Here are the best and worst performing Senators for February

Imagine having a sitting senator advocate for the rehabilitation of ex-Boko Haram members into society, and a bill seeking to grant immunity on members of both states and federal legislature passing second reading at the House of Representatives. If passed into law, it would be difficult to prosecute indicted lawmakers while in office. Here’s how we ranked senators this month

10. Senator Ibrahim Gaidam

Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, sponsor of the bill that seeks to establish an agency for the rehabilitation of repentant Boko Haram members, has said his goal is to reintegrate such persons into mainstream politics in Nigeria. The rehabilitation of ex-Boko Haram terrorists isn’t news anymore, bur Gaidam’s seeming resolve to push this bill is an indication of misplaced priorities.

9. Senator Aishatu Dahiru

The town of Garkida in northeastern Nigeria was recently attacked by Boko Haram, and a number of buildings were burned, including the church building for Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa. As such, Senator Aishatu Dahiru cited Orders 42 & 52 and moved a motion on the insurgent attack on Garkida, a town in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa. Dahiru urged the Chief of Army Staff to establish a military command base in the town, and for NEMA to urgently assess the extent of damage and provide relief materials to communities affected |||READ MORE …

Mexico returns ancient Nigerian sculpture

The Mexican government, on Tuesday, delivered to Nigeria an ancient bronze sculpture seized by customs agents at Mexico City airport. The Nigerian sculpture is of Yoruba origin.

The sculpture, from the 6th century southwestern Yoruba city of Ile-Ife, shows a man wearing woven pants and a hat, sitting with his legs crossed and holding an instrument.

“Specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History determined that it was a piece of Yoruba origin,” Diego Prieto, head of the agency, told newsmen |||READ MORE …

Why refineries in Nigeria will not work — Experts

At the backdrop of the announcement of the Federal Government’s plans to rehabilitate the country’s refineries by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, experts in the petroleum downstream industry have said that the government lacks credibility to restructure the sector and bring the refineries to full operation.

The country has four refineries with 524,000 barrels per day capacity. However, the refineries, in the last 20 years, have had a poor operating record with average capacity utilization hovering between 15 and 25 percent per annum.

As a result, 70-80 percent of the national petroleum products demand is met through imports. But operators in the petroleum industry have insisted that the Federal Government cannot make the country’s refineries efficient |||READ MORE …

Reps PDP caucus supports review of presidential, guber judgement

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives caucus has supported calls by the party’s hierarchy for the review of the Supreme Court judgement on the presidential election and four governorship polls.

Caucus Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda made the caucus position known in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

Apart from the presidential election, the governorship polls the House caucus wants the Apex court to revisit are those of Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Osun states |||READ MORE …

Minimum wage: NLC state councils to take action against erring govts

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its state councils to go on strike if any state government fails to implement the N30,000 new national minimum wage.

Speaking with The Nation, NLC President Ayuba Wabba said the organised labour had given each state council the template on the new wage and the consequential adjustment.

He stressed that no state should be excused for not implementing the new minimum wage |||READ MORE …

Why all zones must adopt regional security outfit – EK Clark

On Monday we served you the first part of an engaging interview with Elder statesman, Chief E.K. Clark. Today, we bring you the concluding part where he spoke on why all zones must adopt regional security outfits and why ex-Boko Haram insurgents should not be given amnesty as was done to ex-Niger delta militants.

What would the South-South zone take to the table when the National Assembly constitution amendment committee takes off?

The South-South region, popularly known as Niger Delta will take to the table those items for which we have always agitated at every Conference such as those held in 2005 and 2014. These issues include derivation or resource control. The Northerners, who do not have oil, are today the owners and managers of the Industry |||READ MORE …

Nasarawa governor okays death penalty for kidnappers

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has assented to the Bill which prescribed death penalty for anyone found indulging in kidnapping in the state.

Sule signed into law the “Nasarawa State kidnapping Act Prohibition Law 2020”  and “Child-Protection Executive Order” Bill.

“I need to state that the Nasarawa State Kidnapping Act Prohibition Law was extensively deliberated and passed by the State House of Assembly |||READ MORE ...

‘Just call me Harry!’: Prince DROPS his royal title as he returns to Britain without Meghan

The Duke of Sussex today embarked on his final round of engagements as a senior working royal as he launched a new eco-friendly travel firm in Edinburgh – and asked delegates ‘just to call him Harry’.

