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A reception in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was held at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing on Monday, September 30.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission attended the reception and delivered an important speech.

Xi’s speech was highly praised by international experts and diplomats who remarked that the words of the Chinese President demonstrated the ambition of the Chinese government and people to realize the Chinese Dream, and also the country’s confidence and resolution to safeguard world peace.

Robert Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation who was present at the Great Hall of the People and listened to Xi’s speech, noted that from Xi’s speech he felt China’s confidence for the future. He told People’s Daily that China’s poverty reduction was the most impressive achievement that China has accomplished since its founding, calling China’s poverty reduction practices a great legend in the history of human development.

Russian diplomat Evgeny Afanasiev who worked in China for 5 years paid great attention to the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. He said that China has grown into a strong and rich country, and he felt happy for China’s rapid development.

The leadership of the CPC played a vital role in this process, the Russian diplomat noted, adding that it is the CPC that has led the Chinese people to solve the problems in development.

“President Xi’s speech at the reception was inspiring. It reviewed the achievements and contributions that China made in the past 70 years, and reiterated China’s principles and stand in both domestic affairs and diplomacy,” said Milos Balaban, executive secretary of the Czech-Chinese Center of the Charles University.

Balaban said that China is offering cooperation and development platforms for the world, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. “China has become an important force promoting world peace and development, and President Xi’s proposal to build a community with a shared future for mankind will exert profound impacts on the globe,” he added.

Citing President Xi’s remarks that “Absolute poverty, which has haunted the Chinese nation for thousands of years, will soon become a thing of the past，” Zamir Awan， deputy director of the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Chinese Studies Center of Excellence, said China’s poverty alleviation is not only an outstanding achievement made by China during its 70 years of development, but also a huge contribution to human development.

“China’s development stories have set an example for global countries,” Awan said, adding that the Pakistani government has stressed for times to learn from China’s development experiences, especially those in poverty alleviation.

He said that China has paved a development path featuring peace. Especially since the proposal of the BRI, the country has been actively promoting common development with other countries, and has won respect from the world by its good intentions.

1. Chairman of Pondicherry IndiaChina Friendship Association Mrs. RadhaSrinivasagopalansaid that the CPC has led the Chinese people to create a development miracle over the past 70 years. Since the reform and opening-up, the country has lifted over 700 million Chinese out of poverty and set an example for the world. Anil noted that by firmly pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace and unswervingly following the path of peaceful development, China has made huge contribution to the promotion of human progress and world peace.
   Professor TsuyuguchiYōsuke from Teikyo University told People’s Daily that the glorious achievements made by the People’s Republic of China during the last 7 decades have lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and largely improved people’s livelihood.
   Upholding the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, and unswervingly following the path of peaceful development and opening-up, China is receiving increasingly more respect from global countries in the international arena. It is working with global people to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Source: People’s Daily

By Mike Oboh

Kano State Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has urged people in the State to remain law abiding citizens and put the progress of the State as their top priority to ensure speedy development.

Dr. Ganduje made the call on Wednesday while addressing gathering of people shortly after the announcement of the verdict of the 2019 election tribunal in which the Governor won against PDP and its Gubernatorial Candidate Abba Kabiru Yusuf.

Ganduje represented by his Deputy Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna maintained that his administration and the leadership of All Progressive Congress would continue to remain focused and put peoples’ concern as leading agenda of their primary assignments.

He thanked the entire people of the State for their prayers and support from the beginning of the 2019 General Election to date which he described as the bedrock of his victory at the tribunal.

“We thanked all and sundry especially those that participated in the activities and proceedings of tribunal from the beginning to date.

“We need your prayers now more than any time because this is the Stage that we will deliver the promises we have taken for the people of Kano State,” he stated.

Dr. Ganduje equally appreciated the outstanding support of the leadership of the State Party ( APC ) and State House of Assembly for their continue support and cooperation towards the success of the present administration.

“I want to at this juncture, advise the petitioners of the last concluded election to take the tribunal verdict as destiny and submit everything to Allah ( SWT ) and by doing so, is part of Iman as Muslims,” Ganduje said.

Earlier, Kano State Chairman All Progressive Congress ( APC ) Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas described the tribunal verdict as a clear testimony of the Governor’s victory in the last General Election, challenging that ” Wherever you wish to take your appeal, the outcome would still remain the same because APC won the election.”

He thanked the entire people of the State and the party members for their continue support to the administration of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and implored them to celebrate the victory in a peaceful manner.

Thousands of people had gathered at the State road to rejoice with Governor over his victory at the 2019 Election tribunal today.

By Mike Oboh

Former team coordinator of the Super Eagles, Mr. Emmanuel Attah is optimistic that in no distant time the battle for shirts in the team will be similar to that of Brazil national team with the array of youngsters springing up for the team.

Attah who was also the former chairman of the FCT football association, was of the view that the healthy competition for place in the Super Eagles team was a blessing to the nation and urged the handlers of the team to continue with their good works to maximize the benefit.

According to him, the team as is presently constituted is a wonderful side, just as he said that the team that plays Ukraine did their best and if they can keep up with the momentum, before the world cup, “we would have a better team.

“With the abundance of array of stars to pick from, is an advantage for Nigeria, Rohr is doing well, with time we will be like Brazil where stars compete for place in the national team.”

