Hundreds in occupied building had no power for days. A Pope Francis aide climbed down a manhole to restore it

A cardinal and aide to Pope Francis for charitable missions climbed down a manhole to restore power to hundreds of people, including children, who were living without electricity and hot water for days in a Rome building, according to local reports.

In defiance to authorities, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski said he intervened personally Saturday evening to switch the meters back on for about 450 people, including 100 minors, who live in an abandoned state-owned building, according to ANSA news agency.

"It was a desperate gesture," Krajewski, who is Vatican almoner and Francis' "charitable arm" told ANSA. "There were over 400 people without electricity -- families, children -- without even the chance to run the refrigerators."

"I didn't do it because I was drunk," he added.

Cardinal Krajewski confirmed to CNN he did switch the grid back on himself.

Activists from the Spin Time Labs collective have occupied the building since 2013, providing shelter for homeless families but also a tavern, a theater, a craft beer laboratory, a carpentry shop, a music rehearsal studio, and various social activities.

The power was cut on May 6 after they accumulated a debt of €300,000 (£260,000 or $337,000), according to ANSA.

The collective appealed on Facebook to the city of Rome to find a lasting solution "so that light doesn't go out anymore."

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PRESIDENT Buhari 2ND TERM INAUGURATION WILL BE A LOW-KEY AFFAIR

Being Text of a press conference addressed by the Hon Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the State House in Abuja on Monday, May 13th 2019.
President Muhammadu Buhari's inauguration for a second term on May 29, 2019, will be a low-key affair, as a number of the events slated for the inauguration will now be held during the first observance of June 12 as the National Democracy Day.
The decision to have a low-key inauguration for the President was taken at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, 8 May 2019.

However, invitations have been sent to all world leaders to attend the ceremonies marking the observance of the Democracy Day on June 12.
Since the first observance of June 12 as Democracy Day falls into an election year, and as a measure to sustain June 12 as Democracy Day,
the celebration of the inauguration and the advancement of democracy
in the country will now take place on June 12.
The country can ill-afford two major celebrations within a two-week interval.

Details of the events slated for the two ceremonies will be unveiled at a world press conference slated for May 20th in Abuja.

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Germany's First ‘Electric’ Highway Charges Trucks as They Drive

Germany has opened the first stretch of a so-called electric highway that will connect hybrid trucks to overhead wires, allowing them to recharge while traveling on the country’s main transportation arteries.

The 10-kilometer (6-mile) stretch south of Frankfurt on Germany’s A5 autobahn was opened last week, the German state of Hesse said in a statement. One truck is using it now, with four more planned by 2020.

The system was built by Munich-based engineering firm Siemens AG, while Volkswagen AG’s Scania trucks unit provided the vehicles. It uses technology similar to trains or trams, allowing to trucks to link on while driving at up to 90 kilometers an hour, drawing power from the wires above. The electricity charges up the trucks’s battery, allowing it to drive electrically for a while afterward, with a diesel motor kicking in once the battery is depleted.

Siemens started the project in 2010 with a test track outside Berlin. The first complete track opened in 2016 outside of Stockholm, and the company is working on another in California.

Siemens’s mobility division, which makes trains and signalling equipment, recently had its attempt to merge with French competitor Alstom SA blocked by the European Commission. Chief Executive Officer Joe Kaeser has said he envisions the unit expanding from trains into a wider range of mobility topics such as electric and autonomous cars.

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Wike sacks his commissioner for power

The Rivers state commissioner of power, Honourable Shedrach Chukwu, was on Monday, May 13 sacked
- Honourable Chukwu was sacked by Governor Nyesom Wike in a statement by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu
- Chukwu is to submit all government documents and properties in his possession to the permanent secretary of the ministry of power
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers has sacked the state's commissioner of power, Honourable Shedrach Chukwu.

Wike ordered Chukwu to submit all government documents and properties in his possession to the permanent secretary of the ministry of power, The Nation reports.
This was contained in a statement released in the evening of Monday, May 13, by the governor’s special assistant on electronic media, Simeon Nwakaudu.

The governor in a statement by his special assistant on electronic media, Simon Nwakaudu said the recall of the local government chairmen is with immediate effect.
Nwakaudu also said the governor charged all the council chairmen to diligently serve their people and shun all forms of lackadaisical behaviour in governance.