Prince Harry, who will step down as a senior royal in less than five weeks, is in the Scottish capital for a ‘working summit’ of the Travalyst partnership, which will feature a grading system for users to track their carbon emissions.

Before he took to the stage today, host Ayesha Hazarika, a former Labour adviser, said: ‘He’s made it clear that we are all just to call him Harry. So ladies and gentlemen, please give a big, warm, Scottish welcome to Harry.’ |||READ MORE …

Sulky Baby Birth Photo Staring At Her Doctor Goes Viral

Many parents are opting to have a birth photographer attend their baby’s labor and delivery to capture those first fleeting moments. Looking back at the images of the baby’s first breath, or the first time that dad and baby lock eyes is extraordinary. This one birth photographer captured an epic photo of a newborn’s first look, staring down her doctor just moments after her birth. The moment this little one was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 13, she had one mood: not impressed.

Photographer Rodrigo Kunstmann has been a professional photographer for 11 years, a birth photographer for 4 years. Recently, he was present during a c-section to help the parents capture those precious first moments, and one of his photos has gone viral. One look at the viral photo and it’s obvious why everyone loves it – the baby is not playing around |||READ MORE …

Labour crisis looms in kwara as operators of MicrofBanks raise alarm 2,000 workers will lose their jobs

Ilorin…Labour crisis looms in kwara state as operators of MicrofBanks in the state on Wednesday raised the alarm that 2,000 workers in their fold will lose their jobs over a recent directive of the state government to civil servants to open accounts with commercial banks

Chairman of the group,Alhaji Ahmad Suleiman who disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Ilorin, therefore appealed to the state government to rescind its directive which said that civil servants should close their salary accounts in microfinance banks and open accounts with commercial banks to ease salary payment.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the state government action was prompted by the ease with which it would be paying the minimum wage salaries in the commercial banks unlike in the microfinance banks where most civil servants have their salary accounts |||READ MORE …

Ekiti Revokes N3.2bn Road Rehabilitation Contract

The Ekiti State Government has revoked the contract for the rehabilitation of the Ayede-Ikun-Otun Ekiti road valued at N3.2 billion from the construction company handling the project.

The road was awarded to Sharvet Nigeria Limited early January 2020 and the company has not mobilised to site and commenced work as contained in the terms of the agreement since then.

Speaking with journalists after the state executive council meeting in Ado Ekiti Wednesday, the Information Commissioner, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua, said the government took the action owing to gross incompetence exhibited by the construction firm |||READ MORE …

Young Ballerinas Celebrate Black History Month with Fierce, Misty Copeland-Inspired Photo Shoot

A group of young ballerinas have taken their beloved hobby and turned it into an iconic photo shoot inspired by Misty Copeland in honor of Black History Month.

The little girls, who dance together at iRule Dance Studio in Beaumont, Texas, recently took a break from their vigorous dance schedules to pose for the camera in a photo shoot by Brandie Perry of Bee Photography, Good Morning America reported.

But what was supposed to be an activity to help the girls bond ultimately turned into a symbol of empowerment for black women, and has quickly become a viral sensation |||READ MORE …

The 2020 Cadillac CT5-V Is a Proper Sport Sedan

With the old ATS and CTS, Cadillac built cars that compared to BMW in a way few expected. Excellent chassis tuning made them benchmarks, and in high-performance V form, they were favorites of the folks who work for this fine publication. The problem was that no one bought them. Cadillac's had a rethink.

The ATS and CTS have been replaced with the CT4 and CT5, which are a little smaller and cheaper than their predecessors. The CT4 is aimed at the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class, while the CT5 is up against the mighty BMW 3-series. The CT5 is longer and wider than the 3er, but is also slightly less expensive.

Previously, the V-series cars were real fire-breathers with serious track credentials—now, they're a little more mild and road oriented. Think BMW M340i rather than M3. True successors to the old Vs are coming, with a name to be announced |||READ MORE …

Enugu workers celebrate payment of new minimum wage

There was jubilation in Enugu State, on Tuesday, as civil servants marched through the streets of Enugu to the Government House, to thank Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for being the first governor of the state, since the inception of democracy in 1999, to pay them the minimum wage without rancour.

