BREAKING NEWS: Fayemi wins Ekiti APC Governorship ticket

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb57EWjtWCo14mCaXliDCRqmo44D3sfmTsHZqsfhRkevGLe4WMZYu4WnqIZoXunqUq6EyOQM-b2Q2NUcGlFW6PbZyHkgscu-7ImSv23GR1Ui7h2VTyV5WWPEzmTJETxZCHzSmC72RzSI/s400/fayemi.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> <b>The Mines and Steel Development Minister, Dr Kayode Fayemi has emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State.</b><br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> Fayemi polled a total of 941 votes to beat former Governor Segun Oni and 31 other aspirants in the rescheduled primary election held under a very right security.<br /> <br /> Although Fayemi has not been declared the winner of the contest officially, the 18 first aspirants polled 413 votes while Fayemi alone scored 941 out of the 2337 delegates accredited to vote in the exercise.<br /> <br /> The remaining 983 votes if shared among the 14 aspirants has made Fayemi unassailable in the race.<br /> <br /> Read also: List of killings by Senate mischievous, heinous – Police<br /> <br /> There were no delegates left inside the hall where the primary was held as they had been compelled by security agents to leave immediately after casting their ballots.<br /> <br /> There is no protest from any of the 33 governorship aspirants in the auditorium yet unlike what happened during the botched first primary election.<br /> <br /> Some of the aspirants such as Biodun Amudipe and Patrick Adekunle did not score a single vote while Senator Ayo Arise; Bamidele Olumilua’s son, Muyiwa polled two votes and Opeyemi Bamidele scored eight votes.<br /> <br /> With his victory, Fayemi, who was governor in the state between October 16, 2010, and 2014 will now face the incumbent Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and heavily supported by Governor Ayodele Fayose in the election on July 14.

Latest-News BREAKING NEWS: Fayemi wins Ekiti APC Governorship ticket

The Mines and Steel Development Minister, Dr Kayode Fayemi has emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State. Fayemi polled a total of 941 votes to beat former Governor Segun Oni and 31 other aspirants in t…

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Buhari and Osinbajo are Like Codeine and Tramadol to Nigeria, Lets Ban Them Instead – Reno Omokri

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHGdh4lqQr7tyCA4gQLv7rNiOeRkvA8MpDxHAD8nZRSY0j8xIW9zFLx3-FMsoB_MU9PmD9Iz9uzerUZF2y5b8-xUk8KE2z9J7aORrY7Six-E2GoNgcxExf69bbAcazTqHp6YZSxOkS7g/s400/Reno-Omokri.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> <b><i>By Reno Omokri</i></b><br /> <br /> I now understand why #BringBackOurGirls cofounder, Aisha Yesufu, said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is the greatest disappointment in Buhari’s government of fake change.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Come to think of it, President Buhari, whose school leaving certificate is in doubt, may be forgiven for his cluelessness. But can the same be said about Osinbajo, purportedly a PhD and Senior Advocate of Nigeria?<br /> <br /> In his book, The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri said: “The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of moral crisis preserve their neutrality.”<br /> <br /> Alighieri could have as well been writing about our Vice President. Osinbajo’s cluelessness and callousness have been legendary, but let me mention a few instances in which Nigerians have been heavily disappointed by Osinbajo’s silence at critical times in the nation’s history.<br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62pYiSf-8JV9fkrz_RaiGSSI3d8ykSL-NU0mPR7_YB6Mu_3JGwaJpQ5NzqQnaTrNaXn0zaTXRO12btvLOhtdYOvnJ8NOBPXqXRKKnti-qwqKpyw6nEKZPdS_dCZ-8ZLhMnRNeaIKHI2s/s1600/osinbajo+talks+buhari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="500" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62pYiSf-8JV9fkrz_RaiGSSI3d8ykSL-NU0mPR7_YB6Mu_3JGwaJpQ5NzqQnaTrNaXn0zaTXRO12btvLOhtdYOvnJ8NOBPXqXRKKnti-qwqKpyw6nEKZPdS_dCZ-8ZLhMnRNeaIKHI2s/s640/osinbajo+talks+buhari.jpg" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Osinbajo and Buhari</i></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /> <br /> <ul> <li>Osinbajo DID NOT speak when: 2 Catholic priests and 17 parishioners were killed by herdsmen in Benue</li> </ul> <ul> <li>When 73 Benue people were mass murdered on New Year’s Day </li> </ul> <ul> <li>When Leah Sheribu was not released because of her faith </li> </ul> <ul> <li>When radicals killed evangelist Eunice Elisha When Eunice Agbahime was beheaded by fundamentalists in Kano, or When herdsmen killed a Catholic seminarian and 12 other people in Enugu </li> </ul> <br /> <br /> The curious thing though is that if you dare speak against President Buhari and his fallacious government, Professor Yemi Osinbajo will SHOUT.<br /> <br /> He also attacks former President Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party as if they are the major reason why his party has underwhelmed Nigeria. ‪Even when radicals killed Eunice Elisha, a fellow Redeemed Christian Church of God pastor, Osinbajo said NOTHING.<br /> <br />  Is it Leah Sheribu that he will now speak up for? Osinbajo is too busy reducing himself to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission’s spokesman to notice that under Buhari, the Nigerian Church is facing the worst attack in its history! In a 48-page report titled “Crushed but Not Defeated:<br /> <br /> The Impact of Persistent Violence on the Church in Northern Nigeria,” Open Doors, the non-profit group, revealed that 13,000 churches have been destroyed in the ongoing jihad by radicals in some parts of Nigeria.<br /> <br />  This statistic ought to have shocked Vice President Osinbajo out of his reverie, but it seems nothing can stop the Vice President’s hero worshipping of his fallen angel, Muhammadu Buhari. Osinbajo’s loyalty to Buhari would appear to be more total than his loyalty to Christ. Jesus told us to speak up for the weak and voiceless. Who can be as weak (in body, but not in faith) and voiceless as Leah Sheribu.<br /> <br /> Everyday Osinbajo keeps speaking in defense of Buhari. Why can’t he lend his voice to also speak up for Leah! Elsewhere, I have said that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, should remember what Mordechai told Esther. Let me paraphrase it for him: if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for Christians in Nigeria will arise from another place….And who knows but that you have come to your Aso Rock position for such a time as this? Buhari has defended his killer herdsmen kinsmen.<br /> <br />  He has come up with policies like Cattle Colony for them. He has placed them in all the sensitive positions in the security services. When will Osinbajo speak up for Christians? What shall it profit Osinbajo if he shall gain the whole Aso Rock and lose his soul? To show Nigerians the hypocrisy of Osinbajo, he keeps accusing the Jonathans of corruption, yet only this year, his own daughter, Lola Osinbajo, got married to Bola Shagaya’s son.<br /> <br /> This same Bola Shagaya was accused of corruption by the EFCC last year. This same Bola Shagaya’s account was frozen. Google it. Do not take my word for it. Have Nigerians heard anything about her case after the marriage of her son, Seun, to Lola Osinbajo? Officials of the Buhari government have taken their cue from both the President and his vice and have showed the most cluelessness.<br /> <br /> For instance, in Nigeria under Buhari, it is easier to count the days when herdsmen do not kill Nigerians than to count the days when they do. Killings are so rampant that the most profitable profession in Nigeria is fast becoming grave digging. Does the IGP care? He can’t even respect the Senate. His boss can’t even discipline him.<br /> <br /> When herdsmen killed 73 Benue people, Buhari implored Benue people to forgive and said “I ask you in the name of God to accommodate YOUR COUNTRYMEN.” Later on Buhari told the world that these herdsmen are foreigners from LIBYA and other places. So which is it? Are they our ‘COUNTRYMEN’ or FOREIGNERS? Or is Buhari CONFUSED? In fact, the summary of three years of Buhari is that he has made himself a BRAND AMBASSADOR for:<br /> <br /> <br /> <ul> <li>Recession</li> <li>Herdsmen killing</li> <li>Nepotism</li> <li>Naira devaluation</li> <li>Blame game</li> </ul> <br /> <br /> Going further, Buhari’s solution to Nigeria’s economic challenge is:<br /> <br /> BLAME Jonathan<br /> <br /> <br /> His solution to Nigeria’s security challenge is:<br /> <br />  BLAME Gaddafi<br /> <br /> The administration’s solution to youth unemployment has been to:<br /> <br />  BLAME lazy Nigerian youth<br /> <br /> Therefore, Nigerians have devised a solution to their Buhari problem:<br /> <br /> BLAME Buhari with your PVC and send him #BacktoDaura!<br /> <br /> In fact, when you open a dictionary to check the meaning of BLAME GAME, you should see a picture of Buhari! That is why I was surprised when the Buhari administration banned codeine and tramadol in Nigeria.<br /> <br />  Why stop there? Why not go the whole hog? The APC has been a worse epidemic on our country than the codeine and tramadol abuse afflicting our youths. Did you hear of these drug abuse on such a large scale under the PDP? It is because people have lost hope. Instead of closing Emzor that provides jobs, Nigeria should close down APC that loses jobs. And between Buhari and our economy I honestly do not know who is more unhealthy. Both rely on foreigners to survive. Buhari depends on foreign doctors and our economy depends on foreign loans.<br /> <br /> Our President goes to London for medicine. His finance minister goes there to beg and borrow! Let me warn that with the resurgence of Ebola in DRC Congo, Nigerians should pray it does not get to Nigeria because unlike the previous government that acted fast to contain Ebola, if it comes now, this administration does not have the capacity to contain it. Their likely response will be to blame DRC or even Jonathan and the PDP. This is no joke.<br /> <br /> Remember that they blamed herdsmen on Gaddafi, and blamed their inability to initiate, start and finish any project in three years on Jonathan. Ebola does not respect propaganda. It will ravage Nigeria if it gets here under this regime that cannot accept responsibility for anything<br /> <br /> <br />

Latest-News Buhari and Osinbajo are Like Codeine and Tramadol to Nigeria, Lets Ban Them Instead – Reno Omokri

By Reno Omokri I now understand why #BringBackOurGirls cofounder, Aisha Yesufu, said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is the greatest disappointment in Buhari’s government of fake change. Come to think of it, President Buhari, whose school leaving certi…

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Lagos APC: Ifako-Ijaiye, Agege congresses end in brouhaha