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2019 UTME: JAMB gives More details in results checking

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has addressed reports on the challenges associated with checking of results of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Board Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who announced the results in Abuja on Saturday, said about 1,792,719 candidates sat for the examination, while 34,120 candidates had their results withheld for examination malpractice.

Oloyede stated that 15,145 results were withheld for further clarification.

Speaking on candidates complaints about their inability to access their results, the board in a post on its official Twitter page wrote:” The Board has noticed that candidates are having difficulties assessing their results, especially with some networks.

“The network providers are looking into these technical hitches and have assured that normalcy would be restored soon.”

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List of female judges married to politicians

1. Justice Mary Ukaego Odili (née Nzenwa), CFR: Born on May 12, 1952, Mary Ukaego, is a judge and wife of Peter Odili, who served as Governor of Rivers state from 1999 to 2007. She was appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria by former President Goodluck Jonathan and was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice Katsina-Alu on June 23, 2011.

2. Justice Binta Nyako: Binta is one of the four wives of former Adamawa state governor, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd). One of the most remarkable things that brought her to the consciousness of many Nigerians was her battle on the home from where she and the other wives of Nyako fought one another to occupy the office of the governor’s wife. The office of the Adamawa first lady was vacant for over 100 days as each of the four wives claimed to be the legal occupant of the controversial office.

3. Justice (DR.) Chioma Nwosu-Iheme: A judge of the Federal Court of Appeal, Justice (Dr.) Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, is the first female judge in Nigeria to read Law up to Ph.D level in the field of ‘Law of Intellectual Property’. She is married to Chief Uzoma Nwosu-Iheme, a former commissioner for Public Utilities and Rural Development, and Commissioner for Education in Imo state.

4. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Wike (née Obuzor): Eberechi, First Lady of Rivers state, is married to Governor Nyesom Wike. She is a judge of the Rivers state High Court of Justice and was born in Odiokwu, Ahoada, on May 24, 1972.

5. Justice Fati Lami Abubakar (Rtd): Fati, CON, was a former chief judge of Niger state, and founder, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA). She is married to former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar, and retired recently from the services of Niger state government, at the age of 65.

6. Justice Maryann Anenih: Maryann is the youngest of the three wives of Chief Anthony Anenih, former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees (BOT), who is better known in political circles as Mr. Fix-It. She is a judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja and daughter of a local government chairman in Edo state.

7. Justice Adedayo Oyebanji: The Lagos state High Court judge is married to Tunji Oyebanji, the Chairman/Managing Director of Mobil Oil Nigeria.

8. Justice Jumoke Pedro: A judge of the Lagos state High Court, Justice Jumoke Pedro, is the wife of banker-turned-politician, Femi Pedro, former Lagos state Deputy Governor.

9. Justice Anwuri Chikere of the Federal High Court is married to Hon Ken Chikere, three-time member of the House of Representatives (PDP/Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1) after serving as Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Amaechi's first term as Governor (2007-2011).

10. Justice Meg Opara of the High Court of Rivers state is the wife of the Rt. Hon. Austin Adiele Opara, Rivers PDP chieftain and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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Arthur Eze on Track to Establish a University

Arthur Eze

By Osita chidioka, he said he met with Arthur Eze.
A few days ago I continued on my self imposed task of engaging Igbo Billionaires to start secondary schools, Polytechnics, Universities or adopt an existing one for full funding. I met with Prince Arthur Eze at his residence in Enugu to follow up and encourage him in his quest to establish a University. We have had this discussion over the past 5 years and gradually got to the point were he has committed to establishing one now.

Arthur is an interesting and intriguing personality. His generosity is legendary and his world view an outcome of his maverick nature.

We have an agreement. Eze na Ukpo has committed to the university project. I will help (at no cost) in the effort to twin the school with a foreign university and ensure the Engineering school is of a world standard (he is a US trained Engineer). 

Before Warren Buffet started his Giving Away project,The Giving Pledge, Arthur had always talked about the futility of keeping wealth. He had always insisted that he will give away his vast fortune before death and he is doing that.

Yesterday at the Cathedral of Good Shepard Enugu he gave a Cheque of 20 million Naira and asked that the Church should take 10M and share 10M to all the poor people who came to church. Again he asked all rich people to give away to the less privileged.

The university must happen. I will continue to engage him to Stay focused and avoid the ever present distractions he faces.

Hopefully I will get the other Billionaires, known to me, to commit soon. Education is the key to the future competitiveness of the South East and Nigeria.