The jubilant workers, led by organised labour in the state, comprising the state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Virginus Nwobodo; his Trade Union Congress, TUC, counterpart, Benneth Asogwa, and Chairman of Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Igbokwe Igbokwe, among others, marched from the state secretariat in GRA, through Garden Avenue, Ogui Road and Bisala to the Government House at Independence Layout.

It was such an emotional event as the workers sang solidarity songs, while also thanking Governor Ugwuanyi for paying them the agreed new minimum wage, during the weekend |||READ MORE …

Igbo governors get 90 days to establish regional security

The Igbo National Council, INC, on Tuesday, handed down a 90-day ultimatum to the governors of the five states of the South-East zone, to establish a regional security outfit just like the Northern and South-West regions did.

The warning came from the statement issued in Owerri, by the INC, National President, Chilos Godsent, alongside other executives after their meeting.

According to them, failure to do so that their people would be encouraged to protect themselves from the killings by suspected armed herdsmen said to have camped themselves in the forest of the zone |||READ MORE …

BREAKING: Court sentences Metuh to 7 years imprisonment, to pay N375m to FG

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced the convicted former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, to seven years imprisonment.

The court in a judgement by Justice Okon Abang also ordered Metuh to pay a total sum of N375million to the coffers of the Federal Government.

Justice Abang directed that his firm, Destra Investment Ltd, should be wound up with all funds standing to its credit forfeited to the government |||READ MORE …

Osun Assembly holds public hearing on proposed death penalty for kidnappers

Osun State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, held a public hearing on the proposal of death penalty for kidnappers.

The state legislators had in their efforts to stem the spate of kidnapping, proposed death penalty for anybody found culpable of the act.

Stakeholders at the gathering commended the lawmakers for their stance on the menace which they described as a threat to socio-economic activities in the state and its environs |||READ MORE …

Shagali Resigns As KDHA Speaker, Zailani Emerges New Speaker

Immediate past Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Yusuf Zailani member representing Igabi Constituency has emerged as the new Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly (KDHA).

 This followed the resignation of the former Speaker Alhaji Aminu Shagali who submitted his resignation letter to the clerk of the House, Alhaji Bello Zubairu.

 While reading the resignation letter to the House during its plenary, the former Speaker Hon. Shagali said he resigned his position as the speaker on personal grounds |||READ MORE …

Siasia Hopeful Of Raising N36.4m CAS Appeal Fee Before March 19

Samson Siasia says he’s is confident of raising the 100,000 Swiss Francs (N36.4m) appeal fee demanded by the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS, before his appeal on the FIFA life ban from football and $50.000 fine over allegations of complicity in match fixing could be entertained, Completesports.com reports.

“At the moment, not much has really come in. But I’m confident that before this month (February) ends, individuals and corporate bodies who want to render financial assistance would be able to respond positively,” Siasia told Completesports.com.

“There are promises here and there. And, of course, you know the situation in the country at the moment. But I still remain optimistic, given their words of promises that at most, by this February ending, I should be able to get enough financial assistance to sort things out” |||READ MORE …

President Trump hails Weinstein conviction as 'victory' for women

Reacting to Harvey Weinstein's conviction on criminal sexual assault and third-degree rape charges, President Donald Trump hailed a New York jury's decision as a "great victory" for women and sought to tie the disgraced movie mogul to prominent Democrats.

"I think from the standpoint of women it was a great thing, it was a great victory and sends a very strong message," Trump said during a wide-ranging news conference Tuesday in New Delhi, India, when asked what the result means for women who may be afraid to come forward with their own experiences with sexual assault or harassment.

The president attempted to tie the 67-year-old Weinstein to Democrats while simultaneously distancing himself from the now jailed sex offender, saying he was "never a fan" of Weinstein and claiming prominent Democrats -- specifically Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton -- "loved him." |||READ MORE …

Sady Doyle Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction is dedicated to everyone who never stopped fighting

“I think he’ll walk,” I told my husband over dinner, the day before the Harvey Weinstein verdict came in. It was not something I had ever said publicly. Feminism depends on believing that progress is possible, and I didn’t want to demoralize other women. Yet I viewedthe Weinstein rape trial through the lens of over 10 years of covering rape and rape culture. And what those years had taught me was that, with few exceptions, when a powerful man rapes somebody, he goes free.

