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‘US will defend Philippines if attacked’ – President Biden warns China

By
Prince Efiok Edet
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US President, Joe Biden has warned China that the USA will defend the Philippines in case of any attack in the disputed South China Sea.

The comments come days after reports of two collisions between Filipino and Chinese vessels in the contested waters.

Manila has contested Chinese claims to the waters, cutting floating barriers and inviting media to film what it calls Beijing’s dangerous moves at sea.

Biden’s statement on the South China Sea on Wednesday was his strongest since tensions between Beijing and Manila heated up in recent months.

Biden reiterated his “ironclad” defence commitment to the Philippines.

“I want to be clear — I want to be very clear: The United States’ defence commitment to the Philippines is ironclad. The United States defence agreement with the Philippines is ironclad,” he said.

Signed in 1951, the Mutual Defense Treaty binds the US and the Philippines, its former colony, into defending each other in the event of an armed attack.

“Any attack on the Filipino aircraft, vessels, or armed forces will invoke our Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines,” he added in his speech an the White House , as he welcomed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the US had “no right to get involved in a problem between China and the Philippines”.

Should the US defend the Philippines, its actions “must not hurt China’s sovereignty and maritime interests in the South China Sea”, she told reporters in response to a question on the statement.

On Sunday, the Philippines said China’s “dangerous manoeuvres” had led to a collision between a China coast guard ship and a Filipino supply boat in an area that falls inside the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In a separate incident, Manila said a Chinese militia boat “bumped” a Philippine coast guard vessel.

The Filipino boats were on their way to a crumbling navy warship that Manila has marooned at the Second Thomas Shoal to reinforce its claims.

The Philippines’ defence minister, Gilberto Teodoro Jr, said the Chinese boats “intentionally hit” the Philippine vessels and accused China of “distorting the story to fit its own ends”.

Biden said the Chinese vessels had “acted dangerously and unlawfully” when the collisions happened.

The Philippines is an important strategic ally of the US as it borders two potential flashpoints in the Pacific – the South China Sea and Taiwan.

Chase your clout, leave Chief Mbora – DG Mbora Vanguard

By
Prince Efiok Edet
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Multiple taxation has been one of the maladies that is perpetually circumventing the operation of Nigerian local markets.

The above hydra-headed monster is not peculiar to Calabar Municipality nor is it peculiar to Cross River State. The porous trademark of our market locations and the insincerity of some Government officials have given rise to the uncontrollable operation of miscreants in the market environs.

Sponsoring and co-sponsoring cheap blackmails on the prestigious image of Chief Emmanuel Mbora is a symptom of defeatism. It is hilarious to say that as big as Ika Ika Oqua Market, one individual can control its tax system and determine what to pay.

The impetus behind the false alarm raised by some fictitious market women on “multiple taxation in Ika Ika Oqua” is known to us as a “sadist ploy” that draws its strength from some Political wannabes who wish to lord over the affairs of the All Progressive Congress in Calabar Municipality.

We have heard cases of our reputable security formations parading individuals that hawk fake tickets in Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi Local Government Areas. This is to buttress the reality that any power drunk person can walk into the market and institute illegal tolls and get away with it.

Why Emma Mbora?
His travail is not far- fetched from the political tussle in Calabar Municipality. After their abortive attempts to unseat him as the Caucus Leader and Chapter Chairman of the All Progressive Congress in Calabar Municipality, they have resorted to cheap blackmails on his person.

We are glad that these cheap blackmails would not deter Chief Emmanuel Mbora from doing good and being good.


Mr. Eyam Oko
DG, Mbora Vanguard
26/10/2023

Corps member ordered to kneel down by proprietress of school she was posted to (video)

By
Prince Efiok Edet
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A corps member was punished by the proprietress of the school she was posted to and the video has been shared online.

In the video, the corper, fully clad in her NYSC uniform, is seen on her knees.

A woman believed to be the proprietress is seen sitting in a chair while scolding the corps member.

