You Will Reap What You Sow- Femi Adesina Tells Nigerians Wishing Ailing Buhari Death In New Article

In a new article he posted on social media titled "PMB and the Descendants of Shimei", Senior Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, asked Nigerians wishing ailing President Buhari death, to remember that they would reap what they sow. Read the article below

There is nothing new under the sun, goes a popular saying. In fact, the more things seem to change, the more they appear the same. From time immemorial, some people have spoken evil of leadership, cast aspersions on them, and generally portrayed themselves as scum of the earth. No matter how a country loves its leader, there will naturally be those that the Good Book calls "filthy dreamers" who "despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities." That is why as spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, I never respond to such people. Their type would always be around.
President Buhari has been indisposed since the beginning of the year. It is human, and presidents, despite their elevated status, remain human. If there is anybody who considers himself 100 percent healthy, or who bears what William Shakespeare calls "a charmed life," let that person stand up to be identified. All mortals are doomed to sickness, they can recover, and they can die. That is the truth that has been internalized by millions of people praying for the recovery of our President. And that is where the shallowness, vacuousness, and hollowness of people who wish the President dead, and carry unfounded rumors, is on stark display. Filthy dreamers. They speak evil of dignities, and despise dominion. But we forgive them, for they know not what they do. When President Buhari returns (as God would make him do) where would they hide their faces? In shame.
Now, I started by saying we would always have scumbags around. It is inevitable. They are the descendants of Shimei, the son of Gera, whom I want to introduce to you now.
Who is Shimei? Well, I met him on the pages of the Good Book, and he bears striking similitude to some people in our country today. The evil wishers, the hate monger, and those who spend their days conjecturing tragedy for leadership.
Absalom, the son of King David, had led an insurrection against his father. And the king of Israel fled, with some of his supporters in tow. As David got to a place called Bahurim, the Holy Bible records that Shimei, the son of Gera, a man of the family of Saul, came out, and started cursing the fleeing king. You don't kick a man that is down, goes a saying, but Shimei not only cursed David, he also threw dust and stones at him. It was a show of shame.
David had succeeded Saul as king of Israel. And Shimei was from the family of Saul (read, People's Democratic Party, PDP). Shimei hadn't forgotten the bloody nose the family of Saul got, when the kingship was taken away from them, and given to David. So when the latter got into a time of travail, no pity at all from people still smarting from bloody noses.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), inspired by Muhammadu Buhari, halted the 60-year pipe dream of PDP at the polls in 2015. Has the latter forgotten? No, they won't forget till forever. But so much is the animus, the antipathy towards the President that they wish him dead. While millions of Nigerians are praying, some elements are rejoicing, and imagining evil. But they forget: man is not God, and Jehovah always has the final say. The descendants of Shimei need to learn vital lessons from their forebear.
As the base fellow assaulted the fleeing king, Abishai, one of David's mighty men, said:"Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head."(2 Samuel, 16:9). But David restrained him, saying if God had not permitted Shimei, he could not have done what he was doing.
President Buhari has tolerated people who have called him all sorts of names in the past two years. If he didn't move against them directly, he could have allowed many Abishais to move against them, "and take off their heads." But not our President, a reformed democrat, a pious man, who has resolved to leave the people suffused by hatred unto God. And will they get their just desserts one day? As night follows the day, they will. If not from man, they will get it from God. Their forefather, Shimei did. He reaped what he sowed.
After some time, the rebellion led by Absalom was crushed by loyal troops, and David regained the throne. As he headed back into the city, who came to meet the king, with one thousand of his relatives, pleading for mercy? Shimei. The Yorubas say the same mouth that the snail used to abuse the gods, is what it uses to lick the dusts of the earth. Shimei had suddenly become gentle. And humble, too. He fell down before David, and said:"I have sinned. Have mercy on me. Don't remember what I did against you on the day you went out of Jerusalem."
Heh, on a certain day, some people would come to prostrate, begging for mercy, asking President Buhari to forgive and forget. What will the President do? What did David do? Abishai said again to King David:"Let me bring down the head of this man, who cursed, and threw stones at you?"
But David said to Shimei:"Thou shall not surely die." And the king swore unto him.
But did Shimei live happily ever after? Old sins, they say, have long shadows. Before David died, he instructed Solomon his son, who succeeded him, not to forget to deal with Shimei. At least, David had kept his part of the bargain not to kill Shimei.
What did Solomon do? He restricted Shimei to Jerusalem, adding that any day he went out of the city would be his last on earth. Days, weeks, and months went by. Shimei remained gentle. But on a certain day, two servants belonging to him ran away to Gath, another city. Shimei saddled his horses, and led his men to bring back the servants. He had received mercy from David, but he couldn't show mercy to the servants. Mercy begets mercy.
The story was told to Solomon. Shimei has left Jerusalem. He went to Gath, contrary to your instructions. It was time for judgment. Solomon commanded that what Abishai had long wanted to do should be done to Shimei. And his head was brought down.
Will the descendants of Shimei repent, turn a new leaf, and become human? Will they recognize their own mortality? He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still. He that is overtaken by hate, let him remain hateful still. Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.
Let the descendants of Shimei who have ears to hear please hear. There is recompense for evil, and there is also recompense for good.
.Adesina is Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Buhari

Army Chief, Tukur Buratai, Orders Officers To Capture Boko Haram Leader, Abubakar Shekau, Dead Or Alive Within 40 Days

The Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Tukur Buratai Has ordered Nigeria Army officers to capture the

factional leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, dead or alive within 40 days. According to a statement by the Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, Buratai gave the order to the Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru yesterday July 21st.
Buratai asked the theater commander to employ all arsenal at his disposal to smoke out Shekau wherever he is hiding in Nigeria. The statement appealed to Nigerians to please assist the Army with any information that would lead to the accomplishment of this task

PRINCE GEORGE FOR HIS 4TH BIRTHDAY

William and Kate's son prince George is celebrating his 4 birthday today which is traditionally a significant milestine along the read from infancy to boyhood to mark the occasion a new official photo (above) was issued by kensington palace

BAYELSA QUEEN FC FINED FOR N2M

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the Ad-hco commitee of the Nigeria women football league nfwl has fine the bayelsa queen 2m over the attack on th goal keeper of the sunshine queen football club after a match in Nembe Bayelsa STATE last Wednesday july 19th
Fans of Bayelsa Queens accused the goal keeper of preventing their football stars from scoring more goals during the match. Even though the Bayelsa Queens won by a 1-0 margin, the fans stormed the field and attacked the players, inflicting serious injuries on the Sunshine Queens goalkeeper.