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpX4oIBl3gJWOsHBDiHvf3nMB1ka2LzLhLjoqRsApFBHvhv7Okzd1bkPWh81gA9bS_YNXCzVuGFQo9h5mUjUJdUTgO5L6GIO-cKpieDIH1OrEX5AtGmunMXULo6qzBSD9j6CuOafp_Dw0/s1600/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpX4oIBl3gJWOsHBDiHvf3nMB1ka2LzLhLjoqRsApFBHvhv7Okzd1bkPWh81gA9bS_YNXCzVuGFQo9h5mUjUJdUTgO5L6GIO-cKpieDIH1OrEX5AtGmunMXULo6qzBSD9j6CuOafp_Dw0/s320/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The All Progressives Congress congress in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State on Saturday ended abruptly as delegates rowdily disagreed on the election of some candidates.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the congress, which started around 1pm, had been peaceful until commotion erupted over the choice of candidates.<br /> <br /> Trouble started when the electoral officers announced some names as elected executive members after a voice vote by the delegates.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Some party members opposed to the announced names protested noisily, resulting in a bedlam.<br /> <br /> Appeals to party members to maintain the peace by the chairman of the council, Mr. Oloruntoba Oke, were not heeded as supporters of the opposing candidates engaged in a shouting match.<br /> <br /> The situation almost degenerated into violence, but for the intervention of security personnel around who prevented members from fighting one another.<br /> <br /> The electoral officer, thereafter, was whisked away by security officials after attempts to attack him.<br /> <br /> Speaking to NAN after the incident, the council chairman said the congress had been orderly all along.<br /> <br /> He said the congress was almost concluded when some members noisily disagreed over some candidates.<br /> <br /> Oke, however, expressed the optimism that the issue would be resolved amicably by the leadership of the party in the state.<br /> <br /> “Disagreements are normal in politics. We will be trusting the leadership of the party to resolve the issue. I have no doubt that everything will be resolved,” he said.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> In Agege LG, Mr. Jubreel Abdulkareem, a chieftain in the area, faulted the exercise in the council, saying, “no congress was held.”<br /> <br /> Abdulkareem, the former Executive Chairman of the council, told newsmen that some delegates were denied access to the venue.<br /> <br /> Abdulkareem said that following the crisis that greeted the ward congress on May 5, an apex leader of the party, Prof. Tunde Samuel, called a peace meeting before the congress where the posts were shared between the two camps.<br /> <br /> He said that only delegates from one camp were called to vote, hence there were agitations from the other camp.<br /> <br /> He claimed that one person was shot in the imbroglio that followed.<br /> <br /> An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, said that the reading of list of delegates, which favoured one faction, triggered the crisis.<br /> <br /> He said there was shooting from inside the venue and a bullet hit a man at the gate of Central Primary School, Oniwaya, Agege, where it held.<br /> <br /> Efforts to confirm the shooting and arrests by the police were, however, unsuccessful, as the Lagos Police spokesman, SP Chike Oti, promised to get back but had yet to do so at the time of filing this report.<br /> <br /> However, it was a different situation at Ayobo/Ipaja Local Council Development Area as the congress ended peacefully.<br /> <br /> The congress, which started at 10 am at St. Andrews Primary School, ended with delegates electing party executive members by consensus.<br /> <br /> There was jubilation by party members, who danced around the venue after a successful congress.<br /> <br /> Mr Bisi Yusuf, a member of the state House of Assembly (Alimosho) who was present at the congress, commended members for peaceful conduct.<br /> <br /> He said he was proud that the exercise ended without rancour or violence.<br /> <br /> Yusuf said politics should be about understanding and not violence or desperation.<br /> <br /> “I am happy at the conduct. I thank all party members for the success.<br /> <br /> “Ipaja /Ayobo has done it again. Everyone is happy with the results.<br /> <br /> “You see, politics should not be about desperation or rancour. It should about understanding.<br /> <br /> “We have demonstrated that today and everybody is satisfied “,he said.<br /> <br /> He commended the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for laying the foundation for peaceful conduct of the congress.<br /> <br /> He said Tinubu’s constant appeals to members to always be peaceful had yielded the desired results in Ayobo/Ipaja.<br /> <br /> Yusuf urged members to continue to maintain peace in the area to ensure success of future elections.<br /> <br /> In Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA, the exercise started by 11 :30 am, with heavy presence of policemen and oficers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).<br /> <br /> Mr Olukayode Aina-Gold, one of the APC State external observers, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and orderly conduct of the Congres.<br /> <br /> “Honestly, I am overwhelmed because initially I was sceptical.<br /> <br /> “I didn’t want to come, I thought there might be some rancour and alot of disorganisation but on getting here, I am happy with the conduct and orderliness,” he said.<br /> <br /> The 27 Local Government Executive Officers were uncontested and the nominated executives were ratified by the voters from the seven wards of the LCDA.<br /> <br /> The Agbado Oke Odo LCDA Chairman, Mr Augustine Arogun, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the congress.<br /> <br /> Arogun said: “Our congress is very peaceful because we carried everybody along including the leaders and the stakeholders in Agbado Oke Odo.<br /> <br /> “We always involve them and that is why we have no opposing camps because we are all involved.<br /> <br /> “All we did was just ratification because there was no serious opposition as all the leaders had input on the list we put forward for those to be elected into the executive.”<br /> <br /> He however, advised party members who were dissatisfied with the outcome of the congresses in the state so far to dialogue with the leaders in order to resolve the matter in a family way.<br /> <br /> In Mushin LG, NAN reports that security personnel, such as the Police and Civil Defence were stationed around the venue to avoid social miscreants from disrupting the exercise.<br /> <br /> The election which started at 10am ended at 11:30am.<br /> <br /> The Executive Chairman, Mushin Local Government, Mr Olarenwaju Bamigboye, commended the peaceful election.<br /> <br /> Bamigboye spoke with NAN during the congress held at the party secretariat in Mushin.<br /> <br /> “The election is very free and well conducted. Our party members are more compassionate in this exercise.<br /> <br /> “They have really composed themselves very well to ensure that there is a free and fair election today,” he said.<br /> <br /> The chairman said the newly elected chairman for the party in the area won unopposed.<br /> <br /> Bamigboye said the future of APC was very bright in the sense that the party would always organise themselves very well.<br /> <br /> “We have to move forward and we have to advance ourselves and gone are those days that we are desperate to win,” he said.<br /> <br /> In Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), delegates adopted consensus candidates at the congress.<br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that party delegates, who were screened before being allowed into the venue under the watch of the security agencies.<br /> <br /> Mr Odeniyi Odeyemi, a delegate from Ward C said: “We are very happy that the process was peaceful and we thank God that the will of people prevailed without opposition.’’<br /> <br /> A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Rasheed Makinde, commended the party leaders and members for the spirit of oneness in the area.<br /> <br /> According to him, the leadership of APC in Ojokoro LCDA had come together with a single list, which the LOC (Local Organising Committee) read out to everybody and all agreed to it.<br /> <br /> “This is a sign that our party is moving forward and it is a good omen for our democracy,’’ Makinde told NAN.<br /> <br /> He said the development was a sign of maturity and harmony and the progress of the party.<br /> <br /> Mr Thaddius Uwanaka, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Officer, who monitored the Congress, expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the delegates.<br /> <br /> NAN reports that the Congress was held across the local governments in the state. (NAN)

Latest-News Lagos APC: Ifako-Ijaiye, Agege congresses end in brouhaha

The All Progressives Congress congress in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State on Saturday ended abruptly as delegates rowdily disagreed on the election of some candidates. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the congress, which sta…

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SARS officers assaulted me, forced me to pay N150,000 - Computer Programmer

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="650" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVksH63xNWPr4XfH1xRzzDykAAIJw5SOHZs-chmks5yRJEvqzjbZf4iA0FJPgE70lAEBOBvRUW8YdWg6K9lOWftY13U24rb43S22OaNj0nG2nteNVwKpdJGbXxZ8Wy5QtGS6oQ7G5TDw/s640/Vaughn-Itemuagbor.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> <br /> A social media user has detailed the unpalatable treatment he claimed to have had from the men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Mr. Vaughn E. Itemuagbor says this year alone, he has had two horrible encounters with SARS officers, one of them resulting in some bodily harm they inflicted on him.<br /> <br /> Itemuagbor, who claims to work for between 18 and 20 hours daily, says that though he studied Plant Science in school, he took up computer programming in order to make a reasonable living.<br /> <br /> Describing himself as “one of the most sought-after computer programmers in Nigeria,” Itemuagbor says that SARS officials seem to have singled him out for “torture on a monthly basis.”<br /> <br /> He says he has reported the issue to the Police “multiple times,” but that “nothing has ever been done.”<br /> <br /> He even took his case to the “Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit – PCRRU, Nigeria Police Force,” but he didn’t get a reprieve.<br /> <br /> “You are a young man, you drive a car and stay in Port Harcourt. You must be guilty of some crime,” he claims the SARS men told him during his last Sunday encounter with them, sequel to which they proceeded to beat him up, allegedly unprovoked.<br /> <br /> “Admit you are a Yahoo boy and write it down here, else, I go continue (the brutality),” Itemuagbor says a SARS official told him.<br /> <br /> “Those are the words he repeated continuously as he raised his hands and landed multiple blows on my body,” Itemuagbor says.<br /> <br /> As if that wasn’t brutish enough, Itemuagbor says, his tormentors forced him to pay N150,000 for his freedom, while they also allegedly coerced him to implicate himself in a statement.<br /> <br /> “At the end of the day, they took 150k from me, and asked me to write that I offered them a bribe to facilitate my release. All this happened in under three hours on Sunday,” Itemuagbor says.<br /> <br /> The encounter has left him “very sad and depressed,” he laments.

Latest-News SARS officers assaulted me, forced me to pay N150,000 - Computer Programmer

A social media user has detailed the unpalatable treatment he claimed to have had from the men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force. Mr. Vaughn E. Itemuagbor says this year alone, he has had two horrible encounters wi…

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Commissioner flees as congress turns violent in Edo state

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEdvNzuMsB1Xe-7scboqhyphenhyphenRQsLKHG0ENlYyZtgegMPoC668D5XnoXRmFDIl3djZdQBhZRzDgjKvnAUix1nEfPLYBM9db2AvEV8ROoUOZDC6DUTbOdFOdLEitV18j0ilic4CU0EfwDeeA/s1600/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEdvNzuMsB1Xe-7scboqhyphenhyphenRQsLKHG0ENlYyZtgegMPoC668D5XnoXRmFDIl3djZdQBhZRzDgjKvnAUix1nEfPLYBM9db2AvEV8ROoUOZDC6DUTbOdFOdLEitV18j0ilic4CU0EfwDeeA/s320/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Jimoh Ijegbai, on Saturday fled for his life as suspected thugs invaded the venue for the Local Government congress of the All Progressive Congress in Owan East local government area.<br /> <br /> There was heavy shooting as party supporters who had gathered to celebrate the outcome of the congress scampered for safety.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The fracas which occurred at Afuze happened when party leaders in the locality were having a meeting to arrive at a consensus list of local government executives.<br /> <br /> It was learnt that the party leaders in Owan East had met on Friday night and agreed to go for harmonisation instead of going for election.<br /> <br /> Party members who had gathered at the secretariat waiting for the outcome of the meeting were chased away even as a 75-year old man identified as was locked inside<br /> <br /> There was sporadic gunshots at the Owan East Local Government secretariat, Afuze during the Local Government Congress election.<br /> <br /> Two persons were injured in the process.<br /> <br /> The lawmaker representing Owan Federal Constituency, Hon Pally Iriase, said the crisis was because some persons wanted to jettison the directive of the National Executive Council of the APC that all zoning arrangement should be maintained.<br /> <br /> Iriase said no executive has emerged in Owan East as there was a stalemate in the meeting.<br /> He said, “The sticky point is that a group is saying we must jettison the directives of NEC. I cannot see any reason why anybody should say we should re-zoned the position.<br /> <br /> “The larger group of opinion here is that we cannot continue on the path of impunity. Retaining zoning formular worked out in the Ward congresses.”<br /> <br /> Commissioner Ijegbai in a chat with newsmen said it was worrisome that Afuze that used to be peaceful has suddenly become a terrible place during election.<br /> <br /> Ijegbai said there was no need for the fracas if all party leaders had toed the line of last Saturday ward congress where they all agreed on a consensus.
”The council chairman ordered that the party secretariat should not be opened. And before we got there, they locked that 75 year old man, Mr. Osain Isaiah inside the place almost suffocating to death. We have to mobilized and force the place open and we got the man out”, he said.<br /> <br /> In Owan West, the APC held parallel congresses as Mr. Ojo Asein rejected the harmonised list by the faction loyal to Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.<br /> <br /> Asein led some APC members to elect party executive at the local government council hall while Prof. Ihonvbere faction held at Avbiosi village.<br /> <br /> In other parts of the State, the local government congresses were peaceful as party leaders agreed on consensus and harmonisation.<br /> Mr. Ogbejele Idojei was elected chairmen of Esan North East local government.<br /> Leader of the party in the locality, Prince Joe Okojie said the peaceful congress has shown that the party has been repositioned for electoral victory.<br /> <br /> Prince Okojie said the party members were happy that they were carried along during the consensus arrangement.<br /> Speaking on the exercise, the lawmaker representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Johnson Agbonayinma, commended the party for the decision.<br /> <br /> Agbonayinma said, “Members of the APC have spoken; this (consensus) is what they want, without fights and gunshots. Having a consensus is also acceptable in a democracy and this what has happened.<br /> <br /> “We accept it in good faith and we appreciate our leaders. I think this is a step in the right direction.”

