Elegy to our heroes

             

                                                                       By Femi Ogunleye

Lest we forget and we concern them to the oblivion in the character of our society, I hasten to put on records, the remarkable labour of our heroes who have just passed on.

Ebenezer Balogun was a veteran Newspaper and Magazine Sales Manager with the defunct Daily Times in Jos and Kaduna in the sixties through decades before he retired.  While he was in control of Daily Times sales offices in Jos and Kaduna, he was ‘father’ of all reporters of the then most influential and powerful print media in Nigeria. My strength in being ubiquitous at every reportorial  beat -  from our “Oremson Building” on Ahmadu Bello Road, Kaduna to the Kaduna Airport, Police Headquarters, the Courts, Government Secretariat, Ahmadu Bello Stadium, and other sundry news sources in Kaduna and Zaria between 1970 and 1973, was courtesy of this guru sales manager who would grant me IOU (recoverable through approved editorial expenses or emolument at a later date) to enhance my mobility through my Suzuky Motor-cycle.

At that time, after Lagos, Kaduna was the second source of “Hot News” either on Government policies, crimes or social events. The crème de la crème of reporters in the newspaper world were in Kaduna, the headquarters of the New Nigerian Newspapers and the outstanding success of the Daily Times crew, comprising yours truly, Victor Izekor, diminutive but uniquely brilliant Duro Iroja and Sam Akanmode, the last two of blessed memory, led at different times by Bayo Joseph and David Attah, was a manifestation of the cooperation between the editorial and circulation management, of which Mr. Balogun was the arrow head. His managerial skill to keep reporters moving and his dexterity to meander effectively through the labyrinth of newspapers vendors contributed to the growth of circulation for the Times publications in the Northern states and in Nigeria as a whole.

When he retired from the Daily Times, Mr. Balogun became an executive vendor by taking the agency for newspapers and magazines circulation, the job he did until he was installed the first traditional ruler of Ajura in Owode Egba local government of Ogun State in 2011. Ajura is an historic Egba boundary town with Iperu in Remo land and it was where the British colonialists exhibited their power drunkenness by letting inhuman treatment on a community leader in Ajurawhich led to the Ijemo Massacre of 1914. The consequence of the war was the loss of Egba independence administered by the Egba United Government since 1893, to the British colony in 1914. Oba Ebenezer Balogun has joined his ancestors.

Stephen O. Bamigbele, veteran journalist of New Nigerian Newspaper fame has recently passed on. The Ogori man from Kogi State, lived in Lokoja, where he was relocated to following his displacement from Kaduna during a civil disorder. Stephen under whose tutelage I passed through as a newspaper reporter in Jos in mid sixty, was a nucleus staff of the New Nigerian Newspapers since 1966. He and I synergized to produce landmark stories in Jos including the celebrated Bala Abashe versus Andrew Obeya sex scandal stories which rocked the Benue Plateau State government and the social life in Jos in 1968. 45 Rwang Pam street in Jos was our local Fleet Street where all dramas and comedies of news reporting were exhibited in our times. The likes of late Pa M.B.J. Ferreira (a close friend and contemporary of newspaper magnate, Alhaji Babatunde Jose) as Morning Post correspondent, Femi Onayemi (Daily Times), Diran Latona (Daily Sketch), Yahuza Makongiji and a host of other stringers, made every day worth witnessing.  

Stephen was also a war reporter during the Nigeria/Biafra confrontation from where he was later transferred to the Broad Street, Lagos’ office of the New Nigerian Newspaper where anotherdoyen of journalism at that time, late Mike Pearse, was the Lagos Editor. Stephen was the anchor man receiving wired stories from a Nigerian itinerant journalist based in Sweden, late Bisi Magregor (later Oluwo Ilawo, Abeokuta and Lisa Egba) about the famous Scanian Bus scandal in Lagos. While in Lagos, Stephen was a socialite in the midst of heavyweight members of the Moderates at their rendezvous named “10 Downing” on a street off Broad Street.

Between 1973 and 1974, He and I once again met in Kano as Correspondents of Daily Times and New Nigerian respectively. Kano is a metropolitan city full of activities that provide topical news 24 hours in a day for any enterprising reporter with nose for news. Stephen Bamigbele (New Nigerian Newspaper), Biodun Famojuro (Daily Sketch), Bayo Adesina (Nigerian Observer) and myself from the Daily Times, were regularly atop of beats for the delight of our readers but the Daily Times often incurred the unpleasantness of the authority when correct but incisive short-comings in government activities and social life were published.  Striking and undeniable investigative stories of the Daily Times from Kano earned yours truly a ‘quit notice’ by the Audu Bako led government of Kano State which immediately caused my redeployment by the Daily Times to the Lagos Airport in 1974.