The NFWL council had a meeting over the attack and came up with some resolutions. See them below
- The result of the match which started and ended with one goal in favour of Bayelsa Queens FC stands.
- From our findings, security provision was ineffective at the match, thereby resulting in assault at the end of the match. Therefore, State Football Association is hereby called to live up to expectation in their responsibility in providing adequate and effective security in their subsequent matches as provided in article 1.7.1 of the rules book.
- Because clubs shall be held responsible for the behaviour of their supporters before, during or after any match as enshrine in article 22.9 of the rules book. The Bayelsa State Football Association in conjunction with Bayelsa Queens FC are to identify and produce the assailant(s) on or before 28th of July, 2017 to the Nigeria Women Football League Secretariat. Failure of which the league will have no option other take drastic measures on Bayelsa Queens FC.
- The assault on the Sunshine Queens FC player, Elizabeth Johnson was established as a result of fans encroachment into the field immediately after the final whistle of the game. This act attracts a fine of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) only to be paid by Bayelsa Queens FC before their next home game. The Nigeria Women Football League invokes article 27.1.3 of the rules book for this fine.
- That Bayelsa Queens FC should make a payment of N200,000.00 for continuous medical treatment of the injured player via Nigeria Women Football League.
- That Bayelsa Queens FC should pay the sum of N50,000.00 for the damaged video camera repair via the Nigeria Women Football League.
- The Match Commissioner failed in his responsibility in ensuring the security and safety of the away team as the team suffered total neglect after the match. Therefore, the Match Commissioner is being recommended to appropriate committee for appropriate sanction.

56 years man reman in prison for sex with his daughter

On Friday A Kano Magistrates court remanded suspect a 56 years old man Ibraim Mohammed in prison custody for having sexual intercourse his daughter for 7 years
Ibrahim is standing trial on a two-count charge of procuring minor and incest.
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Aluta Mijinyawa, the accused began to sexually assault the girl in 2010 when she was just seven years old. He went on to say Ibrahim had been having sex with the minor since the death of her mother in 2010, adding, “the victim was seven year’s then, now a 14-year-old girl.”.
Mijinyawa further told the court that the girl the resisted her father who threatened to harm her which led her to report the father at Metro Police Station in Kano. The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 275 and 390 of the penal code.The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Chief Magistrate Fatima Adamu ordered the remand of the accused in prison custody and adjourned the case to September 12, 2017.

SENATOR DINO MELAYE ATTEND FUND RAISING EVENT OF 6 YEARS OLD BOKO HARAM

yesterday senator Dino Melaye of APC Attending a fund raising ceremony for medical treatment of one victim of boko haram a six years old Ali Ahhmeed Organiseing by the Global Initiative for Peace Love & Care .Ali Ahmadu was 3 years old when he victim of Boko Haram terrorists stormed Chibok and ran over him (on his back/spine) with a motorcycle.The urgent need for proper medical attention at a specialist hospital in UAE necessiated the fund raising event that was held at Merit House Abuja.
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Nigeria’s Former Attorney General Olu Onagoruwa Is Dead

A former Attorney-General of Nigeria and human rights activist, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa is dead. He died early Friday morning at the age of 80.

He was appointed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1993 and was further appointed as the African representative to the body that drafted Ethiopia’s constitution in that same year.
Dr. Onagoruwa was also the Group Legal Adviser/ Company Secretary of Daily Times Nigeria for several years.
His core practice areas included Constitutional law, Legislative Matters, Banking and Insolvency, Oil and Gas, Telecommunication Law and litigation.
He wrote several books and has to his credit over 250 published articles.
Onagoruwa held a doctorate degree in Law.

Fire Attack On Kuje Prison In Abuja

A major fire has engulfed in several buildings inside Kuje prison, Abuja. The fire reportedly started around 10:45 am. A group calling itself the Prisoners Against Injustice in Nigeria (PAIN) has claimed responsibility for the fire. PAIN made the claim in a handwritten statement posted on the prison notice board before it was hurriedly removed by the prison authorities. PAIN said the attack was meant to draw the attention of the world to the pathetic state of prisons and corruption within prison services.

A major fire has engulfed in several buildings inside Kuje prison, Abuja. The fire reportedly started around 10:45 am.

A group calling itself the Prisoners Against Injustice in Nigeria (PAIN) has claimed responsibility for the fire. PAIN made the claim in a handwritten statement posted on the prison notice board before it was hurriedly removed by the prison authorities.
PAIN said the attack was meant to draw the attention of the world to the pathetic state of prisons and corruption within prison services.
The terse statement described the recent death on Tuesday, June 27 of Samuel Mba, an inmate awaiting trial but remanded in Kuje prison for the past four years as the last straw. The group blamed Mr. Mba’s death and that of many other inmates on gross negligence, corruption and the lack of basic medicines and equipment to treat emergencies and routine health challenges.
PAIN said that in spite of the huge annual budgetary allocation to the Nigeria Prison Service, inmates must buy medicines through prison staff and seek funds to treat serious conditions in healthcare facilities outside the yard. Those who are unable to afford health services are left to their fate, with many dying.
PAIN described the prison clinic building as a carcass housing non-functional equipment to deceive visitors. They said the dead equipment served only as ornaments and storage shelves.
PAIN also said they burnt down the overcrowded cells to ensure that spacious replacements ideal for human habitation is built.
The group also blamed Nigeria's criminal justice system, adding that there was a different law for the rich and influential, and another for the poor masses. "Corrupt politicians who have looted the treasury only spend a few days in prison and are given special treatment while the poor man who stole a mobile phone is awaiting trial for years without bail,” said PAIN. The group added, “While corrupt judges have never stepped their foot into the cells as inmates, their trials are speedy and they have not been made to face the same fate they have subjected so many others too,” the group added.

Kuje Prison On Fire Kuje Prison On Fire "The affected buildings are the moribund Clinic block, Custody 2, which is the congested home to 153 Awaiting Trial Inmates, Convicts block (custody 3) where 322 inmates are crammed into, and Custody 4, another Awaiting Trial block where additional 306 inmates are packed in like sardines."
PAIN stated that a total of 781 inmates have been displaced, adding that the situation should get the attention of the judiciary to accelerate trials and grant bails where applicable.

