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Bloody Easter in Etche as man’s ear is severed during church service. (Graphic images)

It was a sad Easter Sunday, 1st April, 2018, at the Easter retreat convention of the Assemblies of God Church, Etche district held at Community Secondary school Egwi Etche, Rivers State, when a blood bath ensured between a Royal Ranger member, a church security outfit, and a community boy.

Our source reports that there was a little misunderstanding between the boy from a neighboring community (Opiro Etche) and the said Royal Ranger members.

However, after a brief argument between two Royal Rangers, it was gathered that the victim, Mr. Kingsley Ngozi, asked the other royal Ranger member identified as Ikechi Amadi, to put on his uniform but he blatantly refused.

He rather, went home to get a machete, and on getting to the retreat ground, chopped off the side of Mr. Kingsley Ngozi’s head and ears and ran off to the bush.

As at the time of filing this report, the victim has been rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention where blood diffusion was done on him.

Although the church authority headed by Rev. Nlebem is yet to make any official statement. The Royal Rangers, however, made an official complaint to the Okomoko police station.

16 killed in Indian administered Kashmir

Sixteen people have been killed in Indian Kashmir in some of the fiercest fighting this year in the restive Himalayan region, police said Sunday, as authorities braced for more violence.

A total of three Indian soldiers and 11 suspected militants died in several clashes south of Srinagar, the main city of the region divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both.

Two civilians were also killed and dozens injured when police opened fire on thousands of demonstrators who poured onto the streets, throwing stones and chanting slogans against Indian rule.

There were also demonstrations in Srinagar, where authorities ordered all schools shut on Monday as rebel groups called for protests.

Seven of the militants were killed along with two soldiers in a protracted shootout in the village of Dragad, where helicopters were seen swooping low over the battle zone.

Another man, described by Indian authorities as a militant, was gunned down in a brief exchange of fire in Dialgam.

Security forces were still taking fire from gunmen in the village of Kachdora, where one soldier and three insurgents had been killed, local police chief Shesh Paul Vaid told AFP.

“It is a massive operation. The fight is still on,” inspector-general of police Swayam Prakash Pani told AFP.

Many civilians in Kashmir — India’s only Muslim-majority state — support rebels who have been fighting for decades for independence or for a merger with Pakistan. Tens of thousands, mostly civilians, have died.

Pakistan — which has fought three wars with India over control of Kashmir — condemned the violence as a “mindless killing spree” and said those slaughtered were innocents.

“Such cowardly actions of the occupying forces only serve to fortify the resolve of the Kashmiri people,” its foreign office said in a statement Sunday.

Last year was the deadliest of this decade in the region, with more than 200 alleged militants killed in a counter-insurgency offensive dubbed “Operation All Out”.

That upsurge in violence has escalated in 2018, with 49 militants already killed this year.

The weekend clashes were the worst since a three-day skirmish in the forests of northern Kashmir last month left ten dead — five unidentified militants and five government forces.

Kashmir has been divided between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947.

Senate passed 200 bills in 3 years. See full list…

As of March 29, 2018, 33 months after its inauguration, the 8th Senate had passed a total of 200 bills including Senate Bills, concorrence bills and constitution amendment bills.

From its inauguration on Juna 9, 2015 the 8th senate had surpassed the 7th, 6th and 5th Senate in the number of bills passed. While the 7th senate passed only 128 bills in four years, the 6th passed 82 and the 5th senate passed 129 bills.

Graphical map of bills passed by the last 4 Senate

The President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki took to his twitter handle @BukolaSaraki to make the announcemnet and to congratulate his colleagues for a job well done.

Saraki expressed optimism that in the 15 months that were left, the senate would pass more bills that will affect the lives of Nigerians.

“As of today, the Senate has passed 201 Bills. We still have 15 months to go, yet, we have reached this milestone. I would like to thank my Distinguished Colleagues for their hard work and cooperation over the last 33 months.