Latest-News Commissioner flees as congress turns violent in Edo state

Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Jimoh Ijegbai, on Saturday fled for his life as suspected thugs invaded the venue for the Local Government congress of the All Progressive Congress in Owan East local governmen…

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Voting ends in Ekiti APC governorship primary, sorting begins

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcySThvjvrKOoqDrbl4wzPZuwbwDSacpcblUvRoglzhZGVHCfqx324zVKcvn1Yhr4DiA-oaXMPD1Rwh3Y8xY-KDL5sbeDLsvpFDXo_IC4wXi88W39NzfJm3AwSApBMpl0CqD4t8tmwBy4/s1600/Ekiti4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcySThvjvrKOoqDrbl4wzPZuwbwDSacpcblUvRoglzhZGVHCfqx324zVKcvn1Yhr4DiA-oaXMPD1Rwh3Y8xY-KDL5sbeDLsvpFDXo_IC4wXi88W39NzfJm3AwSApBMpl0CqD4t8tmwBy4/s640/Ekiti4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Voting has ended in the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary.<br /> <br /> Casting of ballots by delegates ended at 4.13 pm<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Delegates from Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area were the last to exercise their franchise.<br /> <br /> <i>NigerianEye</i> learnt that sorting of ballot papers has begun at press time.<br /> <br /> The agents of the aspirants are standing behind the ballot boxes allotted to their principals.<br /> <br /> The ballot papers are being drawn out of the box and the names of the aspirants voted on the ballot papers called out by the panel secretary.<br /> <br /> More details later.

Latest-News Voting ends in Ekiti APC governorship primary, sorting begins

Voting has ended in the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary. Casting of ballots by delegates ended at 4.13 pm Delegates from Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area were the last to exercise their franchise. NigerianEye …

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NECO Registrar, Directors sacked

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikT716M__FrOJhaQdavnjBHuhC1Ap4xvlyMDjMdEp4OMT5SVVuVbs3X6yEdzU1iqy6qBWnmItKanLxU9gFIibEUq43ptOApAqjgSWVkqL5-pQONpPOCc39FCmo6AS1_47G5qfyALPkBE/s1600/NECO+LOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="740" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikT716M__FrOJhaQdavnjBHuhC1Ap4xvlyMDjMdEp4OMT5SVVuVbs3X6yEdzU1iqy6qBWnmItKanLxU9gFIibEUq43ptOApAqjgSWVkqL5-pQONpPOCc39FCmo6AS1_47G5qfyALPkBE/s400/NECO+LOGO.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Registrar of the National Examinations Council(NECO), Professor Charles Uwakwe has been sacked.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Along with the Registrar, two Deputy Directors were also disengaged for reasons connected to corruption.<br /> <br /> No official reason have been given for the disengagement of the Register and The Nation gathered that the disengagement have not been made known to most of the staff of the Council.<br /> <br /> Sources in the Council said that the sack may have come about because of the award of a N25 billion contract which was without the knowledge of either the Federal ministry of education or the governing board of the council.<br /> <br /> While another source disclosed that the Registrar had recruited some staff without the knowledge of the appropriate authorities.<br /> <br /> Other sources argued that the Registrar was only given indefinite suspension on reasons which would soon be resolved.<br /> <br /> The Nation however gathered that the most Senior Director, Alhaji Abubakar Gana has been directed to take over as Registrar in acting capacity.<br /> <br /> Efforts to speak to the Head of Information of the Council proved abortive as all calls and text messages went unanswered as at the time of filing this report.

Latest-News NECO Registrar, Directors sacked

The Registrar of the National Examinations Council(NECO), Professor Charles Uwakwe has been sacked. Along with the Registrar, two Deputy Directors were also disengaged for reasons connected to corruption. No official reason have been given for the d…

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Codeine Syrup: NAFDAC Reopens Emzor, 2 Other Pharmaceutical Companies

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Kaduna poll: Credible election more important than APC victory - El-Rufai

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkSiecucVwuAfN13Sab6lqLp0Zz_CqkaSBAERNvPDsqr00zo0HFapEntN9ljZ5qPfHSmWokerUMZKAMUpV23Zk9Z3ir0r5EtcFXTYvsW6n7jBWhwENyyr2ix_dZODV8ZSNiCyYKIApb4/s1600/Nasir+El-Rufai.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkSiecucVwuAfN13Sab6lqLp0Zz_CqkaSBAERNvPDsqr00zo0HFapEntN9ljZ5qPfHSmWokerUMZKAMUpV23Zk9Z3ir0r5EtcFXTYvsW6n7jBWhwENyyr2ix_dZODV8ZSNiCyYKIApb4/s320/Nasir+El-Rufai.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai has made it known that having a credible electoral process was more important than his party, the All Progressives Congress’ victory in the same poll.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The governor said this on Saturday after casting his vote in the local government elections going on in the state.<br /> <br /> He noted that credible poll was more important than the victory of the APC, even as he expressed delight over the impressive and peaceful turn-out of residents for the election.<br /> <br /> El-Rufai said that he does not care whether his party wins or loses at the local government election as long as it was credible, free and fair.<br /> <br /> El-Rufai said although there were initial hiccups with the electronic voting machine, the problems have been resolved.<br /> <br /> The governor, accompanied by some state executives, arrived at his polling unit at 12:47 p.m and went straight for accreditation and then patiently join the queue with other voters. He cast his vote at exactly 1:09 p.m.</div>

Latest-News Kaduna poll: Credible election more important than APC victory - El-Rufai

Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai has made it known that having a credible electoral process was more important than his party, the All Progressives Congress’ victory in the same poll. The governor said this on Saturday after casting his vote…

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Ekiti APC primary: I’m not bothered about conspiracy against me, says Fayemi

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5CyMkjDU13yi4RnfgiK4tZhUY7hrVsu0hmxK40ddjH_XurMxAfve02S56zAZHN5p2lf9VO4LBE50wEVNatedTRREtCVQBlaU5kbQe9uH9kQcQVSpUbV7gRm9kydS8qaVwH9VpPGtAgM/s1600/Kayode+Fayemi.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5CyMkjDU13yi4RnfgiK4tZhUY7hrVsu0hmxK40ddjH_XurMxAfve02S56zAZHN5p2lf9VO4LBE50wEVNatedTRREtCVQBlaU5kbQe9uH9kQcQVSpUbV7gRm9kydS8qaVwH9VpPGtAgM/s320/Kayode+Fayemi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> A former Ekiti State Governor and governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Kayode Fayemi, has said he is not bothered about the conspiracy of some aspirants against him.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Fayemi said as a true democrat and leader, he has a large heart to accommodate everybody and hoped that the party would emerge stronger after the primary.<br /> <br /> Fayemi spoke with our correspondent on the sideline of the ongoing governorship primary holding at Damlek Event Centre, Ado Ekiti.<br /> <br /> He said, “It is a competition; people devise all sorts of means when they are in a competition. What is important is that after the exercise whoever emerges winner will be the candidate of the party and to my expectation, all of us will embrace whoever that person is.”<br /> <br /> The Minister of Mines and Steel Development said the exercise was better than that of last week but that it would be too early to give a verdict until after the primary.<br /> <br /> “It is a much better arrangement today, it is orderly, the instructions are clear, there is no rowdiness in any part of the exercise.<br /> <br /> “The committee has done an incredibly good job and the security is also tight. People who have no business are not allowed in. In all these, so far so good. But we can’t reach a conclusion until after the whole exercise.”</div>

Latest-News Ekiti APC primary: I’m not bothered about conspiracy against me, says Fayemi

A former Ekiti State Governor and governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Kayode Fayemi, has said he is not bothered about the conspiracy of some aspirants against him. Fayemi said as a true democrat and leader, he has a large heart …

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Ekiti APC primary will be credible - Al-Makura

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="about:invalid#zClosurez" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bu51WFBkvlBmKqgm4W833hpz25I0BzOvRiCdiVe5AOJ_rL2ABUi9v-BIdnwUHA3Xt2OoDWtK-t5TcQXfct0DVV28IV5H8Y2vVkLlQuC2VghcCineai1gSBpcBGSj6eyPsK5l-j7JHbA/s1600/Tanko+Al-Makura.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bu51WFBkvlBmKqgm4W833hpz25I0BzOvRiCdiVe5AOJ_rL2ABUi9v-BIdnwUHA3Xt2OoDWtK-t5TcQXfct0DVV28IV5H8Y2vVkLlQuC2VghcCineai1gSBpcBGSj6eyPsK5l-j7JHbA/s320/Tanko+Al-Makura.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Gov. Tanko Al-‎Makura, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) committee on Ekiti governorship primary, on Saturday gave an assurance that the rescheduled exercise would be free, fair and credible.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Al-Makura, who is also the governor of Nassarawa State, gave the assurance while addressing the delegates and aspirants at the venue of the exercise in Ado-Ekiti.<br /> <br /> He said once a delegate had cast his vote, he must leave the hall and would not be allowed in until the end of the exercise.<br /> <br /> Al-Makura, who said 2,326  out of the 2,618 delegates had been accredited to participate in the exercise, urged them to respect the ‎rules and regulations guiding the exercise.<br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria reports that voting commenced at 1.07 pm, with the statutory delegates in the first batch to vote.</div>

Latest-News Ekiti APC primary will be credible - Al-Makura

Gov. Tanko Al-‎Makura, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) committee on Ekiti governorship primary, on Saturday gave an assurance that the rescheduled exercise would be free, fair and credible. Al-Makura, who is also the governor of …

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FG to evolve measures to curb strikes in varsities - Buhari

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXWgg4EmOi3V87NtGmT1FOPVt_UgQiO9-EXrD9514kDltNyTN5UrPhOzdEPPsbi6vLcgqcuxjudVLNCm6lEIH7YMgoKDaPdVzBesjz7F4z1ZcRHCfOaZjAVgAno5XPPcwok2SUaApZ9w/s1600/buhari+osinbajo.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXWgg4EmOi3V87NtGmT1FOPVt_UgQiO9-EXrD9514kDltNyTN5UrPhOzdEPPsbi6vLcgqcuxjudVLNCm6lEIH7YMgoKDaPdVzBesjz7F4z1ZcRHCfOaZjAVgAno5XPPcwok2SUaApZ9w/s320/buhari+osinbajo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Federal Government will evolve measures to curb incessant strikes and address grievances by staff of universities in the country.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Buhari, represented by a Director with National Universities  Commission, Dr Gidado Kuma, spoke on Saturday at the 23rd, 24th and 25th combined Convocation  Ceremonies of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.<br /> <br /> “I have noted with great concern the incessant strikes by teachers and other university workers, even though, most of the demands are germane but the repercussions have negative consequences.<br /> <br /> “Let me assure you that this administration will very soon come up with modalities of addressing your grievances without face-offs so that we attain stability and balance in the system.<br /> <br /> “The university is unable to conduct convocations as at when due for sets of students, this is not peculiar to your university but rather an underlying difficulty the system has found itself over the years,’’ the president said.<br /> <br /> He said that no nation would progress if its educational system was poor.<br /> <br /> Buhari said government was looking into the operations of agencies in the education sector to find solutions to the problems militating against their desired impact, especially in the university system.<br /> <br /> He said that the essence of creating a specialised university such as ATBU was to assist the country in training future scientists and launch it into the sphere of technological breakthroughs.<br /> <br /> Buhari challenged such institutions to surprise Nigerians at occasions such as convocation ceremonies by presenting new discoveries or inventions that would add value to the technology drive of the country.<br /> <br /> He said “nations across the globe are in stiff competition, we cannot lay back and take the back seat as simply consumers of other nations’ products but must come with our own products for others to buy.<br /> <br /> “Nations are in stiff competition to outwit one another in the area of offering quality knowledge and positive research and we must provide leadership in Africa in this regard.<br /> <br /> “Our agencies in charge of educational development must find a way of encouraging our youth to aspire learning in the country’s institutions but as well attract foreign students and researchers so that our global ranking of universities can soar,” Buhari said.<br /> <br /> He called on staff of the institution to re-invent the culture of leadership, followership and stewardship, adding that the students should imbibe the virtue of discipline and respect for their teachers and university authorities.<br /> <br /> He called on all state governments to support and encourage universities in their catchment areas.<br /> <br /> The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Saminu Ibrahim, said that the institution was graduating 8,496 students.<br /> <br /> Ibrahim said the graduates included 480 diploma students, 5,637 for first degrees, 1,580 for postgraduate diplomas, 770 for masters’ degrees and 90 doctorates.<br /> <br /> He said 118 out of 5,637 first degree students obtained first class grades, 1,618 got second class upper division, 2.609 received second class lower division, 1,431 got third class and 61 had pass.<br /> <br /> The vice-chancellor said the College of Medical Science of the university opened with 41 students in 2016/2017 session while 47 students were admitted in 2017/2018 section.<br /> <br /> According to him, the institution has commenced the construction of additional three hostels in Gubi Campus and two in Yelwa Campus to ease the problem of accommodation for students.<br /> <br /> “We also constructed 250 capacity auditorium, 160 capacity studio and Yelwa Campus water scheme.<br /> <br /> “About 490 academic staff of the university were supported to acquire PhDs,” he said.<br /> <br /> The Chancellor of the institution, Dr Rufus Aladesanmi, commended both staff and students for exhibiting good behaviour.<br /> <br /> Aladesanmi, who is also Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, said  “the report I have received from the management on you are quite encouraging.<br /> <br /> “Since my assumption of office, there has never been any cause at all for me to intervene in any matter that could have gotten out of hand,” he said.<br /> <br /> The chancellor commended the president for responding to numerous challenges of the institution in spite of the economic challenges in the country.</div>

