IPOB attacked us at Enugu meeting—Igbo leaders

Mercy Lank

IGBO leaders, who were attacked by youths suspected to be members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and other pro-Biafra agitation groups in a meeting in Enugu on Tuesday have reeled out gory tales of how they nearly lost their lives during the commotion. IPOB members on solidarity march Secretary of Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, and former director-general of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Prof Elochukwu Amucheazi, said he nearly lost his life during fracas. A group of youths suspected to be members of IPOB and other pro –Biafra groups disrupted the event which was meant to honour some notable Igbo, including the first republic president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi and late Chief Sam Mbakwe, among others. Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB however, issued a statement yesterday, denying involvement in the attack. Amucheazi told Vanguard on the telephone that, although his red cap, eye glasses and mobile telephone which were forcefully taken away from him were immediately returned, he was still in shock over the attack. He said: “I was there to see Prof Nwabueze, as I didn’t even know about the awards or that anybody would be honoured. “Before much was said, they started shouting and started throwing sachet (pure) water at me. They wanted to destroy my car. We were cautioning them to listen to the elders so that they would learn from them, but they refused to listen. “However, some of the boys who didn’t like what happened or the way I was treated, cautioned their colleagues; collected my red cap, eye glasses and my telephone and returned them to me.” FG must address South East grievances He, however, asked the Federal Government to address the myriad of grievances in the the country to reduce youth restiveness in the land. “There is a lot of anger in the land. Majority of Nigerians are suffering and the government of the day has to address the issues involved. This idea of treating some people or the Igbo as a conquered people will not be allowed to go on forever. “My advice is that the government should address the grievances in the land. The idea of treating Igbo as a conquered people will not be allowed to go on forever. The fact that Nnamdi Kanu was subdued does not mean that another Nnamdi Kanu will not emerge again,” he added. IPOB not applying right method– Maria Okwor Also giving account of what happened, Deputy leader of the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, Chief Mrs Maria Okwor said that the young members of the Indigenous People of Biafra were not applying the appropriate method pursuant of their agitation for a separatist country. She said that IPOB and other Pro-Biafra groups should accept restructuring Nigeria for now, noting that if the country is restructured, it would be easier to realise the autonomous country as being agitated by the groups. Okwor who was reacting to the disruption of ECA meeting in Enugu on Tuesday observed that the Dr Dozie Ikedife-led Biafra agitation group was going about the quest legally and asked the younger agitators to take it easy. She however asked President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to voice of the angry Nigerians and devise a means of assuaging the monumental anger in the country. “Nobody is happy, we are all dissatisfied. Look at the security hierarchy, there is no Igbo there. They said they have defeated Boko Haram but they are still there. I sympathise with these youths and their lives no longer mean anything to them. Incident was unfortunate—Mbazulike Amaechi Reacting to the incident, First Republic Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi yesterday described as unfortunate, the disruption of the event of the Igbo leaders in Enugu, advising those who had any reason to protest against any perceived injustice meted out to them to always adopt peaceful means in fighting their cause. “After my address, I was honoured before I left and there was no objection or murmur from the crowd. As I was going, I saw a lot of buses heading towards the venue. It was in the Vanguard Newspaper that I read that there was disruption. “Our people should not forget what Zik did for the country. With him as our leader, we confronted the colonial masters and chased them away and took over government. If not what we did, Nigeria would not have got her independence at the time she did,” he said. IPOB apologises It was also gathered that the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB had apologised to the leaders of the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, over the disruption of their programme in Enugu. Reliable sources told Vanguard yesterday, IPOB leaders made separate telephone calls to the convener of the ECA meeting where the issue of restructuring of the country was to be discussed, with the awards to prominent eastern leaders as highlight of the occasion. “They felt bad that people like Prof Nwabueze, Maria Okwor and Ugochukwu- Uko, who had been giving them advice on how to go about their agitations in a peaceful manner were embarrassed.

