Bill introduced in Congress to “Terminate the EPA”

(Natural News) The EPA was originally founded on principles of solid science and a commitment to protecting the environment. For many years, it actually did a lot of good by clamping down on corporate polluters and reducing the contamination of rivers and streams. But today, the EPA is better known as the “Environmental POLLUTION Agency” that spouts totally fabricated quack science while destroying the careers of honest scientists inside the agency who attempt to blow the whistle.
To give you just a quick overview of the EPA’s outrageous crimes against the environment, consider these facts:
* The EPA caused the Gold King Mine large-scale toxic spill into the Animas river, unleashing vast quantities of mercury and other toxic metals into sacred waterways of Native American communities. In fact, the EPA’s extreme incompetence remains a grave threat to the safety of nature and our fragile ecosystems.
* The EPA “legalized” the mass pollution of farm soils and children’s playgrounds across America with “biosludge,” a highly contaminated byproduct of raw human sewage and industrial pollution. This product — also called “biosolids” — is currently “recycled” back into the U.S. food supply (via “fertilizer” distribution) despite alarming scientific evidence showing its extreme dangers. See the trailer for my new film “Biosludged” at Biosludged.com and you’ll hear from a former EPA scientist whose career was destroyed by the EPA when he tried to sound the alarm.
* The EPA routinely colludes with pesticide companies like Monsanto and Syngenta to grant approval to extremely toxic pesticides that are devastating the natural world (such as the neonics that are decimating bee pollinators). Thanks to the independent media like Natural News, we now know that the EPA actively covered up evidence for decades that linked pesticides to the death of pollinators.
Just recently, the EPA approved yet another toxic herbicide (Dicamba) that’s been linked to infertility, birth defects and lung cancer.
And even when the EPA is forced to admit that toxic pesticides are killing honeybees, it still allows their widespread use on food crops.
* For the last decade or so, the EPA has aggressively pushed the climate change science hoax, ridiculously claiming that carbon dioxide is a toxic poison that will doom humanity. In truth, CO2 is a blessing to the planet, giving rise to reforestation, more efficient food production and the more rapid growth of plants and trees in areas threatened by desertification. CO2 is a scarce resource, barely at 400 ppm in the atmosphere, and plant-based ecosystems are starving for it! (See more reports on the kind of fake scieence pushed by the EPA at FakeScience.news)
* The EPA runs armed paramilitary “enforcement” teams that stomp around streams and ponds, threatening farmers and ranchers by claiming federal control over every last drop of water that might eventually drain into a river or stream. Quite literally, the EPA spends money on AR-15s, ballistic vests and other paramilitary gear in order to pull off its mission of expanding its power into an armed, unelected bureaucracy of dangerous science quacks.
Here’s a depiction of what the EPA’s armed “enforcement” teams might look like (not an actual photo, just a dramatization)

See this Natural News article which describes the terrifying rise of “militarized federal agencies” including the USDA and EPA:
The USDA has used its new military power to threaten people who grow lemon trees; force large fines on people for selling bunnies; confiscate raisins for no real reason; and ruin the livelihoods of small farmers.
One USDA SWAT team even seized bees privately owned that were proven resistant to Monsanto’s GMO Roundup and killed all remaining Queens. This shows the incestuous relationship between crooked corporations like George Soros’ Monsanto and government agencies.
The USDA is not alone in its abuse of power. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have recently used their swat teams to bully Americans for lobbyist interests or to punish political enemies.
I could go on, but the bigger point here is that the EPA is a quack science ministry of environmental B.S. that must be stopped.

Soldiers At NASME Makurdi Celebrate WASA

Penultimate weekend, officers and soldiers of the Nigeria Army School of Military Engineering, (NASME), Makurdi in Benue State trooped out with their families to catch fun and celebrate themselves in dance, drama and other side attractions.


After all, the saying that “variety is the spice of life” makes living more exciting and refreshing could never have come at a better time for the soldiers than the early part of the year when they are expected to take stock of the outgone year and re-strategise for optimal performance in the months ahead.