Latest-News FG to evolve measures to curb strikes in varsities - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Federal Government will evolve measures to curb incessant strikes and address grievances by staff of universities in the country. Buhari, represented by a Director with National Universities  Commission, …

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Actress Mercy Johnson finally addresses rumours of trouble in her marriage

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PHOTO: Hoodlums arrested at Ekiti APC guber primary, #158,000 recovered from them.

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Fayose presiding over unprecedented looting of Ekiti – Former PDP Guber candidate, Adeyeye

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Buhari does not need Obasanjo’s support to win – Arewa Consultative Forum

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Okorocha reacts to burning of APC secretariat, identifies culprits

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"What Buhari needs to do for Nigerians to accept him"

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Group launches online TV to showcase Buhari’s achievements

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmzDRyXI0mmOdJ1ElXKHFOrpayTjGafiknr-Pbn0n9ZYwx1tZm4oXVTvIunvEETA6-qCCO3wx1iLsiZ45PDyFrJWXtGI1kp0Jk015weSbJc2C_Jl6usBAoPsTtwYW52W5t1rrGiudttg/s1600/President+Muhammadu+Buhari.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmzDRyXI0mmOdJ1ElXKHFOrpayTjGafiknr-Pbn0n9ZYwx1tZm4oXVTvIunvEETA6-qCCO3wx1iLsiZ45PDyFrJWXtGI1kp0Jk015weSbJc2C_Jl6usBAoPsTtwYW52W5t1rrGiudttg/s320/President+Muhammadu+Buhari.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Muhammadu Buhari Legacy Foundation, a political organisation, says it has begun an online television station to showcase the achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration so far.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Pastor Edward Olutoke, Chairman, North-Central of the foundation, said in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday that the television station “is being run in partnership with Young Nigerians Against Greed (Y-NAG)<br /> <br /> He said that the television station www.buharilegacytv.com would chronicle the present administration’s achievements in housing, entertainment, telecommunication, agriculture and security, among others, for the purpose of enlightening the public on the president’s credibility and capability to build a stronger nation.<br /> <br /> “The news contents of the television station will be stronger on how these achievements have impacted on Nigerians by playing back the previous socio-political situation in the country before the advent of President Muhammadu Buhari.<br /> <br /> “The station will also sensitise the public on the need for Nigerians to vote Buhari to power in 2019, following his achievements in exposing the enemies of the country who looted the country’s resources.<br /> <br /> “Buhari has also steered back the economy to stability from the total collapse situation the past administration left it, giving Nigerians the hope for a better future in his first tenure,’’ Olutoke said.<br /> <br /> He quoted Buhari during his electioneering as saying that fighting corruption was fundamental to restoring the moral health of the nation and freeing the country’s enormous resources for urgent socio-economic development.<br /> <br /> Olutoke observed that in spite of the challenges he faced in the fight against corruption, his resolve to fight on has been unwavering.</div>

Latest-News Group launches online TV to showcase Buhari’s achievements

The Muhammadu Buhari Legacy Foundation, a political organisation, says it has begun an online television station to showcase the achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration so far. Pastor Edward Olutoke, Chairman, North-Central…

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Ekiti APC primary: Aspirants laud accreditation process

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLRA9EPExfh1qrHTG5UO_3UvyT_xrGYR3jLQBMhvL-v3TKvAWFebPxUg0KhOpxrrK1GJt1einada_gzjbNvtdUR3LcdNt4iuYsb1cWrnvuJ95H3SSRLmxvN8qKqQE2nfv9-Oc0-l9hlc/s1600/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLRA9EPExfh1qrHTG5UO_3UvyT_xrGYR3jLQBMhvL-v3TKvAWFebPxUg0KhOpxrrK1GJt1einada_gzjbNvtdUR3LcdNt4iuYsb1cWrnvuJ95H3SSRLmxvN8qKqQE2nfv9-Oc0-l9hlc/s320/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>  Some of the aspirants in the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in Ekiti have expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and thorough conduct of the screening exercise.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Kayode Ojo, Bimbo Daramola and Bamidele Faparusi in separate interviews in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, said they were satisfied with the accreditation exercise held at the Damlek Event Centre.<br /> The aspirants said the accreditation process were transparent, adding that it was a signal that the entire exercise would be free, fair and credible.<br /> <br /> Ojo said that inspite of the challenges of some delegates who had faded voter card, the accreditation exercise was credible.<br /> <br /> Daramola, in his own comment, said that he was satisfied with accreditation process and urged the committee to ensure transparency till the end of the exercise.<br /> <br /> He said that he had not received any information of fraudulent acts from the delegates or from the electoral committee members since he arrived at the venue of the primary.<br /> <br /> Daramola also said he was also impressed with the number of security officers deployed to the venue, adding that the rescheduled exercise was well organised.<br /> <br /> In his own reaction, Faparusi said ‎the accreditation process had been peaceful and all the rules and regulations had been complied with.<br /> <br /> He expressed the belief that the exercise would be peaceful and a credible outcome would be achieved at the end of the exercise.<br /> <br /> NAN reports that as at the time of filing in this report, delegates were waiting for the commencement of voting.</div>

Latest-News Ekiti APC primary: Aspirants laud accreditation process

 Some of the aspirants in the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in Ekiti have expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and thorough conduct of the screening exercise. Kayode Ojo, Bimbo Daramola and Bamidele Faparusi in separate intervi…

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Okorocha commends Oyegun for cancelling Imo APC LG congresses

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr9WHUJ1leGcEoA6YEhDQBN5mxZe3RWpXqkm-CwmbNz0YBtGLn3d5EBtQ6nNRwggQaNNoi9zUdt_41w42vOUEYA405bRlrMQft468N1NMcA54gLt1HF654FGebChxQ7v_t_u_u3_EMkc/s1600/Rochas+Okorocha.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr9WHUJ1leGcEoA6YEhDQBN5mxZe3RWpXqkm-CwmbNz0YBtGLn3d5EBtQ6nNRwggQaNNoi9zUdt_41w42vOUEYA405bRlrMQft468N1NMcA54gLt1HF654FGebChxQ7v_t_u_u3_EMkc/s320/Rochas+Okorocha.png" width="320" /></a></div> The Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has commended the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun for cancelling the conduct of the Local Government Congresses of the Party in the State, which should have, under normal scenario, taken place today.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Odigie-Oyegun, on Friday confirmed the postponement of the today’s Imo local government congress just as the state secretariat of the APC was set ablaze by unknown persons.<br /> <br /> Speaking on the postponement Odigie-Oyegun said: ‘Yes, the party has shifted the Local Government Congress in Imo pending the report of the Appeal Committee’<br /> <br /> According to Sam Onwuemeodo, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, in a statement he signed on Saturday said that ‘the best option, considering the fact that the APC Ward Congresses have not been held in the State because the queer-characters in the so-called coalition made away with the Sensitive materials meant for the Venture.’<br /> <br /> Also, he said that the moment they got the hint of the possible postponement of the Local Government Congresses, they deployed their thugs to go and set the party’s state secretariat ablaze, under the heavy rain that had fallen in Owerri on Friday, May 11, 2018 evening.<br /> <br /> He also said that ‘it is also necessary to point out that all those in the sick coalition in the state are electoral liabilities. They are all serial election losers. Chief Ifeanyi Araraume had run for governorship in 2007, 2011, and 2015 and failed in all. Infact, he never won even in his Isiala Mbano LGA, in all the elections.’<br /> <br /> ‘Chief Okay Ikoro has never crossed the level of Party Primaries. TOE Ekechi had contested election four times and in all, he lost his deposits. Hope Uzodinma defeated Osita Izunaso for Orlu Senatorial Seat. Eze Madumere has not won election even as a councillor until Rochas took him. Ben Uwajumogu was just made Senator by Governor Rochas Okorocha.’<br /> <br /> ‘Their target is to destroy APC but they must be resisted by owners of the Party in the State. They are food-is-ready Politicians. Otherwise, why won’t they look for a virgin Party and file behind one of them as Candidate and let us see how far they can go.<br /> <br /> ‘If they were popular, why did they avoid coming to the field for the Ward Congresses, but decided to run away with the Sensitive materials for the exercise.<br /> <br /> ‘The fact remains that they must not be allowed to destroy APC like they did almost all the other Parties in the State ‘ the statement said.</div>

Latest-News Okorocha commends Oyegun for cancelling Imo APC LG congresses

The Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has commended the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun for cancelling the conduct of the Local Government Congresses of the Party in the State, which should have, under …

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Ekiti APC primary: Commercial activities paralysed

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufsDhHgiiQ6o4V8PaN7TS1A_SOX6mwnikD85YXVF-l_CwDpAwQfeBfuC4CPE1dtQLxuxFoqy7P5cNlqrHXxv-RGAcduyjF8PQ6Ps0ah_I_cNk0_XSxpxV81isZhyFisj_nN7t5dAHO1I/s1600/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufsDhHgiiQ6o4V8PaN7TS1A_SOX6mwnikD85YXVF-l_CwDpAwQfeBfuC4CPE1dtQLxuxFoqy7P5cNlqrHXxv-RGAcduyjF8PQ6Ps0ah_I_cNk0_XSxpxV81isZhyFisj_nN7t5dAHO1I/s400/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" /></a></div> Commercial activities have been paralysed in the area surrounding the venue of the ongoing All Progressives Congress governorship primary at Oke-Ila in Ado-Ekiti.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> As of the time of this report, the NNPC Mega petrol station and Five Os Petroleum station on the street where the venue of the primary was located were closed with the staff seeing lazying around.<br /> <br /> The two petrol stations were converted to temporary car parks and control stations by combined security forces at the venue.<br /> <br /> Most of their vehicles were parked inside the premises of the two companies. Some of the workers said their bosses did not inform them that the road in Oke-Ila would be closed.<br /> <br /> Apart from the two companies, owners of lock-up shops in the area did not open to customers because of the restrictions on movement and presence of heavily armed policemen.</div>

Latest-News Ekiti APC primary: Commercial activities paralysed

Commercial activities have been paralysed in the area surrounding the venue of the ongoing All Progressives Congress governorship primary at Oke-Ila in Ado-Ekiti. As of the time of this report, the NNPC Mega petrol station and Five Os Petroleum stat…