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Arsenal announces £58.4m profit from summer transfer

Mercy Lank

Arsenal have announced that they made a huge profit from their summer transfer dealings, as the club struggles to make the Premier League top four. The club sold Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs and Gabriel in the summer, leaving the club with a massive financial surplus. In their financial results for the six months until the end of November 2017, Arsenal revealed they have made ‘profits on sale of players, amounting to £58.4million’. This does not include their January business, when the £58million signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was largely offset by the sale of Theo Walcott to Everton for £20m, Olivier Giroud to Chelsea for £18m and Francis Coquelin to Valencia for £10m. In total, Arsenal Holdings plc, the company which owns the Gunners, announced a pre-tax profit of £25.1m for the six-month period. This is more than double their profit for 2016, of £12.6m. They say they have no short term debt, and cash reserves of £137.6million – which most Gunners fans want to see invested on the pitch. Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick said: ‘This has not been the easiest of campaigns but we are all working hard to ensure we have a strong finish. ‘Breaking our transfer record twice in one season and the player contracts we have signed shows our commitment to getting the club back competing for the Premier League. ‘However our strategy remains self-financing and we must accept all the challenges that bring at a time when the inflation of transfer fees, player wages and the fees demands by agents has become super-heated. “We need to spend effectively and be the best we can across the whole of our football operations if we are to compete at the level our ambitions for the club demand.”

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Eden Hazard admits he wants to see top Chelsea transfer target at Stamford Bridge this summer

Mercy Lank

Chelsea star Eden Hazard has revealed he would like Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne to rejoin him at Stamford Bridge. The pair played together following De Bruyne's move to the club in 2012, although he would depart west London on a permanent basis to Wolfsburg in January 2014. Since returning to the Premier League in 2015, the Belgian international has gone from strength to strength at Manchester City. Now seen as one of the best players in the league, De Bruyne, who penned a new six-year contract with City back in January, could well finish the season by claiming the PFA Player of the Year award. Asked which of his Belgian teammates he would like to join him in the capital, Hazard told Copa90: "Kevin De Bruyne." However, when he was reminded that De Bruyne had already played at Chelsea, Hazard revealed which other Belgian international he would like to play alongside for the Blues. "Go on, I’ll give another one - Radja Nainggolan," said Hazard. "He’s good, he’s good." The Belgian midfielder, who was reportedly attracting interest from the Blues last month, could well depart Serie A giants Roma in the summer with question marks over his long-term future in the Italian capital.

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Internet-Happening now: Delta govt, Digiteam Nigeria stage workshop on Digital Switch

Mercy Lank

A workshop on ‘DIGITAL SWITCH ON’ for information managers, marketers, engineers, technicians and broadcasters is currently ongoing, in Asaba, Delta State. The workshop is being organised by the Digiteam Nigeria in conjunction with the Delta State’s Ministry of Information. Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr. Patrick Ukah, who declareed the workshop open. Heads of parastatals of the Ministry of Information and representatives of Digiteam Nigeriawere present at the ongoing event holding at the Press Centre, Government House, Asaba. Details later…

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2017/2018 UNIJOS Admission List is Now Available on the School’s Portal

Mercy Lank

University of Jos, UNIJOS admission list for the 2017/2018 academic session is out and now available on the university’s portal. The University of Jos (UNIJOS) has released the list of candidates offered provisional admission into the university degree programmes for the 2017/2018 academic session. UNIJOS prospective students that participated in the university screening test can now check their admission status online.

HOW TO CHECK UNIJOS ADMISSION LIST.

Go to UNIJOS admission list checking portal athttps://mis.unijos.edu.ng/ug/portal/admissions.Supply you JAMB registration number in the required column. Click the search button to know your admission status.

Police arrest IPOB members

Mercy Lank

No fewer than 11 persons suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have been nabbed by the Police Command in Enugu State. The suspects were arrested on Tuesday around WAEC Bus-Stop in Independence Layout within Enugu metropolis. The Command’s spokesperson, SP Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the development in a statement signed by him. Amaraizu explained that the suspects were nabbed based on intelligence information gathered. “Those arrested are helping the operatives in their investigations in relation to their alleged nefarious activities and will be arraigned properly in a law court after investigations are concluded,” he said. The spokesperson urged members of the public to be law abiding and security conscious. He also called on the public to partner with the police to ensure that the state maintained its status as the safest and most secured state in the country.

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Arsenal team news: Star player out of Manchester City clash with back injury

Mercy Lank

Nacho Monreal will miss Arsenal's Premier League clash with Manchester City after sustaining an injury in Sunday's Carabao Cup final. The Spain international was forced off in the 3-0 loss to City with a back problem, which has also ruled him out of Sunday's trip to Brighton. Arsene Wenger has no other fresh injury concerns and can recall January signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was cup-tied at Wembley.

Provisional squad:

Cech, Ospina, Holding, Mustafi, Chambers, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Bellerin, Nelson, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Elneny, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Welbeck, Aubameyang.