The death has also been announced of a friend and one-time boss, David Attah. David was one of the young University graduates that Alhaji Babatunde Jose, recruited into the Daily Times in early 70s as a design to invest in skill acquisition for successful management to sustain the standard of the leading tabloid in Nigeria and widen the business  environment of the Daily Times conglomerate. David was first made the Head of the Northern Region Editorial team with office in Kaduna. Here we interacted very well and learned from his managerial capacity. He was upright and thorough. David an ABU graduate was later made the Group Manpower Development Manager of Daily Times in Lagos. After his stint in the Daily Times, he became the Managing Director of the Benue Plateau Publishing Corporation (publishers of Nigerian Standard Newspapers) in Jos and later Commissioner for Information in Benue State. David who was chief press secretary to the late military Head of State, Sanni Abacha, once, expressed his disgust about whatever perception held about him and his principal. He was quoted in an interview “You don’t have to like this man called Abacha but I am involved…I had come as a bird of passage….and somebody you gave an assignment and you could go to sleep”. Lovableand kind person, David was aged 72.

The fourth in the list of my heroes just passed on is the sage, detribalized frontline nationalist, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, Dan Masamin of Kano. Acclaimed orator, diplomat, elder-statesman and a devout politician from the first republic, (Nigeria’s Minister of Mines and Power, 1954-1966), Chief Whip of the Federal House of Representatives (1955-1956) who became the first Ombudsman – Federal Commissioner of Public Complaints in 1976. He was Nigeria’s Representative to the United Nations in 1979 and Minister for National Guidance in 1983 among other national positions. Besides all these qualities, Alhaji Maitama Sule was a great mentor who stood by me during my ordeal of misgivings in Police Commissioner Audu Bako’s government as a  Daily Times reporter in Kano. At every orchestrated misinterpretation of my published stories about Kano and its governance, I was adopted as Alhaji Maitama Sule’s protégé as he remained my guide and defender in all accusations.

May the souls of all the departed rest in peace.

OGUN NSCDC NABS A SUSPECTED KIDNAPPER

By Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta

     Members of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC),Ogun State Command has arrested one suspected kidnapper in Akinale, Ewekoro North Local Council Development Area of Ogun State.

     The said suspect Simply called Chukwuemeka ,29, also known as 'Jesus' hails from Umuhia local Government Area of Abia State, was seen laying ambush near Baptist Day Primary School, Akin-ale before he was apprehended by Corps men on critical and infrastructural team patrol.

    The NSCDC Men on patrol were tipped by residents of the area,who claimed to have seen the man earlier,roaming about before he was finally caught from his hide-out.

     During interview, it was discovered that Chukwuemeka had no family leaving around the axis,neither does he have a profession or trade. He also has mark of tattoos of various designs on his body.

    According to information, it was said that the tattoos signify membership of various cult groups.

The tattoo design includes scorpion, axe,cross etc were said to be indication of membership of various cult groups,who are specialized in carrying out criminal activities on unsuspected members of the public.

 He however denied this, claiming he brought the inscribed tattoos from birth and that is why he is being called 'JESUS'.

     The suspect does not revealed any sign of insanity as he talks normally with coherence at all times and in addition,he was found in possession of Samsung telephone,toothpaste, toothbrush,indomie and other items, and was neatly dressed and with extra cloth in his bag.

    While commenting, the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC,Ogun State Command,CSC Kareem Olanrewaju, said the suspect's mission needs to be investigated properly,as there are so many things that are suspicious about him. 

His over-grew beard was neatly shaved and he was not in any way related to the environment where he was apprehended. Apart from this, he was not able to define his mission clearly.

     Kareem stated further that the suspect will be transferred to the relevant agencies after necessary preliminary investigation and documentation.

     He therefore urge members of the public to always keep abreast with what is happening in their environment and give right and prompt information to security agencies, adding that,Civil defence is ready to always respond to people's complain swiftly.

Nigerian Elites Form The Stealing Group___Fasehun

Dr. Fredrick Fasehun is the founder and president of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC). In this interview, the OPC leader speaks on the state of the nation, Buhari’s government, N2 billion NNPC pipeline contract amongst other issues. Excerpts:

By May 29 this year, President Muhammadu Buhari administration would have been two years in office. What is your rating of this government looking at their performance?

The government has not performed as it supposed to. Buhari himself has done very well, showing some form of leadership but the government as a whole has performed below expectation. When they were preparing to come in, the whole country was agog; there was cheering and cheering and in another few weeks, they would have been there for two years and Nigerians are still yearning for the day that they will be able to say thank God we voted for this new government. In other words, they came with the people cheering and in two years, the people are no longer cheering; they are jeering because government is performing below expectation. They were hungry, they are still hungry; they were angry, they are still angry. An empty stomach is an angry mind. They still have the opportunity to change their methods but one wonders if they will be able to change their strategies within two years. They have spent two years and there is nothing much to show for it, except identifying of those who have looted our treasury. Identification of treasury looters is not the main thing. Asking them to confront the law of the land is the main thing. Who doesn’t know that the Nigerian elites form the stealing group? Buhari has shown good leadership. He said he was going to probe and he is probing. A tree does not make a forest. Buhari on his own cannot hit his hands on his chest and say he has performed very well. He needs to say we have performed very well. The government is not “I” but “we”; then Buhari does not constitute the government. It is he and his advisers that constitute the government. I personally define democracy as the best form of bad government because no government is good.

