Information Being The Source Of Development And News: October 2016

Saturday, 29 October 2016

Winning a US presidential election takes years, billions of dollars and relentless determination.

Winning a US presidential election takes years, billions of dollars and relentless determination. It also requires crunching a lot of numbers. The victor must get to the magic number of 270 electoral college votes — but just trying to anticipate the result is a complicated exercise in adding, subtracting and combining. That’s because the US election — taking place on November 8 — is not an exercise in direct democracy where a nationwide popular vote determines the result through a simple majority. Candidates must instead win a majority of the electoral college votes assigned to the 50 states. Those who win a state’s popular vote are apportioned the state’s electors, the number of which is roughly in line to the size of its population. Except in Maine and Nebraska — which distribute electors through proportional systems — candidates earn electoral votes on a winner-take-all basis. With a population of 38.8 million, California has 55 electoral votes, while Montana — population one million — has only three. A total of 538 electoral votes are in play, corresponding to the total number of elected representatives in Congress (435 members of the House and 100 senators) plus three for the US capital Washington, DC. Technically, it is those electors who elect the president and vice president in a formal rubber stamp vote on December 19. – Road to 270 – To win the keys to the White House, candidates need a simple majority of electoral votes — 270. And if history is any indicator, the path is far clearer for the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton than for her Republican rival Donald Trump. That’s because 18 states — providing a total of 242 electoral votes — have consistently voted for Democrats since 1992. Another 13 states have picked Republicans over the same period, but they weigh in with only 102 votes. Six more states appear to be firmly in Trump’s camp despite their votes shifting in the past. The outcome in the remaining dozen “swing states” is more uncertain, and that’s where Clinton and Trump are focusing almost all their campaigning. The more electors a state has, the more crucial its role, led by Florida with 29 electoral votes, Pennsylvania with 20 and Ohio with 18 — places the candidates continually visit. Potentially, candidates could also forge a path to 270 by winning enough small states such as Nevada, Iowa and New Hampshire — or by winning a state that’s historically voted for the opposing camp. The experts are taking all those factors into account as they explore multiple possible combinations — adding Ohio, subtracting Iowa, flipping a Democratic state here or a Republican one there. Despite all the variations, many believe Florida — the mother of swing states — is the key to the election. Without it, winning will be “very difficult” for Trump, his campaign manager Kellyanne Conway has admitted. Here’s a list of the major swing states, the number of electoral votes and the averages of recent polls through October 28 in a four-way race — including the outsiders, Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green candidate Jill Stein. Florida: 29 electoral votes Clinton has 44.7 percent support, Trump 44 percent Pennsylvania: 20 electoral votes Clinton at 46.3 percent, Trump at 41.3 percent Ohio: 18 electoral votes Trump at 44.8 percent, Clinton at 43.7 percent Georgia: 16 electoral votes Trump at 46.3 percent, Clinton at 43.5 percent North Carolina: 15 electoral votes Clinton at 45.8 percent, Trump at 43.8 percent Virginia: 13 electoral votes Clinton at 46 percent, Trump at 38.8 percent Arizona: 11 electoral votes Clinton at 43.5 percent, Trump at 42 percent Colorado: Nine electoral votes Clinton at 44.6 percent, Trump at 38.4 percent Iowa: Six electoral votes Trump at 41.7 percent, Clinton at 40.3 percent Nevada: Six electoral votes Clinton 45.3 percent, Trump 43.3 percent New Hampshire: Four electoral votes Clinton 44.5 percent, Trump 38 percent Utah is also proving interesting despite having voted Republican since 1968. Forty-year-old independent Evan McMullin, a Mormon and former CIA officer who entered the race in August, is running close on Trump’s heels.

The Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) yesterday responded to a call on the federal government to reverse the power sector privatisation by the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, saying it was too early to condemn the process as a failure.

The Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) yesterday responded to a call on the federal government to reverse the power sector privatisation by the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, saying it was too early to condemn the process as a failure.

The agency which was responsible for the power sector privatisation in 2013, also disclosed that the federal government will soon divest its 40 per cent stakes in the power firms to allow other private investors buy into the power assets.

Speaking when he kicked off the roll out of large power users’ (LPU) meters which the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) procured for deployment to its about 4000 maximum demand customers, the acting Director General of BPE, Dr. Vincent Akpotaire said Dangote’s call for a reversal of the privatisation exercise was unnecessary.

Akpotaire said the agreement signed with the investors upon their acquisition of the power assets allowed that they take at least five years to invest in and stabilise their networks. He explained that based on that, Dangote’s claim of the exercise’s failure was not factual.

He spoke to reporters shortly after he commissioned one of the LPU meters at the Abuja Archives and History Bureau.

“My take is that we need to evaluate statements before we make them. That is the point I think we should put across to Nigerians. We have put only about three years since the handover of the power sector to private investors.

“Before that, the power sector had existed for well over 50 years and in those 50 years, hardly much was achieved due to several factors and the decision to privatise was a well thought-out decision,” Akpotaire said.