The occasion was the age-long West Africa Social Activities (WASA), handed over to the military by the British colonial masters who instituted the annual event to enable interaction among the families of the armed forces, regardless of their ranks.

And so, the officers, soldiers and their dependents maximised the opportunity to create fun in a unique, relaxed atmosphere within their barracks to the admiration of visitors who had come to have fun.

Dressed in their amiable cultural attires, the soldiers entertained the crowd with various dances.

Indeed, it was a moment to foster espirit-de-corps among troops, especially to foster unity among the soldiers and their families in accordance with the traditional rituals as upheld by the colonial masters way back in the 1960s.

Corroborating history of WASA, the NASME Commandant, Major-General Shodunke Adekunle, in his welcome address, noted that the forebears of the West African soldiers distinguished themselves on various fronts such that the colonial masters granted their request to celebrate the end of every year.

He said: “They (soldiers) would usually dress in their local attires to showcase their rich cultural heritage during occasions such as WASA. For us at NASME, we had an eventful 2016 and as we look back, we saw that we were able to complete our schedules despite contemporary challenges.”

Adekunle added that they had recorded significant progress and improvement last year even as he urged his troops to consolidate on the previous gains and successes while they strive to improve on notable lapses of the just concluded year.

After the commandant’s address, fun filled activities which made the day a memorable one began with the tug of war among different sections of the soldiers, amidst cheers from their supporting colleagues.

Thereafter, various cultural troupes entertained the audience with their sonorous voices and captivating dance steps. The cultural performances included Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and Idoma among others, with the students of the Army Command Day Secondary School, also taking their turn to make the event colourful.

However, the tug of war embarked by the soldiers’ wives and female youth corpers serving at the barracks added more colour to the occasion, as spectators reeled in laughter while the young women do their bits to outshine themselves.

Interestingly, at the end of the exercise, the soldiers’ wives defeated the corpers. There were also several shows jesting and mimicking of current public affairs in the country and so on.

Then the special guest of honour who is the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, in his good will message, described the relationship between NASME and the state government as cordial.

Governor Ortom, however, went on to lament the pitiable condition of the Nigerian currency even as he opined that something is actually wrong with the nation’s economy.

Ortom who spoke through his Special Adviser on Security, Col. Edwin Jando (rtd), said it was a shame that the dollar which was exchanged for only 60 kobo over 40 years ago when he was commissioned as an Army officer now goes for more than N400.

The governor further commended the cultural troupe of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), who depicted the continued fall of the naira over pounds and dollars in a dance drama which spurred his comment at the occasion.

DSS Arrest Former Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam

According to the DSS in a statement by Tony Opuiyo, the search of the building at 44, Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama, Abuja, led to the discovery of keys of 45 exotic cars, 21 Certificates of Occupancy, arms and ammunition.

The statement by the DSS reads in full:

The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the public that on 24th February, 2017, between 2100 hours and 0242 hours, the Service executed a search warrant, at the property of Dunes Investment and Global Properties Ltd, located at No 44 Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama-Abuja.

The operation was informed by intelligence that some incriminating items were stashed in the boots of cars parked at the property, particularly a Mercedes Benz S550 (BWR 135AH), and Masarati 4.7 (BWR 207 AJ), which were subsequently confiscated.

2. Consequently, on 25th February, 2017, about 1000hours, in the presence of two (2) private security officers employed by Dunes Investment, the cars were searched and the following items were recovered:
Weapons:
(i) Glock pistol with two (2) magazines and a total of Twenty-Nine (29) rounds of ammunition;
(ii) Mini-Uzi with two (2) magazines containing 10 rounds and 4 rounds respectively;
(iii) Forty-two (42) extra rounds of ammunition contained in a pack; and
(iv) One (1) AK-47.


3. Other items recovered include:
i. Twenty-one (21) Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and one (1) Offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy;
ii. Twenty-three (23) Luxury designer watches; and
iii. Forty-five (45) keys to various exotic cars.

4. Following this discovery, the Service launched further investigation which revealed that the cars and the recovered items belong to the former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel SUSWAN who has already been invited by the Service and presently helping in the investigations.