What is the relationship between OPC and the present government of PMB?

OPC has never had any relationship with any government because it is an organization that is non-committal. We say it, the way we see it. If government is doing well, we clap for them. If they are not doing well, we tell them they are not doing enough.

When APC government assumed power, there were so much expectation from the government. Where did you think we got it wrong?

We got it wrong in the sense that we over trusted those who were trying to convince us to vote for them. We thought that they were going to be truthful to their words. Unfortunately, politicians are like leopards, they don’t change their spots. Some of us said it loud and clear; many of us did not even believe what some of us said. The large majority that did not believe the critics are the ones that are regretting that they fell too easily to the government vocalization. We were shouting it at that time; Tunji Braithwaite talked and he was labelled a critic, Femi Falana said it and he was called a critic, we too were not left out. But the best friends to governments are the critics because they are like people who are watching a soccer game from the side. They see what players are doing wrong. Unfortunately, people who are in power don’t believe critics are friends of the government. If I were in power, I would formulate a Council of Critics, so that we listen to them and take their advices. Leaders in this country don’t listen to those who are labelled as critics.

The Senate President, Olusola Saraki recently criticized the way government is handling the anti-corruption crusade publicly. Do you think that is right, judging from the fact that Saraki is part of the present government; or are we looking at 2019?

We have been looking at 2019. Since we finished 2015, we have been looking at 2019. I wouldn’t be surprised if those who have their eyes on offices criticizes those who are already in high seat. The challenge is not right because the Senate President is part of the government. He would have done that correction in a private room in Aso Rock.

The CBN has been pumping out Dollars into the system to arrest the forex issues. Do you think that is the right approach to the current economic crises in the country?

It is the “wrongest” solution to the economic crises. The economy of any nation is dictated by its productivity. When you are not producing and only consuming, the country is not healthy because a consuming economy is not healthy economy. We depend entirely on foreign import. How enough would you expect importation of toothpick support the economy. What can only support the economy is good productivity. South Korea came to political limelight at the same time with Nigeria and today, they are a productivity economy. South Korea was a backward country 30 years ago but you will have no claim to say that it is a growing economy. It is grown and a self-sustaining economy.

How do you think the issue of kidnapping and Fulani herdsmen can be ended?

There is no crime that Nigerians commit now that doesn’t have sanctions in the past. Didn’t we have laws against rape, murder, robber, kidnapping? It is just that the people have changed and become lawless. The people in power have changed and become corrupt. The lawmakers are not doing enough as they work only in three days and cart away millions of Naira as salaries. Because they smile home with 36 million Naira per annum, the labour unions find it very easy to go on strike. That is why our economy is not improving. Factors like agriculture, education, power, SMEs have been neglected. That is why government is beginning to say let everybody be a farmer. It should be part of us. We don’t make use of our land space. Lagos to Ibadan is virgin land and not cultivated. When foreigners come, the marvel at the amount of uncultivated forests. Virtually everybody in China is a farmer. Government is wasting its time telling people to go and buy palm nuts and sell to the government. You produce it and let government buy it. There was no longer in Nigeria until this social scientist came.

At a time, the federal government awarded a contract to New Age which engaged members of OPC in March 2015 to secure Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines in the South-West zone of the country. How far about the contract?

They have not paid a Kobo. We had to go to court because we signed a contract with them before we embarked on that job. It surprises me when a government has entered into a contract with his citizens to perform certain things and yet break it. The recommendations of that contract was made by the government and its agents and yet after completing the job without any query on the execution of the job, they cannot pay. It is very embarrassing. When we waited and nothing was done. We put about 4020 people on the pipeline and the government on its own recommended that they would pay N1, 500 per head a day. That was their own suggestion in the contract and we took the job. No Nigerian should earn that but because there is no work or job to do, we complied with the suggestion of the government. They didn’t give us Kobo to sustain us. It was a three month contract and we did it judiciously. After three months, we left the pipeline. For years now, government has been dilly dallying. We lost six of our members; government didn’t even send us letter of sympathy, let alone pay the workforce. We are yet to be paid roughly N2 billion. They refused and said we should negotiate. I said I cannot negotiate after the contract and that that is not democracy. We have went to court 18 to 19 times. Now the government is saying pay them the daily per capital recommendation but they will not pay anything to support the contract. Should we not be protected from the glare of the sun, rain, snakes, wild animals; should we not eat have generators and torchlights? That is why we have these figures. And I have to pay to bury and the government is sitting comfortably at Aso Rock. However, they later said they would pay one third of what we agreed. But even that one third has not been paid. While we were doing that job, we didn’t steal one pint of fuel.

Which area precisely did OPC protect?

We protected from Shagamu, Mosimi to Ibadan

How were you able to convince your members that you have not been paid and also their confidence in you?

My people know me and I have been leading them for 24 years. They know me. They have not found me cheating in any form. I am not a rich man but I cannot go out of my way to destroy a name I have been building for 82 years. They know if I have collected money, I will not go to court. Some close to the government agencies must have also gone to ask and they will tell them no. The pride of OPC is that no organization has lived as long as OPC.