Investing in education or subsidizing it for those who can’t afford it, is the best investment of all times.

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Come Clear On Bulkachuwa – PDP Tells Presidency, APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Buhari-led Presidency and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to clear the air on allegations of corruption against Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, President of the Court of Appeal.

In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party on Sunday said: “On account of this allegation and the nefarious plot to bring the name of our party into its narrative, the PDP charges the Buhari Presidency to come clear on the corruption allegation it opened on Justice Bulkachuwa.”

The party says since the Buhari Presidency has alluded to issues of corruption against Justice Bulkachuwa, contrary to issues raised in the PDP petition bothering on bias, it behoves on the Presidency and the APC to make public, the corruption issues they have alluded to.

“The Presidency should also take a step further by pursuing these issues of corruption just as it did in its case of corruption allegations against the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, instead of wickedly dragging our party into issues that have no bearing with the PDP.

“Now that the Presidency has informed the whole nation that Justice Bulkachuwa has issues of corruption, we challenge it to do the needful rather than engaging in shadow-boxing against our party.

“Moreover, in the face of corruption allegations, as has now been exposed by the Presidency, the burden still lies on the same Presidency to come clean. In doing that, the Presidency will be ranching on its established course, having hit the records of harassing and intimidating judicial officials; abuse of court processes and disregard for court orders,” the PDP’s statement read in parts.

The party further said it holds that the Buhari Presidency’s fresh allegation of corruption now places a huge moral burden on Justice Bulkachuwa, particularly in her capacity as the President of the Court of Appeal.

The PDP said that its premise is based on the fact that a judicial officer of Bulkachuwa’s standing “must not only be above board but be seen to be above board at all times”.

The opposition party restated its demand for Justice Bulkachuwa to “recuse” herself from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, following the alleged manifest bias in her opening address, “that no matter how well the election is conducted, there are bound to be complaints”.

The party said its call is in addition to the fact that Justice Zainab’s husband, Hon. Adamu Mohammed Bulkachuwa, is a frontline leader of the APC, which is a party in their case before the tribunal.

In surmising, the PDP argued that with the developments, the party will certainly not obtain justice before Justice Bulkachuwa in the panel.

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Restructuring: The National Assembly Failed Nigerians – Senator Adeyeye

The Senator representing Osun Central in the National Assembly, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, has blamed the Parliament for failing to address the issue of restructuring.

Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the lawmaker lamented the fact that the outgoing Eight Assembly could not effectively vote in support of taking the nation on the path of true federalism.

“It’s a failure on the part of the National Assembly of which I am a member and a principal officer,” he stated.

Adeyeye, who is also the Chief Whip of the National Assembly, explained that a lawmaker may have the intention of pushing calls for restructuring, it is however subject to a majority vote.

He recalled a situation in the Seventh Assembly where the issue of renouncing Nigeria’s citizenship was before the floor of the Senate.

• According to him, most lawmakers voted against the proposed 18 years considered as maturity on the basis that Islam recognised any married person as being mature.

“No matter how passionately you feel about any issue, votes are taken. You win some, you lose some. And I like to remind this republic that one of the most controversial issues in the Seventh Assembly was in the issue of our effort to increase the age at which a Nigerian can renounce citizenship.

“You have to be an adult. And we tried to spell adulthood at attaining the age of 18. We took a vote and it passed. Senator Sani Yerima from Zamfara State took exception. He said that the law of Islam says once you get married, you are an adult and that the vote we are taking is an assault on the fundamental rights of Muslims in Nigeria.

“A call for a second vote (came up). Some of us approached Senator Mark and begged him not to allow a second vote. Of course, Senator Mark had been long in government. He understood that that could be an issue that could consume all of us.

“He allowed a second vote. Unfortunately, every Muslim from the north except one who had voted yes previously reversed himself and that exercised now lost by 3 votes,” he stated.

Senator Adeyeye further said that sometimes, we get so emotional about all the noise that we don’t look at all the substance of what is going on, and part of what had gone on especially in the last 4 years.

He argued that while the failure to push the issue of restructuring was a minus on the part of the National Assembly, the legislating of a country is not a straight-jacket process.

“The business of amending the constitution lies primarily in the National Assembly, however, in any country, amending the constitution is never a straight forward and an easy problem,” Adeyeye opined.

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Nigeria Army rescues 29 women, 25 children in Borno

The Nigerian Army has rescued 54 Boko Haram kidnapped persons in Borno, including 29 women and 25 children.