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Akwa Ibom monarch kidnapped by unknown Gunmen

Mercy Lank

THE Village Head of Ikot Edet in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Mfon Udoessien, has been kidnapped by gunmen. Chief Udoessien was said to have been picked up from his palace, yesterday, by the gunmen after a fierce gun battle with the security agents drafted to provide security in the volatile area. It was learned that the monarch is a brother-in-law to a former Head of Civil Service in Akwa Ibom State. A resident of the area, who is simply identified as Eno, told newsmen that the monarch, a retired primary school headmaster and former Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, in the area, might have been abducted following his stance on cultism. According to him, Udoessien has relentlessly been waging war against the activities of gunmen, who have kidnapped no fewer than eight persons in the village. He said the whereabouts of the monarch is unknown, as the kidnappers are yet to contact the victim’s family. Eno said: “We think the kidnappers came after the Village Head because of how he has been opposing their activities. “As of now, we don’t know his whereabouts as the kidnappers are yet to contact any members of the monarch’s family.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the kidnap, said a meeting of the local government chairman and the security chiefs had been convened and far-reaching decisions taken to address the security challenges. According to Macdon, “security measures are in place; we just concluded a meeting with all the local government chairmen and the security chiefs in the state. That issue came up during the meeting; it is being addressed. “The monarch’s kidnap happened this morning (yesterday) and our men ran into action immediately. The DPO led a team to the palace.” script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js">

Bad news for Chelsea as Italian FA confirm interest in Chelsea boss Antonio Conte for national job

Mercy Lank

Starsport first revealed that Conte will be offered the chance to make a quick return to coaching with his country if he is sacked by the Blues. And former Italy great Alessandro Costacurta, who works for the Italian FA, confirmed that he will seek talks with the 48-year-old. Costacurta said: “I haven’t chosen yet but I think Conte is the one who could do the best. I’ll definitely talk with him in a couple of months.” Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and are also considering Carlo Ancelotti, Claudio Ranieri and Roberto Mancini for the post. Costacurta added: “Conte has already shown he knows how to be national team coach while the others haven’t yet. “That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be happy with Mancini or with Ancelotti - although he seems to have removed himself from consideration. “Or the same with Ranieri, who had a difficult experience with Greece but came out stronger and went to Leicester.” Conte remains under pressure at Stamford Bridge with the club lining up former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique to replace him. The Italian has 18 months left on his contract but is widely tipped to leave in the summer and could even be axed before then if results dip.

Defeat to Manchester United on Sunday left Chelsea in fifth place in the Premier League and they are not favourites to get past Barcelona in the Champions League after drawing the first leg 1-1 at Stamford Bridge. Conte guided Italy to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 before moving to Chelsea, where he won the Premier League in his first season in charge. But if he were to leave he is understood to favour staying in club football rather than returning to his old role after the sacking of Italy boss Giampiero Ventura in November.

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‘MOHAMED SALAH IS FAR MORE BETTER THAN COUTINHO’ – THIERRY HENRY

Mercy Lank

With Egypt’s Mohamed Salah continuing his exploits in the English Premier League, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry says he is better than Philippe Coutinho. Henry claims Salah is better than the club’s former star Coutinho, saying he likes his movement and adding that the Pharaohs international is a direct attacker. Salah took the Premier League by storm as has been directly involved in 40 goals in all competitions for the Reds - more than any player in the top flight. Along with Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, the deadly trio hold the best scoring record in the UEFA Champions League this season. Although the Reds’ fans were concerned after Coutinho left the club to join Barcelona in January, Jurgen Klopp and his troops have given them every reason to suggest they have only gotten better. The Gunners' all time EPL top scorer and French legend shared his thoughts on why Salah is even better than the Brazilian.

“I like his movement, he always wants to go in behind,” Henry told Sky Sports. “There’s no step-overs, there’s no trying to nutmeg, there’s no skills for no reason. He’s going at you, if you’re ready or not that’s your problem. “I said at the beginning, I predicted that he can be as efficient as Coutinho. He has been more efficient than Coutinho in his first season. So we will see how far he’s going to go with that. “Listen, if you’re a Liverpool fan and you have Firmino, Salah, Mane, you can only be happy.”

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EPL: Manchester United board regret signing Alexis Sanchez

Mercy Lank

Manchester United’s board members have regretted signing Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in January, according to El Pais. The Red Devils swooped in to capture Sanchez ahead of rivals Manchester City in the winter window, in a move that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan joining the Gunners. Since moving to United, the 29-year-old has not yet made a huge impression on the team, having scored just once in seven appearances in all competitions. The club’s hierarchy feel that the player would have been much cheaper in the summe, when his contract at Arsenal expired. In addition, it is believed that sections of the club have questioned his high wages amid concerns of unrest within the squad, in particular Paul Pogba, who allegedly wants a pay rise. They are also not comfortable with Sanchez’s age, with the feeling that the Chilean only has a few years left at this level.