5. It is in the light of this latest development that the Service wishes to sound a note of warning to persons and groups that it will no longer tolerate any acts of lawlessness by those who ought to be law abiding and responsible citizens. The Service has also observed with total dismay the inciting utterances of some political actors whose activities heat-up the polity. It also wishes to express its disappointment with these politicians who, in their desperation, are engaged in hate speeches and even sponsorship of radio campaign jingles when the electoral umpire has not authorized such campaigns in line with the Electoral Act. More worrisome is the unpatriotic involvement of some media outfits in these divisive tendencies which negate their constitutional role as the fourth estate of the realm.

6. In line with its statutory mandate of maintaining the peace and internal security of the country, the Service hereby restates its commitment to go after anyone no matter how highly placed who engages in acts capable of causing the breach of peace in the country.

FA Cup: Mourinho plays down significance of drawing Chelsea

Jose Mourinho has started the mind games after being drawn against his former club Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter final.
His Manchester United side came from behind to beat Blackburn and were then handed a return to Stamford Bridge – where they were hammered 4-0 earlier this season.
Mourinho started by saying Chelsea will only focus on the FA cup as they are already Premier League champions.
United have not won at Chelsea since October 2012.
Tottenham will host another giantkiller in Millwall, who ousted English champions Leicester.
Premier League outfit Middlesbrough will host the winner of the replay between Championship side Huddersfield and Manchester City.

Trump criticises media over handling of Sweden comments

US President, Donald Trump took to Twitter on Monday to criticise the media and it’s handling of his comments on Sweden two days after falsely suggesting there was an immigration-related incident in the European country.

“Give the public a break – The FAKE NEWS media is trying to say that large scale immigration in Sweden is working out just beautifully. NOT!” he said.
Trump, who in his first weeks in office has tried to tighten U.S. borders sharply for national security reasons, told a rally on Saturday that Sweden was having serious problems with immigrants.
“You look at what’s happening last night in Sweden,” Trump said. “Sweden. Who would believe this? Sweden. They took in large numbers. They’re having problems like they never thought possible.”
No incident occurred in Sweden and the country’s baffled government asked the U.S. State Department to explain.
“My statement as to what’s happening in Sweden was in reference to a story that was broadcast on @FoxNews concerning immigrants & Sweden,” Trump said in a tweet on Sunday.
Fox News, a U.S. channel that has been cited favorably by Trump, ran a report Friday about alleged migrant-related crime problems in the country.

A White House spokeswoman told reporters on Sunday that Trump had been referring generally to rising crime, not a specific incident in the Scandinavian country.
Sweden’s crime rate has fallen since 2005, official statistics show, even as it has taken in hundreds of thousands of immigrants from war-torn countries like Syria and Iraq.
Trump‘s comment confounded Stockholm. “We are trying to get clarity,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Catarina Axelsson said.
 
Sweden’s embassy in the United States repeated Trump‘s tweet about having seen the Fox report, and added, “We look forward to informing the U.S. administration about Swedish immigration and integration policies.”
Trump has been widely criticized for making assertions with little or no supporting evidence.
Monday marked President’s Day, a federal holiday, in the United States. Trump also used twitter to mark the holiday.
“HAPPY PRESIDENTS DAY – MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Several “Not my President’s Day Rally” protests were planned across the United States in cities including New York, Washington and Los Angeles, later in the day.

Nigeria’s President Buhari extends vacation indefinitely

www.ukoso18.blogspot.com

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday asked the National Assembly to extend his medical leave, the presidency said in a statement.
Buhari had already embarked on a ten-day vacation and was due to resume on 6th February.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly today, February 5, 2017, informing of his desire to extend his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors,” the statement said.
“The President had planned to return to Abuja this evening, but was advised to complete the test cycle before returning.”

“No cause for worry” over Buhari’s health – Nigeria’s presidency

 

Nigerian authorities have reiterated that there was no cause for concern over President Muhammadu Buhari’s health but he had to stay longer on medical leave in Britain than planned.“During his normal annual checkup, tests showed he needed a longer period of rest, necessitating the president staying longer than originally planned,” the presidency said in a statement on Tuesday.
“President Buhari wishes to reassure Nigerians that there is no cause for worry,” it said, without saying when Buhari might return.
Buhari, 74, left for Britain for medical leave a month ago, putting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, 59, in charge during his absence. He had originally planned to stay 10 days.