Gov. Ondo Akeredolu Of Ondo To Swear In Kinsman, Justice Akeredolu, As Acting Chief Judge

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State is on the cusp of swearing in a new acting Chief Judge for the state despite intense pressure for the appointment of a “substantive Chief Judge”, SaharaReporters has exclusively learned.
The appointment of the new acting Chief Judge is coming after the long expiration of the tenure of the embattled acting Justice Temitayo Osoba. Justice Osoba held on to the office in spite calls for her resignation.
Justice Osoba has been mired in a scandal over forgery of her academic records and falsification of her age in order to retain the acting position of the Chief Judge of the state.
A highly placed source in the state government confirmed the latest development in a conversation on Friday. He added that the new acting Chief Judge had been contacted to take up the new position from Ms. Osoba.
The source revealed that the new acting Chief Judge also hails from the same local government area as Governor Akeredolu. According to the source, the acting CJ is the state's most senior justice and next in rank to Justice Osoba.
“The name of the new acting Chief Judge is Justice Olarenwaju Oluwatoyin Akeredolu and she is also from the same Owo Local Government Area as the Governor," our source said.
He added: "Justice Akeredolu is the second most senior after Justice Temitayo Osoba whose academic record is currently being challenged at the High Court because of her alleged age falsification.

“Justice Akeredolu is also regarded as having a clean academic record." The new choice for acting CJ is currently at the Ondo State High Court in Akure.
Our source said the state governor would most likely swear in Justice Akeredolu on Monday.
The position of a substantial Chief Judge of the state has been the source of controversy and dispute between senior judges of the state, with the President of the State Customary Court of Appeal, Folasade Aguda Taiwo, even showing interest in the office.
An authoritative source claimed that the planned swearing in of Justice Akeredolu was a way to ease out Justice Temitayo Osoba.
SaharaReporters learned that Ms. Osoba, who was appointed in acting capacity by ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko, had made several moves to extend her tenure as the state's acting Chief Judge.
A case instituted to challenge Justice Osoba’s continued stay in office and alleged age falsification is still been heard at the Ondo State High Court in Akure.
SaharaReporters learned that Governor Akeredolu had already written Justice Osoba to urge her to prepare her “handing notes” before next week and in preparation for her exit from the office for the new acting chief judge of the state.
Several sources at the state Ministry of Justice revealed that Ms. Osoba has been incommunicado since getting wind of her removal last week.
“She has not come to the office since last week, not even to perform her official duties. And we noticed that her line has been off since Monday," a source in the state judiciary said.
A document obtained by SaharaReporters and dated June 20, 2017 showed that the National Judicial Commission (NJC) had directed the state to commence the process that would lead to the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge.
Signed by E.I Odukwu the NJC's director of Administration, the document specifically stated that Justice Aguda of the Customary Court should be allowed to participate in the running for a Chief Judge for the state.
Meanwhile, a source at the Ministry of Justice confirmed to our correspondent that Governor Akeredolu had not reconstituted the Ondo State Judicial Service Commission.
“And this is one of the reasons for the delay in the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for the state. And now another acting Chief Judge is about to be appointed," said the source.
Last week, Femi Emmanuel Emodamori, a human rights lawyer based in Akure, the Ondo State capital, joined a chorus of people who have urged the governor to reconstitute the Ondo State Judicial Service Commission.
In an interview, he said constituting the commission was imperative in order to commence a selection process for the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for Ondo state in line with section 197 of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution.
“The State Judicial Service Commission is established by Section 197 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and its composition is set out in Part 2 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution to include 'the Chief Judge of the State who shall be the Chairman; the Attorney-General of the State; the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the State, if any; the President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the State, if any; two members who are legal practitioners, and who have been qualified to practice in Nigeria for not less than 10 years; and two other persons, not being legal practitioners, who in the opinion of the Governor are of unquestionable integrity.
“The powers of the State Judicial Service Commission, according to paragraph 6 of Part 2 of the Third Schedule, include advising the NJC on suitable persons for nomination to the office of the Chief Judge of the State.
“It is therefore imperative to reconstitute the Ondo State Judicial Service Commission immediately and appoint an Attorney-General who is a statutory member of the Commission to avoid a constitutional anomaly in Ondo State Judiciary," he said.
He added that the governor could appoint another acting Chief Judge for the state to avoid facing consequences from the National Judicial Commission, which directed that a meeting of the state Judicial Commission be convened to begin the process of a substantive Chief Judge.

Nigerian Youths Threaten Showdown With Lawmakers Over Exclusion of #NotTooYoungToRun Bill

Nigerian youth organizations across the country have given 48 hours to the leadership of the National Assembly to include the 'Not Too Young To Run' bill in the report of the ongoing constitution review process or face mass action.
The demand was contained in a press statement signed by 53 youth organizations. Representatives of the groups held a press conference in Abuja. Several members of the #NOTTOOYOUNGTORUN coalition were at the press conference.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Maryam Laishi said that the youths across the country would commence picketing of the National Assembly and embark on a series of other mass actions against legislature if the leadership of the constitution review committees failed to give an account within 48 hours of the #NOTTOOYOUNGTORUN bill.
Ms. Laishi noted that there were indications that the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives constitution review committee had excluded the 'Not Too Young To Run' bill from the ongoing constitution review process.
She added that the bill was the only proposed constitutional amendment that promotes youth participation in the political process through the removal of age limits for running for office.
The group maintained that the bill had passed the first and second readings in both Houses in fulfillment of the constitutional amendment procedure.
"Their arguments against the bill are an affirmation that most of our lawmakers are not committed to youth empowerment, intergenerational dialogue, and civic participation. The arguments include the fact that there is palpable fear that most legislators in the 8th Assembly will be unseated in the 2019 elections by young people if the bill is passed."
The youth organizations added that since the return to democracy in 1999, Nigerian youth had been pushing boundaries and involved in promoting transparency and accountability.
The group has declared Tuesday, July 25 as National Day of Action, noting that the youth in Nigeria plans to occupy the National Assembly and commence recall processes of the senators in their various constituencies.
"We will petition the International Parliament Union (IPU) to relocate the venue of the forthcoming regional conference scheduled for September 2017 away from Nigeria and finally a one million people march in Abuja and across the Federation," Ms. Laisha said.
She urged Nigerian youths to remain resolute in their demand and stay committed to mobilizing fellow youth and citizens to make their voices heard beyond the din of politics in order to pursue the passage of the 'Not Too Young To Run' bill into law.