As of today, the Senate has passed 201 Bills. We still have 15 months to go, yet, we have reached this milestone.

I would like to thank my Distinguished Colleagues for their hard work and cooperation over the last 33 months.

Below is the full list of the bills passed by the senate.

SENATE BILLS PASSED SINCE JUNE 9TH 2015

National Railway Corporation Act 1955 N129 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment Bill 2015

Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act CAP B2 LFN 2011 (Repeal and Re-enactment) 2015

National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (est,etc) Bill 2015

Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (est., etc) Bill 2015

Electronic Transaction Bill 2015

Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme Act (Amendment) Bill 2015

Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (Est,etc) Bill, 2015

Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill 2015

National Poverty Eradication Commission (Est,etc)Bill 2015

North East Development Commission (NEDC) (Est,etc) Bill 2015

Erosion Control and Prevention Commission (Est, etc) Bill, 2015

Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous provision) Amendment Bill 2015

Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effuru (Est, etc) Bill 2015

Food Security Bill 2015

Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

Environmental Managers Registration Council of Nigeria (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

Nigeria Football Federation (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

National Sports Commission (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2015

Witness Protection Programme Bill 2015

Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2015

Defence Space Agency (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja (Amendment) Bill 2015

Air Force Institute of Technology (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

Credit Bureau Reporting Bill 2015

2015 Appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill 2015

2016 Appropriation Bill

Federal Roads Authority (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016

National Assembly Budget and Research Office (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016

Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill 2016

Federal Capital Territory Statutory Appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun Bill 2016

National Lottery Act 2005 (Amendment) Bill 2016

Electoral Act №6 2010 (Amendment) Bill 2016

Public Procurement Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Petroleum Industry Governance Bill 2016

National Inland Waterways Act Cap N47 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2016

Nigerian Ports and Harbours Authority Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

JAMB Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Nigerian Customs Service Bill 2016 and Nigerian Customs Service Act (Repeal and Re-enacment) Bill 2016

Warehouse Receipts Bill 2016

Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Bill 2016

Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institution Bill 2016

Federal University of Wukari (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016

Maritime University of Nigeria, Okerenkoko (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016

2016 FCT Appropriation Bill

Appropriation Bill, 2017

Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015 and the National Unity and Peace Corps (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

National Open University of Nigeria Act (Amendment) Bill 2017

Federal University of Maritime Studies, Oron Bill, 2017

National Institute for Legislative Studies Act (Amendment) Bill 2017

National Research and Innovation (Est, etc.) Bill, 2017

Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2016 and Universal Basic Education Act 2003 (Amendment) Bill 2016

Nigeria Financial Intelligence Agency (Est, Etc.) Bill, 2017

Institute of Chartered Biochemist and Molecular Biologist Bill, 2016

Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2015

Abduction, wrongful restraints and wrongful confinement for ransom bill 2017

Prohibition and Protection of persons from lynching, mob action and Extra Judicial Executions Bill, 2017

Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2017

Hydroelectric Power Producing Area Development Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015

Chartered Institute of Entrepreneurs (est., etc.) Bill 2015

Chartered Institute of Capital Market Registrars Bill 2017

Presidential Inauguration Bill 2016

National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016

FCT Statutory Appropriation Bill 2017

Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017

Federal University of Agriculture Kaaba (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016

Federal Colleges of Education Act (Amendment) Bill 2017

Niger Delta Development Commission (Amendment) Bill 2017

Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017

Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry (est., etc.) Bill, 2017

Demutualization Bill, 2017

The Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Bill, 2018

2017 FCT Appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018

Arbitration and Conciliation act cap A18 LFN 2004(Repeal and re-enactment) Bill 2018

Emergency Powers (Repeal and re-enactment) Bill, 2018

Federal University Gashua (establishment, etc.) Bill, 2018 (SB459)

National Transport Commission (Est., etc.) Bill, 2018 (SB. 242)

Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2018 (SB. 216)

River Basin Development Act CAP R9 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 358)

National Centre for Disease Control Prevention (Establishment, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 256)

CONCURRENCE BILLS PASSED BY THE SENATE SINCE JUNE 9TH 2015

Environmental Health Officers (Registration, etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun Bill, 2016

National Judicial Institute Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Prevention of Crimes Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Water Resources Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Agricultural and Rural Management Training (Amendment) Bill 2016

Telecommunications and Postal Offences Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Treaty to Establish African Economic Community Relating to the Pan-African Parliament (Accession and Jurisdiction) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Utilities Charges Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Petroleum Training Institute Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Quantity Surveyors (Registration, etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Bees (Import Control and Management) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Advertising Practitioners (Registrations, etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

World Meteorological Organization (Protection) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Currency Conversion (Freezing Orders) (Amendment) Bill 2016

Builders (Registration, etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Town Planners (Registration, etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

University of Abuja Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Corrupt Practice and other Related Offences Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (Amendment) Bill 2016

National Agricultural Land Development Authority Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

Produce (Enforcement of Export Standards) (Amendment) Bill 2016

National Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds (Registration etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

National Archives Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Value Added Tax Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Chartered Institute of Human Capital Development of Nigeria Bill 2016

Dangerous Drugs Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria Bill 2016

Veterinary Surgeons Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission Bill 2016

Chartered Institute of Public Management Bill 2016

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Establishment) Bill 2016

Oaths Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Institute of Local Government and Public Administration Bill 2016

Chartered Institute of Project Management of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2016

Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment, etc.) Bill 2016

Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Mortgage Institutions Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

National Film and Video Censors Board Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Official Secrets Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Federal Capital Territory Districts Courts Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Pensions Rights of Judges Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Anti-Torture Bill, 2016

Federal Capital Territory Hospitals Management Board (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2016

National Child Protection and Enforcement 2016

Police Procurement Fund Bill, 2016

Federal Capital Territory Water Board Bill 2016

Senior Citizen Centre Bill, 2016

Animal Health and Husbandry Technologist (Registration, etc.) Bill 2016

Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots, Bill 2016

Corporate Manslaughter Bill 2016

Railway Loan (International Bank) (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Chartered Institute of Export and Commodity Brokers of Nigeria Bill, 2017

Avoidance of Double Taxation Between the Federal Republic of Nigerian and the Kingdom of Spain Bill, 2017

Avoidance of Double Taxation Between the Federal Republic of Nigerian and the Republic of South Korea Bill, 2017

National Postgraduate College of Medicine Laboratory Science Bill, 2017

Avoidance of Double Taxation Between the Federal Republic of Nigerian and the Kingdom of Sweden Bill, 2017

National intelligence Agency Pension Bill 2017

Nigeria Academy of Science (establishment etc.)

Chartered Institute of Treasury Management (Est, Etc.) Bill 2017

Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology Science (Est, Etc.) Bill 2017

Franchise Bill

Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy Bill, 2017 (HB1,018)

Federal Capital Territory Transport Authority (Establishment) Bill HB. 91

Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (Fiscal Incentives Assurances and Guarantees) Bill, 2017 HB. 896

Chartered Institute of Customer Relationship Management Bill, 2017 HB. 69

Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017

Vigilante Group of Nigeria (Est., etc.) Bill, 2017 HB718

Subsidiary Legislation (Legislative Scrutiny) Bill, 2017 HB13

Courts and Tribunal Fines and Financial Penalties Bill, 2017 HB 642

Radiographers (Registration, etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017 HB 676

Medical Residency Training Bill, 2017 (HB.982)

National Road Funds (Est, etc.) Bill, 2018

National Climate Change Bill (HB1020)

National Agricultural Seeds Council Bill, 2018 (HB. 472)

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport of Nigeria Bill, 2018 (HB. 973)

National Security Agencies Protection of Officers Identity Bill, 2018 (HB. 830)

Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria (HB. 1022)

National Biotechnology Development Agency (Est., etc.) Bill, (HB. 33)

Nigeria Aeronautical Search and Rescue Bill, 2018 (HB. 139)

Federal Audit Service Commission Bill (HB. 107)

Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (est., etc.) Bill, 2018 (HB 364 & 656)

Digital rights and freedom bill, 2018(HB490)

Energy Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018(HB72 & 446)

CONSTITUTIONAL ALTERATION BILLS PASSED

Alteration of the Constitution to provide for time passage of laws (assent)

Alteration of the Constitution to provide for funding of the State Houses of Assembly directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Alteration of the Constitution to include former heads of the NASS in the council of state.

Alteration of the Constitution to reduce the period within which the President or Governor may authorise withdrawal from the CRF in absence of an appropriation act from 6 to 3 months.

Alteration of the Constitution to provide for immunity of legislature in respect of words spoken or written at plenary…

Alteration of the Constitution to abrogate the State Joint Local Govt Accounts and empower each local govt council to maintain its own special account.

Alteration of the Constitution to strengthen local govt administration in Nigeria

Alteration of the Constitution to provide the INEC with sufficient time to conduct bye-elections and grounds for de-registration of political parties.

Alteration of the Constitution to delete the public complaints commission Act from the constitution.

Alteration of the Constitution to delete the National Securities Agencies Act from the constitution.

Alteration of the Constitution to delete the National Youth Service Decree from the Constitution.

Alteration of the Constitution to delete state independent electoral commission from the constitution.

Alteration of the Constitution to specify the period within which the President or Governor shall present the Appropriation Bill before NASS or SHA

Alteration of the Constitution to reduce the age for the qualification for the offices of president, house of reps and state house of assembly.

Alteration of the Constitution to reflect the establishment of the ISA in the constitution.

Alteration of the Constitution to remove law making powers from the Executive Arm of Govt.

Alteration of the Constitution to provide for the procedure for passing a constitution alteration bill, where the president withholds assent.

Alteration of the Constitution to reflect the establishment and core functions of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Alteration of the Constitution to provide time for the determination of pre-election matters.

Alteration of the Constitution to further strengthen the judiciary for speedy dispensation of justice.

Alteration of the Constitution to establish the AGF and separate the office from that of the minister for justice (likewise in the states).

Alteration of the Constitution to establish the office of the accountant general of the federal govt separate from the office of the accountant general of the federation

Alteration of the Constitution to make the office of the auditor general of the federation and states financially independent by placing them on the CRF (states).

Alteration of the Constitution to disqualify a person sworn-in as president or governor to complete the term of the elected person from being elected to the same office for more than a single term.

Alteration of the Constitution to change the name of the police from the Nigerian Police Force to the Nigerian Police

Alteration of the Constitution to provide for independent candidature in elections.

Alteration of the Constitution to provide for a change in the names of some local govt councils.

Alteration of the Constitution to provide for the appointment of a minister from the FCT to ensure FCT is represented in the FEC.

Alteration of the Constitution to require the President and Governor to submit names of nominated ministers or commissioners within thirty days of taking the oath of office for confirmation.

Anthony Joshua a billion Naira richer after Parker fight.

Anthony Joshua, the British-Nigerian heavyweight champion, is expected to earn between £18million and £20million, about a billion naira, after beating New Zealander Joseph Parker in the unification fight in Cardiff on Saturday.

This new paycheck will take Joshua’s gross earnings from three fights to £50 million, according to reports.

Joshua will even take home more money if he faces the undefeated WBC heavyweight champion America’s Deontay Wilder, who recently produced a tenth-round stoppage to beat Joe Ortiz.

The mouth watering fight is being scheduled for the last quarter of the year, according to Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn.

The size of Joshua’s paycheck was determined by two factors, his being the home fighter and his being the headline name on the card.