Breaking: Margaret Obi, Wife of Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi

By
Prince Efiok Edet
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Peter Obi’s Partner in Politics and Life: The Resilience of Margaret Brownson Usen

In the realm of Nigerian politics, the name Peter Gregory Obi has become synonymous with principled leadership. Most Nigerians recall his pivotal role as the vice-presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2019 general election. Beyond this, however, is a remarkable political journey that has seen him weather storms and emerge stronger.

According to documented records on Wikipedia, Peter Obi’s gubernatorial tenure in Anambra State was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. He assumed office on the 17th of March 2006, only to face impeachment on the 2nd of November 2006. However, the tides turned in his favor, and he was reinstated as governor from the 9th of February 2007 to the 29th of May 2007 after his impeachment was overturned.

The story takes an inspiring turn when Obi was successfully re-elected for a second term in office on the 6th of February 2010. What stands out in this narrative, apart from the political twists, is the steadfast presence of a strong woman beside Peter Obi—Margaret Brownson Usen.

Mrs. Margaret Obi, who entered matrimony with Peter Obi in 1992, has been the pillar of strength behind the scenes. Their union is blessed with two children: Gabriella Nwamaka Frances Obi and Gregory Peter Oseloka Obi.

But Margaret Obi’s significance goes far beyond her role as a spouse. She is celebrated as the driving force behind her husband’s National Gender Affirmative Action. This groundbreaking policy paved the way for at least fifty percent of slots in Obi’s administration to be allocated to women, a testament to the couple’s commitment to gender equality and inclusivity in politics.

In the often tumultuous landscape of Nigerian politics, Margaret Brownson Usen represents the resilience and support that can bolster a leader in their journey. Her contributions, both as a wife and advocate for gender equality, continue to inspire and shape the narrative of Peter Obi’s political legacy.

House of Reps want Primary Teachers to earn N250,000 salary, Secondary N500,000, Lecturers N1m monthly

By
Prince Efiok Edet
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Habubakar Fulata, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on University Education has called for salary increment for primary, secondary and university teachers.

The chairman said the teachers should earn N250,000, N500,000 and N1 million respectively as monthly renumeration.

Mr Fulata was speaking at a One-Day National Stakeholders’ Workshop on the Development of a Roadmap for the Nigerian Education Sector (2023-2027), in Abuja on Thursday.

Fulata said that it is important for Nigerian teachers to be more encouraged by paying them adequately to teach the children.

He also stressed the need to translate all subject textbooks into local languages so as to catch up with the world.

According to him, efforts have been made by past administrations as regards the country’s education but those efforts had not yielded the desired results.

“It is a thing of concern that from decades, several efforts on policies made by successive government to resuscitate and improve the education sector and those efforts have continued to create very little progress.

“All over the world, the subject of language of instruction has always been local language of those countries. If you go to the UK, education is taught in English, if you go to France, education from the basic level up to the tertiary level is taught in French.

“It is in Nigeria that you teach language of instruction in English. Our problem has always been that we are teaching our children subjects they ought to have been taught in their local language.

“All Mathematical, Physics, Chemistry textbook and what have you should be in our local languages. There is no way we can catch up with the world if we continue teaching our children in a foreign language.

“No primary school teacher should earn less than N250,000 in a month, no secondary school teacher should earn less than N500,000 and no university teacher should warn less than 1million in a month.

“The nation must declare a state of emergency in education. We must commit at least 25 per cent to 30 per cent of our national budget to education.

“It is high time we pay them adequately so that them can teach our children,” he said.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said that the ministry has great policies on papers but they are not meeting the needs of the people.

Mr Mamman explained that the country’s education does not translate to the needs of the society, hence the need to critically have a roadmap that would translate to development.

He added that those roadmaps must however be implemented within the shortest timeline.
“President Bola Tinubu has charged the ministry to do all it can to reposition the sector.

”We have problems that has been militating the visions, missions and objectives on ground. We have great and fantastic policies but the issue is that our people are not seeing our problems addressed.