Since the government didn’t pay, how were you able to manage the contract?

I borrowed because they have to be paid, buy food and other necessities. But government remained obdurate and unpathetic. They don’t know the consequence of their actions is futuristic.

Buhari has ill health and we have also had a similar situation when Yar A’dua was in power.

What do you think Buhari should do, looking at his present state of health?

I am asking Nigerians to dedicate a date for every Nigerian to pray for Buhari. The prayer of the righteous availath much. When the Israel people cried up to him, he helped them. It is part of the underdevelopment of the country. You will not be right to assess Buhari, unless you assess him in good health. Health must be intact before you can assess the work. Nigerians should pray against premature death of their leaders. Journalists, traders, doctors, lawyers, teachers should pray for such not to happen.

What are your views on self-determination and call for the restructuring of the country?

My message is that self-determination is social justice. Social justice is also an emanation of democracy. Democracy is social justice. If we don’t have a government that is practicing social justice, it is not democracy. There is great need to restructure Nigeria.

SENIOR EVAGENLIST ADEKUNLE CALLS ON CCC ELDERS CLOSE RANKS

A call has gone to all the feuding factions of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) to close ranks in order to foster unity that hitherto exist within the fold before the demise of its founder, Pastor S.B. J.Oschoffa.

The call was made by the Senior Shepperd of the Upper Room Parish, Abesan Estate, Lagos, Evangelist Steve Adekunle while speaking on the intractable crisis within the CCC and the attendant court cases .

He said that the CCC would be 70 years this year after its establishment by the late founder, all the feuding elders of church should shield their swords and let allow members throughout the world celebrate this epoch making  event in unity devoid of rancour.

Evangelist Adekunle who is also the the chairman of Rebisi Group of Parishes Nigeria, UK and USA, noted that the  Israelites were in disarray for 70yeats before they reconcile their differences, prominent elders of the church should take a cue from the Biblical event.

He also said that since the passing into glory of pastor Oschoffa, there has not been a pastor pronounced for the church as stipulated by its constitution due to several litigations and fictionalisation.

Lack of unity among church elders has adversely affected the church through defections to other denominations.

For possible way out, the Evangelist suggested that all elders should close ranks by embracing Pa Josiah Kayode Owoduni as the leader of the CCC Worldwide, Pa Samson Olatunji Banjo followed by the other elders in this order:

Edith Oschoffa, Emmanuel Oschoffa, Pa Oshin, Pa Wo-Leader Johnson, Pa Ebenezer Oschoffa, Pa Oroboni, Pa Lagun Adesanya, Pa Jacob Nunayon and a representative each from Maforika, Benin Republic(pastor Adeogun).

Others ate: Tosho Oschoffa, a representative each  from late Bada's family, Ajanlekoko's family, Baba Adefeso's family,including those of Baba Ogunlesi, Baba Sonekan, Bishop George Anui, Baba Okeke Emmanuel, Baba  Adewunmi from Akure and Baba Abbey of CCC,Yemetu, Ibadan.

Therefore, he called for an enlarged meeting of these elders in order to pave way for total re-organisation of CCC Worldwide.

Buhari Suspends SGF, Babachir Lawal, NIA DG; Orders Investigation Into Grass-cutting Scandal, Ikoyiga

VICE PRESIDENT HEADS INVESTIGATION PANEL

President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, even as he ordered an investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against the SGF in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East, PINE.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, the suspension of the SGF from office is pending the outcome of the investigations.

The statement added that Buhari also ordered a full-scale probe into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, has made a claim.

The investigation is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.

The President has also directed the suspension of the Director-General of the NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the outcome of the investigation.

“A three-man Committee comprising the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the National Security Adviser, headed by the Vice President, is to conduct both investigations.

“The Committee is to submit its report to the President within 14 days.

“The most senior Permanent Secretary in the SGF’s office, and the most senior officer in the NIA, are to act, respectively, during the period of investigation,” the statement concluded.

Buhari's resignation: FORGIVE ME, KOFA BEGS BUHARI,APC & NIGERIANS

The suspended Lawmaker, Abdulmumini Jibril Kofa, Friday, appologized to President Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressive Congress (APC) and Nigeriansa over his recent statement calling for president's resignation.

Addressing a press confrence in his home town Kofa in Bebeji local government, Kano state, honorable Kofa, who withdrew the statement, also said his statement was twisted by his political enemies to radicule him.

"Please, President Buhari, Governor Ganduje, my party APC, my colleagues in the National Assembly and the entire Nigerians accept my apology. I have made a mistake and I hope you will acept my sincere apology.

"My statement which I posted on my twitter handle was mischieviosly twisted by some politicians in order to dent my image. The perpetrators wanted to spoil my political carrier because they have tried various ways to achieve that but failed.

''They have spearheaded my suspension from the House and when they realized that I am still vibrant, they now changed their tactics by twisting and publicising my comment. All I will say is that they will also fail," he said.