Officials have refused to disclose his illness, triggering fierce speculation in Nigerian media and on social media. That speculation has been fuelled by a previous illness, when he spent nearly two weeks in London last June treating an ear infection.
Buhari’s predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, was sworn in after the death in 2010 of President Umaru Yar’Adua. His illness created a power vacuum that was only filled by Jonathan, his vice president, after three months of political infighting.
Officials say the situation is different because Buhari has given Osinbajo full powers as acting president.
On Monday, the central bank devalued the naira foreign exchange rate for retail customers. Buhari has repeatedly spoken against a devaluation.

Benue Lawmakers Push For North Central Development Commission

The Benue State House of Assembly has appealed to Governor Samuel Ortom to help facilitate the establishment of the North Central Development Commission in a joint effort with other governors in the sub-region.

The lawmakers made the resolve as they resumed plenary on Thursday to debate key national issues, one of which is the insecurity issue relating to attacks by herdsmen.

A motion moved by the Majority Leader, Representative Benjamin Adanyi, prayed the House to also appeal to National Assembly lawmakers from the north-central region to pursue a bill in this direction.

Outlining the effects of herdsmen attacks in the region, Adanyi opined that such bill would help rebuild devastated communities in Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states, as well as Southern Kaduna in Northwest Nigeria.

He likened the killings and destruction in the region to what the Boko Haram terrorists did in the northeast.

The lawmaker explained that the incidence warranted the Federal Government to establish the North East Development Commission, with proposed funding of 3% deductions from Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue collected nationwide.

He further questioned why such amount of VAT was collected from Benue State to fund the reconstruction of the northeast while excluding the state which he said was confronted with acute internal displacement challenges.

Following a few amendments of the motion by the Speaker of the House, Honourable Terkimbi Ikyange, the lawmakers unanimously passed the proposal.

Subsequently, the Benue South caucus of the assembly met to discuss the brutal killing of a soldier in Agatu Local Government Area of the state.

The Minority Leader of the House, Sule Audu, appealed to the Nigerian Army to halt the alleged destruction of Agatu villages in a retaliation move.

Graphic Photos: Auto Crash Claim Lives Of Benue Corpers Returning From Camp In Taraba

Two members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) lost their lives along the Taraba Benue road as they returned back home from Taraba State.
  The corp members who were part of the 2016 Batch B Stream 2 of the NYSC scheme lost their lives while returning home from the 21 days orientation camp in Taraba State. The unfortunate incident also saw other passengers of the vehicle sustain injuries. The bus was conveying mostly youth corps members from Taraba to Benue state before it crashed.

I Will Win Again In 2019 – Governor Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue said on Sunday that he was “very optimistic” of securing a second tenure as governor, in 2019.

AGATU PEOPLE APOLOGISE TO NIGERIAN ARMY, ADMIT KILLING SOLDIER

The People of Agatu Local Government area  of Benue State have admitted killing a soldier during a disagreement with security officials.



Lawmaker representing Agatu state constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sule Audu, apologized to the Nigerian Army on Friday in Makurdi.

Audu said the incident was unfortunate and was never premeditated.

He said the people were truly sorry while promising that the people will continue with the army henceforth.

He said the incident was, “very unfortunate and was never premeditated but just mere misunderstanding between my people and the soldiers.”

On behalf of my people, we sincerely apologise to the Nigerian Army for the incident. We promise to cooperate with them henceforth,” Audu assured.

He also dismissed reports that soldiers razed the area in retaliation.

He said “they went there in search of the culprits and their arms that were missing, which were normal in the military; it is not that they went to raze the villages.”

http://ynaija.com/agatu-people-apologise-nigerian-army-admit-killing-soldier/

BUILD WAREHOUSES FOR STORAGE OF FARM PRODUCE~AYUBA

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Empowerment and Wealth Creation, Pastor Abraham Ayuba has advised Agricultural Cooperative Societies in the state to build warehouses where their farm produce could be stored to enable them have strong bargaining power over buyers.