“We have institutions churning out graduates who are not employable and we cannot go on like this forever.

“So, in line with our President’s mandate, we must have a roadmap to guide the implementation of how to take the sector forward.

”The idea of the conference is to have a whole lot of time for implementation of our policies,” he said.

He charged participants to work within limited time so that Nigerians could begin to feel the impacts of the policies made within the timelines.

He pledged to engage state governments on the ministry’s crusade to move the sector forward.

READ ALSO: 4 Nigerians, others join YouTube Black Voices music class 2022
In the same vein, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, emphasised the need to recognise gender mainstreaming in the roadmap so that Nigeria will have the benefit of a balanced education system.

“Education, you would all agree is one sector of development that Nigerians have been known to speak with one voice in terms of its importance to development.

“However, this recognition of its importance is yet to translate to tangible results that show that an educated person stands a better chance of living a fulfilled life.

“This disconnect, between purpose and reality, could be said to be responsible for inadequate attention to the sector, wrong perceptions of the relative importance of the different forms and types of education.

“Indeed, I must also say that the inability of our youths to gain employment after going through the rigors of academic may be responsible for a gradually building dis-interest in the pursuit of education,” he said.

Mr Sununu, however, said this trend must be curtailed to make Nigerian education responsive to every day realities and beneficial to the individual as well as the nation.

NAN

“Becoming a woman has been an uneasy journey for me,” James Brown laments

By
Prince Efiok Edet
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James Brown has said that “becoming a woman” has been an uneasy journey for him.

The cross dresser says he sometimes feels different from his old self.

He then added that he now has to bend to pee.

The social media personality has been inconsistent about his gender identification. Sometimes, he claims he’s female, other times he says he’s a “drag queen,” and sometimes he insists he is fully male and his feminine persona is just for money making purposes.

When his sex tape with a woman leaked last year, he admitted being attracted to the opposite sex.

Speaking on ‘The Frankly Speaking Podcast’ in Sept. 2022, he admitted he has a girlfriend and that defining himself and his gender is more complex.

He said at the time, “I once told Tobi I don’t want to be a girl anymore. It goes back and forth.

“Sometimes, it doesn’t just sit nicely in your brain. Sometimes, I want to change to a girl, but other times I’m confused.”

He said there was a time he wanted to change his entire body and go for therapy.

“The thing is, I still don’t know yet,” he said.

Click here to see the Video

President Tinubu Approves ₦35,000 Wage Award To Civil Servants

By
Prince Efiok Edet
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the sum of N35,000 as wage award to all Federal civil servants.

The new pay will be effective from September 1, 2023, as contained in a memo from the Presidency and signed by the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, CEO of National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ekpo U. O. Nta.

The circular was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ministers and Ministers of State, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Chairmen, Federal Commissions, Federal Permanent Secretaries, Clerk of the National Assembly, Secretary, National Judicial Council, Secretary, Federal Judicial Service Commission, Directors-General and Chief Executives of Parastatals, Agencies and Governments-Owned Companies Auditor-General for the Federation, Accountant-General of the Federation, Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, and dated 19 October 2023.

“I refer to the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Monday, 2 October 2023 as a result of the dispute arising from withdrawal of subsidy on the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) and hereby convey the approval of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the grant of a wage award of N35,000:00 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only per month to all Federal Government workers with effect from 1 September 2023 pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.

“Accordingly, the implementation of the N35,000.00 per month wage award for all Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies that are treasury-funded will be funded from the treasury.

“Non-treasury funded Federal Government agencies are to implement the same from their internally generated,” it said.

Massive Cashout! Federal Government to Disburse 9-Month Backlog Payments – You Won’t Believe When and How Much!

By
Prince Efiok Edet
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The Federal Government has officially announced that it will start paying the long-overdue stipends to N-Power beneficiaries in November, which is a relief for many. Akindele Egbuwalo, who manages the N-Power program, shared this news during a meeting in Abuja.