In a statement on Monday, Col. Sagir Musa, the Acting Director Army Public Relations said the victims were freed after troops cleared Ma’allasuwa and Yaa-Munye villages in the state.

Musa said that the terrorists fled troops’ onslaught and abandoned the victims.

He also said that troops on clearance operation in Damasak general area of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno, destroyed two Boko Haram logistics vehicles and make shift camp.

In another development, Musa said that a Mobile policeman, Sgt. Markus John, with number PNo 383106 was arrested at Njimtilo check point on Maiduguri-Damaturu road, while on transit to Lagos.

He said that at the time of arrest, John was in possession of two magazines, 146 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition and one round of anti aircraft gun concealed in his bag.

On May 10, Musa said the army in conjunction with the police, Pte Paul Ojochegbe (14NA7113208) and Lance Cpl. Oko Eke (12NA672586), also at the Njimtilo check point.

He alleged that they were in possession of one disassembled AK 47 Rifle.

Musa restated the army’s appeal to appeal to the public to continue to provide useful information about suspicious movement of terrorists/criminals wherever they were seen hibernating in the country.

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Employment: Police ready to employ part-time constable

The Nigerian Police Force has concluded plans to engage thousands of Special Constables to work with conventional policemen in communities as part of measures to check rising insecurity in the face of insufficient manpower.

The recruitment of the special officers, which would be announced any moment from now, has received presidential backing and it is expected to start in Kaduna and other northern states where the traditional emirate and district structures support the system.

The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, confirmed the plan and explained that the candidates for the constabulary would be between the ages of 21-50, and must be physically fit and gainfully employed.

The men, who will not be armed, are expected to handle charge room and administrative duties, crowd control, accident scene duties, alternative dispute resolution, and other less sensitive and less risky functions. They are expected to dress in police uniform but with a different force number to distinguish them from the regular cops.

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UN condemns deadly attack on Burkina Faso church

Top UN officials, including Secretary-General António Guterres, have condemned Sunday’s deadly attack on a Catholic church in Burkina Faso.

At least six people, including the priest, were killed when gunmen opened fire on the worshippers at the church in the north of the country, media reports say.

The incident reportedly took place in the village of Dablo, located in a region that has seen an upsurge in violence in recent months.

“The church was burned to the ground, along with other buildings including a health centre,” the UN said on its website.

In a statement, Guterres urged “all citizens of Burkina Faso to stand firmly with one another across communities”.

The UN chief advised them against buying into attempts by the perpetrators and their sponsors to sow discord and breed further violence.

He also recalled the sanctity of all places of worship, and expressed his hopes the perpetrators can be swiftly brought to justice.

President of the UN General Assembly, Ms Maria Espinosa, also expressed outrage in a tweet on Sunday evening.

Espinosa said the killers must be held accountable, adding that “we cannot tolerate hatred. The fundamental right of religious freedom must be respected everywhere”.

Also reacting, the UN Resident Coordinator in Burkina Faso, Mrs Metsi Makhetha, tweeted her condemnation of the “heinous attacks”.

She offered her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

The UN said the attacks occurred just days after its humanitarian officials, including Makhetha, warned of an “unprecedented” rise in “sophisticated armed attacks in the Sahel”.

In a report to member states on Wednesday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said the development was putting the future of a “whole generation” at stake.

“Violence is spreading in Mali and Niger, as well as Burkina Faso, and risks spilling over into other West African countries.

“This has led to a five-fold rise in the displacement of the local population in the last 12 months, who have seen more than 330,000 people leave their homes, in addition to 100,000 refugees,”OCHA said.

According to Makhetha, “ISIS-inspired” armed groups, threaten to destabilise longstanding traditional methods of community-based conflict resolution.

“The UN, partner humanitarian organisations and governments have stepped up operations. But we must do more,” she said.

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Nigeria soldiers killed several terrorists in Bokoharam domain

Several Boko Haram terrorists were on Friday killed by troops attached to Operation LAFIYA DOLE and 7 Division Nigerian Army during a major and simultaneous onslaught of insurgents’ hideouts in Borno State.

The troops- 121, 192 Battalions, 212 Tank Battalion and 177 Taskforce Battalion in simultaneous operations codenamed Hard Strike, had unleashed an offensive against the terrorists at Ranwa, Baladayo, Sabon Gari, and other villages.