$793.2 million TSA Funds: Skye Bank Confirms Holding $41 million, Denies Hiding From CBN

The management of Skye Bank on Friday confirmed holding about $41 million (about N12. 9billion) belonging to the Nigerian Investments Management Services, NAPIMS, allegedly kept away from the Treasury Single Account, TSA account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
The money is part of about $793.2 million (about N249.9 billion) allegedly kept illegally in the custody of seven commercial banks.
This was in violation of the directive by the Accountant General of the Federation that effective September 15, 2015, all such funds be transferred to the TSA account domiciled with the CBN.
The affected banks include Skye Bank, United Bank for Africa, UBA; Diamond Bank Plc; First Bank Limited; Fidelity Bank Plc; Keystone Bank Limited and Sterling Bank Plc.
The funds allegedly kept by the banks include revenues, donations, transfers, refunds, grants, taxes, fees, dues, tariffs, etc by different government ministries, departments, parastatals, and agencies.
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday ordered the banks to remit the various amounts sum into the TSA account at the CBN.
Justice Chuka Obiozor had in the case brought by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation ordered the seven banks to immediately remit the various amounts allegedly kept illegally in their custody to the designated Federal Government’s Asset Recovery dollars account with the CBN.
Details showed about $367.4million was concealed by three government agencies in UBA, while about $41million belonging to NAPIMS, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, subsidiary was placed on fixed deposit account with the Skye Bank.
Others included $277.9million in Diamond Bank, $18.9million in First Bank; $24.5million in Fidelity Bank; $17million in Keystone Bank; and $46.5million in Sterling Bank.
But, Skye Bank, in a statement on Friday, confirmed the $41 million in its custody, but denied keeping same illegally or concealing the transaction.
“The management of Skye Bank hereby states that it neither colluded nor unilaterally hid the reported sum or any other funds in its custody.” it’s spokesperson, Nduneche Ezurike, said in the statement.
“On the contrary, the said funds are held with the full knowledge of the relevant agencies of government, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the DSS, the National Assembly and the Inspector General of Police’s Special Investigation Panel, with whom we have engaged extensively over same,” he explained.
As a law abiding institution, Mr. Ezurike said Skye Bank would not conduct itself in breach of the laws or policies of the government, including the TSA policy.
He said the bank would take appropriate legal steps to respond to the ruling of the Court come August 8 when the substantive hearing is scheduled.

Falana, The Baby And The Bathwater By Azu Ishiekwene

The statement on Sunday by a group led by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), about “unrealistic” recommendations contained in the 2014 National Conference report must be turning heads in political circles.

Apart from the fact that Falana was a member of the Conference that made the recommendations, he’s a man whose views on any subject cannot be taken lightly.
It appears that out of the dozens of recommendations by the Conference published in two separate reports of 762 pages and 360 pages, the only noteworthy thing, according to Falana, is the recommendation for the justiciability of Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution.
“The most important recommendation adopted at the Conference,” the statement said, “is that the fundamental objectives enshrined in Chapter 2 of the Constitution be made justiciable. We wish to emphasize that where education and health are made accessible to all citizens, a living minimum wage is paid as when due, unemployment benefits and pensions are paid promptly, housing is provided for, the rights of citizens to live peacefully in any part of the country is guaranteed as envisaged by Chapter 2, the threats to national unity will disappear.”
If, like me, you are sometimes constipated by the language of politics, what Falana means is that once citizens can enforce the objectives currently used as decoration in Chapter 2 of the Constitution, including the rights to education and health, among others, everything would be fine.
That may be true in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, in Shehu Sani’s zoo, or perhaps in the museum of some old socialist state. But it’s very, very unlikely that in Nigeria of 2017 a socialist peace offering, even if backed by law, can get us out of the present mess, which promises to get worse before it could get better.
Let me be clear. I was not a huge fan of the Conference because I thought that former President Goodluck Jonathan wanted to use it as red herring. I thought it dubious, if not subversive, for him to delay the inauguration of the Conference till the tail end of his administration when he would be unlikely to carry its resolutions through.
But my objection is not important. I have since read summaries of the Conference report including a recent public lecture on the subject by Actuary and former Chairman of PUNCH, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola.
We cannot seriously address a number of the fundamental political problems facing us without looking at the report of the Conference, and perhaps those of previous ones too.
It would be pathetic to discard the Conference report or to assume that making Chapter 2 justiciable alone will solve all our problems.
Justiciability is important; but to put it above everything else is like striving after the wind, and this is why: the chapter depends essentially on government providing a host of social services and infrastructure failing which citizens can go to court to enforce their rights. It’s founded on the nanny state model.
The question is, where would the resources to support the system come from? How will such a system be financed and who will pay for what?
If, for example, Zamfara State decides that education or health is not its priority, why should we have a federal constitution that not only imposes a different set of priorities on Zamfara but also finances it from elsewhere at the risk of litigation?
Falana could argue that a responsible government, even under the present dispensation, can find more than enough money to make the system work, but it is precisely because the current system is not working that we’re where we are.
To talk about justiciability without talking about how the system will be funded or the impact of religion and socio-cultural beliefs and practices and other factors that make spending on social welfare very, very expensive is to stand the matter on one leg. It won’t work.
In any case, why do we think we can continue to indulge a system where the center, hundreds of miles away, presumes to know what is best for the constituent parts? What is the sense in a system where the constituent parts are shielded from the consequences of the choices they make?
If Yobe wants to spend hundreds of millions of naira yearly to sponsor pilgrims, for example, or Imo wants to discount ground rent for churches into order to produce enough missionaries for export to Rome, why should we insist that education and health must be their priorities?
I’m not suggesting that the center is so useless that it should be done away with. But for it to be efficient and serviceable it must carry fewer loads.
It’s, in fact, to the credit of the Conference that under the recommendation for “devolution of powers”, it proposed to remove nine of the 68 items contained in the Exclusive List, leaving only matters considered essential for now.
There are a number of other recommendations by the Conference that are also noteworthy. These include the reduction in the number of Federal ministers to 19, part-time membership of the National Assembly, removal of the immunity clause, and the creation of a constitutional court, an anti-corruption court and state courts of appeal.
Others are the separation of the offices of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the creation of revenue commissions in the states, the abolition state electoral commissions, the introduction of community policing, and the introduction of independent candidates, etcetera.
Falana should be a proud promoter and defender of these items, especially since he did not file a minority report after the conference.
His concern about the Conference recommendation for the creation of 18 additional states is valid, but surely as a strong advocate of equality how can he justify the existing situation where the North West has seven states, the other four zones six, while the South East has five?
In a federation where dubious numbers determine who gets what, what the current state structure means is that while the North West, for example, has 92 representatives in the Federal House, the South East has only 41.
Compared with the North West, the South East is under-represented by more than a factor of two to one. How can justiciability alone address this gross and fundamental injustice?
By the way, Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, also tried to discredit the work of the Conference recently by claiming that representation at the Conference was poor and that there’s a lack of clarity about what “restructuring” really means.
He is wrong. It’s true that his party, the All Progressives Congress, refused to nominate representatives. But the records I have seen showed that the 492 delegates drawn from 24 groups covered a considerably broad spectrum of the Nigerian society that no honest opinion can ignore.
It’s interesting that while Falana and El-Rufai can hardly be described as ideological soul mates, on the contemporary issue of restructuring, they appear bound by a common contrarian thread.
Interestingly, too, El-Rufai, the prince of the North West, which is the biggest beneficiary of the skewed state system, has just been appointed chairman of the APC committee to “articulate the party’s position on restructuring.” Except if this is a ploy to prompt the man to commit political suicide, the matter is dead on arrival.
Can we still save the baby of the Conference report and the call for restructuring and dispense with the bathwater?
Ishiekwene is the MD/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview magazine and board member of the Paris-based Global Editors Network.