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Ekiti APC primary: Olumilua, Adebayo lead 2,326 delegates as voting commences

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BY3BV0L-cJgCu6EKOvcbW61hDkYErOd5DxiEfeo5iTgpuJIpKYhyfNWDzzOFRG7yRXEBNHs4Bfiex88E1MEFb1UXIJ7A2F_98IosviIUjklYHjVfz76qotx3k-AUQCDK1WhehEG5Agg/s1600/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BY3BV0L-cJgCu6EKOvcbW61hDkYErOd5DxiEfeo5iTgpuJIpKYhyfNWDzzOFRG7yRXEBNHs4Bfiex88E1MEFb1UXIJ7A2F_98IosviIUjklYHjVfz76qotx3k-AUQCDK1WhehEG5Agg/s320/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Former Governor of the old Ondo State, Bamidele Olumilua, and former governor, Niyi Adebayo, led other delegates as voting commenced in the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress rescheduled governorship primary election.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Accreditation of delegates was stopped at exactly 12:25 pm while voting started at around 1:10 pm.<br /> <br /> The Chairman of the Ekiti APC Governorship Election Primary, Governor Tanko Al-Makura, announced that 2,326 delegates were accredited out of the total of 2,618 delegate lists submitted to the committee.<br /> <br /> He stated that voting will start with delegates from Ekiti South Senatorial District.<br /> <br /> The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Ahmed Bello; Director of the Department of State Services Promise Iheanacho and the Commandant of NSCDC in the State, Donatus Ikemefuna and scores of security agents are inside the hall during the voting exercise.</div>

Latest-News Ekiti APC primary: Olumilua, Adebayo lead 2,326 delegates as voting commences

Former Governor of the old Ondo State, Bamidele Olumilua, and former governor, Niyi Adebayo, led other delegates as voting commenced in the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress rescheduled governorship primary election. Accreditation of delegates w…

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Iceland hire former Super Eagles coach

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8kN95ZhpVGm0aCBSMgeYegZmfFCs8muDQcV06zVmjk2b8ev7ZvEe7ew1s7u4H7vbnIyinyDGbmX9BfJ_yVm6WhZy9VvGSBiM1rKW-cYnmwVAv9tNX7oK2KiA5cTkBQU74tFoUH8UHzg/s1600/Iceland.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8kN95ZhpVGm0aCBSMgeYegZmfFCs8muDQcV06zVmjk2b8ev7ZvEe7ew1s7u4H7vbnIyinyDGbmX9BfJ_yVm6WhZy9VvGSBiM1rKW-cYnmwVAv9tNX7oK2KiA5cTkBQU74tFoUH8UHzg/s320/Iceland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson confirmed at a press conference on Friday afternoon that former assistant coach of the Super Eagles Roland Andersson will be one of his scouts at the 2018 World Cup.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Andersson’s job description is to strictly monitor the Nigerian national team during the tournament in Russia.<br /> <br /> The retired Malmo defender is a good friend of Lagerbäck and both Swedes were in the Super Eagles dugout at the 2010 World Cup hosted by South Africa, and he also helped Lagerbäck while he was coaching Iceland at the 2016 European Championship.<br /> <br /> Arnar Bill Gunnarsson will keep tabs on the Croatian team while Freyr Alexandersson, coach of Iceland’s women’s national team, has been assigned to monitor Argentina.<br /> <br /> Iceland will travel to Russia with cooks, security officer, technician and kit manager as part of their 29-man delegation, excluding the 23 players.<br /> <br /> The Nordic country will tackle Norway (June 2) and Ghana (June 7) in friendly matches to be staged in Laugardalsvöllur before their trip to Russia for the World Cup.</div>

Latest-News Iceland hire former Super Eagles coach

Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson confirmed at a press conference on Friday afternoon that former assistant coach of the Super Eagles Roland Andersson will be one of his scouts at the 2018 World Cup. Andersson’s job description is to strictly monito…

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"You are a very stupid man" - Comedian Oyemyke blasts Noble Igwe for snitching on "yahoo boys"/ fraudsters to EFCC

Latest-News "You are a very stupid man" - Comedian Oyemyke blasts Noble Igwe for snitching on "yahoo boys"/ fraudsters to EFCC

…

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Minister reveals why Buhari goes abroad for medical treatment

Latest-News Minister reveals why Buhari goes abroad for medical treatment

…

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Prophet El-Buba hints on consequences of contesting against Buhari

Latest-News Prophet El-Buba hints on consequences of contesting against Buhari

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Patience Jonathan’s associate, Esther Oba asks court to set side forfeiture of $8.4m, N9.2bn to FG

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcOl56lBkSFW0jef69ngGZZBoUNzEz7bAXvXdFazvSTsl6LV9h-T5u0jYJ72wtD4K9oniTiDVEPAEb1ruvkqG8KQmc5ndmaZr0N1PG8XLBKMXUoHwzBhDR1jaPWrVgMyM369feqXqydU/s1600/court.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcOl56lBkSFW0jef69ngGZZBoUNzEz7bAXvXdFazvSTsl6LV9h-T5u0jYJ72wtD4K9oniTiDVEPAEb1ruvkqG8KQmc5ndmaZr0N1PG8XLBKMXUoHwzBhDR1jaPWrVgMyM369feqXqydU/s320/court.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> An associate of the former First lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, Esther Oba, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to set aside an earlier order of interim forfeiture of the sum of $8.435,789.84 million and N9.185, 327, 362 billion allegedly linked to Mrs Jonathan to the Federal Government.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Trial judge, Justice Cecilia Mojisola Olatoregun, had on April 19, 2018 granted order of interim forfeiture of the monies following an exparte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against Mrs. Jonathan, Esther Oba and some companies.<br /> Companies joined in the suit are Globus Integrated Service Limited, Finchley Top Homes Limited, AM-PM Global Network Limited, Pagmat Oil and Gas Limited, and Magel Resort Limited.<br /> <br /> The monies were alleged to be warehoused in some banks, which include: Skye Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, and Stabic-IBTC and First Bank Plc.,<br /> <br /> After granting the order, Justice Olatoregun ordered EFCC to publish the order of interim forfeiture in a national newspaper, so that whosoever has interest in the money should approach the court within 14 days, to show cause why the monies will not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.<br /> <br /> At the resumed hearing in the matter, yesterday, Esther Oba, who was alleged to be instrumental to lodging the monies into the designated bank accounts, allegedly linked to Patience. Jonathan, in a motion on notice by her lawyer, Ige Asemudara, asked the court to set aside the interim order forfeiture of the money.<br /> <br /> She also urged the court to strike down the entire provisions of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other related offences Act 2006, for being inconsistent with Section 1, 36 (5), and 44 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).<br /> <br /> In praying the court for the aforementioned orders, Oba, stated that the order was obtained by the EFCC by concealing material facts or misrepresenting facts, and that the order made by the court without requisite jurisdiction and in breach of fair hearing provision of the constitution, the Evidence Act, and other statues.<br /> <br /> Oba, is further contending that there was no reasonable cause of action against her, and that the exparte motion was brought in bad faith, adding that the suit constitutes an abuse of court process.<br /> <br /> However, counsel to defendants, namely; Ifedayo Adedipe and Mike Ozekhome both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, told the court that they were still filing their processes against the interim order of forfeiture.<br /> <br /> While on his part, EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that he was just served with Oba’s motion and that he will need time to respond.<br /> <br /> After hearing from counsel to parties, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, admonished them to file all applications and front-loads all documents they needed and serve same on the parties before the next adjournment.<br /> <br /> She consequently adjourned the matter till June 18, for hearing of preliminary objections and motion to discharge the interim order of forfeiture.</div>

Latest-News Patience Jonathan’s associate, Esther Oba asks court to set side forfeiture of $8.4m, N9.2bn to FG

An associate of the former First lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, Esther Oba, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to set aside an earlier order of interim forfeiture of the sum of $8.435,789.84 million and N9.185, 327, 362 billion allegedl…

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CBN begs Nigerians to handle national currency with care

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMtxWl58Xw8rwSqduqci72gAUrkyA8EQAOwJxZAS7oWMUzW9UtvNf9L7PxlInJiHwJeTor8RwTyYP0CI2YXc10OpLNpLKVzksw6NXmsJRwf7g4R8e0OuLhdtay1NDaOILF6f1uIMsElw/s1600/cbn.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMtxWl58Xw8rwSqduqci72gAUrkyA8EQAOwJxZAS7oWMUzW9UtvNf9L7PxlInJiHwJeTor8RwTyYP0CI2YXc10OpLNpLKVzksw6NXmsJRwf7g4R8e0OuLhdtay1NDaOILF6f1uIMsElw/s320/cbn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>  The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has blamed commercial banks for sabotaging its efforts in replacing mutilated notes with new ones in the country.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Mr Isaac Okorafor, Acting Director, Communications Department of the CBN, made the allegation in Lagos on Thursday.<br /> Okoroafor was reacting to lamentation from Nigerians on the high level of mutilated notes in the country.<br /> <br /> The CBN spokesperson said that the apex bank was aware of the development and had taken several measures to address the rising incidence of mutilated notes in the country.<br /> <br /> According to him, one of the steps taken by the CBN in mopping up the mutilated notes from the system was reduction in the amount it charges banks for sorting the dirty notes for clean ones from N12,000 to N1,000 per box.<br /> <br /> Okorafor said that the reduction in charges for the commercial banks which lasted for three months from Jan. 2 to March 28 was to encourage them to bring back more dirty notes to CBN.<br /> <br /> He said the sorting charges which used to be N12,000 was later raised by N2,000 per box after the March 28 deadline when the window was closed.<br /> <br /> The director said the opportunity was limited to lower denomination naira notes comprising N50, N20 and N10 notes.<br /> <br /> A cross section of Nigerians have expressed disgust over the mutilated notes in circulation, mainly smaller denomination comprising of N5, N10, N20, N50 and N100 notes.<br /> <br /> He hinted that the bank had adopted another option of withdrawing the unfit notes from circulations rather than depending mainly on the commercial banks on the task.<br /> <br /> Okorafor said that the bank had started engaging associations in various markets to encourage traders to change genuine dirty notes for new ones.<br /> <br /> This, he added, would not attract any cost to traders.<br /> <br /> “The bank has already taken the new measure to Kano, Kaduna and Abuja and also intends to bring it to the south,” he said.<br /> <br /> On hoarding and selling of new currency notes, Okorafor said the serial numbers of the ones given out to the public would be used to trace whoever perpetrated the act.<br /> <br /> He however, appealed to Nigerians to handle the national currency with care as it was a symbol of identity and value and should be handled with respect.<br /> <br /> Okorafor urged the public to always demand for new notes instead of collecting dirty notes from banks.</div>

Latest-News CBN begs Nigerians to handle national currency with care

 The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has blamed commercial banks for sabotaging its efforts in replacing mutilated notes with new ones in the country. Mr Isaac Okorafor, Acting Director, Communications Department of the CBN, made the allegation in Lag…

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Rivers Courts shut down: Wike blames APC, Amaechi