PDP CRISIS TAKES ANOTHER PLUNGE AS MODU SHERIFF STORMS OUT OF MEETING CALLED BY JONATHAN

The leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have worsened as Court-backed National Chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff, stormed out of a peace meeting convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan as the meeting ended in disarray.
Sheriff came into the Yar ‘Adua Centre, Abuja, where the meeting held on Thursday, long after Jonathan, the governors and other party chiefs had taken their seats which caused a little stir as the sitting arrangement had to be hurriedly adjusted in order to find him a place close to the former President.
It was learnt that the disagreement at the meeting started when Sheriff declared that as the most senior member of the PDP, a meeting of that nature ought to have been convened by him which was further fuelled by Jonathan’s refusal to allow him address the meeting in his capacity as the National Chairman.
Sheriff also insisted that Makarfi, who was billed to speak based on the programme of events, would not speak since his committee had been sacked by the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.
His proposal was rejected by the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who allegedly insisted that Makarfi should also be allowed to speak if Sheriff would speak leading to a ferocious face-off to the extent that Sheriff and Wike had to stand up to each other while Sheriff stormed out moments later.
Speaking with reporters shortly after he walked out with his team, Sheriff said he would not be party to any arrangement that seemed to deviate from the recommendation of the Dickson committee insisting that the meeting was at variance with the recommendations made by the committee.
“We were here for PDP stakeholders meeting and the PDP has only one National Chairman, which is Ali Modu-Sheriff. There is no PDP meeting that will take place under whatever arrangement that I will not open the session as National Chairman. Today, I am the most senior member of this party,” he stated.
“I think Governor Dickson made a proposal for reconciliation. And we have accepted. Some people want to deviate from this programme, to bring agenda which was not part of it.
“And as national chairman of the party, what I told you people in my office when Dickson brought the report is the only thing that we have agreed at this moment. And I will not be party for anybody using me to do another programme. I’m not going to be part of it.
“Well, I respect Jonathan for the meeting. He is a former president. But as of today, I am the most senior member of the party. Therefore, if I respect him, the respect must be reciprocated.
“You can’t call me for a meeting of PDP and say I cannot address the meeting as national chairman of the party.
“As the National Chairman, we move on. We have a programme initiated by Dickson. And we are continuing with that. Anything outside that, I am not a party to it.”
Jonathan also spoke with journalists after the exit of Sheriff and his team and described what happened as unfortunate but said the meeting would go ahead with the hope of ending the crisis in the party.
He announced that he would set up of a 40-member committee, which he said he would head but revealed that in his absence, either his former Deputy, Namadi Sambo, or Mark would stand in for him to lead the meeting.
At the meeting, which was chaired by Jonathan, were some of the party’s governors, Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba) while the Deputy Governors of Gombe and Ebonyi states were also there.
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; a former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark; the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin; Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; some PDP chieftains such as Prince Uche Secondus, Olisa Metuh, among others were also in attendance.
Curiously, the Chairman of the party’s reconciliation committee and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, was among the party’s governors who did not attend the meeting and were not represented by their deputies.

source:The Wills

US UNLEASHES DIRECT MILITARY ATTACK ON SYRIA

President Trump unleashed airstrikes on Syria on Thursday to punish its strongman, Bashar Assad, after a chemical attack this week that killed dozens of civilians, including children. The barrage amounted to the most significant military operation ordered by Trump, a newcomer to governing who had warned, before taking office, against escalating America’s involvement in the Middle East.

“Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched,” Trump said in Palm Beach, Florida. “It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.”

The operation — the first known direct American strike on Syrian government assets since the start of the country’s civil war — rained at least 50 cruise missiles from U.S. Navy ships in the Mediterranean on a Syrian airfield thought to be the point of origin for the chemical attack, U.S. officials said. The attack took place at 8:40 p.m. Eastern time.

The decision risked confrontation with Russia, Syria’s patron, which reportedly had troops stationed at the air base, and could mean increased dangers for hundreds of U.S. troops now in Syria to prepare for the assault on Raqqa, the capital of the Islamic State militant group. But it also sent a dramatically different message about Washington’s willingness to use force in Syria after Barack Obama shied away from enforcing his self-imposed “red line.”

The decision to dramatically escalate America’s role in a conflict that has left some 500,000 dead, according to human rights groups, was arguably the new president’s biggest decision yet, with many unknown consequences. At home, the early response from Congress suggested strong bipartisan support for the strikes but deep concern about the way forward. Some in Congress, including Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, said Trump should have sought authorization from Congress for a military operation that was not in response to an attack on the U.S.

Trump explained his decision by describing the horrific images from Tuesday’s chemical weapons strike in a mostly rebel-controlled area near the Turkish border, saying “there can be no dispute” that Assad’s forces were responsible.

“Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians,” he said. “Using a deadly nerve agent, Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women and children. It was a slow and brutal death for so many. Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack.”

So “tonight I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched,” Trump said. “It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.”

The president also urged “all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria.”

Congressional Democrats offered measured support for the onslaught but warned that lawmakers would need to weigh in on any sustained escalation of the conflict. Some of the lawmakers delivering that message stood idly by while Barack Obama escalated America’s role in Iraq and Syria.