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Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed his team selection plans for Champions League and Man Utd clashes

Mercy Lank

Jurgen Klopp looks set to resist the urge to rest his most important players for the second leg of Liverpool's Champions League last-16 tie against FC Porto next week, despite the club's enormous first-leg advantage and the fact that the fixture precedes the small matter of a north-west derby clash with Manchester United. Liverpool welcome the Primeira Liga leaders to Anfield next Tuesday [6 March] boasting a commanding 5-0 lead after a hat-trick from Sadio Mane and further goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah helped secure their joint-largest knockout victory in Europe's elite club competition at the Estadio do Dragao earlier this month to put one foot firmly in the quarter-finals. Emre Can asks Juventus to wait until end of season to finalise deal so he can focus on LiverpoolREAD MORE Why advertise with us Klopp has not previously been shy to rotate his squad at times this season in order to keep players fresh amid periods of heavy fixture congestion and prevent them from playing three times a week, and that second meeting with Porto may have presented an obvious opportunity for certain key performers to take the night off ahead of the trip to Old Trafford four days later. Third-place Liverpool, who host Newcastle United in the Premier League this weekend, temporarily leapfrogged Jose Mourinho's team with a 4-1 drubbing of West Ham United on Saturday [24 February] and that forthcoming derby could be important in deciding who finishes as runners-up behind dominant leaders Manchester City. However, Klopp insists he is planning to field a strong XI against both Porto and United but did describe criticism of Arsenal's team selection for their shock pre-Carabao Cup final Europa League last-32 second-leg defeat to Swedish minnows Ostersunds FK last week as unwarranted.

"Another week now for Newcastle, then Porto and United in one week," he was quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo. "All the people before the Porto game will tell me, 'Now you can rest him, him and him'. "Arsenal for example, that's so unfair. They were through in the tie and had a final on Sunday yet I only hear after the game things like, 'wow that was embarrassing against a Swedish team'. But they are through in the tie and played a final on Sunday. "That's the situation. We play Man United, we will not rest anybody. We will play a strong side against Porto and a strong side against United." Free-scoring Liverpool should welcome back Georginio Wijnaldum and Danny Ings for a busy March schedule that also includes top-flight meetings with Crystal Palace and Watford after both players missed the win over West Ham through illness. Long-term absentee Nathaniel Clyne completed 90 minutes for Neil Critchley's Under-23s in their 4-0 Premier League 2 defeat of Stoke City on Sunday [25 February]. It was the England right-back's first appearance since the pre-season opener against Tranmere Rovers in July, since when he has been hampered by a serious back injury. He previously accompanied his teammates to Porto and then Marbella, where Liverpool held a four-day warm-weather training camp earlier this month.

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Rochas Okorocha emerges worst governor in South-East, Buhari’s govt ranked most unpopular