Parker is expected to earn £13million, far more than the £1million pocketed by Joshua’s previous opponent, the Cameroonian Carlos Takam. Joshua then pocketed £15million

Their earnings form a proportion of the revenue from pay-per-view TV sales and sponsorship deals with the bout being shown live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently revealed a world unification bout was provisionally pencilled in for November or December 2018.

“The fight with Anthony Joshua is unquestionably the biggest fight in world boxing and anyone that knows me knows how much I would love to stage a fight like that.

“The options are that we go in August in America against someone and then Deontay Wilder, or straight into Wilder. But if we do Wilder it will probably be October, November, December.”

HERDSMEN VERSUS FARMERS CLASH: NO CAUSE FOR ALARM – Hon. Emma Nwaobilor

Kelechi Kas

Peace seem to have been fully restored to Abara community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State following a call by the former Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman, Emma Nwaobilor for peace to rein in the community.

Hon. Nwaobilor sued for peace amongst the farmers of the community and the Fulani herdsmen after a serious quarrel and fight which led to the killing of over ten cows and injuring of some community members.

TPCN recalls that the people of Abara community had taken a decision, mandating the herdsmen to leave their community due to allegation of raping of their women, encroaching on their cassava plantation as well as inflicting injury on indigenes who tried to fight against the injustice.

However, after a quick response by the police DPO, Chiefs, elders and Hon. Emma Nwaobilor, peace has returned to the area.

Hon. Emma Nwaobilor, during a meeting with his people thanked them for their peaceful disposition and cooperation with the herdsmen and reassured them that there will no longer be crisis in the region.

Also speaking after the meeting, the representative of the the herdsmen at Abara community popularly called Alhaji thanked Hon. Emma for his peaceful disposition and enjoined other of his followers to stick to the peaceful coexistence brought by Hon. Emma, whom he described as ‘ a man of peace’

2019 SENATORIAL AMBITION TEARS ETCHE  APART.

The last may not have been heard of the Rivers East senatorial district seat which seems to have been zoned to Etche LGA having been the only LGA in the senatorial district that is yet to produce a Senator for the senatorial district.

TPCN gathered that the minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has vowed not to allow Allwell Onyesoh who is from and Etche and has declared his interest to run for the Rivers East senatorial district come 2019 to contest nor let him win. Onyesoh has been at the forefront of the Magnus Abe’s governorship struggle.

In view of this, it was gathered that the honourable minister has tipped Captain Sunday Nwankwo, a 2015 gubernatorial candidate and a business mogul, who also hails from Etche LGA to contest against Chief Onyesoh.

This directive, however, has not gone down well with the people of Etche ethnic nationality as they see it as a ploy by the minister to divide the Etche delegates votes so as to give way for his brother and incumbent Senator of the senatorial district, Senator Andrew Uchendu to have a smooth ride to his second term ambition even though he promised to go for a single term and let Etche ethnic nationality produce the senator by 2019.

In light of the development, different interests groups have urged all other aspirants from other ethnic groups which make up the senatorial district not to field any candidate owing to the fact that Etche ethnic nationality has not produced a Senator before.

OLU-NDE ETCHE DEVELOPMENT Association therefore, has thrown its support behind the candidacy of Allwell Onyesoh and warned that any Etche man that will let himself to be used as a tool to disorganise the ethnic nationality will be ostracized.

OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR Willi Obiano.

By Elochukwu Nicholas Ohagi

Sir I write you today with great concern, and to intimate you on how difficult it has become for people living in Onitsha, and those coming to Onitsha for pleasure or business, to successfully carry out their day-to-day businesses without intimidation and bullying from touts in and around the commercial city of Onitsha.

Forgive me for making this letter public. It’s due to the fact that reaching out to you in person is practically impossible for me. So I crave your indulgence.