Court Didn't Consider Constitution Before Stopping Melaye's Recall, INEC Tells New Judge

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said the interim order stopping the process of recalling the senator representing the Kogi West, Dino Melaye, was made by Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, without considering key provisions of the Constitution.

The commission made this submission in its fresh motion filed on July 14, 2017 before the vacation judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, requesting that the interim order granted on July 6, 2017 be vacated.
In the motion filed on July 14, INEC contended that the interim order was granted without Justice Tsoho considering the constitutional provision mandating it to conduct a referendum for Melaye's recall within 90 days from the date it received the constituents' petition to that effect.
Justice Tsoho had on July 6, 2017 granted the ex parte interim order stopping INEC from going ahead with the recall process and adjourned the case until September 29.
But INEC's lawyer, Mr. Sulayman Ibrahim, had filed the application seeking the setting aside of the interim order before Justice Dimgba, being the only one sitting as the Federal High Court's vacation judge in Abuja.
INEC has already filed a counter-affidavit backed by a written address on July 14 in opposition to the main suit which was instituted by Melaye.
Justice Dimgba, on Thursday, fixed July 27 for hearing of the motion seeking accelerated hearing of the case.
Through his lead counsel, Ozekhome, Melaye had on June 23 sued the INEC seeking an order restraining the electoral body from conducting any referendum aimed at recalling him.
Melaye in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/587/2017 described the recall petitions as fictitious.
Melaye, through his suit, urged the court to declare the petitions submitted to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, as "illegal, unlawful, wrongful, unconstitutional, invalid, null, void and of no effect whatsoever".
He also asked the court to void the recall process on the grounds that it was commenced in breach of his fundamental right to fair hearing.

See the court documents below:
INEC court docs.pdf

Police Confirm One Dead In Apapa Mayhem

The police yesterday confirmed the death of one person in Apapa during a protest by tanker drivers.

Unofficial reports, however, said three persons died in the mayhem.
The drivers’ protest started when one of them was shot dead in front of Diamond Bank by a mobile police officer.
The policeman allegedly fled to Sterling Bank on Burma Road to stay with his colleagues there.
To avert an attack, the policemen attached to the bank started shooting into the air.
Two drivers were allegedly killed and one was injured in the shooting.
An eyewitness, Sunday Abiodun, said enraged by the action, the protesting drivers and their motor boys, torched both banks.
Abiodun said: “This morning, a police officer attached to Diamond Bank, asked one of the truck drivers operating here at Apapa port, to give him N1,000 and the man said he was not the owner of the vehicle parked in front of the bank, that he just came to pick his phone inside the truck. While asking the man to give him the money or move his vehicle, the next thing we had was a gun shot and the man died instantly in front of the bank.”
Attempts by men of the Lagos State Fire Service, Iponri, to put out the fire, was rebuffed by the drivers.
It was gathered that the firemen left for fear of being assaulted by the drivers and their trucks vandalised.
The Nation gathered that it took the combined efforts of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives, Area B police command, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECEROFT and Nigerian Army Signal Corps to contain the situation.
The security operatives also stopped the rioters from setting a tank farm ablaze.
The RRS operatives led by their Commander, Tunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), also prevented hoodlums from looting the affected tanks.
A senior officer, who was ground, said: “Those tanker drivers are very irrational. When the policemen attached to one of the banks shot at the tanker driver, they regrouped and stormed the bank in anger.
“They first demanded that the policeman who shot their colleague be released to them. When their demands proved abortive, they took the law into their hands.
“They contributed fuel from their tanks and set the bank ablaze. The entire situation caused a stampede as both workers and bankers scrambled to escape from the back of the bank to safety.
“The drivers were still on the rampage in the first bank when they heard that the policeman had taken refuge in the next bank.
“Armed with that information, they simply went over to the said bank and carried out same carnage, irrespective of the presence of innocent bystanders.
“They also attacked innocent policemen going about their own businesses. They stabbed no fewer than three policemen who didn’t know what was happening.
“Seventeen of them were arrested. The mobile man was also handed over to the DPO Apapa. Calm has returned to the place now.”
The Police said they had arrested the officer, who fired the fatal shot and 17 others over the disturbance.
Lagos State Command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the police went to the scene following a distress call from the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of a new generation bank.
“The caller said hoodlums were trying to take laws into their hands by setting the bank ablaze following the shooting of a tanker driver by a policeman, attached to the bank after a altercation,” he said.
Famous-Cole said operatives of the command including the Area Commander Apapa, RRS and other security agents rushed to the scene.
The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, was also there.
Famous-Cole said if not for the police’s quick intervention, the hoodlums would have wreaked more havoc on Apapa.
He explained that a mob had gathered in front of the bank demanding the release of the policeman to it.
The bank, he said, refused, leading to the arson and attack on another bank branch on Wharf Road.
The fire at the banks, the ASP said, was put out by the police and other security agencies. He said the driver whose name he simply gave as Azeez was confirmed dead on arrival on hospital.
“Contrary to reports making rounds in the news, only one tanker driver was shot. The policeman has been arrested and would be charged to court immediately. The Lagos State Police Command would like to address the members of the public about the rate of impunity and jungle justice in the state. We are no longer going to tolerate the act of lawlessness and impunity by members of the public.”
Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), chairman Chief Remi Ogungbemi told The Nation that the situation had been brought under control.
“The situation is calm and the police are on top of the situation. I have told my members to calm down because they cannot use wrong to correct wrong,” he said
Sterling Bank said the policeman ran into its premises to avoid being mobbed, urging its customers to patronage nearby branches.
The bank said: “An armed mobile policeman fleeing from an irate mob after shooting a tanker driver disrupted banking operations at the Sterling Bank branch on Creek Road this morning. He ran into the premises of the bank to escape being lynched.
“Security operatives attached to the bank disarmed and arrested the fleeing mobile policeman but did not hand him over to the irate mob.
“The mob got upset and attacked the bank with the intention of unleashing mayhem on staff and customers. The branch’s reception area was vandalised and set ablaze.
“The security operatives attached to the branch prevented the mob from entering the branch while evacuating staff and customers before the arrival of police reinforcement. The branch has been temporarily shut down.
“We wish to inform all our customers that normal services will continue at nearby branches and through all our electronic channels. Sterling Bank is working with security agencies to resolve the issue.”
Petroleum Tankers Driver (PTD) said none of its members was shot dead.
It said reports that some of its members were killed by the police, after loading fuel in Apapa, Lagos, was a figment of the imagination of those who wish out to cause crisis between the two groups.
PTD’s South-West spokesman Tayo Aboyeji, in a statement, said tanker drivers, the police and other security operatives were like members of the same family.
Aboyeji said: "The police, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and its various arms are established by law, to discharge their duties, without interference. They mutually benefit each other and have not engaged themselves in fracas. Members of PTD have not involved in any act of criminality or lawlessness," he said.