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqz5OxtaihS-bay_gF5qfDWvmNQK1Jkpg6-DUkX7-arKVCGBjVznaeUrZqG2M8sUgMhRHxvld-793hyphenhyphenEhA_jVppNvkNzvfPY8H6iY8kxj6sb7J1fFmEddBZxE8m1OTAisAr2qsARqD5U/s1600/Nyesom+Wike.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqz5OxtaihS-bay_gF5qfDWvmNQK1Jkpg6-DUkX7-arKVCGBjVznaeUrZqG2M8sUgMhRHxvld-793hyphenhyphenEhA_jVppNvkNzvfPY8H6iY8kxj6sb7J1fFmEddBZxE8m1OTAisAr2qsARqD5U/s320/Nyesom+Wike.png" width="320" /></a></div> Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that never again will unscrupulous politicians be allowed to shut down  courts in the state as the immediate past Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi did for three years.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> In a state broadcast on Friday, Governor Wike commended Rivers Youths for resisting the Police and the APC faction loyal to the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who planned to shut down the State High Court over a suit filed by a rival faction.<br /> <br /> He said: “We have said in many clear terms that never again will unscrupulous politicians shut our courts for business as they did three years ago and the youths have reaffirmed that this commitment can never be in vain.<br /> <br /> “However, while we revel in today’s victory over evil, we must not lower our guards. We should be prepared for more political battles in the days and months ahead, even as I urge our people to be law-abiding and avoid the temptations of taking the laws into your hands.”<br /> <br /> The governor warned those whose stock in trade is to continually cause trouble, endanger the peace of the state and task the patience of the people, that there is limit to everything.<br /> <br /> He said: “ I wish to reassure Rivers people, once again of our commitment to protect our democratic institutions from those who do not mean well for the progress of our State.  As we continue to take our State on a path to sustainable peace and irreversible progress may God protect us from our enemies and crown our efforts with success.”<br /> <br /> He blamed the invasion of the Rivers State Judiciary on the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad and a faction of the All Progressives Congress, loyal to the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.<br /> <br /> “Today, 11 th May 2018, operatives of the Federal Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) invaded the State High Court complex, Port Harcourt, blocked all entrances and for hours, prevented judicial workers, judges, litigants and lawyers from gaining access into their offices and courtrooms to carryout their judicial duties and businesses.<br /> <br /> “ While the siege lasted, organized hoodlums from a faction of the State’s All Peoples Congress (APC) loyal to the Minister of Transport Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi freely harassed innocent persons, including lawyers and destroyed public property, including private vehicles packed in the Court premises.<br /> <br /> “ The brazen assault on the State’s Judiciary was carried out by the Police on the direct instructions from the said faction of the APC, which feared that the rival faction might obtain an injunction against the continuation of their highly disputed and rancorous party congresses”, the governor said.<br /> <br /> He said  there is a clear evidence of conspiracy by the Police officers with some known political rascals to willfully overwhelm the judiciary and thwart the course of justice.<br /> <br /> The governor said that the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) continues to lend its men and instruments to the services of opposition elements to sabotage Rivers security architecture, undermine State institutions and abuse the human rights of the people.<br /> <br /> He said: .” All these are in furtherance of actualizing the ignominious political template of the APC to rig the 2019 general elections in the state and unlawfully wrest power from the people by all means.<br /> <br /> ”We therefore call on the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances that led to the invasion and assault on the State’s judiciary and bring all the culprits to justice in order to stop a reoccurrence and avert a chaos orchestrated by those who seek power at all cost using the police.<br /> <br /> “Where this is not done, the Federal Government should be ready to be accountable for any breakdown of law and order in Rivers State given the readiness of the people to resist the Police and defend their democratic rights to live in peace and freely elect their leaders.”<br /> <br /> Governor Wike declares that unscrupulous politicians will never be allowed to close Rivers CourtsRivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that never again will unscrupulous politicians be allowed to shut down  courts in the state as the immediate past Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi did for three years.<br /> <br /> In a state broadcast on Friday, Governor Wike commended Rivers Youths for resisting the Police and the APC faction loyal to the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who planned to shut down the State High Court over a suit filed by a rival faction.<br /> <br /> He said: “We have said in many clear terms that never again will unscrupulous politicians shut our courts for business as they did three years ago and the youths have reaffirmed that this commitment can never be in vain.<br /> <br /> “However, while we revel in today’s victory over evil, we must not lower our guards. We should be prepared for more political battles in the days and months ahead, even as I urge our people to be law-abiding and avoid the temptations of taking the laws into your hands.”<br /> <br /> The governor warned those whose stock in trade is to continually cause trouble , endanger the peace of the state and task the patience of the people, that there is limit to everything.<br /> <br /> He said: “ I wish to reassure Rivers people, once again of our commitment to protect our democratic institutions from those who do not mean well for the progress of our State.<br /> <br /> As we continue to take our State on a path to sustainable peace and irreversible progress may God protect us from our enemies and crown our efforts with success.”<br /> <br /> He blamed the invasion of the Rivers State Judiciary on the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad and a faction of the All Progressives Congress, loyal to the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.<br /> <br /> “Today, 11 th May 2018, operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) invaded the State High Court complex, Port Harcourt, blocked all entrances and for hours, prevented judicial workers, judges, litigants and lawyers from gaining access into their offices and courtrooms to carryout their judicial duties and businesses.<br /> <br /> “ While the siege lasted, organized hoodlums from a faction of the State’s All Peoples Congress (APC) loyal to the Minister of Transport Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi freely harassed innocent persons, including lawyers and destroyed public property, including private vehicles packed in the Court premises.<br /> <br /> “ The brazen assault on the State’s Judiciary was carried out by the Police on the direct instructions from the said faction of the APC, which feared that the rival faction might obtain an injunction against the continuation of their highly disputed and rancorous party congresses”, the governor said.<br /> <br /> He said  there is a clear evidence of conspiracy by the Police officers with some known political rascals to willfully overwhelm the judiciary and thwart the course of justice.<br /> <br /> The governor said that the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) continues to lend its men and instruments to the services of opposition elements to sabotage Rivers security architecture, undermine State institutions and abuse the human  rights of the people.<br /> <br /> He said: .” All these are in furtherance of actualizing the ignominious political template of the APC to rig the 2019 general elections in the state and unlawfully wrest power from the people by all means.<br /> <br /> ”We therefore call on the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances that led to the invasion and assault on the State’s judiciary and bring all the culprits to justice in order to stop a reoccurrence and avert a chaos orchestrated by those who seek power at all cost using the police.<br /> <br /> “Where this is not done, the Federal Government should be ready to be accountable for any breakdown of law and order in Rivers State given the readiness of the people to resist the Police and defend their democratic rights to live in peace and freely elect their leaders.”</div>

Latest-News Rivers Courts shut down: Wike blames APC, Amaechi

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that never again will unscrupulous politicians be allowed to shut down  courts in the state as the immediate past Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi did for three years. In a state b…

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JOHESU appeals for Buhari’s intervention in ongoing strike

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsPhGzBEaC6_6zEi_K-FalSRrDUdsVRkVgc23bdHj6yKjGY84QRhklv2Or38oa1DevGH3tDu4ytjafSu2C983OK_HU4Kqxg6jTsX51uTcb73Pg4cIwOADV2nJnDSq8Mz5T3rbv2fpguc/s1600/buhari2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsPhGzBEaC6_6zEi_K-FalSRrDUdsVRkVgc23bdHj6yKjGY84QRhklv2Or38oa1DevGH3tDu4ytjafSu2C983OK_HU4Kqxg6jTsX51uTcb73Pg4cIwOADV2nJnDSq8Mz5T3rbv2fpguc/s320/buhari2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The striking Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) Friday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, to personally intervene in the ongoing industrial action it embarked upon to press home its demands bordering on allowances and welfare.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The National Vice Chairman of JOHESU, Ogbonna Chimela, made the appeal, while fielding questions from State House correspondents at the old Banquet Hall of the presidential villa, Abuja.<br /> <br /> Chimela, who is also the National President of Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), said the President’s intervention became necessary following the deadlock of Thursday’s meeting between the union and the officials of the Federal Ministry of Health, as there was no common ground reached to resolve the crisis.<br /> <br /> According to him, President Buhari’s intervention has become necessary to avert possible collapse of the nation’s health system, adding that the president was not being given the correct information as regards the situation in the health sector.<br /> <br /> He said, “From our investigation and from what we know now, we have discovered that our President, Muhammadu Buhari has not been well informed of the happenings in the health sector, is like some information are being blanketed; not getting to him because we know who he is.<br /> <br /> “He is a sincere man who has the love of an average Nigerian at heart.<br /> <br /> “We know that he is humane and he cannot tore with the lives of Nigerians if he is well aware of this present situation in the health sector we know he would go direct in arresting the issue and resolve it.<br /> <br /> “So, we are calling on Mr President to quickly intervene in this matter because JOHESU and its members are not strike mongers, we don’t love strike.”<br /> <br /> Chimela regretted that the nation’s public health institutions were in shambles, saying that JOHESU members would have loved to go back to their respective places of work to take care of the suffering patients across the country.<br /> <br /> He, however, called for equity not equality, fairness and justice to be meted out to all health care givers so as to ensure stability in the health sector.<br /> <br /> He frowned at the statement issued by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Thursday threatening to resume its suspended strike should the Federal Government accede to the demands of the striking health workers under the auspices of the JOHESU.<br /> <br /> Also speaking, the National Chairman of JOHESU, Biobebelemoye Josiah, accused the NMA of assisting the federal ministry of health in frustrating the attempt to resolve the ongoing strike by the union.<br /> <br /> On the reported resurgence of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Republic of Congo and the subsequent directive on the need to check the spread of the disease into Nigeria, Josiah said JOHESU should not be blamed for possible lapses in the effective implementation of this directive.<br /> <br /> He said that due to the ongoing strike members of JOHESU may not participate in the surveillance activities at the airports and borders across the country.<br /> <br /> The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had on Wednesday directed the Federal Ministry of Health to step up surveillance activities against Ebola in the country.<br /> <br /> The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole had to reporters on Wednesday that negotiations were on over the strike embarked upon by members of JOHESU.<br /> <br /> He said, “Negotiations are still on with JOHESU and the Minister of Labour is leading the negotiation and we expect that we will conclude on all issues very soon.”</div>

Latest-News JOHESU appeals for Buhari’s intervention in ongoing strike

The striking Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) Friday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, to personally intervene in the ongoing industrial action it embarked upon to press home its demands bordering on allowances and welfare. The National Vice…

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Buhari is ready to go, Garba Shehu tells PDP, others

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q9O_9pniuBc0eqIFd5zWbYu8Bg9vKmx8OYwnz4jQVTaQ3iSPu8smsAgMiKcheKBR3GwLHP0qdNwSP1NSgyAqDKgz_TG1YmJj_E5oxGVuNcLTpt80xeh-ILypFnQBdHbIyqkKdkzOlHA/s1600/Garba+Shehu.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q9O_9pniuBc0eqIFd5zWbYu8Bg9vKmx8OYwnz4jQVTaQ3iSPu8smsAgMiKcheKBR3GwLHP0qdNwSP1NSgyAqDKgz_TG1YmJj_E5oxGVuNcLTpt80xeh-ILypFnQBdHbIyqkKdkzOlHA/s400/Garba+Shehu.jpg" /></a></div> Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged the opposition parties about his principal’s readiness to contest the 2019 election saying: ‘are you ready for 2019? President Buhari is ready to go come lets go.’<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Shehu speaking after the President’s arrival in Abuja from his medical trip in London said he said: ‘the President as you can see is back, twenty four hours before his schedule. That tells you that there is nothing really to worry about as we said from the beginning but then this is politic and we use this opportunity to put the opponent on notice are you ready for 2019 president Buhari I ready to go. Come lets go!!!’<br /> <br /> We're always ready @GarShehu @JackObinyan @Zahrahmusa @eedris555 @BashirAhmaad. pic.twitter.com/4I3KGJ5ahf<br /> <br /> — Usman Sabo Baba (@usmansabobaba) May 12, 2018</div>

Latest-News Buhari is ready to go, Garba Shehu tells PDP, others

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged the opposition parties about his principal’s readiness to contest the 2019 election saying: ‘are you ready for 2019? President Buhari i…

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NSCDC arrests retired police inspector, 18 others over alleged child molestation