Mercy Lank

A gathering of pro-democracy and civil rights groups in the five states of the South-East geopolitical zone under the auspices of Southeast Based Coalition of Human Rights & Good Governance Organizations, SBCHROs, has published the result of its fieldwork which returned Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state as the Worst Serving Governor in the South-East. The exhaustive project also singled out the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as the most unpopular and unfriendly federal government among the people of the South-East, as it named the Nigerian army and its 82 Division in Enugu as the most atrocious security organization in the South-East. These results were recently released during a press briefing in Onitsha, Anambra state attended by: Emeka Umeagbalasi, Dr. MaryRose Umeh, and Barr Jacinta Ezinwanne for Intersociety; Aloysius Emeka Attah, Chairman, CLO, Southeast Zone; Peter Onyegiri of Centre for Human Rights & Peace Advocacy; Michael Ifeabunuke, representing Human Rights Organization of Nigeria; Chike Umeosonwunne for Society Watch & Advocacy Project of Intersociety; Alex C. Olisa of Anambra Human Rights Forum; Barr Obianuju Joy Igboeli of Intersociety and Southeast Good Governance Forum; Dr. Jerry Chidozie Chukwuokoro for Int’l Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights Initiative. Others in attendance include: Charles Ogbu representing Igbo Ekunie Initiative; Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, Chairman, Civil Liberties Organization, Anambra State Branch; Nelson Nnanna Nwafor for Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy & Dev; Orji Andy Ndukwe for Society for Economic Rights & Social Justice; Comrade Nwokocha Anozie Innocent Initiative for Ideal Dev & Emancipatory Leadership in Nigeria; Comrade Chilos A.C. Godsent, President Igbo National Council; Forum for Promotion of National Ethos & Values participated but not represented; Emeku Uche of Easy Life Initiative for Rural Youths; and Barr Violet Chekwube Umenwofor-Ezekwike, Founder Voice of the Voiceless Int’l. Below is the full list of those in the worst public office holders: Most Unpopular & Unfriendly Federal Government Among The Southeast People Government of President Muhammadu Buhari Worst Past Governors in the Southeast Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju – Anambra State (1999-2003) Chief Orji Uzor Kalu – Abia State (1999-2007) Chief Ikedi Ohakim – Imo State (2007-2011) Chief Theodore Orji – Abia State (2007-2015) Worst Serving Governor in the Southeast Zone Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State Worst Public Utilities Providers of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). See Intersociety & SBCHROs’ Memo to the Minister of Power & ors, dated 18th December 2017 (www.intersociety-ng.org) Most Atrocious Security Organization in the Southeast Zone Nigerian Army and its Enugu 82 Division (shot and killed in two years-2015-2017 over 370 unarmed and defenseless citizens of the Southeast and maimed over 400 others) Most Regime Atrocity Perpetrator in the Southeast Zone Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai (vicariously masterminded in two years 2015-2017, as COAS, the massacre of estimated 370 defenseless citizens of the Southeast Zone and maiming of over 400 others) Most Atrocious Police Special Squad of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone The Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) formations in Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States as well as the Zone 9 SARS formation in Umuahia; killed average of estimated 35 detained citizens monthly and 420 annually in the Zone. The killings are perpetrated through criminal processes of extra jus (beyond the law), extra legal (beyond what the written criminal law provides) and extra judicial (beyond court or judicial pronouncement or verdict); arising from racial profiling and unprofessional crime detection and criminal investigation management. For more details, see Intersociety’s expert report: The Untold Story of Ezu River Police SARS Killings (July 2017). Most Lopsidedly Composed Security Organization in the Southeast Zone The Nigerian Army & Navy (most, if not all their key heads in the Zone are members of Hausa-Fulani Muslims). For more details, see Intersociety’s statement of 19th October 2017; titled: The Retun Of “Glover Hausas” In The Nigerian Army: Exposing 95% Dominance Of Key Army Formations In Igbo Land By Northern Muslim Officers Most Corrupt & Incompetent Policing Organization of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone The Nigeria Police Force and its key formations in the Southeast under IGP Ibrahim Idris (generated, illicitly, over N14 billion or $45 million between September 2017 and January 2018 from Southeast roadblocks using over 2900 police roadblocks raised in early September 2017). See Intersociety’s statement of 5th September 2017 on: Unchecked Police And Army Extortion In Southeast Nigeria: How IGP And His Cohorts Will Pocket (already pocketed) N14.1Billion In Five Months (Sep 2017-Jan 2018) From 2900 Roadblocks Using False Biafra Insecurity, etc. Destitute of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone The Destitute of Uga Junction Pedestrian Bridge in Onitsha (represents the plight of the destitute population roaming the streets of the Southeast Zone without government care and welfare). Governors of the Zone are called upon to urgently address the plight of the destitute population especially their children who are out of school. One of the core ways to address this is by enacting the Destitute & Disability Rights & Welfare Laws by the Executive and Legislative Arms in the Southeast. The Slain & the Disappeared of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone Estimated 100 defenseless citizens of the Zone killed or made to disappear by the Nigerian Army in September 2017; in addition to over 270 others earlier shot and killed; with most of their bodies remained missing till date. Their killers must be fished out and severely punished by the Federal Government or relevant international justice groups no matter how long it takes. The Maimed or Wounded of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone Over 400 victims of military shootings in the Zone. They must be adequately compensated with their shooters fished out and punished severely. Persecuted Citizens of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone Include Citizens Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Dave Nwawuisi, Benjamin Mmadubugwu, Bright Chimezie and over 82 others including minors and married women presently languishing in various prisons across the country without formal trial; in connection with nonviolent pro Biafra agitations. Others are those in the category of “dark figures of crime” or arrested and detained citizens without public notice or records. All pro Igbo-Biafra detainees in Nigeria must be de-criminalized, released and have their phantom charges dropped by the Buhari Administration.

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