CONGRATULATION TO MUSTAFI

Very happy to let you know of the birth of our daughter!

Arsenal player and german national team pleays shkodran mustafi take to the is twitter and congratulation is family and feel happy

CSNAC Seeks CPC Intervention In Fraudulent Visa SMS Charges By VFS

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has urged the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) to investigate the activities and business operations of VFS Global Services, a visa application company carrying out business in Abuja and Lagos, for charging a non-negotiable rate of N400 (Four Hundred Naira) for SMS.

In a petition forwarded to the Director-General of the Commission and signed by the network's chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, CSNAC said it is demanding an urgent investigation of the VFS Global Services because it is fraudulent, unconscionable and exploitative.
The petition read: "We write to formally lay a complaint against the business operations and actions of VFS Global Services and Operation; a visa application company carrying out business in Abuja and Lagos.
"The said company as part of its purported services to be rendered to visa applicants in Abuja and Lagos charge a non-negotiable rate of N400 (Four Hundred Naira) for SMS to be sent to visa applicants as regards the status of their application and incidental matters."
CSNAC noted further that the said service has been seen to be ineffective, fraudulent, unconscionable and exploitative.
It raised the issue of unconscionable charges and exploitation of consumers, adding that, "the VFS Global Services & Operation Company charge a mandatory SMS rate from visa applicants and the said service is designed in such a way that same is not optional, thus stifling competition and imposing the excessively high rate on the applicants. This is in utter breach of consumers’ right to choose and access to variety of quality products and services at competitive prices.
"The average amount chargeable by all communication companies for SMS is the rate of N4 (Four Naira) only and the said rate is way cheaper when utilizing bulk SMS service which comes at an average rate of about N1.50k (One Naira, Fifty Kobo) only, we are reliably convinced that VFS Global utilizes the said cheaper alternative.
"On the whole, in a normal visa application, the SMS notification usually required to be sent is less than four SMS which at most will cost about N20 (Twenty Naira) only, leaving an excess of about N380 (Three Hundred Naira) unaccounted for, in an obvious exploitation of applicants and an overcharge aimed at depriving them of their hard earned money."
Similarly, the coalition identified the inefficiency of SMS service, stating that, "disturbingly, the said VFS Global Services and operation company in an overwhelming majority of established cases negligently and or fraudulently fail to send the relevant SMS to update applicants of the status of their application as promised despite the un-refundable payment made to that effect.
"This is in a flagrant breach of consumers’ right to satisfaction of basic needs, as the said company owes a duty to ensure that their services meet the standard of quality promised such that there is value for money in the transaction.
"The aforementioned breaches ought not to be condoned in our society where the values of the Consumer Protection Council are entrenched in our laws, especially at a time where there are vigorous attempts at stamping out corruption practices and entrenching transparency in both public and private sectors of the economy.
"On the above basis, we hereby demand an urgent investigation of the VFS Global Services and operation company in the light of the above complaints in other to promote a robust and effective consumer protection and satisfaction in trade/services experience. We also request that appropriate sanctions be meted out to the said company where found wanting according to the reports of your good office’s investigations and the relevant provisions of the law," CSNAC said. ‎