The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ben Cardin of Maryland, said in a statement that “any longer-term or larger military operation in Syria by the Trump administration will need to be done in consultation with the Congress.”

Cardin also pressed Trump “to inform the legislative branch and the American people about his larger policy in Syria, as well as the legal basis for this action and any additional military activities in that country.”

Trump had huddled with top advisers, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary James Mattis and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster in Palm Beach, Fla., where he was to hold meetings Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In a sign of how quickly events were unfolding, White House officials had said just a day earlier that McMaster would not travel with Trump.

Tillerson told reporters that the president had begun a long, difficult and potentially fruitless effort to push Assad from power.

“The process by which Assad would leave is something that I think requires an international community effort, both to first defeat ISIS within Syria, to stabilize the Syrian country, to avoid further civil war, and then to work collectively with our partners around the world through a political process that would lead to Assad leaving,” he said. Pressed on whether he and Trump were working to assemble an international coalition to achieve that goal, Tillerson replied: “Those steps are underway.”

The secretary of state also had tough words for Moscow, Assad’s patron. “It is very important that the Russian government consider carefully their continued support for the Assad regime,” he said.

And he reaffirmed what senior U.S. officials have said since the world first saw footage and photographs of gasping, dying or dead children in Khan Sheikhoun in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province: Assad is to blame.

“There is no doubt in our minds and the information we have supports that Syria, the Syrian regime under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad, are responsible for this attack,” Tillerson said.

 

 

 

 

 

TOP HIZBOLLAH TERROR FINANCIER DRUG ARRESTED

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) of tje U.S yesterday announced the arrest of Kassim Tajideen, a prominent financial supporter of the Hizballah terror organization.

Tajideen is charged with evading U.S. sanctions imposed on him because of his financial support of Hizballah. 

Tajideen, 62, of Beirut, Lebanon, was arrested overseas on March 12, 2017, based on an 11-count indictment unsealed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia following his arrival to the United States.

Tajideen made his initial court appearance today before Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather.  

Tajideen pleaded not guilty and was ordered held pending a detention hearing set for March 29. 

The arrest and indictment are the result of a two-year investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and assisted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The effort is part of DEA’s Project Cassandra, which targets Hizballah’s global criminal support network – dubbed by the DEA as the Business Affairs Component (BAC) that operates as a logistics, procurement and financing arm for Hizaballah.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary McCord of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips of the District of Columbia, DEA Special Agent in Charge Raymond Donovan of the Special Operations Division, and CBP Acting Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan made the announcement. 

“Kassim Tajideen posed a direct threat to safety and stability around the world,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Donovan. “A prominent money man for Hizballah, Tajideen acted as a key source of funds for their global terror network. DEA and our partners are unrelenting in our pursuit of the world’s most dangerous terror and criminal networks and their many facilitators who threaten the rule of law and innocent lives.”

“Because of his support for Hizballah, a major international terrorist group, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on Kassim Tajideen in 2009 that barred him from doing business with U.S. individuals and companies,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco.  “Those sanctions are a powerful tool in our efforts to combat terrorists and those who would support them.  Indeed, the sanctions posed such a significant threat to Tajideen’s extensive business interests that he allegedly went to great lengths to evade them by hiding his identity from the U.S. entities he did business with, and from the government agencies responsible for enforcing the sanctions.  Thanks to the diligent work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, we broke through the web of intermediaries Tajideen allegedly used to conceal his involvement, and he has been brought to the United States to face justice.”

“Kassim Tajideen is alleged to have willfully flouted U.S. sanctions that were based on his prior support for Hizballah, a designated foreign terrorist organization,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security McCord.

“Those sanctions are designed to protect our national security and public safety by limiting terrorists’ access to resources, and this extradition sends a clear message that we are resolved to find and hold accountable those who violate these laws.”

“The investigation of this case and the arrest and extradition of this defendant demonstrates our commitment to enforcing vitally important sanctions laws that are in place to protect our national security and foreign policy interests,” said U.S. Attorney Phillips.

“Because of the hard work of law enforcement here and abroad, Kassim Tajideen will now face charges in an American courtroom.” 

The indictment charges Tajideen with one count of willfully conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, seven counts of unlawful transactions with a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

The indictment also indicates that the government will seek a forfeiture money judgment against the defendants equal to the value of any property, real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to these offenses.

According to the indictment, Tajideen allegedly presided over a multi-billion-dollar commodity distribution business that operates primarily in the Middle East and Africa through a web of vertically integrated companies, partnerships, and trade names. 

The indictment further alleges that Tajideen and others engaged in an elaborate scheme to engage in business with U.S. companies while concealing Tajideen’s involvement in those transactions. 

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control named Tajideen a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on May 27, 2009. 

This designation prohibits U.S. companies from transacting unlicensed business with Tajideen or any companies which are operated for his benefit – in essence stripping Tajideen’s global business empire of its ability to legally acquire goods from, or wire money into, the United States. 

However, the indictment alleges that Tajideen restructured his business empire after the designation in order to evade the sanctions and continue conducting transactions with U.S. entities. 