Attah said that if the goalkeepers trainers look inward, getting good goalkeepers for the national team will not pose any problem as there are good number of them in the local scene.

“We should not have any reason for goalkeepers’ worries in the country, we can pick from the crop of goalkeepers in the country, and there are many good keepers in the country, what is needed is for the goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agu to give the younger ones a great chance, they have the potentials all they need is just exposure, though for me Uzogho is trying we need a good backup,” Attah said.

He further said that it was quite unfortunate that the local premier league is not getting the right touch to push the game up just as he appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation and the League Management Company, to tiding up things for the league to commence.

Attah also called on all stakeholders to join hands for the development of the game in the country, as only a peaceful environment will create a condusive atmosphere for the sport to thrive.

By Mike Oboh

The on-going trial of the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over an alleged abuse of office and money laundering has been stalled by the absence in court of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

According to a statement Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, spokesperson for the Commission, Alhaji Mohammed was scheduled to appear before a Federal High Court, Abuja, on October 2, as a prosecution witness to explain his role in the alleged misapplication of N2.5 billion Federal Government Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme.

ICPC had filed a 12-count charge before Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa, against Kawu, Lucky Omoluwa and Dipo Onifade, the Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle Communications Limited respectively,  saying that the NBC director general misled the Minister into approving government funds to a private company.

Mohammed had admitted in a statement to the Commission that he was misled by Kawu, as opined in court by a witness from ICPC, Osanato Olugbemi.

However, at the resumed hearing, counsel to the Commission, Henry Emore informed the court that the Minister was unavoidably absent because of an urgent national assignment.

He said, “I have been in court since 9am. I called the Personal Assistant to the witness and he said that he was unavailable due to an urgent assignment.”

Emore, before asking for a new date to bring the Minister, prayed the court to subpoena a second witness, a Bureau de Change operator, Sabo Shuaibu, who had repeatedly failed to attend court despite numerous invitations put to him.

Justice Ogunbanjo-Giwa granted the subpoena and advised prosecution counsel to be mindful of the five adjournments allowed by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, having used up three already.

The trial judge also ordered the release of the international passport of Kawu, to enable him attend the World Radio-Communication Conference (WRC 19) taking place in Egypt.

His counsel, A. U. Mustapha (SAN) had filed an application praying the court to allow the NBC boss to travel to the Sharm El-Sheik venue of the conference scheduled to hold from 28th October to 22nd November, 2019.

The judge further ruled that Kawu’s international passport must be returned to the court Registrar upon his return from Egypt on or before 30th November, 2019.

Kawu was also told to depose to an affidavit before the court stating that his surety must agree to be detained by security agencies if he fails to return for his trial and that the said surety must also surrender his international passport to the court in place of Kawu’s.

The matter was then adjourned to 21st October and 3rd, 4th and 5th December, for continuation of trial.

By Mike Oboh

The Forum of Nigerians in Francophone speaking countries in the West and Central African region has commended the Department of State Security in Nigeria for being alive to its responsibilities as an institution focused on the preservation of national security.

The views of the forum were conveyed in a communiqué at the end of her 59th independence anniversary reunion held at Hotel Tahiti Quarter Jak ,  Benin Republic and signed by its president, Dr Isaac Oduma .

The forum expressed abiding faith in the capacity of Nigeria’s security agencies particularly the Department of State Security for its many years of dedicated service delivery to the nation.

“The country is blessed with an outstanding institution in the Department of State Security and above all a committed leadership that is passionate about new reforms and keeping to the objectives of the institution,” the forum stated.

The body commended the sagacity and ingenuity of President Buhari for the supportive roles he has always played as the commander in chief of Nigeria.

The group noted with satisfaction that the country through the DSS has been exceptionally professional in the handling of issues that would otherwise dismember the country if left unattended to.

“ You will recall ladies gentlemen that about a two months ago, some citizens had put it on record to overthrow a legally constituted government in our country Nigeria and also disarm the department of state security” this to my knowledge,  is the most deafening, unpatriotic and unwholesome intention I have ever heard since the return of democracy” and so,  on behalf of the Nigerian people  in the Francophone speaking countries in  West and Central Africa, i must say we are totally satisfied and pleased with the proactive measures utilised by the state security service,” Oduma said.

He noted that without the current proactive approach employed by the agency, no one would have guaranteed the country’s existence today as we celebrate 59 years of independence.

“Our challenges are still much but the road to development is not by virtue of outlawing Society with her laws, conventions and values.

“We have families and investments back home and to think a Nigerian whose family is nationalised in the United States and United Kingdom would contemplate and fund a revolution for parochial interest is not only unfortunate but regrettably repugnant to the values we hold as Nigerians.

“Never in the history of our national existence has a government been overthrown through a forceful means in a democratic setting such as we have today and wondered why any sane mind would initiate or suggest that path just after losing an election,” he said.

The group said as diapora citizens, his group contributes the highest foreign investments back home to enhance the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and foreign reserves and therefore could not fold their arms to watch the country go down through illicit means.

The group insisted that the vote of confidence passed on the department of state security and her leadership was borne out of a deep conviction of the majority of the members. It said the decision was made through her 37th resolution in the forum general assembly held in commemoration of the country’s 59 years independence anniversary.

The diaspora forum urged the leadership of other security agencies to emulate and compliment the department of state security despite recurring blackmail and arm twisting by paid media and legal merchants whose interests are first before that of the national security.