He further stated: “In three years, the measurement of their performance is based on a five year index which is under their agreements and that measurement is not dependent only on the activities of the private investors alone but also on the tariff structure.

“You are all aware of controversies the tariff has thrown up and because of that, there is now a scale back in reviewing of the tariffs, one segment of the review has just been lost and for every review not done, there is a gap in the funding.”

He explained: “In terms of rating, our approach is not to determine what should be the pass mark but to consider whether the issues of reduction of losses has been met, as of today we are just starting the issues and I am confident that in the next few years, most of the results as to performance will be better checked.”

Akpotaire explained that he expected thoughts and expressions from business leaders like Dangote on the sector to be more of proffering solutions to its challenges and not stoking up pressure.

“What I expect is solution finding and not reversal of the privatisation. Best practices demands that this is the way to go. Even in countries as small as neighbouring Ghana, they have made attempt to privatise different sectors of their power sector.

“The concept is not the problem but the management of the outcome. We need our leaders to speak to the solution and not the problems,” he noted.

Speaking on the government’s plans for its 40 per cent shares in the power firms, Akpotaire said: “What we believe is that the 40 per cent held by the government is not for keeps, parts of it will go to state governments that made investments in NEPA in the past, as soon as the valuation process is done by NERC and approval gotten from the Chairman of the NCP, the vice president, the process to offload those components to the states will commence and then what is left will ultimately end up in the private sector.”

“The intention is for these companies to stabilise to a point where their equities will become attractive to other private investors and it will be sold in the stock market where several Nigerians will buy into the sector,” he added.

Meanwhile, AEDC said it invested $1.8 million to procure and install the modern smart meters for 4,000 large users of electricity in its franchise areas of Abuja, Nasarawa, Kogi and Niger.

Its Managing Director, Ernest Mupwaya said the meters were meant for consumers like government ministries, agencies and departments, military and police barracks, as well as consumers with huge power consumptions.

He said they were smart meters that had sidestepped the possibilities of human interface, adding that they are fitted with intelligence components to curtail instances of breeches and bypass.

Mupwaya also disclosed that the Disco was already working to accelerate its small power users’ metering project having placed an order for 30,000 mete

Pastors of the Living Faith Church also known as Winners Chapel at Isheri Olofin area of Lagos state are engrossed in serious fight over the sharing of N16.5m realized from the purchase of some parcel of land and property by the church in Lagos.

Pastors of the Living Faith Church also known as Winners Chapel at Isheri Olofin area of Lagos state are engrossed in serious fight over the sharing of N16.5m realized from the purchase of some parcel of land and property by the church in Lagos. The fight which was said to have started from the church premises has now moved to the Lagos court where the parties are seeking justice. The three pastors in the matter are Deacon Dolire Oluwaniyi who is also an estate agent on the one hand and two other Pastors, Edwin Iky and Peter O. Odama on the other hand. The last two acted on behalf of the church over the purchase of the property. In the suit before Magistrate’s court sitting in Ogba, with suit number, MIK/4174/16, Deacon Oluwaniyi stated that the two pastors cheated him after they collected N140m from their General Overseer, Bishop David Oyedapo and paid N130m to the owner of the property. Apart from that, Deacon Oluwaniyi also stated that as the agent who linked the church to the owner of the property, he was entitled to N6.5 million commission which was also paid by the church but was shared between the two pastors and he was not given a dime. Following the alleged scam, the claimant dragged the church to the court seeking an order that he should be paid his commission as a registered agent with his company’s name, Bedek properties that facilitated the transaction. In his affidavit in support of the claim, the claimant stated that his company wrote to the church introducing the properties which contain two big church halls and a story building on one acre of land located at Iyana Odo, along Igando road in Sheri Olofin area. He stated that he was contacted through the pastors and he linked the church to the owner of the property, one Bishop Emmanuel Omobajesu. The claimant said after the payment for the property he demanded for his commission and the two pastors asked him to bear it as seed to the church where as they had already collected the money from the church. The claimant also stated that the pastors involved in the transaction are not honest and sincere as they both ate with both hands and thereby soiled their hands in the transaction. In response, the defendant under the registered trustee of the church stated that the claimant was not appointed as its agent, legal representative nor hold any partnership and did not authorise the claimant to act on behalf of the defendant. It also stated that the claimant have no locus standi to sue the defendant as regard the property and demanding N6.5m agency commission. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M.O Osibajo has adjourned the matter till 23 November, 2016, to deliver rulings on the motions filed by the parties.

Jose Mourinho believes Manchester United’s derby victory over Manchester City can inject fresh life into his team’s spluttering Premier League title challenge.

