

Earlier, the Emir commended donor agencies for their untiring effort toward Polio eradication and other diseases in the state.

He called on Imams, District heads and Village heads to enlighten their people on the on hygiene, sanitation and other health related issues.

Civil rights attorney Larry Krasner is the heavy front-runner to win the race to be Philadelphia's next district attorney, a powerful position in the heavily incarcerated city.
While he has never served in government, he has a long career of suing police for civil rights abuses and defending activists in court.
District attorneys' races have become the frontline in the battle to reform criminal justice and end "mass incarceration," with millions of dollars being poured into local races over the last year.

Civil rights attorney Larry Krasner has always been obsessed with what it takes to make change. At the age of 11, he got into a debate with his Sunday School teacher about whether it was right to break the law for the greater good. The two were arguing over the Civil Rights movement and protests over the Vietnam War — events that shaped his life and perspective.

Today, Krasner is running for district attorney of Philadelphia, a powerful position in a city with the highest rate of incarceration, the highest poverty rate, and the third highest violent crime rate of the US's 10 most populated cities, though crime has dropped significantly in recent years.

At 56, he is pursuing elected office for the first time after a 30-year career defending radical activist groups like Black Lives Matter and Occupy Philadelphia. He's also sued police for civil rights violations more than 75 times.

"I was born in '61. So in '68 when I'm watching TV … I'm seeing the Vietnam War and the protests and the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago," Krasner told Business Insider.

"I remember all that and, even more importantly, I remember [Martin Luther] King. … It was a very visual time, and when you are a 7- or 8-year-old kid and you're watching this happen ... it's compelling. The war was compelling. It was all compelling. And then, they were getting killed. [Robert F. Kennedy] was speaking out against the war. And then he is dead. And then King is dead, and he's dead because of white supremacists."

Krasner, well-dressed in a sharply cut blue suit, tinted horn-rimmed glasses, and a well-kempt head of silvery hair, doesn't look the part of a political outsider.

CNN's Brian Stelter grilled White House adviser Kellyanne Conway about the AT&T merger, Russia probe, and President Donald Trump's credibility.
Conway criticized CNN's coverage of the administration.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway clashed with CNN's Brian Stelter in a contentious interview on Sunday about President Donald Trump's trustworthiness and credibility.

In a nearly 20-minute interview, Stelter solicited responses from Conway about the president's low credibility numbers, approval ratings, and Trump's reaction to the Department of Justice's independent Russia probe.

Instead, Conway repeatedly deflected his questions, criticizing Democrats and CNN's coverage of the administration.

"You're talking about CNN, instead of President Trump," Stelter said after Conway deflected questions about Trump's credibility by citing the strength of the stock market.

"I'm happy to talk about President Trump," she responded. "You interrupted me because of what CNN refuses to cover about President Trump."

Conway repeatedly mocked CNN's slogan "Facts First," and dismissed a question on whether Trump was attempting to stop the AT&T-Time Warner merger, calling Stelter's question "poison" for viewers, and saying she hadn't talked to Trump about the deal because it was "not important to what we're doing here."

She argued that CNN was writ-large opposed to Trump, and accused Stelter of being jealous of Fox News' ratings, a common tactic used by the president's backers to deflect from tough questions on CNN.

"I understand you don't want an adversarial media," Stelter said. "I guess you want everyone to be like Fox News."

"No, that's not true. I want an honest media," Conway said. "Stop being so jealous of Fox News, Brian, and their ratings. I think it would help a little bit if you dropped the jealousy."

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his admiration for the significant achievements of his administretion since he assumed power two years ago.
Pointing at issues such as the 'technical defeat' of Boko Haram, the Niger Delta, improved power, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy, and agriculture, the president said the country's prestige has gone up due to the great works of his administration.

He made these remarks at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives' Congress (APC) at the National Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, October 31.

The president expressed his appreciation for the support of his party's leadership in helping his government run smoothly even when he was on medical leave in London for months.

He also thanked the principal officers in the National Assembly especially Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Speaker Mr. Yakubu Dogara for helping his administration achieve great success by putting Nigeria above their own personal interests.

The president said, "We can be proud of our achievements in the last two years, Boko Haram, Niger Delta, Regular Fuel, Improved Power, TSA, Agriculture and Fertilizer, above all, the knowledge that corruption will not be tolerated in this Government. We all know there is CHANGE.

Nigeria’s prestige has gone up, Nigeria is now credit-worthy, a clear testimony of which was the over-subscription of the Euro-Bond by 4 times.

