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Liberian VP, Jewel Howard-Taylor, Calls on African Nations to Embrace Unity

Published

8 years ago

December 7, 2018

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The Liberian Vice President, Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor, has made a clarion call to African nations to dwell in unity, embrace charity and pay more attention to the less-privileged in the society.

The Liberian number two citizen made the remark during a welcome reception held in her honour at the Sheraton hotel, Ikeja, Lagos by the Esther Ajayi Foundation.
Senator Howard-Taylor, who assumed office as Vice President in January 2018, said that if everyone extends a hand of charity to his fellow African brother and nation, speedy development will overtake the continent within a short period of time. She also urged those who are already in the business of assisting the needy not to relent in their efforts.

“Africa will grow more if we are more united, the poverty we have in our various countries will reduce if we remain our brother’s keeper and pay more attention to charity and the less privileged in the society. I therefore call on everyone who has been giving a helping hand to the African project to continue, and even do more so that we can reach more of the African people.” she said.

She further harped on the exhibition of total love, stressing that it will be impossible to live in unity as Africans without love. She then thanked her host, who is the Founder of Esther Ajayi Foundation, Reverend Esther Ajayi for championing the cause of charity and unity in Africa.

“Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi has become a symbol of unity, she has also been a strong contributor in the area of charity, I salute and urge more people to follow her footsteps, the Vice President added

In her response, the host, Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, lauded the Vice President for her humane nature, saying that she is a working example for African nations as regards showing love, extending a hand of fellowship and preaching unity.

Senator Howard-Taylor was on a one day private visit to Nigeria and has formed a partnership with the Esther Ajayi Foundation to touch lives in both countries as part of the foundation’s #millionlives campaign which is aimed at reaching over a million people in 2018.

Headline

UK Court Acquittal: Diezani Goes Spiritual, Says God Will Always Be God

Published

3 days ago

June 18, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has reacted to her acquittal by a London court after bribery charges brought against her were dismissed.

The Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday acquitted the former minister of all charges, including five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Reacting to the judgment, Alison-Madueke expressed relief and said she and her family had endured years of emotional distress over the case.

Speaking to News Central, she said she has remained in the United Kingdom since the legal proceedings began 11 years ago.

She said: “I’m just thankful to God, it’s been arduous, almost 11 years. It’s been traumatic not just for me but for my family, friends, my 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt and for my son.

“It has been a hard journey, but I tell you this, God will always do as He will. God will be God and God is not a man that He should lie; when He promises you something, He will see it through.

“For almost 11 years I have been here. I did my job to the best of my ability.”

Headline

I Never Saw Report that Led to Natasha’s Suspension, Says Ireti Kingibe

Published

3 days ago

June 18, 2026

Eric

The lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), at the Senate, Ireti Kingibe, says she did not see any report that led to the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Kingibe made this disclosure on Wednesday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

She said she was at a retreat with Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, when she heard about the report.

“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension. I was at a retreat. I had earlier stated that I was there with three or four other senators who are members of the committee.

“We attended the Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints, signed the attendance register, and I later left for the tax reform retreat, which I considered more important at the time.

“It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator, and I figured that the other people who were not part of that committee would take care of it.

“I even complained to other Senators, specifically to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. I complained to him very bitterly that I had not seen that report. I didn’t see it then. I have not seen it till now,” she said.

Headline

UK Court Clears Ex-Petroleum Minister Alison-Madueke of All Corruption Charges

Published

4 days ago

June 17, 2026

Eric

Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was on Wednesday found not guilty by a London jury of six bribery charges, after ‌a rare corruption trial of a high-profile former energy official.

Alison-Madueke, minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-president Goodluck Jonathan, stood trial charged with five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denied.

Prosecutors ⁠alleged Alison-Madueke, 65, was given “a life of luxury” in London from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria, which has long grappled with mismanagement and corruption.

But the former minister, who was also briefly president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said she never took any bribes and had no real influence over the awarding of lucrative government contracts.

After a trial at London’s Southwark ‌Crown ⁠Court, Alison-Madueke was acquitted by a jury of all six charges she faced after more than 46 hours of deliberation.

The not guilty verdicts are a major blow to British authorities, which began their investigation into corruption allegations against Alison-Madueke ⁠more than a decade ago.

Alison-Madueke stood trial alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who was charged with one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke ⁠and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.

Alison-Madueke’s brother Doye Agama, 69, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery ⁠with his sister relating to payments made to Agama’s church.

Both Ayinde and Agama denied the charges against them and were also acquitted by the jury.

Source: Reuters