According to a statement by Army spokesman, Colonel Sagir Musa, the troops completely cleared most of the villages and also stopped the terrorists from infiltrating Gajigana town.

He said the operations were carried out in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Taskforce, adding that an AK47 rifle, three magazines, 50 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and a magazine bandolier were recovered from Furfur.

Two soldiers wounded during the encounter, are stable and receiving treatment in a military hospital.

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Ekweremadu: I Won’t Run for Senate Again

Who would succeed Prof Ike Ekweremadu as he has made it clear that he would not be running further as Senator after his 2019 reelection into office.
Ike Ekweremadu has recorded a benefiting credit to his autograph as only opposition to clinch the office of the deputy Senate President.

Prof Senator Ike Ekweremadu

 _…Says God has been kind to him_

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has announced that he would not seek re-election into the Senate in 2023, noting that God had been kind to him, raising him to address enormous challenges faced by his people.

He spoke on Sunday at an event to mark his 57th birthday and to appreciate God and his constituents for his re-election and triumphs.

Ekweremadu recalled how he became the Chairman of his age grade association at age 10, and served as President-General of Mpu Town Union, pioneer elected Chairman of Aninri LGA, Chief of Staff of Enugu Government House, Secretary to Enugu State Government, fourth term Senator, third term Deputy President of the Senate, and the first Nigerian Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament”.

He, however, observed that it had not been all rosy as he had also faced serious political challenges and persecutions.

“We are assembled here today to mark the awesomeness of God in my life and to thank you all for standing by me over yet another year of trauma in my politics, including the attempt on my life and lives of my family members, the assault on my liberty, and all the evil designs of the evil people in our society against my person and politics. I have been through the valleys of the shadow of death. I have been scorched and bruised for my political beliefs and determination to defend the principles of democracy and uphold justice for every segment of this nation.

“Indeed, without the almightiness of God and your fidelity, I would not have been here to acknowledge the triumph of God’s grace over the evil intensions of wicked souls in high and low places of our society”.

Ekweremadu expressed happiness over the developments his representation had brought to his people.

“My life and political odyssey are products of divine grace working through destiny helpers like you, for I know where I am coming from. I also know how far the Almighty God has brought me.

“I have also looked back on the last 16 years, which I have represented Enugu West as their Senator and I can only thank God for our accomplishments. I have tried to count our blessings. I have tried to name them one by one. I must confess that I am truly surprised at what the Lord has done for us.

“Our road infrastructure has improved remarkably. The Awka-Ugwuoba-Oji River-Nachi-Udi-9th Mile-Abor-Ukehe-Opi Road, which is our latest intervention in this regard, has just been awarded.

“We have made progress in electricity and water supply to our various communities. We have built, rebuilt, and we are still building and rebuilding schools, churches, health and civic centres, among others.

“Our human capital development projects are on the upward trajectory. We have assisted several of our young people with employment in public service. Through the Ikeoha Foundation, we have supported 3,843 undergraduates with bursary awards, 87 with full scholarship, while over 12,155 women and youth have received basic education courtesy of Ikeoha Foundation Adult Literacy Programme”, he told his people.

Despite the achievements, however, Ekweremadu said it was time to call it quits with the Senate come 2023.

He said: “However, my dear brothers and sisters, you must admit that no matter how melodious a song may be, it will definitely have an end. Therefore, as I thank you for these 16 memorable and splendid years as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; as I thank my distinguished colleagues for honouring me as the Deputy President of the Senate for three consecutive times; as we recall the accomplishments of the projects of my representation in the last 16 years; as I acknowledge your kindness in keeping me in the Senate for these 16 years; and as I prepare to further represent you by your mandate for the next four years, let me seek your understanding and indulgence to now announce that this will be my last term as your Senator.

“As we get set for the 9th Senate, be assured that I will focus on the completion of all ongoing projects we attracted and ensure that communities that are yet to benefit from our vision in infrastructure adequately benefit.

“I will work with other patriotic Nigerians within and outside the National Assembly and across party, ethnic, and religious lines to address issues of disunity, insecurity, and poverty currently threatening our nation. I believe that together we can pioneer a new order characterised by peace, justice, unity, prosperity, egalitarianism, and boundless opportunities for all”.

The event was attended by key stakeholders in Enugu, including Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and members of the National and State Assemblies from the State.

Uche Anichukwu
Special Adviser (Media) to Deputy President of the Senate

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