One might say it’s what Onitsha is known for right from ages, but I still remember when you came in during your first tenure and how you armed yourself with the will power and courage and sanitized Onitsha to the extent that one can have his handset in his back pocket in Upper Iweka, sleep and wake up without his phone developing wings.

You practically made Onitsha safe for all and sundry, but unfortunately today, things have not just gone wrong, but have practically gone out of hand.

I heard that way before you became Governor, that you were dealt with in the same Upper Iweka upon your return from abroad, something that made you to embark on sacking of these touts and nonentities in and around Onitsha after your swearing-in as the Executive Governor of Anambra state.

Sir, every body is surprised and asking what exactly is really happening in Onitsha? Could it be that the people who should be intimating you about these things aren’t doing their job? I heard you hate toutism and have even made sure youths in Aguleri and Umuleri shun Indian hemp and any form of ‘igba oringo’. Sir, why not replicate such gesture in Onitsha?

The activities of these groups of touts have seriously created major problems to the good people of Onitsha. They have bullied and intimidated customers to the extent that many customers now fear coming to Onitsha for business, thereby killing business activities.

You cannot move goods from pole to pole without encountering these touts. They make lives miserable for people and also extort money from them. Due to this same problem, we have witnessed huge relocation of people from Onitsha to Asaba.

Sir, I know that there are modalities the state government uses in taxing her people. We know of some few tickets the government use to internally generate revenue. This is not what I am talking about.

I am not complaining about those yellow uniformed men and women on our roads. No! I am writing to you concerning the maltreatment the people receive from touts in Onitsha.

They beat up people and humiliate whomever refuses to part with his or her own money. Sir, as a School Teacher, I have fallen victim of their intimidation on many occasions . Many people have. They make life difficult for people especially the poor.

Sir, I don’t know if you heard about the fracas between this uncultured touts and G.U.O bus driver. Just inside G.U.O park. They forced themselves into the park and wanted to extort money from the passenger. When they were resisted, they broke the head of one of the drivers.
In another different occasion, a poor Okada man lost his live in the hands of these touts. There are many uncountable ugly stories emanating from the activities of these groups of never do wells.

Sir do you know that these same touts have devised another method of stealing from the people? On Sundays and at times on Saturdays, these touts will carry posters of a dead man and starts stealing from the people. Its now a weekly thing.
They move in groups , harassing, intimidating and forcefully stealing money and valuables from people. Sir, these ugly stories never present Onitsha as a wonderful commercial city it should be. Onitsha should as a matter of fact be competing with Lagos.

The activities of these people is seriously de-marketing Onitsha. They have also become bad influences to the kids growing up in Onitsha.

Sir, I pray you come to our rescue and end toutism in Onitsha.

Elochukwu Ohagi is a Philosopher, Teacher, Writer, who writes from the commercial city of Onitsha.

APC’s funeral trumpet might be blown soon – Melaye

The senator representing Kogi west Senatorial district, Dino Melaye, says the “funeral trumpet” might be blown on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking with BBC Hausa on Friday, Melaye said he has to tell the truth because there are problems that need to be addressed within his party and the country.

The senator faulted the way Senate President Bukola Saraki and Isah Misau, senator representing Bauchi central, were taken to court by the federal government.

The lawmaker said he has to speak against injustice anywhere it is found.

“I’m not afraid of anyone. Let the truth be told. Everybody is sabotaging one another. Something should be done, otherwise, the funeral trumpet may be blown on APC,” Melaye said.

“Everybody is sabotaging one another. Something should be done, otherwise, the funeral trumpet may be blown on APC. I am not afraid to tell the truth on anybody, whether on Buhari, Saraki, or even my father. I have to speak against injustice. APC and PDP patronise the same market.”

He accused Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state, of being behind the bid to recall him from the senate.

“This is all a handiwork of Yahaya Bello, just because I advised him to pay salary arrears to Kogi state workers,” Melaye said.

“You are all aware how his government, despite receiving two trenches of Paris Club refund fund, failed to pay salary for several months.”