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQP9jb5sAZuMEYObgOtZL6APjqs5YyIEEdUWMexP_SK09DeiiXD7KXRVus9qfvZjV_dupOshtNUtEhkUdzEEHPy1_FB3mmtg7_crgFq2dFq3tBQCHXvkkgpJjo_MFq2vDTMF9kz9qgulw/s1600/NSCDC.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQP9jb5sAZuMEYObgOtZL6APjqs5YyIEEdUWMexP_SK09DeiiXD7KXRVus9qfvZjV_dupOshtNUtEhkUdzEEHPy1_FB3mmtg7_crgFq2dFq3tBQCHXvkkgpJjo_MFq2vDTMF9kz9qgulw/s320/NSCDC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense said it has arrested 19 persons, including a retired police inspector for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old child.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The corps’ spokesman in the state, SC Adamu Shehu, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria in Dutse on Saturday.<br /> <br /> Shehu said the said the suspects were arrested on Thursday at about 4 p.m., in Kiyawa village, in Kiyawa local government area of the state.<br /> <br /> He explained that the arrest followed a complaint received by men of the command from the victim’s brother-in-law.<br /> <br /> “A complaint was lodged by the brother-in-law of a 13-year-old girl at our Divisional office in Kiyawa LGA, on Thursday at about 4 p.m., that his sister in-law, who is an orphan and living with her mother, was being molested.<br /> <br /> “Our officers immediately swung into action and started investigating the matter, and in the process were able to arrest 19 people aged between 25 and 60, including a retired police inspector,” he said.<br /> <br /> “The young girl, who is a street hawker, told us that some of the men took advantage of her while selling porridge popularly known as “Kunu”, by giving her extra money and others by making unfulfilled promises,” he said.<br /> <br /> The spokesman added that three of the suspects have confessed to have committed the crime while the rest denied it.<br /> <br /> According to him, three of the suspects, who confessed to committing the offence, have already been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Dutse and were remanded in prison.<br /> <br /> He added that rest are still being investigated while the girl was taken to the hospital for medical tests and care.</div>

Latest-News NSCDC arrests retired police inspector, 18 others over alleged child molestation

The Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense said it has arrested 19 persons, including a retired police inspector for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old child. The corps’ spokesman in the state, SC Adamu Shehu, confirmed the arrest t…

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Kaduna poll: Voters await election officials, materials

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHb44A41aHpl4Ht2L8n0BFQWYbOmSmqPv04C7V9nhWQibyEDT7yGPEcF6asv0F-IEJ_kXHbLdyPcXjuEcQgEtfaW1ccFo0pa8-bQ_3D4JzeAx61A5pA2ED0AGrjwItSV3wFnTZQDkbZE/s1600/inec.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHb44A41aHpl4Ht2L8n0BFQWYbOmSmqPv04C7V9nhWQibyEDT7yGPEcF6asv0F-IEJ_kXHbLdyPcXjuEcQgEtfaW1ccFo0pa8-bQ_3D4JzeAx61A5pA2ED0AGrjwItSV3wFnTZQDkbZE/s320/inec.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Delay in the distribution of election materials have left voters, who turned out to elect their local government officials on Saturday, stranded in most parts of Kaduna metropolis, Chikun and Igabi Local Areas.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that election materials were yet to be deployed to voting centres monitored as at 11:00 am, raising concerns among some as to whether the election would hold.<br /> <br /> In parts of Chikun, Kaduna South and Kajuru LGAs, the election materials were yet to be distributed.<br /> <br /> A voter at High-cost polling unit,  Michael Akok said he came out since 7 a.m expecting that the election would commence on time.<br /> <br /> He said other residents were out also waiting to be verified before they can start voting but the officials were nowhere around the polling unit.<br /> <br /> An official Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission at Narayi Collation center, Vincent Joshua, said that the delay emanated from commission local government office.<br /> <br /> He said the officials were out since 6 a.m in order to get materials to go to their various polling units but there was delay.<br /> <br /> In Chikun Local Government, turn out in most of the areas was impressive  as people were seen at different polling units awaiting commencement of the exercise<br /> <br /> “We came out early for accreditation and voting but to our surprise, we have not seen anything yet.<br /> <br /> “This is 10:20 am and no polling station have started doing anything.<br /> <br /> We want to vote and exercise our franchise but the officials are not here for us to vote.<br /> <br /> As of the time of surveillance,  no security official was found on the road from Barnawa to Kujama.<br /> <br /> However, in Rigasa, Igabi Local Government, the distribution of election materials to the 26 polling units in the area was concluded early.<br /> <br /> There was also heavy deployment of security personnel comprising the police, civil defence corps and civilian JTF.</div>

Latest-News Kaduna poll: Voters await election officials, materials

Delay in the distribution of election materials have left voters, who turned out to elect their local government officials on Saturday, stranded in most parts of Kaduna metropolis, Chikun and Igabi Local Areas. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) repor…

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NIS reacts to killing of officer in Sudan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqXRo5eDHjs3BmPivuxrIch6Dm6R5gV4sK5Fj2LGv91UJ13NvJ1R5ccl9V8TVfcCqd_vx2teLexLl-_1I7gVk1-8_bvQD_JL9UNjIP_zYSpeEQjgsD8882t352Xqk2_a3WVK6TCBfjiw/s1600/NIS.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqXRo5eDHjs3BmPivuxrIch6Dm6R5gV4sK5Fj2LGv91UJ13NvJ1R5ccl9V8TVfcCqd_vx2teLexLl-_1I7gVk1-8_bvQD_JL9UNjIP_zYSpeEQjgsD8882t352Xqk2_a3WVK6TCBfjiw/s320/NIS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has reacted to the recent killing of its senior officer, Habibu Almu, in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> In a statement on Saturday, spokesman of the agency, Mr Sunday James, said the Comptroller-General, Muhammad Babandede, received the news with shock.<br /> <br /> James said the CG is being briefed on the circumstances surrounding the death of Almu, who was an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration.<br /> <br /> He said the immigration boss was in high-level discussion with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, under whose supervision are foreign missions, over the matter.<br /> <br /> According to him, the discussion centres on investigation into the killing with the host authorities as it borders on international diplomacy, and repatriation of the remains of the deceased senior officer.<br /> <br /> He added that the comptroller general was in touch with the late officer’s family.<br /> <br /> Almu, who was an Immigration Attache 1 in the Nigerian Mission in Khartoum, was reportedly stabbed to death in his home in the Sudanese capital on Thursday.<br /> <br /> Reuters quoted the Sudanese police spokesman, Omar al-Mokhtar, as ruling out the possibility of the attack being an act of terrorism.<br /> <br /> Mokhtar, according to the news agency, said police had arrested several suspects, but did not give further details.<br /> <br /> The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on Friday, said the mission was working closely with the host authorities in their investigation into the incident.</div>

Latest-News NIS reacts to killing of officer in Sudan

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has reacted to the recent killing of its senior officer, Habibu Almu, in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. In a statement on Saturday, spokesman of the agency, Mr Sunday James, said the Comptroller-General, Muhamm…

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Dogara mourns CAN Secretary

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXU8XlyYQxpazWSwpVe6tutEsrQ3_RjWZaxtSwSyX__g3A_sQ5SJQrmSgGmXff-9THzqIbkHU-oPJgzPqu7lfxiYjJZCT3FWAjFIh1jecsOUup-aA3TRpe-dLssq-SlUFOxkPHrd3MoWs/s1600/Yakubu+Dogara.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXU8XlyYQxpazWSwpVe6tutEsrQ3_RjWZaxtSwSyX__g3A_sQ5SJQrmSgGmXff-9THzqIbkHU-oPJgzPqu7lfxiYjJZCT3FWAjFIh1jecsOUup-aA3TRpe-dLssq-SlUFOxkPHrd3MoWs/s320/Yakubu+Dogara.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Speaker of House of Representatives, Rep. Yakubu Dogara, has expressed grief over the death of Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Musa Asake.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Asake, 67, from Southern Kaduna, passed away on Friday morning, in Abuja after an illness.<br /> <br /> Dogara said that the late cleric would be remembered for his passion for Christ and peace initiatives.<br /> <br /> “The late cleric lived a life worthy of emulation; he was a bridge builder and a man of peace since his days as the Secretary-General of Evangelical Church Winning All.<br /> <br /> “It is with a deep feeling of loss that I condole with the late reverend’s family.<br /> <br /> “Late Dr Asake was devout man of God, courageous leader and scholar par excellence.”<br /> <br /> The speaker prayed the Lord to grant the deceased eternal rest in his bosom.<br /> <br /> Asake led a national protest two weeks ago on the senseless killings of Christians in Nigeria by suspected Fulani herders.</div>

Latest-News Dogara mourns CAN Secretary

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Rep. Yakubu Dogara, has expressed grief over the death of Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Musa Asake. Asake, 67, from Southern Kaduna, passed away on Friday morning, in Abuja after a…

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"Buhari could spend five hours on a bottle of soft drink"