To improve the N-Power program, the government has not only sorted out the delayed payments but has also renamed it the “Renewed Hope Job Creation Programme (RHJCP).” This change aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for more job opportunities and empowerment.

Under the leadership of Dr. Betta Edu, the program aims to reach more people, with a goal of helping 5 million beneficiaries over the next 5 years. They plan to support 1 million young people each year, including both graduates and non-graduates, offering them opportunities to grow personally and professionally.

The decision to revamp the N-Power program shows the government’s commitment to providing services efficiently and transparently. They have successfully collected the needed funds from payment providers, so the backlog of stipends will be paid out in smaller portions to ensure fairness.

Here are some common questions answered:

  • The backlog payments will start in November 2023.
  • The new name for the program is RHJCP, and it’s to emphasize job creation and empowerment.
  • The program aims to help 5 million people in the next 5 years, and details about who’s eligible will be provided later.
  • Funds for the backlog payments were collected through a restructuring process.
  • The backlog stipends will be paid in smaller, manageable amounts.

In conclusion, the government’s announcement about the N-Power backlog payment is a big step toward their goal of empowering and supporting Nigerian youth. As the RHJCP program gets underway, it shows their commitment to providing hope and opportunities for a better future.

Nigerian Soldiers Launch Attacks, Burn IPOB’s Hideouts

By
Prince Efiok Edet
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Soldiers from the Nigerian Army attached to the 302 Artillery and 14 Field Engineer Regiments have ignited hideouts used by individuals associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who have been causing unrest in the southeastern region of the nation.

The spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu, the troops, who were conducting “operation clear terrorists” on Monday as ordered by the military high command, captured different sophisticated weapons from the terrorists including two locally-made Artillery Projectile Launchers.

Nwachukwu, a Brigadier-General explained, “In the operation, one combatant of the dissident group was arrested and several items, including 48 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO ammunition, 4 mobile phones, one handheld communication radio and a substance suspected to be cannabis, among others, were recovered by the troops.”

Daily Trust reports that in a separate operation the same day, troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade also conducted an offensive operation against oil thieves in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

The senior military officer said the troops recovered several items from the camp, including one crude oil cooking oven, three reservoirs, several connecting hoses and pipes and three mobile phones.

50 repentant thugs join Kano Police as special constabularies

By
Prince Efiok Edet
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Nigerians have raised concerns over the recent recruitment of 50 repentant thugs into the Kano State Police Command. These individuals have been enrolled as police special constabularies, as confirmed by the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel.

During their passing out parade, the Command’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna, expressed, “Today is a joyous day for the people of Kano State and the Police Command as we celebrate the graduation of fifty (50) youths out of the two hundred and twenty-two (222) repentant thugs who voluntarily surrendered.”

In response to this development, Nigerians took to social media to share their opinions, with concerns that this move might lead to unruly behavior among security agents.

Defending Kano State’s decision, the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, clarified, “They are not policemen. They are repentant individuals who have been mobilized into Kano State’s constabulary scheme, a community-based initiative.”

In response to Adejobi’s statement, questions were raised by the public, seeking clarity on the evaluation and assessment of these recruits, as well as the process of verifying their repentance.

Amid reactions to this recruitment, some individuals called for transparency and questioned whether these recruits could be confidently authenticated as suitable candidates for the police force.

While further controversy arose concerning the alleged recruitment of a notorious miscreant among the new constabularies, the situation has led to mixed reactions from the public, with some expressing their skepticism about the process.

The Commissioner of Police, Gumel, made further clarifications, emphasizing that no criminals were recruited into the police force. He noted that one of the recruits, Nasiru Abdullahi, also known as ‘Chile Madobi,’ was among the 222 ‘repentant influential youths’ who denounced violence and sought to become “good ambassadors” of the state. These individuals were granted amnesty by the state government, de-radicalized, and offered opportunities for skills acquisition and empowerment.

The controversy continues, with discussions about the suitability of these recruits and the impact of their involvement in law enforcement activities.

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