Harvey Weinstein will not go free. He has been convicted of one count of third-degree rape, and one count of a criminal sexual act. This is not an undiluted victory. He was convicted of only two assaults, despite being credibly accused by dozens of women, and was acquitted of the two most serious charges. Nonetheless, Weinstein is now a convicted rapist, and he faces another rape trial in Los Angeles. Investigative reporting by The New York Times and New Yorker sparked the #MeToo movement, and now a jury of New Yorkers had brought down one of its most powerful. Something is changing.

You could argue that Weinstein was always likely to be convicted; like Bill Cosby, who was convicted in 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, the list of Weinstein’s accusers was so long that it became impossible for even skeptics to disbelieve them. Many of the women he assaulted or harassed were powerful in their own right, with recognizable names and access to major media platforms. Unlike other rapists who prey on women without wealth or power, Weinstein’s accusers often had recognizable names and substantial public support. He targeted women like Gwyneth Paltrow and Lupita Nyong’o, people the public want to believe |||READ MORE …

Amazon to open its first full-size, cashierless grocery store

SEATTLE — Amazon is cracking further into the $800 billion U.S. grocery industry, keeping the likes of Walmart, Kroger, 7-Eleven and Instacart on their toes.

The online behemoth on Tuesday is opening its first, full-size, cashierless grocery store. Five years in the making, the Amazon Go Grocery is in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, in the Amazon corporate headquarters’ backyard.

Amazon has been working on the space since 2015. At 10,400 square feet, the store at 610 E. Pike St. incorporates the same technology found in the two dozenor so Amazon Go locations. Shoppers can walk in, scan a QR code from their Amazon mobile app at a turnstile, carry or add whatever they want to their baskets throughout the store, and walk out when they are finished. Zero human interaction is required, though the store will staff a couple dozen people to help stock shelves and answer shoppers’ questions |||READ MORE …

Adamawa attacks: Again, Reps lambast service chiefs, NSA, demand their immediate resignation

For the second time within a period of one month, members of the House of Representatives have passed a vote of no confidence in the Service Chiefs, asking them to resign their appointments with immediate effects.

The House said that the Chiefs have completely run out of new ideas on how to effectively tackle insecurity and rout out Boko Haram insurgents in the north east.

It will be recalled that the House had about a month ago reached a resolution, asking the top military brass to either resign or be sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari who appointed them |||READ MORE …

PSG keeper Reveals How Di Maria Expresses Hatred For Man United

Angel Di Maria’s teammate at Paris Saint-Germain Marcin Bulka has revealed that the Argentinian hated Manchester United so much he turns over the channel when they appear on TV.

Bulka, in a chat with Polish YouTube channel Foot Truck, revealed the extent of Di Maria’s frustration towards his ill-fated spell at Old Trafford, where he is considered one of the club’s worst ever signings.

Di Maria lasted just one season after a £59.7million move from Real Madrid, before departing for PSG in 2015, where he has impressed with 81 goals in 215 games |||READ MORE …

FASHION AND FURNITURE COMPANIES ARE GETTING COZIER AND COZIER

Stylist-turned-entrepreneur Jennifer Fisher is best known for her elegant fine jewelry staples, from charm necklaces to thick hoops that have been worn by just about every celebrity and Instagirl we can think of. Her namesake line was born out of a passion project and designing jewelry is still something she loves doing. (And given that her company is currently in growth mode, with plans to open a Beverly Hills flagship, she's good at it.) But it turns out she's also good at designing furniture.

Despite never having thought about getting into the home category (unless you count her unexpected foray into salt), she couldn't turn down an offer from Ryan Turf, the president of CB2, to create her dream home and furniture collection, which ended up encompassing over 100 products. From spill-proof martini glasses and a chic, clear dog door, to a dining table that turns into an oddly elegant ping-pong table and a surprisingly affordable all-marble coffee table, every piece is functional, thoughtfully designed, understated and aesthetically pleasing in the way Fisher's jewelry is, without looking too much like a jewelry designer made it |||READ MORE …

7 STANDOUT FALL 2020 TRENDS FROM THE MILAN FASHION WEEK RUNWAYS

If there are any key takeaways from the Fall 2020 runways in Milan, it's that we're due for a Renaissance revival in fashion. Designers suggest we should invest in a ruffled collar and do our best to not get lost in layers of tulle. Those opposed to this particular type of opulence can pick up a fringed getup or sport some burnt orange or butter-colored leather come September — as those, too, emerged as major trends for the season. 