Pastor Ayuba who gave the advice while interacting with COSAP Agriculture cooperative society, Ugee in Gwer East Local Government said the state government has instructed BIPC to purchase agricultural produce like soyabeans, beniseeds and rice so that farmers in the state are not cheated by food vendors.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor appealed to the people to earmark a land that would enable government bring investors to invest in agriculture in their area, called for their participation in the state government programmes for the success of such programmes in their area as well as sued for their sustained support to governor Ortom administration to succeed.

On revamping of Taraku Mills, Pastor Ayuba stated that already another company came to the state and had entered into negotiation with the company that Taraku Mills was leased to so as to commence operation, saying as soon as that was achieved, the company would resume work.

He commended the District Head of Ugee, Chief Samuel Ugeede for his commitment to the plights of his subjects, and reminded them that the Ortom administration has human face that is determined to turn around the fortune of the people.

Speaking, the District Head of Ugee, Chief Ugeede acknowledged the developmental strides of  the Ortom administration in repositioning agriculture sector, expressed his total commitment towards the success of such policies in his domain.

He appealed to the state government to resuscitate the Taraku Mills in view of its numerous benefits to the host community, as well as ensure prompt provision of farm inputs to the people of the area to assist them carry out farming with ease.

In their comments, former Caretaker Chairman of Gwer Local Government and one time Deputy Chairman of Masev Development Association, Hon. Fidelis Humbe and Hon. Michael Gberzer all called for resurcitation of Taraku Mills as well as provide farm implements to the people towards enhancing their farming activities.

They applauded the state government efforts on reduction of sizes of sacks for the purchase of farm produce in the state which they noted has encouraged farmers to fully go into farming.

On his part, President of Njiriv Youth, Mr. Teryima Kungur appealed to the state government to evolve a programme that would take care of youths in the state so as to reduce youths’ restiveness while the President of COSAP Agricultural Cooperative Societies, Mr. Alex Kwaghgba said the people produced mostly maize, rice, soyabeans and need encouragement from government so that their produce would not be wasted.

In his comment, Pastor Mathias Chia who reaffirmed the true nature and benefits of cooperatives to the people enjoined them to key into it as it was the only channel through which the present administration is reaching out to the people.

He told them that the era of spoon feeding people has gone; stating clearly that the present administration is willing to assist people in group to turn around their fortune by themselves and enjoined them to take advantage by joining cooperative societies to attract such benefits.

ORTOM, ISHAKU, AGREE TO SWAP BORDER COMMUNITIES

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and his Taraba State counterpart, Darius Dickson Ishaku, yesterday agreed to swap border communities in their respective states.



The Governors made the announcement after a joint states security council meeting which they held in Kashimbila after a tour of some border communities of both states.

They stated that although the National Boundaries Commission had put Moon in Taraba State and Chanchangi in Benue State, indigenes of the two communities preferred to swap their states on account of their long standing affinities on either side.

The Governors stated that they respected and accepted the sensibilities and choice of the indigenes.

Governor Ortom first broke the news of the decision at Anyiase in Moon while his colleague, Governor Ishaku confirmed the decision when it was his turn to speak.

They stated that they would raise technical teams to work out the details that would be communicated to the commission and appealed to other indigenes who fall on either side during the demarcation exercise to accept their status in good faith.

The chief executives pledged their resolve to sort out the boundaries of their states in order to end violence around the issue and enhance permanent peace.

Governors Ortom and Ishaku stated that with the two of them at the helm of affairs of both states it was the best opportunity for the states to collaborate for lasting peace because they shared several things in common including faith in God and being colleagues at the Federal Executive Council as ministers.

They agreed to meet again to sort out border issues around their northern border in the near future so as to end the attendant skirmishes and ensure peace which they said was an imperative for development.

Governor Ortom promised to ensure the return of the displaced people of Moon and the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure and social amenities in the area.

Both Governors also agreed that ranching remained the best and permanent solution to the incessant farmers and herders clashes.