Thecable.ng

Salah strikes as Liverpool beat Palace

Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool rode their luck as Sadio Mane escaped a second yellow card before Mohamed Salah struck his 37th goal of the season to grind out a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Luka Milivojevic drove relegation threatened Palace into a 13th minute lead from the penalty spot.

Mane levelled four minutes after the break, but, having already been booked for diving, was later given a huge let off by referee Kevin Friend when he deliberately handled the ball just outside his own penalty area.

Klopp quickly replaced the Senegalese and Liverpool took advantage when despite having one of the quieter games of an incredible debut season at the club, Salah proved the match winner.

While Klopp insisted he believed Mane’s first yellow was unfair, even the German was surprised a second booking wasn’t forthcoming when he handled just after the hour mark.

“For Sadio it was not a perfect day and he made the wrong decision to put his hand on the ball,” said Klopp.

“I thought that was it, ‘Au Revoir, see you later’, but then it became even more strange.

“In that moment we are lucky, but in my opinion it would have been his first (deserved) yellow card of the game.”

Victory edges Liverpool ever closer to sealing a place in the top four and a return to the Champions League next season.

However, they will need a much-improved performance if they are to progress to the semi-finals of this season’s Champions League when they host runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City in the first leg of their quarter-final on Wednesday.

“The dirty three points are very often the most important,” added Klopp, who lamented his side’s lack of preparation for the lunchtime kick-off with various members of his squad only returning to training on Thursday after their international duties.

“Nobody should be worried about our mood. Our boys are really on fire.”

– Liverpool bailed out by Benteke –

It is Liverpool’s defensive deficiencies that will most concern Klopp ahead of facing free-scoring City as they were also bailed out by two huge misses from Christian Benteke.

A third straight home defeat for Palace leaves Roy Hodgson’s men still perilously placed just above the relegation zone.

However, the former England manager was magnanimous in his evaluation of whether Mane should have seen red.

“I’m not going to sit here saying the only reason we came away with another defeat is because the referee didn’t send one of their players off,” said Hodgson.

Palace had made the perfect start when Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius was also fortunate to avoid a red card when he brought down Wilfried Zaha and Milivojevic converted from the penalty spot.

Mane was then booked for his theatrical fall after the slightest of contact from James McArthur and his luck was out again when he did finally get the ball in the net only to be flagged offside.

Liverpool levelled four minutes into the second-half when James Milner’s drilled cross was turned home at the near post by Mane.

Benteke passed up two huge chances to quickly restore Palace’s lead as the former Liverpool striker sent an attempted lob well wide with just Karius to beat and then shot over the bar after Van Dijk had been caught in possession by Andros Townsend.

Palace conceded late against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in their previous two home games, and again failed to hold out against one of the top four.

Salah showed the poise Benteke didn’t possess when he controlled Andy Robertson’s low cross before firing home with his less favoured right foot.

APC to PDP: Confess your sins like Mantu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to follow the example of one its leaders and former Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu.

Mantu in a recent TV programme confessed the he took part in rigging elections for the PDP.

Now the APC wants the PDP to borrow this example and confess to their sins against the country instead of indulging in name calling.

Apparently burdened by guilty conscience, the PDP National Chairman had last week apologised to the nation for the years of misrule that his party had brought to the country.

The APC noted this apology but asked the PDP to go a step further and confess to their sins before restitution could be considered.

“Instead of taking this path to redemption, PDP has engaged in fruitless “you too” accusations and name calling”

“This is further evidence that PDP is not ready for repentance and only offered the apology with the hope that Nigerians will grant them amnesty and a short-cut back to power”, said APC’s publicity secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi.

“However, now that Senator Mantu has belled the cat, by confessing to how he has helped the PDP to rig elections in the past, we hope that PDP will follow the bold example of the former Senator and confess to their other sins against Nigeria,” Abdullahi said.

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