"Nevertheless, we are not resting on our achievements. I am quite aware of the challenges before us.

"Let me thank you all again for the commitment and dedicated service to our Party and to remind you that much more will be required of you in the coming months. I hope we can continue to depend on you.

"If we keep united and rise above petty or personal quarrels we will surely achieve the desired CHANGE in the 
Earlier on Tuesday, the president had welcomed the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, to the Presidential Villa.

The former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways was appointed by the president on Monday, October 30, to replace Babachir Lawal who was sacked by the presidency due to his involvement in a corruption scandal that resulted into his suspension in April.

Commissions Modern Bus Stop, Lay-By In Alapere-Ketu The Lagos State Government has announced plans to construct multilayer car parks in strategic locations across the State as part of the traffic management and transport sector reforms aimed at ensuring seamless connectivity within the State.

Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr Ade Akinsanya, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the multilayer car parks would be constructed across the State within the next 12 months. While stating that the State Government was open to partnership with interested investors willing to collaborate with government on the project, Akinsanya said the move to construct the multilayer car parks was a prelude to the enactment of revised Parking Authority Law, all in a bid to rid the State of indiscriminate parking on the roads which in turn contribute in no small measure to traffic gridlock. He said: “The Lagos State Government is desirous to have multilayer car parks across the State in the next 12 months. This is in consonance with the government’s proposed traffic management and transport sector reforms and as a prelude to the enactment of the State’s revised Parking Authority Law. “Consequently, interested investors with either private lands or proposed government land suitable for the construction of multilayer car parks and auxiliary structure are hereby requested to submit proposals for the approval for construction of the car parks in any of the following areas – Ikoyi, Ikeja, Victoria Island, Badore, Ajah, Lekki Phase 1, Ipaja, Yaba, Ikorodu, Mushin, Surulere, Festac Town, Lagos Island and other areas deemed suitable,” Akinsanya said. Meanwhile, the State Government has completed the construction of a modern bus stop and lay by in Alapere, Ketu area of the State. Speaking while commissioning the bus stop, the State’s Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Prince Anofiu Elegushi said the project was in line with the vision of the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode to ensure that all Lagosians have access to a proper and efficient public transport system compared to anywhere in the world. He said the facility, aside going a long way to ensure that transport activities are conducted in a safe and comfortable environment, it would also ensure free-flow of traffic as there would no longer be any disruption to vehicular movement in the axis. He added that the bus stop was a prototype of the three hundred (300) bus stops and lay-bys that would be constructed across the State under the Bus Reforms Initiative (BRI) which is a project of the present administration designed to be bequeath world class transportation system to the State. Giving details, Elegushi said: “Facilities at the Alapere Bus Stop include a comfortable Bus Shelter, Lay-by, Lighting, Walkways, Guard-rails and Wire-mesh Fencing for pedestrian protection, passenger information system, amongst others.”

The Edo State Government has disclosed plans to build ultra-modern bus parks in Benin City, as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to decongest the state capital

This was disclosed by the Commissioner on Infrastructure, Hon. Osahon Amiolemen at the Government House in Benin City during a chat with journalists on the state’s efforts at developing infrastructure across the state. According to the Commissioner, “the state government is putting plans in place to enter into long-term Public-Private Partnerships (PPA) to enable it achieve its strategic plans in decongesting the major parts of the state capital by constructing ultra-modern bus station

The construction of the ultra-modern bus parks will include a major bus park to be used for intercity and intracity commuters at Obakhavbaye as the use of Oba Akenzua Cultural Center as a bus station is only a temporal provision.” On road construction and rehabilitation across the state, Engr. Amiolemen said “the state government has approved a new pricing template for input in road projects across the state for cost-efficient projects. Noting that the approval for the rescaling of pricing for road construction inputs will allow for more roads project, he said, “there are about 40 roads being constructed and rehabilitated, of which some have been awarded. These included; Ikpokan, Moruyi Street, Obakhare, Lucky Way, and 19 streets all in Benin City. Others included the ongoing rehabilitation of Eghuaghua, Iruekpen road first phase in Edo Central Senatorial zone and the Aghua-Agbede road in Edo North Senatorial

APC Govs have just told you that president will run in 2019
APC Governors are backing Buhari for re-election in 2019.  President Muhammadu Buhari meeting with governors from Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Kogi and Yobe at the State House, Abuja  (Twitter/@NGRPresident )

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have thrown their weight behind another Buhari presidency in 2019.
During the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC on Tuesday, October 31, the Governors made it clear Buhari will get an automatic ticket if he only asks for one.