Jose Mourinho believes Manchester United’s derby victory over Manchester City can inject fresh life into his team’s spluttering Premier League title challenge. Mourinho’s side bounced back from a miserable 4-0 thrashing at Chelsea by defeating arch rivals City in the League Cup on Wednesday and the United boss hopes the momentum carries over into Saturday’s meeting with Burnley.mourinho Seeing off City, who had already beaten United in the league this season, was a welcome boost for Mourinho following his side’s spluttering start to the season, but he knows they can’t afford another to slip back into bad habits with table-toppers City already six points ahead. “After the defeat, we had to play Man City two days after and because of that defeat, the match became more than just a normal cup match,” Mourinho said ahead of the Old Trafford clash. “It was more because it was City but it was much more because two days before we had such a bad defeat. “Sometimes people react to bad defeats in a negative way and you go into a bad run of results. “But in this case, the boys managed to find that extra effort and extra competitive mentality to play that game because it means more than just a game. “It was very important for the players to win it and to give back to the fans.” Pep Guardiola takes City to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday still trying to figure out how to lift the club out of their autumn downturn. Scintillating over the season’s early weeks, which saw them win their first 10 games, they have now gone six matches without victory, culminating in Wednesday’s defeat at United. While they remain top of the league table on goal difference, City’s swashbuckling form has petered out and left-back Gael Clichy hopes their luck changes soon. “We gave everything and at the moment we are not getting what we deserve,” the France international told the City website. “Lately, the results and the points are not on board. We have to keep working and we’re sure we’re going to get there. “If we are a bit more clinical playing forward and more compact as a team, maybe we can do better.” – Arsenal ‘hungry’ – United go into the weekend in seventh place, but they are better off than defending champions Leicester, who sit three points below them in 12th place with just three wins from their opening nine games. On Saturday Claudio Ranieri’s side travel to Tottenham, who threatened to pip them in last season’s title race. Mauricio Pochettino’s men are a point off top spot and Ranieri has braced his players for a battle. “Spurs are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League because they have a very good squad. They can change and rotate,” said the Italian. “Tottenham are a fantastic team. Last year they were very close to us and will continue to fight for the title.” A late slump saw Tottenham pipped to second place by their North London rivals Arsenal, whose early-season form suggests they could be poised to go one better this term. A six-game winning run came to an end in last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough, but Arsene Wenger’s team beat Reading in the League Cup in mid-week and now face a Sunderland side rooted to the base of the table. “I think the spirit is really good in the team,” said midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Reading. “Even when we drew with Middlesbrough on the weekend, it was almost like we lost the game. It shows how hungry this team are to win. “We’re in a spell where we feel like we should be winning every game and we can win every game, so that’s a good thing.” Liverpool, third behind City and Arsenal on goal difference, visit Crystal Palace, while fourth placed Chelsea, dumped out of the League Cup by West Ham on Wednesday, travel to Southampton. Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated): Saturday Crystal Palace v Liverpool (1630 GMT), Manchester United v Burnley, Sunderland v Arsenal (1130 GMT), Tottenham v Leicester, West Brom v Manchester City, Middlesbrough v Bournemouth, Watford v Hull Sunday Everton v West Ham (1330 GMT), Southampton v Chelsea (1600 GMT) Monday Stoke v Swansea (2000 GMT)

EFCC sets up team to identify, mark Patience Jonathan’s property

EFCC sets up team to identify,

mark Patience Jonathan’s property

Indications emerged on Friday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was intensifying moves to gather evidence against the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, for a possible prosecution.

A top operative of the commission said on Friday that the leadership of the commission had initiated a discreet probe of the former First Lady in a bid to assemble evidence against her in the event of her prosecution as a fallout of the commission’s decision to freeze $20m traced to her.

The source said that the commission had assembled a team of detectives saddled with the responsibility of identifying all houses and property belonging to the former First Lady.

It was stated that the operatives had been instructed from the office of the commission’s chairman to mark such houses and property as part of the preparation for the prosecution of the First Lady.

It was further stated that the operatives were focusing attention on property in Abuja, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt and other cities in the country.

The source said, “It would not be correct to conclude that the commission has halted the investigation into the activities of the former First Lady.

“The investigation is progressing and it is being handled by the office of the chairman of the commission.

“A team of operatives has been assembled to identify all her properties in the country with a focus on Abuja, Port Harcourt and Yenagoa.

“The responsibility of the team is to mark all such properties in preparation for a possible court action.”

The EFCC had traced $5m to the personal account of the former First Lady and frozen the account domiciled in Skye Bank Plc last month.

The commission’s face off with Mrs. Jonathan started when the commission froze the accounts of four companies traced to the Special Adviser to ex-President Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa.

The four firms identified as Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company had a total of $15,591,700 in their accounts.

However, the commission was brought into a face-off with Mrs. Jonathan when she deposed to an affidavit that the money belonged to her.

The former First Lady has since filed a suit at a Federal High Court in Lagos against the commission seeking an order to unfreeze the accounts.

She is also demanding $200m compensation from the commission for alleged violation of her rights.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said that he did not have the information on the latest move by the commission as of the time of filing this report on Friday.

Meanwhile, the former Special Adviser to former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati, might spend the weekend in detention.

A source at the commission said that Abati was still struggling to meet the conditions of the administrative bail granted him by the commission on Friday night.