Tajideen and others are alleged to have created new trade names and to have misrepresented his ownership in certain entities in order to conceal Tajideen’s association. 

The scheme allowed Tajideen’s companies to continue to illegally transact business directly with unwitting U.S. vendors, as well as to continue utilizing the U.S. financial and freight transportation systems to conduct wire transfers and move shipping containers despite the sanctions against Tajideen. 

According to the indictment, between approximately July of 2013 until the present day, the conspirators illegally completed at least 47 individual wire transfers, totaling over approximately $27 million, to parties in the United States. 

During the same time period, the conspirators caused dozens of illegal shipments of goods to leave U.S. ports for the benefit of Tajideen, without obtaining the proper licenses from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. 

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

This investigation was carried out by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the DEA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center Counter-Network Division, with assistance from the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas A. Gillice and Deborah Curtis and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline L. Barkett of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Joseph Palazzo from the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.

Participating investigative agencies in DEA’s Project Cassandra include the DEA’s New Jersey Field Division and Special Operations Division and various DEA country offices, as well as the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

 

Lufthansa Group successfully on track – 2016 again with good result

Financial results 2016
Adjusted EBIT of EUR 1.75 billion including strike cost of EUR 100 million in line with the guidance and broadly on last year’s record level
Earnings mainly driven by positive development of passenger airlines
Total costs decline faster than fuel costs
Net indebtedness reduced by 19 per cent
Equity ratio increased to around 21 per cent
Dividend proposal of EUR 0.50 per share

Forecast for 2017
Reduction in unit costs are expected to continue to offset a large part of higher fuel costs and lower unit revenues at the passenger airlines
Aviation services expect overall earnings on par with previous year
Adjusted EBIT just slightly below 2016 expected

“The Lufthansa Group continues to develop successfully,” says Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board & CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. “We are again in a stronger position today than we were a year ago. And once again we were able to convince our customers of the quality and the appeal of our products and services.”

“In a very demanding market environment,” Spohr adds, “we successfully kept the Lufthansa Group’s margins at their record prior-year levels, through consistent capacity and steering measures and, above all, through our effective cost reductions. Based on this good financial development, all our business segments developed positively in their respective markets. And by expanding our commercial joint ventures for the Network Airlines, fully acquiring Brussels Airlines and concluding the comprehensive wet-lease agreement with Air Berlin we have also strengthened our strategic position.”

“In 2017,” Spohr continues, “it remains necessary to further reduce our costs. This is the only way to meet and master the decline in unit revenues and the higher fuel expenses, and at the same time to maintain and strengthen our financial stability and our investment capacities.”


The Lufthansa Group generated revenues of EUR 31.7 billion in 2016, a decline of 1.2 per cent on the prior-year result. Adjusted EBIT for the year amounted to EUR 1.75 billion, a decline of 3.6 per cent. This means that, as expected, earnings before strike costs of EUR 100 million came in at previous year’s level. The Adjusted EBIT margin for 2016 was 5.5 per cent, a decline of 0.2 percentage-points.

EBIT for the year amounted to EUR 2.3 billion, a significant improvement of EUR 599 million on 2015. The difference between the EBIT and Adjusted EBIT is largely attributable to the new collective labor agreement concluded between Lufthansa and its flight attendants’ union UFO. The agreed switch from a defined benefit in a defined contribution pension system had a EUR 652 million positive impact on EBIT for the year which is not included in the Adjusted EBIT. But even without this non-recurring item, the Lufthansa Group further enhanced its financial strength in 2016, achieving a further 2.5-per-cent reduction in its unit costs excluding fuel and currency effects.

“The key financial indicators for the Lufthansa Group prove our financial strength and our sound business performance,” adds Ulrik Svensson, Chief Officer Finance of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. “The change in the pension system for our cabin crews, which we now also agreed on for our cockpit crews, has had a sustainable positive effect, strengthening our balance sheet and making us less dependent on volatile interest rate developments. This shows how important it is to have viable and forward-looking collective labor agreements.”

“We retain our focus on sustainably improving our margins and developing our costs towards competitive levels,” Svensson continues, “because we can only grow in those markets and business segments where we have the right cost position.”

The Lufthansa Group invested EUR 2.2 billion in 2016, some EUR 300 million less than originally planned. The total investment volume was thus 13 per cent down on the prior-year period, owing largely to delays in new aircraft deliveries. As a result, free cash flow increased by 36.5 per cent to EUR 1.1 billion. Net indebtedness was reduced significantly by 19 per cent. Based on earnings after cost of capital (EACC), the Lufthansa Group created value of EUR 817 million last year. Despite the structural benefits of the new collective labor agreement with the company’s cabin personnel, pension provisions rose 26 per cent to EUR 8.4 billion, owing to a decline in actuarial discount rates.