Orijin Will See Me Through By Pius Adesanmi

When a culture that defines economic opportunity as the massive manufacture of inferior material quick fixes for Africa (China) meets, falls in love with, and marries a culture that is pathologically resistant to maintenance (Nigeria), the results can be devastating.
From Lagos or Abuja to the hinterland, you keep changing rooms within a hotel. With every call for a room change, you notice the exasperation in the voices and on the faces of hotel staff who don't understand all the fuss. Then you start changing hotels when you run out of options within a particular hotel.
You used this same hotel just last year. This same room. Everything brand new, gleaming from China. Now one or two bulbs are dead. The toilet roll holder is bent or broken. The shower curtain is torn. The water heater in the bathroom is heating water at half capacity. The toilet is no longer flushing properly and needs to be fixed. The list goes on. Very little things that are hard to spot because everything is still gleaming and luxurious.
For every complaint, there is an explanation and a suggested solution accompanied with a lot of begging.
The toilet is not flushing? Oga please, just run water in the bucket and pour it into the toilet bowl. E go flush. We will try to fix it tomorrow. Tomorrow usually never comes.
The toilet seat is broken? Oga, please just lift it up and sit on the rim of the toilet.
The water heater is not bringing the water to a boil? Oga please, we will bring you hot water now now from the kitchen.
Here, the solution is never in fixing the problem but in making the mediocrity nicer and more accommodating. And from Maitama to Nyanya, Banana Island to Okokomaiko, this is the prevalent culture.
The soul begins to get weary. This is your world. This is your soil. This is your soul. These are your peeps. The oxygen of this land defines you. How can you be an outsider to their culture? Are you an outsider? Where is the border between fastidiousness and insistence on the basic little things that define human dignity in the modern world?
Are you being overbearing and unreasonable? Are you the arrogant importer of the cultures, standards, and values of other lands into this space? After all, these rooms that you keep abandoning for other rooms have been inhabited every day by other Nigerians since you were last here a year ago.
The Nigerians who inhabited these rooms flushed their shit by pouring water from a bucket; saw nothing wrong with a dead bulb because the lighting in the room is still great; did not insist on the water heater being fixed because hot water arrives promptly from the kitchen in a bucket. They lived in and standardized this mediocrity. If they can stay in this sort of luxurious hotel, they are the elite. They are the ones who establish, define, and drive culture in the land. Their culture invariably defines the culture of the land. Yet this room is like this because they have lived it as their world and culture. They have made love in it, checked out and tipped generously without seeing anything wrong.
In order not to be an alienated diasporan always grumbling and looking down on things, you say, ok, maybe there are little compromises you can make for and with the culture. In the 21st century, somebody will loot, build a hotel worth billions of naira, and put only one socket near the toilet, far from the bed area. It means you have to go and charge your laptop and phones near the toilet.
Professors Adeleke Adeeko and Tejumola Olaniyan have their own little compromise: bring your two-kilometre long extension wire box from the US to avoid stories that touch. They travel with backpacks the size of a Dangote container, filled with little things that can help you make your hotel room fit for human dignity as defined by 21st century standards.
I say, ok, my own compromise will be with wifi. Last year, it was half strength in many hotels. This year, it is half the strength of last year's half strength in many hotels. When I click send on that email, I say to myself, I am content with grabbing a glass of Orijin and watching the drama on my screen. Gmail will say "still working". After three minutes, Gmail will say "oops, your message has not been sent". Sips Orijin, clicks send again: "still working", then after another five minutes, "your message has been sent". One down, twenty more messages to go. Orijin will see me through.
The self doubt returns. The self flagellation returns. To what extent is your little compromise to blend with your culture a rationalization of mediocrity? Why should insisting that a light bulb be changed, a toilet seat be fixed, water pressure be made consistent with acceptable standards be deemed imposition of Oyinbo culture?
How did these little things, so essential to the basic dignity of humanity, come to be fixed in the collective imaginary of this land as Oyinbo attitudes that are strange to our essential culture? In accepting even the slightest compromise in order to maintain your sanity, are you not facilitating the lazy ways in which they define maintenance culture as an Oyinbo thing and even proceed to develop a very hostile attitude to it?
This morning finds me in yet another hotel room in a new hotel. Everything checked out yesterday. We did a most meticulous check and I finally basked and certified it close to the standard of a 4-star hotel in Ottawa, Paris, or London. Then I wake up to shower this morning. No hot water. Somehow, between my inspection at 6 pm yesterday and this morning, the witches of Isanlu had gotten to the water heater. It has packed up. China.
I call to complain. We will bring you water from the kitchen sir.
No, I don't want water from the kitchen.
We will change your room sir.
Nope, that is not what I want.
We will send maintenance sir.
Nope.
What do you want sir?
You need to change the water heater.
What!!!????
Yes. I am not asking for me. I am asking for you, for your future, for your humanity. I am doing it to change your mindset for the sake of the future of your children. It gets to a point where even fixing things is not a solution. You also change things. A hotel this size, a hotel this luxurious ought to have a maintenance storage space for replacement things anyway. This ought to have been part of the thinking of the proprietors.
They transfer me to the Manager. The Manager almost has a heart attack when he hears me. Prof, you will need to talk to Chief o. I don't know who Chief is but I think he is the owner or one of the owners of the hotel.
They give me Chief's number. I phone, greet him very warmly and introduce myself as one of his guests. Chief is very warm and affable too. Then I tell him what is going on. He is a little surprised. Must be a first for him. Then he says, Prof, you know, you may be right. I will have maintenance check it and if it really cannot be fixed, we will install a new one latest tomorrow. Awon China yen ni. We bought and installed those heaters just last year o. They are packing up after one year. By the way, Prof, anything you eat and drink today is on the house.
If you are reading this and you are in a hotel, a government office or space, your own home, please get something changed. Insist that the dead bulb must be changed today. Do not shit and flush with water from a bucket today. They must fix that toilet. What about that old towel that is no longer even fit for a floor towel? Don't use it this morning. Insist on talking to a manager. They must give you a new towel.
One million of you can change the destiny of Nigeria and repair this deleterious mindset by rejecting something today no matter how minimal.
I come against that spirit in you that justifies everything which defines basic human civilization as "oyinbo stuff". I bind that spirit in you in Jesus name.

Budget: Osinbajo Proposes N135.6b Virement

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has submitted a virement proposal of N135.6bn to the National Assembly.

The money is meant to cover projects across many MDAs, particularly the Ministry of Power/Works/Housing.
Details later.