As proceedings in Paris are already underway, we'll make this one short: Here's a cheat sheet to the seven Fall 2020 trends that came out on top during Milan Fashion Week |||READ MORE …

Live Updates: Harvey Weinstein Is Found Guilty of Rape

A jury convicted Mr. Weinstein of felony sex crime and rape, but acquitted him of the most serious charges against him, predatory sexual assault.

RIGHT NOW Jurors are beginning to speak out about the trial. “The whole thing was long, long,” the jury foreman said |||READ MORE …

Nketiah: What I Told Saka Before Scoring Against Everton

Eddie Nketiah has revealed what he told Bukayo Saka immediately he replaced the injured Sead Kolasinac, in Arsenal’s 3-2 win against Everton at the Emirates in Sunday’s Premier League game, Completesports.com reports.

Saka who was on the substitute bench was forced to come in and replace Kolasinac just under 20 minutes into the first half.

Saka then delivered a perfect cross from the left which Nketiah finished off to cancel out Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s early goal for Everton |||READ MORE …

US appeals court upholds Trump rules involving abortions

SEATTLE -- A U.S. appeals court on Monday upheld Trump administration changes that include additional hurdles for those seeking abortions through a federal program that helps low-income women.

The 7-4 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned decisions issued by judges in Washington, Oregon and California. The court had already allowed the administration's changes to begin taking effect while the government appealed those rulings.

The rules ban taxpayer-funded clinics in the Title X program from making abortion referrals and prohibit clinics that receive federal money from sharing office space with abortion providers — a rule critics said would force many to find new locations, undergo expensive remodels or shut down |||READ MORE …

No car, no job, no home: What a female karate master gave up to go for 2020 Olympics gold

Her hands move in a blur. Then they stop, frozen like stone.

Sakura Kokumai is 27 years old and could be America’s best hope for a medal in karate at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

She has a menacing presence in the dojo, even though she is not quite five feet tall. Somehow, when she puts on her “gi,” or uniform, Kokumai seems to grow |||READ MORE …

Bucks Come To Town To Meet Bradley Beal And Wizards, At Capital One Arena

Bucks Come to Town To Meet Bradley Beal and Wizards, At Capital One Arena. The Bucks are coming off a 119-98 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Giannis Antetokounmpo was solid with 31 points (12-of-17 from the field), 8 assists and 17 rebounds.

The Wizards will want to move on from a 117-126 loss to the Chicago Bulls, a game in which Bradley Beal contributed 53 points (15-of-27 FG), 4 assists and 5 rebounds. Jerome Robinson had an underwhelming performance with 2 points (1-of-5 shooting).

Will Bradley Beal replicate his 53 point performance in the last game’s loss to the Bulls? In the last head-to-head matchup between the teams, the Wizards lost on the road. The Wizards have won just 2 games of their last 5 contests. Out of the last 5 games the Bucks played, they came out victorious 4 times. Both are expected to be mostly healthy |||READ MORE …

SMEDAN Kicks Off Nationwide Registration Programme For MSMEs

A nationwide mass registration programme that is designed to provide tailored and critical hand-holding services to the informal operators (medium,small and micro enterprises) in Nigeria and ensure their growth, sustainability and diversification has been launched by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). The programme is expected to facilitate the development of a comprehensive database for MSMEs in the country.

Director-general, SMEDAN, Dr Umar Dikko Radda,who spoke at the launch, explained that it was expected to facilitate the sourcing, developing, warehousing and managing of a comprehensive and verifiable database of MSMEs with a view to providing wholesome solution to a formalised MSME subsector of the Nigerian economy.

He said that MSMEs that are registered on SMEDAN official website portal – www.smedanregister.ng, would be allowed by the agency to gain access to funding support, empowerment, training and other facilities provided by federal government agencies as well as other lending and support institutions at the federal, state and local government levels |||READ MORE …

Aisha Buhari calls for harmony, re-examining of security structure to stem terrorism in Nigeria

Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, on Monday called for synergy among all security agencies, to re-strategize and re-examine the security structure with a view to stem the rising cases of terrorism in Nigeria.

Mrs Buhari made the call at an international conference on state and security held at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna. The conference was organised by the NDA Centre for Critical Thinking, Teaching and Learning.

She stressed the need for government to look into the welfare of security personnel, saying that it plays a vital role in the way and manner they carry out their mandate |||READ MORE …