Passenger Airline Group remains earnings driver
The Passenger Airline Group exceeded the already good result of the previous year and reported an Adjusted EBIT for 2016 of over EUR 1.5 billion. The Adjusted EBIT margin was 6.4 per cent. Lufthansa Passenger Airlines raised its Adjusted EBIT by EUR 254 million to over EUR 1.1 billion. Austrian Airlines again contributed positively to earnings with an Adjusted EBIT of EUR 58 million (a EUR 6 million improvement on 2015). And SWISS, while falling slightly short of its very good prior-year result, remained the Group’s most profitable airline with an Adjusted EBIT margin of 9.3 per cent. Eurowings reported an Adjusted EBIT of EUR -91 million. More than half of the shortcomings can be attributed to start-up costs and other non-recurring expenditures.

Service companies
Lufthansa Technik reported an Adjusted EBIT of EUR 411 million for 2016 (down EUR 43 million) and an Adjusted EBIT margin of 8.0 per cent. LSG achieved an Adjusted EBIT of EUR 104 million (up EUR 5 million) and a stable Adjusted EBIT margin despite its extensive restructuring activities and a dynamic market environment. Lufthansa Cargo suffered a EUR 50 million loss for the year. The EUR 124 million decline compared to its 2015 result was due largely to significant pricing declines in particular in the face of massive overcapacities. The “Other” segment showed a EUR 134 million better Adjusted EBIT than last year, partly due to improved exchange rate gains and losses.

Dividend
The Supervisory Board and Executive Board will propose to the Annual General Meeting a dividend payment of EUR 0.50 per share for the 2016 financial year. This represents a total dividend payment of EUR 234 million and a dividend yield of 4.1 per cent, based on the 2016 closing price of the Lufthansa share. As in the previous year, shareholders will also be offered the option of a scrip dividend.

Outlook
The Lufthansa Group will be realigning its financial reporting to its three strategic pillars of Network Airlines, Point-to-Point Airlines and Aviation Services from 2017 onwards.

For 2017 the Network and Point-to-Point Airlines expect to see a further decline of unit costs excluding fuel and currency roughly at the same level as in 2016. At present estimates, fuel costs are expected to increase by some EUR 350 in 2017. This cost increase, together with further declining unit revenues at constant currency, is unlikely to be fully offset through further unit cost reductions.

Organic capacity growth is expected to amount to some 4.5 per cent for the passenger airlines. Brussels Airlines, whose results will be fully consolidated for the first time in 2017, and the wet-leased flights of Air Berlin should make a small positive contribution to earnings already in their first year.

Aviation Services expects to report an Adjusted EBIT for 2017 that is broadly on par with prior year’s, though earnings are likely to show differing trends among the companies. Total investments are projected at EUR 2.7 billion.

Overall, the Lufthansa Group expects to report an Adjusted EBIT for 2017 slightly below the previous year.

“We will consistently continue to modernize the Lufthansa Group,” confirms Carsten Spohr. “We aim to be the first choice – for our customers, our employees, our shareholders and our partners. To achieve this, we will continue to focus on cost discipline, so we can create possibilities for profitable growth in the future.”

“This year’s Annual Results’ Media Conference is being held – for the first time – at Munich Airport. There’s nowhere that the Lufthansa Group’s strategic progress be seen more clearly than at our Southern hub. Only few days ago, the airport’s Terminal 2, which is jointly operated by Lufthansa and the airport company FMG and was further enlarged last year, was named the “world’s best airport terminal”. And with the combination of the world’s finest airport and our state-of-the-art new long-haul aircraft, the Airbus A350, we can offer our customers a truly leading premium air travel experience.”

“In a few days’ time Munich will also see the launch of our quality point-to-point brand Eurowings. This makes Munich an excellent example for the implementation of our strategic agenda based on our three pillars. With our Network Airlines we aim to position ourselves even more clearly as providers of a premium air travel experience, including the further development of our leading role in the field of digital innovation. With our Point-to-Point Airlines our new wet leases will substantially enhance our market position, and we will continue to work with high priority to integrate Brussels Airlines into the Eurowings Group. And with our Aviation Services, further possible growth will be closely linked to improving the efficiency and the profitability of the companies concerned.”

“Our goal is clear,” concludes Carsten Spohr. “We want to make the Lufthansa Group even better and even more successful in 2017.”

N-power graduates get additional N900m monthly

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved an additional N4,500 monthly electronic device grant each for the 200,000 beneficiaries of the N-power graduate employment scheme.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, in a statement yesterday, said the grant was in conjunction with the Bank of Industry which had extended an asset finance of 20 months to each of the 200,000 beneficiaries.

Akande said the device would be loaded with different applications that would enhance the skills of the 200,000 beneficiaries of the first batch of the 500,000 jobs promised by Buhari’s administration.

He said after verification, each of the beneficiaries would select their choice of device amongst nine different BOI pre-approved vendors, “the price ranges from N3,000 to N6,7000 monthly deductions for the next 20months.

“Therefore, in some cases, the N4,500 device grant will cover the full monthly deduction cost; while in other cases, the graduate authorises BOI to deduct the additional differential cost from their monthly stipends depending on the device chosen.”

He said six of the nine pre-approved vendors were indigenous local brands “in pursuit of the Buhari administration’s push for local content.”

Akande, who said about 100,000 beneficiaries had so far ordered for the devices, noted that the plan was to conduct the order of the devices in two batches of 100,000.

Daily Trust