Enugu State Government To Pay N80m For Illegal Demolition

Enugu State Government says it will pay N80 million compensation for the illegal demolition of a property belonging to Chief Fidelis Okoro within 90 days.
The property situated at No. 11 Savage Crescent, GRA, Enugu, was demolished in 2005 on the orders of the then governor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani.
Okoro, who was then representing Enugu North Senatorial Zone in the Senate, proceeded to court and obtained judgment against the state government for the payment of N140 million for the illegal act.
However, the matter lingered as the last administration did not honour the judgment.
The State Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele said that the approval to pay the damage was given at the meeting of the State Executive Council on Wednesday.
Briefing newsmen on Thursday on the outcome of the meeting, Udeuhele said that the action of the then administration was without justification.
He said that the council made the approval to forestall further litigation as the ex-senator had threatened to approach the court for enforcement of the judgment.
“Okoro got the judgment during the past administration in the state but the state government could not honour it.
“The last administration could not pay the money and the senator had threatened to approach the court for an enforcement order.
“The state government approached and negotiated with him after which he decided to forfeit N60 million from the original amount considering the state of things in the economy,” he said.
Udeuhele said that the outstanding N80 million would be paid within 90 days of the approval and was free from Value Added Tax or any other deductions.
The commissioner said that the ex-senator needed to be commended for his patriotism in forfeiting such huge amount to the state government.
Okoro, who hails from the same senatorial zone with the current governor, was at the Senate from 1999 to 2007.

The First Thing I Would Do When I Win A Lottery Is Get My Boobs Done- Fayose's Sister, Mo, Says

Mo Fayose, younger sister of Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, had a video session on her Facebook page yesterday where she discussed with her followers about insecurities some women suffer about their breast sizes. According to her, after she had her baby prematurely some years ago, she lost confidence in her boobs and still has little or no confidence in them. She says if she wins a lottery now, the first thing she would do is a boobs lifting surgery. Mo says women with boobs they don't like have low self esteem and tend to hide it when they get intimate with their lovers. She says when she wants to get intimate with any man, she has to turn off the light just because she feels insecure about her boobs. She advised women to do whatever they can to ensure they have confidence about their body.
I lost my self confident just because of thhe size of my breast & I struggled with that for many
many years. I had my first child about 18 years ago. She was premature and she came very very early. She was in intensive unit for sometime and as a result of that, I had to expres breast milk. It was really difficult. It was pretty hard. I was approached by the nurses who asked me if I am willing to donate breast milk. So I said yes I can donate breast me so they gave me this machine that lokks very industrial. You connect your boobies to and you express milk. I expressed milk for like three months and I was donating 6 liters of breast milk a week. So they would come to my house to pick up the breast milk and take it to the disadvantaged children or children that their mothers are unable to express breast milk. Before that time, I wasn't the type that would go for bras because my breast were that onpoint. I was wearing bra only when I wanted to because my breasts were onpoint. I could flaunt them in front of my husband at that time because they were so good and I like dthe way my boobies were. They were looking straight. Unfortunately now, they are looking down. They have missed the plug. I didn't like that and I still don't like it. Its not that I don't like it, its about how I feel when I am with a man. I tell people that when I win a lottery, the first thing I am going to do is to do something to are these my boobies. They have got to be done. They have got to be lifted up without bras"she said

US Senator, John McCain Diagnosed With Brain Cancer

Sen. John McCain, 80, has been diagnosed with a primary glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor, Mayo Clinic doctors directly involved in the senator's care told

US serving Senator from Arizona, John McCain, has been diagnosed with brain cancer, according to a Wednesday statement released by his office.
The tumor was discovered after the former Republican senator underwent a procedure last week to remove a blood clot.
Below is the statement Sen. John McCain: I Can't Vote for Trump or Clinton - NBC News

Sen. John McCain: I Can't Vote for Trump or Clinton - NBC News

Washington DC At the request of senate john Mc Cain(R-AZ) and all his family mayo clinic
released the following statement today:
"On Friday, July 14, Sen. John McCain underwent a procedure to remove a blood clot from above his left eye at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix. Subsequent tissue pathology revealed that a primary brain tumor known as a glioblastoma was associated with the blood clot.
"Scanning done since the procedure (a minimally invasive craniotomy with an eyebrow incision) shows that the tissue of concern was completely resected by imaging criteria.
"The Senator and his family are reviewing further treatment options with his Mayo Clinic care team. Treatment options may include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.
"The Senator's doctors say he is recovering from his surgery 'amazingly well' and his underlying health is excellent."
The office of Senator John McCain also released the following statement:
"Senator McCain appreciates the outpouring of support he has received over the last few days. He is in good spirits as he continues to recover at home with his family in Arizona. He is grateful to the doctors and staff at Mayo Clinic for their outstanding care, and is confident that any future treatment will be effective. Further consultations with Senator McCain's Mayo Clinic care team will indicate when he will return to the United States Senate."
President Donald Trump released a message soon after the news of the senator's condition broke. "Senator John McCain has always been a fighter," he said. "Melania and I send our thoughts and prayers to Senator McCain, Cindy, and their entire family. Get well soon."
John McCain, who contested in the 2008 presidential election was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986. He is known for his work in the 1990s to restore diplomatic relations with Vietnam, and for his belief that the Iraq War should have been fought to a successful conclusion. former president of USA OBAMA as says john is

Aggressive tumor'

His doctor said McCain was oriented, with good balance and no headaches or seizures.

The clot was over the senator's left eye, not far from the left temple where he was diagnosed with melanoma in 2000. Previously, McCain had three other malignant melanomas removed in 1993, 2000 and 2002. None of these melanomas were invasive. All were declared Stage 0.

However, McCain has been regularly screened by his doctors since 2000.

Gupta was one of a select group of reporters who reviewed McCain's medical records in 2008 when he was campaigning for president.

McCain's blood clot may be more significant than first thought

The surgical procedure McCain underwent is "a significant operation," said Gupta, explaining that a bone underneath the eyebrow had to be removed to do the procedure and then later put back.

"It's a very aggressive tumor," said Gupta. He explained that average survival for malignant glioblastoma tends to be around 14 months with treatment. In McCain's case, additional therapy, including radiation, could not begin until the incision heals, which would be in the next three or four weeks.

Still, one 2009 study reported that almost 10% of patients with glioblastoma may live five years or longer, according to the American Brain Tumor Association.

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"This is the same tumor that Ted Kennedy had," said Gupta.

McCain's diagnosis is the latest chapter in a storied life. Tortured as a Vietnam prisoner-of-war, the maverick politician fell short of the pinnacle of politics with two failed presidential runs. His absence from Washington in recent days has come at a politically inopportune time for a bill repealing and replacing Obamacare. This week, McCain broke ranks and called for discussions with Democrats and a full committee process to finally provide "Americans with access to quality and affordable health care."

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