'If he wants the ticket, he'll get it'
“The future of this country as we are now, is associated with one person who is impeccable, who has the greatest amount of integrity that you can find in any human being around. So, your guess is as good as mine”, said Nasarawa State Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura.

Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu was unequivocal in his submission. The 2019 APC presidential ticket, he says, is Buhari’s to lose.

I think for APC members, it is a democratic party, but the performance of the president in the last two years suggests that if he wants to contest, I will certainly support him and I know that our party members feel the same about him”, said Bagudu.

Concerning the issue of a sole ticket for Mr. Presdent, I want to say that if Mr. President is performing, well respected and carrying everyone along, all of us have resolved that we ‘ll work for him.

“Do we have any other person that will challenge the president again? Whatever you call it, as far as we are concerned, we have one president and that is the ticket we’ll fly”, said Lalong.
Motion
During the meeting, someone even moved an informal motion seeking to hand Buhari an automatic ticket in 2019, but the NEC (the second highest decision making body of the APC after the national convention) deferred the motion.

The president's aides and party members have also been trumpeting the administration's achievements at every opportunity--an indication that all pro-Buhari groups have been asked to keep their gaze on the ballot and ramp up the rhetoric.

The president has noticeably not ruled himself out of a re-election contest; even as the debate over whether he should run or not, continues to dominate the news cycle.

Atiku
Ex-VP says video of him declaring to run for President
The former Vice President said he hasn't declared to run for president.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed a video where he appeared to declare his intention to run for president in the 2019 general elections as false.
In the video that showed up on social media on Thursday, November 2, 2017, the former vice president to former President Olusegun Obasanjo said he was ready to serve as a "true democrat, a believer in the rule of law and a fighter for justice and equity."

Early on Friday, November 3, Atiku responded to the video on his Twitter account (@atiku) denying any knowledge of the it and calling it fake news.

He tweeted, "This Fake News is breaking across so many media channels, I’m wondering who sent it to them."
The former Vice President has long been expected to declare his intention to run for president in 2019 despite being in the same party as incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

He has contested for the president's seat a number of times, losing to the late President Umaru Yar'Adua in the 2007 presidential election and losing in the primaries to eventual winners President Goodluck Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and President Buhari of the All Progressives' Congress (APC) in the 2011 and 2015 presidential elections respectively.

Beijing has grown increasingly frustrated by its belligerent neighbour, and rapidly backed a new set of UN measures after a flurry of missile launches by the North and its sixth nuclear test in September

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un a rare message, Pyongyang's official news agency reported Thursday, in his first public communication with his wayward neighbour for more than a year.
The note signalled a possible improvement in their strained relationships, which has soured over Pyongyang's growing weapons ambitions even though Beijing is its longtime ally and economic benefactor.

Xi's message, dated Wednesday, was sent in response to congratulations from Kim last week for securing a second term as the head of China's ruling party.

"I wish that under the new situation the Chinese side would make efforts with the DPRK side to promote the relations between the two parties and the two countries to sustainable soundness and stable development," Xi said, according to the North's KCNA news agency said, addressing Kim as "Comrade Chairman".

In his earlier note, Kim had offered Xi his "sincere congratulations" and expressed his belief that their relations would develop "in the interests of the people of the two countries".

The last time KCNA reported a message from Xi was in July 2016.

Analysts say that such exchanges have become extremely rare under the current leaders, even though Beijing and Pyongyang traditionally sent greetings and congratulations on each other's key anniversaries in the past.

Their relationship was forged in the blood of the Korean War, when Mao Zedong sent millions of "volunteers" to fight US-led United Nations forces to a standstill.

Mao described the allies as close as "lips and teeth", and China has long been accused of failing to enforce United Nations sanctions against the North for its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, even after voting for them in the Security Council.

But Beijing has grown increasingly frustrated by its belligerent neighbour, and rapidly backed a new set of UN measures after a flurry of missile launches by the North and its sixth nuclear test in September.

Professor Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul said the public exchange of messages signalled a willingness on both sides to improve relations.

"The fact that both sides are swiftly trading letters and announcing it carries a symbolic meaning," Yang told AFP.

"If the message was more intimate, we could expect a faster thawing of ties," he added, "but for now, it shows that both sides agree on the need to improve their relations".