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fT7kXQtXkeOg_gPkUUm1OVbl-gPxTntVW61fYlTu7oK2XNJCdKOOHjmzEWt3uMZ_hX3udpOiwK0bEDaRfqa5qLGhe-o2Ey-uup1VoZopVbM81y_shDrQ4MeGXDbOMhbhVM5YZHL-brE/s1600/President+Muhammadu+Buhari.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fT7kXQtXkeOg_gPkUUm1OVbl-gPxTntVW61fYlTu7oK2XNJCdKOOHjmzEWt3uMZ_hX3udpOiwK0bEDaRfqa5qLGhe-o2Ey-uup1VoZopVbM81y_shDrQ4MeGXDbOMhbhVM5YZHL-brE/s320/President+Muhammadu+Buhari.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> When Corporal Tumba Garba (retd.) joined the Nigerian Army on July 21, 1965, two years before the start of the civil war, he had no idea he would become a driver to the top brass in the military, some of whom later went on to become the country’s heads of state.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Sharing his memories in the military with our correspondent, Garba, who is father of Senator Binta Masi Garba, representing Adamawa North District in the National Assembly, said with pride that there was virtually no important personality in the military that he didn’t drive.<br /> <br /> “I fought in the civil war. Our division was stationed in Enugu. Two years after the war ended, my division returned to Kaduna. Later that year, after our division returned to Kaduna, I was appointed a standby driver attached to the fleet for all foreign dignitaries.<br /> <br /> “I drove every important foreign dignitary. I drove almost all the top-ranking military officers of that era also. There was no important personality that I didn’t drive.<br /> <br /> “I drove former President Olusegun Obasanjo. I also drove late General Murtala Mohammed, General Sani Abacha, General Jeremiah Useni (retd.), and Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.) when he was the Chief of Staff. I also drove General M.B. Haruna and even General Paul Tarfa (retd.),” Garba said.<br /> <br /> Since 1942 when he obtained his driving licence, Garba said he was happy that none of the vehicles assigned to him was involved in any accident even until 1985 when he left the military.<br /> <br /> Garba also narrated how he drove President Muhammadu Buhari as a colonel in the Nigerian Army.<br /> <br /> “He was the General Officer Commanding Zone 3 before he became the director of Supply and Transport. I drove him when he was the director of military supply and transport,” he said.<br /> <br /> Speaking of his knowledge of Buhari, Garba said, “Buhari is one person who cares for your welfare. He wouldn’t cheat. The Buhari I know would take hours to finish a bottle of soft drink. One bottle of soft drink was too much for him to finish in five hours.<br /> <br /> “He abhors corruption and is also a man of few words, who rarely speaks. He hates cheating. I also know he served in different capacities and went for several courses in the army before he Became the governor of the North-East; Minister of Petroleum; and General Officer Commanding 3 Division in Jos, from where he went on to become the military head of state, after the coup that overthrew the civilian government of Shehu Shagari.”<br /> <br /> Following the overthrow of the Shehu Shagari regime, Garba said he felt happy for Buhari, but was sad that he never had the opportunity of seeing him again – until 2015 when he became a civilian President.<br /> <br /> He said, “I decided I wanted to see him after failed attempts in the past to see him as a military man. But my daughter, who is now a serving senator questioned my curiosity. She wanted to know my relationship with Buhari. I simply replied, ‘I was once his driver.’ Many people asked me the same question when Binta was taking me to meet with the President.<br /> <br /> “Eventually, I saw him. We hugged each other and took pictures. I sat close to him and he felt very happy. It was one of the happiest days of my life. Buhari told me, ‘Garba, it’s been long. It’s good to see you after all this while.’”<br /> <br /> Asked if he had ever imagined that his daughter would become a senator someday, Garba replied, “Well, there is an adage in Hausa that says that a good Friday is noticeable on Thursday. There’s one important incident I would never forget. When she was in school, quite young then, the Kaduna State handball team had featured her in a handball competition.<br /> <br /> “Immediately she reached home, she handed over all the money she got from the competition to me. She did not take even N1 from it. She often said, ‘Daddy, take it’. She has continued to behave that way till date such that her mother even envies her closeness to me, saying she’s my favourite child. When she finished school, the New Nigeria Newspapers employed her and she worked with them and from there, she joined politics. I didn’t know she would become what she is today.”<br /> <br /> As the father of the only female member of the senate from the north, Garba said he always felt happy, disclosing that one of the things he had always told himself was that since he didn’t have an opportunity to have Western education, he would invest all he had to give all his children good education.<br /> <br /> “My maternal grandfather had withdrawn me from the school I was attending in Mubi. It was later in life that I obtained adult education. Consequently, I was able to read and write my name,” he said.<br /> <br /> Disclosing that he had a special relationship with his senator daughter, Garba said the singular act of always thinking about others distinguished her from her siblings.<br /> <br /> “She is also likeable and doesn’t discriminate,” he said.<br /> <br /> Recently when he met with the Muslim Council from Adamawa North Senatorial District and wept, the retired military officer said he had done so based on what was said about her daughter.<br /> <br /> He said, “I later realised this is nothing but politics. I was among those who began politics in northern Nigeria with the Sardauna of Sokoto. Politics during the time of Sardauna was different from the politics as we see it today. In those days, there was no division or discrimination whether you were a pagan, Muslim or Christian. Even though pagans formed a large part of the population, yet Sardauna regarded all as the same.<br /> <br /> “I compared the type of politics played then and what is practised today. I then concluded it was important to reach out to the Muslim Council because of the statements being attributed to Binta; I did that just to set the records straight and tell them that Sardauna never played this kind of politics. Today, Saurduana will be rolling in his grave to see the kind of politics being played in the north.<br /> <br /> “So, I decided to invite the leaders of the Muslim faith from the five local governments – Mubi South, Mubi North, Maiha, Madagali and Michika – to let them know I do not have any problem with Binta. And that Binta will never insult Islam; that everything being said about her is false.<br /> <br /> “I don’t have any problem with my children, including their mothers. It was unfortunate that something like this happened. Binta never intended to insult Islam. Our family by history is a very tolerant one and it has coexisted with everyone and allowed anyone to practise their faith.”<br /> <br /> The senator had in April narrated during her 50th birthday how her properties were set ablaze by her father after she became a Christian while she was in primary school.<br /> <br /> “My father was infuriated and he burnt everything I had because of my decision to follow Christ. I suffered so much because of the name of Jesus. I would have been nothing if not for His grace,” she had stated.<br /> <br /> Asked if her daughter’s narration was untrue, Garba said he wept when he heard about the report initially, but later stopped weeping, saying he realised it was purely about politics.<br /> <br /> He said, “There’s no difference between Binta and me. Look at the SUV she bought for me; when I complained that it was too high for me to climb, she got me a Mercedes-Benz that’s easier for me to climb. Every year, she sponsors all of us to Mecca.<br /> <br /> “Every year, I must go to Mecca. It was only the last Hajj that I didn’t go as a result of old age. I also tell her not to discriminate against anyone and she has listened to my advice. Binta does not discriminate.<br /> <br /> “When she wanted to marry a Christian, she told me she had found a fiancé who’s a Christian and I asked her, ‘Binta, how can you marry a Christian and become a Christian?’ She replied, ‘That is what I want.’ I allowed her and gave her my blessing. She married him and became a Christian.”<br /> <br /> Asked how his father, who was a Christian, also reacted when he too decided to convert to Islam, Garba shared, “When I told him I had embraced Islam, he said if that was what I wanted, he had no problem with it.<br /> <br /> “I told him, ‘Papa, I don’t understand your religion. You do not practise your religion because as for me, you don’t have a religion yet. As for me, I have joined Islam, the right faith of Allah. He allowed me and did not protest. He then told me to go, saying God would be with me.”<br /> <br /> Garba said he was always surprised at the level of religious intolerance in the country today, particularly in the north, saying, “I worked closely with the late Sardauna of Sokoto. I drove his Minister of Works. The late Sardauna did not discriminate; he never gave preference to anyone because of their faith. Sardauna would never force you to convert to Islam.<br /> <br /> “To him, there is no compulsion in religion. Anybody willing to become a Muslim at the time, Sardauna would give him money, clothes and prayer beads. During his time, there was no bigotry. But today, we have moved into mixing politics with religion. During the late Sardauna era, there was no tribalism or religious bigotry. This I always tell my daughter, never to discriminate and I thank her for listening.”</div>

Latest-News "Buhari could spend five hours on a bottle of soft drink"

When Corporal Tumba Garba (retd.) joined the Nigerian Army on July 21, 1965, two years before the start of the civil war, he had no idea he would become a driver to the top brass in the military, some of whom later went on to become the country’s he…

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Conte fires new jibe at Mourinho ahead of FA Cup final

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgLVC3jsEEb-ifBRIn429F4t-lkSQvHTV3yytsttlfi6n-5yI9AIN-zFpijuyrpPHb4X6rm-vEigiAx6smdoR2g3L7ydzmejiPzz1cPiCyxKQV3ZxyVOGYrXpJdltiq-u9OFZt52AD3Y/s1600/antonio-conte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="736" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgLVC3jsEEb-ifBRIn429F4t-lkSQvHTV3yytsttlfi6n-5yI9AIN-zFpijuyrpPHb4X6rm-vEigiAx6smdoR2g3L7ydzmejiPzz1cPiCyxKQV3ZxyVOGYrXpJdltiq-u9OFZt52AD3Y/s320/antonio-conte.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, has reignited his feud with his Manchester United counterpart, Jose Mourinho, ahead of next week’s FA Cup final, by claiming he will leave the club in a better state if he departs this summer.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The Blues finished 10th in their last title defence, which saw Mourinho sacked in December 2015.<br /> <br /> Chelsea are now fifth, three places behind Mourinho-led runners-up Manchester United. The Blues need to win at Newcastle while Liverpool lose at home to Brighton on Sunday, if they are to qualify for the Champions League.<br /> <br /> But the Italian, speaking before what is his likely to be his last Premier League game with the Blues, said: “You must know that there is this possibility, because you play in a strong league.<br /> “For this reason, you have to know this and prepare in the right way. There are six top teams at the start of the season ready to fight for a place in the Champions League.<br /> <br /> “It can happen. In the past, it happened the same. Don’t forget two years ago, Chelsea ended the season 10th and not in the FA Cup final, not in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, and they were eliminated in the last 16 against PSG in the Champions League. It can happen.<br /> <br /> “Last season, after a 10th place, we won the league. It was difficult. We worked very hard, but we won. After a 10th place finish.<br /> “Now, probably, you can finish fifth and start with a bit of an advantage compared to when you finish 10th.”<br /> <br /> Asked if he thought Chelsea had avoided “the Mourinho season”, the Italian replied: “This is not my task to tell this. I’m the last person to judge my work.<br /> <br /> “My task is to work, to do my job in the best possible way with these players for the fans.<br /> <br /> “Other people will judge our position, judge the situation, take the right evaluation after two years of work, and then understand which is now Chelsea’s position is in in the panoramic of football.”<br /> <br /></div>

Latest-News Conte fires new jibe at Mourinho ahead of FA Cup final

Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, has reignited his feud with his Manchester United counterpart, Jose Mourinho, ahead of next week’s FA Cup final, by claiming he will leave the club in a better state if he departs this summer. The Blues finished 10th …

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FG condemns assassination of Nigerian attaché in Sudan

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIBDTn5PtouD7QVTzF1RmJz13mhVCszPotJjbBY1iqiwGs1UHq4AaBOOtwK3Cmo1EfbZT9DsW5FbVMnEl-S4U-TWCLXdnLy3azpV3jUximpM-wv1GYklDwSEo-EWQOMwk06PHDEqF-A0/s1600/Buhari3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="412" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIBDTn5PtouD7QVTzF1RmJz13mhVCszPotJjbBY1iqiwGs1UHq4AaBOOtwK3Cmo1EfbZT9DsW5FbVMnEl-S4U-TWCLXdnLy3azpV3jUximpM-wv1GYklDwSEo-EWQOMwk06PHDEqF-A0/s320/Buhari3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> The Federal Government on Friday strongly condemned the assassination of a Nigerian Immigration Attaché I, Habibu Almu, in the Nigerian Mission in Khartoum, Sudan.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Dr Tope Elias-Fatile in Abuja, the federal government described the killing as “unfortunate”.<br /> <br /> “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received an official report from our Mission in Khartoum, Sudan on the death of the Immigration Attaché I in the Mission, Habibu Almu.<br /> <br /> “He was killed in his official quarters on Thursday. This, indeed, sad news.<br /> <br /> “The untimely death of the officer is certainly a great loss to our country.<br /> <br /> “The Federal Government sympathises with the family members of the deceased on this unfortunate incident,” he said.<br /> <br /> He said that the Mission was working very closely with host authorities in their investigations over the incident<br /> <br /> He assured that the government would do everything possible to ensure that those behind this dastardly act are made to face the full wrath of the law.<br /> <br /> (NAN)

Latest-News FG condemns assassination of Nigerian attaché in Sudan

The Federal Government on Friday strongly condemned the assassination of a Nigerian Immigration Attaché I, Habibu Almu, in the Nigerian Mission in Khartoum, Sudan. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Dr Tope E…

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Hoodlums set Imo APC secretariat ablaze

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hoLMUDfwCvoTz6y_C6BI_dDUIFWMBW6Ft6dB14qYxjEzUgnO-aSjSyMb4y3WLMLpYfjDQu59_NqGNBmo4hpuBRMH8Mi3ee9-hbdLo_ugC7hLq3mWR__x18Me6w-u7wN2SesI9EEkDoE/s400/APC-LOGO-17.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> The political tension in the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress deepened on Friday when unidentified hoodlums set the party secretariat on fire.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Though the fire didn’t affect the external parts of the building, the internal parts were engulfed in inferno.<br /> <br /> Our source  who visited the secretariat located at the Imo State University junction in Owerri around 6:30pm amidst downpour, saw the secretariat engulfed in smoke.<br /> <br /> Though no member of staff was sighted, people watched from afar as the smoke surged.<br /> <br /> It was learnt that secretarial equipment, including files and documents, were destroyed.<br /> <br /> No firefighter was seen on ground, neither did anybody make efforts to fight the fire.<br /> <br /> When contacted, the state party chairman, Hilary Eke, who confirmed the development, accused those who he said attacked the party state office last weekend.<br /> <br /> Eke, who said that the unidentified hoodlums attacked the secretariat “just to frustrate the Local Government Areas congress of the party on Saturday”, vowed that the exercise must go on.<br /> <br /> He insisted that the contentious ward congress of the party was successful, urging those “who lost during the last weekend exercise to give peace a chance.”<br /> <br /> “I have been in a meeting ahead of the LGA congress of the party in Imo State.<br /> <br /> “Those who attacked the secretariat the other Saturday are likely to be the same people who set it on fire on Friday (today).<br /> <br /> “Despite the provocation, the LGA congress must go on on Saturday.<br /> <br /> “We have already elected five-man per ward during the ward congress. The congress does not take place at party sSecretariat, it will take place in the 27 LGAs of the state on Saturday.<br /> <br /> “I petitioned the Inspector General of Police over the attack on the Secretariat the other Saturday.<br /> <br /> “My duty is to report to the Police and the Police have the duty to investigate.<br /> <br /> “So, members of staff identified those who attacked it. “

Latest-News Hoodlums set Imo APC secretariat ablaze

The political tension in the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress deepened on Friday when unidentified hoodlums set the party secretariat on fire. Though the fire didn’t affect the external parts of the building, the internal parts wer…

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